Page 34 of Wilde Ride

“I just got back into town. I’m not even divorced yet.”

“Do you like Emeline?”

The three of us turned and looked at Rhett. He didn’t seem upset, but I knew my son. He could hold his emotions in like a champ, until the dam finally broke.

“Of course I do, as a friend.”

He nodded and moved his fork around his bowl. “I wouldn’t be mad if you liked her like a girlfriend. I want you happy, Daddy.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn’t form words to speak. Thank goodness my mother came to my rescue.

Reaching for my son’s hand, Mom smiled. “That is so sweet of you, Rhett. I’m sure when the time comes, your daddy will find someone who’ll love both of you to the moon and back.”

Rhett smiled. “And maybe I’ll be able to have another little sister. Or a brother.”

Just when I thought I could speak again, he drops that little bombshell.

My mother looked at me and softly replied, “Baby steps, Rhett. Baby steps.”

Emeline

My phone buzzed and I picked it up to see it was Moreen, calling me again. I’d tried to avoid her calls because I knew she would have a million-and-one questions about Levi. I drew in a deep breath, let it out, then answered.

“Hey, girl, what’s up?”

“What’s. Up?” she replied. “Um, should we start with the fact that you’ve been ignoring me for the last twelve-plus hours? Let’s start there, then move on to you having lunch with Levi Tucker. Why didn’t you tell me he was back in town? He’s getting divorced from she-who-shall-not-be-named! Why were you guys in the store? How are you feeling? Have those old feelings for him come back?”

“Oh my gosh, Moreen, slow down with the questions, will you?”

“I’m sorry, Emeline, this is HUGE. The one guy you’ve been crushing on since you were fourteen is back in town, single, and having lunch with you. Excuse me for freaking the fuck out!”

I sighed and closed my eyes. “Okay, I get the freak-out, but slow down anyway.”

“Sorry, it’s just…you’ve been avoiding me, then you had plans with Lilibeth last night and…”

Her voice trailed off, and I felt terrible for avoiding her. “You know you’ll always be my very best friend, Moreen.”

“I know that, but it’s nice to hear it sometimes.”

Now I could hear the smile in her voice. “It was a business meeting about the camp. Lilibeth is going to teach the kids how to make candles, perfume, and cologne. You know that. We were working out times and days she’d be able to make it work.”

“I think the kids will love that. Now that we got that out of the way—Levi?”

Laughing, I leaned back in my chair and looked at my office door, which was closed. “I had no idea Levi was back in town until yesterday when he arrived at the ranch and met with Caden. He wanted him to check on one of the horses. Then the next thing I knew, he was asking me to lunch to talk about his son, Rhett, coming to camp. My mother may have also roped him into volunteering at the sessions before he gets too busy at the vet clinic.”

“Go, Mrs. Wilde.”

Sighing, I dropped my head back against the chair. “God, Moreen, I thought I’d gotten over this stupid crush on him.”

“No such luck, huh?”

I stared up at the ceiling. “Nope. The moment I saw him, all those feelings came rushing back. I felt like I was in high school again. It’s like my body woke up from a slumber I hadn’t even realized it was taking for years. It was like…something supernatural. Like I could drag in a full breath for the first time in ages, just the strangest feeling. And it’s all for naught because Levi Tucker will never see me as anything other than his best friend’s little sister. And what kind of person lusts after a man who’s going through a divorce and has lost a child? A monster! That’s who.”

“You are not a monster, Emeline. Don’t be so dramatic. You’re a girl who likes a boy who happens to be married.”

“Ugh, Moreen. You can’t say that anymore. He’s definitely not a boy, and I’m not a girl. Plus, he’s almost divorced.”

“He’s home for good, then?”