Chapter 12: Chapter 12

WREN

The next week goes by pleasantly fast. Lance and I settle into a new normal, one where we work well together and even develop a friendship.

In fact, we even become slightly flirty in the less busy hours. Nothing physical but I can tell something has shifted between us and I’m feeling really conflicted about it.

It feels so foreign to me. I haven’t allowed myself to feel anything romantic for anyone since Max passed away.

There was one guy at the fire camp who pursued me for weeks but I was not interested. He moved on rather quickly.

I wasn’t interested in starting a relationship—casual or otherwise—here either. But with Lance it just feels like it’s happening on its own. I feel seen by him, and I felt safe with him.

Perhaps it’s because we are alone together frequently, or that we both harbor so much pain. Either way, I don’t stop it and I occasionally felt guilty about it, though I didn’t know why.

I’m nervous about the summer solstice party. Large groups of people still make me uneasy, but it feels like the right time to start venturing out again. The last gathering I attended was my husband’s funeral.

I consider going shopping but instead I have my sister send me something from her closet. When it arrives, I open the box to find a flowy maroon dress with a V-neck and half sleeves.

She included a brown belt and a pair of brown strappy sandals. In the card she wrote how she missed me and she expected to see a picture of me in the dress.

She also included a photo of her sons with my mom—they were baking on Mother’s Day the month before.

The dress is a little loose but the belt helps. I put on some makeup and leave my wavy hair down around my shoulders. I give a little twirl in the bathroom mirror.

“What do you think, Puck?”

Puck lifts his black-and-white head and looks at me quizzically. Then he lowers it again. We went on a long walk earlier and it succeeded in tiring him out.

Finally, I decide I can’t delay any longer. I whistle for Puck and we start walking toward the pavilion.

I can hear the music and voices echoing through the pastures well before I see the people. I tell Puck to stay on Lance’s porch and then start down the steps.

A folk band is playing on the stage and at least one hundred people are milling about, most with beverages in their hands.

As I enter the pavilion, I’m greeted by Meredith who is standing with her husband Len and a couple other older men in bolo ties.

“Wren! You made it.” Surprisingly, she wraps me in a quick yet firm hug. “How are you, dear?”

“Wonderful, thanks, Meredith. This is quite the party you put together,” I say, scanning the crowd.

“Thank you! If I didn’t marry a rancher, I would’ve been an event planner I think,” she says, looking around before turning back to me.

“So how are things going? Is my son giving you a hard time still?”

I smile and shake my head. “No, actually, I think we’ve finally settled into a good groove.”

She claps excitedly. “Oh good! He seems, well…lighter lately and I had hoped it was going well in the barn,” she says, and I can’t help but notice a hopeful glint in her eye.

“Yeah, I know it’s been a challenging year for him,” I say.

“Yes, we’re lucky in many ways,” Meredith sighs. “Anyway, go grab yourself a drink and enjoy the party.”

Meredith pushes me toward the bar and winks at me. I take her cue and head in that direction. I make my way through the crowd, waving at the few familiar faces I see, when my eyes land on Lance.

He is standing off to the side of the bar talking to Logan. I see his eyes widen slightly as he looks me up and down and I can feel myself blush.

Logan leaves to get another drink as I approach. He nods a greeting to me.

“Wow,” Lance says as I take Logan’s place. “You look...”

“Weird? Out of place?”

“Beautiful,” he says.

“Oh, thanks,” I say. “I’m, uh, not used to wearing dresses.”

“I can tell,” Lance leans down closer to my ear, his breath barely grazing my neck, “but it suits you.”

Goosebumps fly up on my skin from my neck down my back.

“You look pretty good yourself,” I say, admiring Lance’s broad chest covered in a white button-up shirt tucked into slacks.

He gives me a small smile and looks back at the crowd.

“I left Puck on your porch, just FYI,” I say after I get a beer and take a swig.

“You could’ve just put him inside,” he says.

My eyebrows go up. “Lance Teller, are you warming up to a dog?” I say sarcastically.

Lance just shrugs with a smirk on his face. ~God, he’s gorgeous.~

Suddenly, he takes the beer from my hand and I scowl up at him in confusion. Then he takes my hand and starts pulling me toward the dance floor. I realize a slow song is playing.

“Oh no no no no, Lance, please,” I beg, but his mischievous smile is irresistible.

“Come on, Wren.” He pulls me to him and places his other hand on my hip. “I won’t bite,” he says quietly into my ear.

“You could’ve fooled me a few weeks ago,” I say.

His smile falls and he turns more serious. “I was an idiot, an angry idiot. Forgive me?” he says, and his sincerity makes my heart clench.

“Of course,” I say coyly, and his smile returns.

I can feel dozens of pairs of eyes on us and even think I hear some whispers. Lance’s eyes are still laser-focused on me, and I try not to look around. I feel my anxiety rising.

“Hey,” Lance says, and I turn my eyes back to him. “It’s just you and me, none of them matter.”

I take a deep breath and nod, a tingly feeling settling in my chest.

Before I know it, the song is over. Lance opens his mouth to say something to me when someone interrupts.

“Lance?”

We both turn our heads to see Emma, Lance’s ex-fiancée, standing in front of us. She’s undeniably gorgeous with long blonde hair falling in big, curly waves around her shoulders.

Her porcelain skin has perfectly applied makeup on her doe eyes. She’s wearing a long, cobalt blue dress with a high slit.

“Can we talk?”