Mia came down to stand beside Wesley. “What are you talking about, Christian?”
Christian pointed to the barn a way off. “Lily just saw you guys.”
Wesley looked toward the barn. Lily was nowhere in sight. He scratched his cheek. “Okay.”
A growl escaped Christian. He stepped forward and took hold of Wesley’s shirt. He dragged him forward and pushed him in the direction of the barn. “She saw you kiss Mia.”
Wesley stumbled a few steps back and yanked Christian’s hand away from his clothes. He brushed his hands down his shirt. “And?”
Mia gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “Wesley, think about it. We dated. To her it might look like we still want to be together.”
The blood drained from his face. That was exactly what it could have looked like from an outside perspective. He faced Christian, who continued to glower at him. “Was she upset?”
“Why do you think I’m over here telling you to go find her? Geesh, Wes. All this matchmaking stuff for nothing!”
“It wasn’t exactly—”
“Wesley, go!” Mia all but yelled at him. “This can get sorted out later!”
He ran backward a few steps. His eyes jumped between Mia and his brother. “Thanks!”
Words eluded him. What was he supposed to say to Lily? After their last interaction, he should probably start with sorry. But the more important thing might be how he felt. He could start with “I don’t love Mia the way I love you,” or “It was a mistake to let you go.”
Just as he got to the entrance of the barn, a brown horse bolted past him. Wesley stumbled back a couple of steps. Lily darted through a few cowboys who loitered near the stables and took off down a trail.
His arms dangled at his sides. Where was she going? What if she didn’t come back? He had to do something to fix this.
Right inside the barn, a horse shook his head. He blew air out of his lips and flicked his tail. Wesley stared off in the direction Lily had gone. It was well past time to go after what he wanted.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Her hair whipped around her face as she pushed the chestnut faster. Her heart pounded and her lungs ached. She blinked away the tears and brushed the back of her hand against her face. Lily might not ride often, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t skilled at it. There was just too much to do around the house to permit the occasional joyride.
Lily shifted her legs and tugged the reins to the right when she came to the part where the trail split. The pastures and fields were left behind and she was now surrounded by trees and brush. It was more secluded than anywhere else she’d found on their property. The perfect place to hide and think things through.
She’d been so ready to tell Wesley everything. How sorry she was. How much she loved him. And how she’d do whatever it took to make a relationship work. Her whole heart was in it.
Now, her heart was shattered. Embarrassment seeped throughout her body. No, Wesley didn’t know where she stood, but she burned all the same. And Christian.
Lily let out a groan. She eased up on the saddle and allowed her steed to slow his gait. Christian got a front row seat to her demise. They were probably all laughing at her at this exact moment. Poor little Lily. No real job, no real love, no real future.
She pulled the horse to a stop as she entered the clearing of her favorite thinking spot. At least it had been her favorite when she was a child. Either her family didn’t know it existed, or they knew her well enough to leave her alone.
Her body slipped from the saddle and she wandered over to a large oak tree in the middle of the meadow. Lavender swayed in the breeze, filling the air with its distinctive floral scent. The trees rustled above her.
Lily dropped the reins, letting the chestnut graze, and she settled down in the shade. Her hands came behind her head as she stared at the blue sky and cotton clouds drifting overhead. Her heart still pounded angrily in her chest, the storm of love lost raging. But as she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, the lavender soothed the ache.
She’d grow from this experience. She’d move on like she always did. There had to be a lesson here, something like not letting things slip between her fingers. If she wanted something, she had to reach for it. A job, a relationship, a new life… she was the only one standing in her way.
Lily opened her eyes and blinked as light filtered through the leaves overhead. Marguerite and Zinnia had never been happier. They loved their careers and they had wonderful men by their sides. Lily would just have to find someone who could make her feel the way Wesley did. Or better.
Starting now, she’d work on her own happiness. No more settling. No more running from things that scared her. She’d lost too much already.
Wesley’s rear bumped against the horse beneath him as he trotted along the trail Lily had taken. The ground was moist but not muddy. Fresh hoofprints led the way. He said a thankful prayer that he had some tracking experience from his scouting days. Otherwise he’d never be able to find her.
He slowed his pace, easing into a gentle gait. It was time to get his thoughts sorted out. If it meant he could have Lily, moving home would be a small sacrifice. She’d be worth the transition. It wouldn’t happen right away, but he could find a new head chef for his restaurant. He wouldn’t have to close it down or sell it if he didn’t want to.
Mia’s idea of opening a restaurant in town wasn’t a half-bad one. The stress of living in the city had dissipated since being home. Sure, the frustration with his brother and Lily had put a damper on things, but ultimately, it had been nice to be surrounded by friends and family again. Small town life did have some perks.
Catering the wedding had taken his mind off his problems and given him a purpose. The work was the same but the feeling was different. Maybe that was his problem. He was in the right field but in the wrong business. Nothing sounded better than slowing down and being with Lily.
The tracks in front of him turned down a narrow path up ahead. Wesley nudged the horse to the right, keeping his eyes on the ground. Hopefully, it wasn’t much farther. His hands twitched at the reins. His skin crawled in anticipation. He shook out his shoulders. The moment he found Lily, he’d make her see they were meant to be together. They could be happy here, near both their families, and live happily ever after.
For the first time since Lily broke it off with him, he smiled. He wouldn’t take no for an answer this time.
Wesley came to a clearing. The horse he’d seen Lily ride off with grazed in the meadow. A large oak tree surrounded by lavender plants was the focal point. His head swiveled around. Where was Lily? Dread seeped into his blood. Had she fallen off? She’d left that barn like a bat out of hell.
Craning his neck around, he surveyed the entire area. There was no sign of her. He would have seen her on the edge of the trail. There were no ditches that he recalled on the way here. But then he’d been consumed with his own thoughts.
“Lily?”
No movement. No response. His heart rate increased. Something was wrong. “Lily!” he hollered as he jumped down from the horse and strode toward the chestnut horse. Cursing, he searched the tall grass near the horse, but again found no trace of her.
“Lily!”
“What!”
Wesley spun around at the sound of her voice. Relief washed over him and he sprinted toward her. His gaze roved over her body, checking for any ailments. “Are you okay? Did you fall off your horse? Should I call someone?”
She shoved his hands away from her body and took a step back. “I’m fine. What are you doing here, Wes?”
His brows lowered over his eyes. “I came to talk to you.”
Lily hugged herself tightly and lifted her chin. “I think we said all we needed to say the other day.”
Wesley squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. “I need to explain a few things.”
She snorted and wandered over to the tree trunk. Leaning against it, she folded her arms. “I came out here to think. You k
now, figure out what I want. And I’ve come to realize the only reason I’m not happy is me. I love my family and taking care of them, but I always thought there would be more.” She lifted a shoulder. “I think maybe I want to be a wedding planner or a matchmaker.” Her lips lifted at the corners for a sliver of a second. “Either way, I’ve decided I’m not going to wait around for things to go my way anymore.”
“That’s great, Lily.”
“And that means no more waiting around for you.”
His heart dropped into his stomach. Wait, what?
Lily smiled softly at him. “You deserve happiness, too. And I realized I’m probably not part of that.”
He stepped closer. “But you—”
She held up a hand. “You and Mia were always so good with each other. I can’t let my jealousy or wishing we could be together get in the way of that. I wouldn’t be a true friend if I did. I’m okay with it.” Her voice broke and her eyes brimmed with moisture.
“Lily, that’s what I came here—”
“I’ll find someone. I know I will. And hopefully, he’ll be as great as you.”
“Blast it all, Lily! Will you listen to me?”
Her eyes widened and her arms dropped listlessly to her sides.
Wesley strode forward and took her face in his hands. He pressed a firm kiss to her lips. Sparks. Electricity. Heaven.
Her initial hesitation melted away under his touch and she opened up to him. Blood rushed in his ears as he pulled her closer. There was no denying what was between them. He’d been a fool to walk away from her that day in the cafeteria. The way she came to life with his touch was all the proof he needed.
Wesley pulled back slightly and pressed his forehead against hers. “I want you, Lily,” he whispered.
“But—” she breathed.
“No buts. It has always been you. Apparently, everyone agrees we ought to be together. Mia and my brother included.”
A look of confusion covered her face.
He shook his head. “I’ll tell you about that later. The fact is, I’ve just been too blind to realize it until a few months ago.”
“You’ve only been here two weeks.”
He nodded. “You’re a huge part of the reason I came home. I was tired of waiting for things to work out too. I’m my happiest when I’m with you, but it took me a few minutes to realize that.”
Lily bit down on her lip and looked away. “I know the feeling.”
Wesley crooked his finger under her chin and lifted it so she would look at him. “Hey.”
She blinked and a single tear slipped down her cheek.
Using his thumb, he brushed it away. “No more tears. Ever. We’ll make this work. I promise.”
Lily swallowed hard and wrapped her arms around him. She rested her head against his chest. “I’d like that very much.”
He rested his chin on her head and tightened his hold on her. The tension in his body seeped out, making him feel lighter than he had in years.
“Wes?”
“Hmm?”
“I think I’m okay with moving, now. If it means being with you.”
Wesley pulled back, holding her at arm’s length. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. But I want to. It would be a fresh start. A decision I make for me.” She gave him a tentative smile. “If this gets that far, that is.” Her voice was soft and lighthearted but the question was still there. His chest tightened slightly. She was his. For good.
“Don’t you dare say that.”
Her eyes widened and she gave him a half-smile. “Say what?”
“This thing will definitely get that far. I’m never letting you go again. Not ever.”
Epilogue
Lily was on the edge of sleep when she heard the distinct sound of a rooster. Her dreams were getting more vivid lately. Not that she complained, because most of them had to do with Wesley.
He was hers now. Not Mia’s, not some girl’s in New Jersey, hers. She smiled, her eyes still closed as she rolled over and pulled the comforter up to her chin. Things were getting serious and she had the strangest feeling he might propose soon. That meant figuring out where they would live.
Wesley was scheduled to fly to Hennesy for the next few weeks to spend time with her. They’d spent every other month together and she couldn’t get enough of him, or his soft lips. Chills ran up her arms. She wanted to return to that dream. The one where they were raising chickens and she had a few little ones of her own.
The rooster crowed again.
Lily shot up in bed. What in the world? She threw the blankets to the side and jumped out of bed.
The drapes were thrown aside, letting in the reddish-orange color of the sunrise. She peered through the window onto the lawn. About a dozen chickens strutted around the yard.
Lily yanked open the window and the sounds of clucking drifted up to her. Her bedroom door banged open behind her and she yelped.
“Lily, what on earth is going on outside? Did you buy some chickens without telling me?” Marguerite had her hands on her hips. “They’re obnoxious. I can’t get any sleep with that rooster making all that noise. If you’re going to keep them, then—”
“I didn’t get them, Mags.”
Azalea came into the room, tying a robe around her waist. “What’s with the chickens?” She made her way to the window. Lily stepped aside as Azalea got a better look.
“Lily. I’m serious. I don’t want them near the house.”
“It wasn’t me.” Lily held out her hands. “I promise.”
Azalea pointed out the window. “Ha. That one’s wearing a white bonnet and a dress. I think it’s got a ribbon or something around its foot.”
“What?” Both Lily and Marguerite bombarded Azalea, the three of them staring out the window.
“What in the holy…”
Lily didn’t hear the rest of Marguerite’s exclamation because she was already out the door and halfway down the hall. She didn’t bother putting on her flip-flops as she burst from the house and around the side where the chickens were located.
Feathers flew into the air when Lily arrived on the scene and charged toward the chicken in the white dress. It clucked loudly and took off, running faster than Lily expected. When the chicken stopped its escape, Lily crouched down with both hands out and approached the bird more slowly.
The bird let out another concerned cluck and bobbed away from her.
“Come on, chicken. I’m not gonna hurt you,” she sang in a soft voice. “Here, chicky, chicky, chicky.”
Squawk, cluck, cluck, cluck.
Growing impatient, Lily took off at a full run and dove for the bird. Feathers exploded around her as her hands grasped the chicken. She sat up triumphantly. “Gotcha.”
Carefully, she got to her feet and looked the bird over. She giggled at the lacy bonnet and dress. This had Wesley’s name all over it. Lily lifted the bird to get a better look. Sure enough, there was a ribbon around the bird’s foot attached to a little silk bag.
Her heart leaped into her throat. This was it. She knew he was planning something. Lily shifted the bird under her arm and managed to retrieve the silk purse with one hand.
“Lily.”
She screamed and dropped the chicken, who fluttered to the ground and took off running. The silk purse dropped to the ground as well. Lily spun around and looked down at Wesley, who knelt on one knee in front of her.
A gasp escaped her throat and she threw her hands over her mouth.
Wesley stared up at her with those clear blue eyes. They danced with the mischief she’d come to love about him. He chuckled. “What were you doing with that chicken?”
She looked over her shoulder at the little chicken. “I—there was—she had…” Warmth spread across her cheeks.
He chuckled. “Well, did you get it?”
“Get what? Oh!” Her gaze dropped to her feet. Scooping up the silk purse, her eyes met his again. “Do I open it?”
He nodded.
Lily poked her fingers into the purse and pulled it open. Inside was a small piece of paper rolled into a mini scroll. She’d expected a ring to be inside for all the effort it took to catch the chicken.
She gave him a funny look as she opened the paper. Marguerite, Azalea, and Aster stood by the house, wide smiles on their faces.
3492 Main Street.
“I don’t understand.”
He grinned. “These last six months have been like heaven to me. Even when I have to be in New Jersey, because I know you’re mine. I want to make it official, Lily. I want you to become my wife.” Wesley held up a white gold ring adorned with a large, princess-cut diamond.
Lily gasped.
He took her left hand in his and slipped the ring on her finger. “I love you with all my heart, Lily. I love your sense of humor and your drive. I even love that stubborn streak you share with your sisters.”
She let out an emotional laugh.
“For the last few weeks, I’ve been working really hard at getting everything in order so we can move forward with our lives.” He nodded to the slip of paper in her fingers. “That’s the new location for my bakery in town. I’m here to stay, Lily. I’m all yours.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Really!”
She laughed as she threw herself at him. He tumbled backward. She looked down at him, her hair a waterfall around her face. “And the chickens?”
He brushed some hair behind her ear. “A woman of mystery deserves to have her chickens. You said you always wanted them, so I got you some. And I fully intend on discovering every mystery I can about you.” He threaded his fingers in her hair and grasped the back of her neck, pulling her down to seal his promise with a kiss.
Mia and Christian played important roles in Lily and Wesley’s love story. Coming up right now is a bonus so you can see how it all played out from Mia and Christian’s point of view. Read on to find out what the amateur matchmakers were thinking as the plan fell apart and finally came back together.
The Chef Chases his Cowboy Dream (Silverstone Ranch Book 3) Page 13