An hour before closing, I smiled as Beau walked into the shop. I opted to keep quiet about Garrett and ranching because I wasn’t sure if that conversation had taken place yet.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Henry. What can I get you today?”
He surveyed the glass case. “We’ll get to what I want in a minute. First, I want to thank you.”
“I didn’t mind helping Garrett. I enjoyed getting to know him better. He’s kind and funny. You must be very proud of him.” I couldn’t imagine any dad not being proud of a man like Garrett.
“I am. But that thank you wasn’t for taking care of him. It was for whatever you said that changed his mind. He wants to learn about ranching. My son will someday step into my boots, as it were, and that makes me very happy.”
I felt happy tears coming on. “I can’t take credit for that, but I’m very pleased that he’s going into the family business.”
Beau leaned on the counter. “Can’t take credit? Garrett said you were the one who made him see that he was letting fear get in the way. I will forever be grateful.” He rubbed his hands together. “As for what I want. I’ll take everything you have left.”
For a Sunday, it had been slow, and I had dozens and dozens of doughnuts left.
“You don’t have to . . .” I twisted the corner of the apron around my finger. “I can’t let you do that. There is too much here.”
“Too much? You’ve met the ranch hands. They can devour a dozen doughnuts faster than our bull Houdini can escape a pasture. And just so you won’t worry about those guys getting too much sugar, I’ll drop some off with the firemen on my way home.” He crossed his arms. “Will it cause you trouble if you sell out before closing?”
“No. It happens occasionally. I just put up a sign that says I’ve sold out.”
“Well, make that sign.” He pulled out his wallet. “You can get out of here an hour early and go do something fun.”
“Thank you.” I packed up the doughnuts and rang up the total, wondering if Beau had any idea that the something fun I’d planned was with his son.
Beau carried the doughnuts out in multiple loads. “What do you normally do with what’s left at the end of the day?”
“Most days, I take what’s left to the firemen. On Saturdays, I set them aside to take to church the next day.” I picked up the last two bags. “I’ll help you carry these out.”
“Thanks.” After everything was loaded, Beau tipped his hat. “See you later.”
I waved, then ran inside and sent a text to Garrett. I sold out early thanks to your dad. I’m going to clean up a little, but I can meet you out there in thirty minutes.
He replied right away. Great. I’ll meet you at the main house.
After putting up a sign, I raced through the shop, getting it ready for tomorrow morning as quickly as possible because I wanted to hurry out to the ranch . . . to Garrett. It was easy to admit how excited I was when my heart wasn’t being risked. We were friends who enjoyed spending time together. I was happy with how things were, and one day if—more likely when—he met someone who sparked romance in his life, I’d step back and let him find his happily ever after.
I couldn’t pretend that wouldn’t hurt, but I could avoid thinking about it.
My phone buzzed as I hung up my apron.
Bring your swimsuit, and we can soak in the hot tub. Garrett sent a happy face emoji. That’ll warm us up after we walk.
I sent a thumbs up. While I liked the plan, I definitely wouldn’t be snuggling with him in a hot tub where anyone and everyone could walk by and see. People would get the wrong impression.
When I jumped out of the car, a dog trotted up to me. Instead of jumping up and trying to lick my face, this dog sat, patiently waiting to be scratched. “Hi there. Aren’t you a good dog? What’s your name?”
“That’s Blue.” Garrett squatted beside the dog and gave him a good rub. “He is a great dog. His one flaw is that he doesn’t like other dogs around, but he does tolerate the cats.”
“He seems sweet. Maybe if I’d grown up with a dog like this, I’d feel differently about man’s best friend.”
Garrett laughed, and I realized what I’d said.
“No pun intended.” I shifted the bag on my shoulder. “I can’t wait to see more of the ranch.”
“Great. I’ll put your bag in the guest room, and then we’ll go. Mind if Blue tags along?” He tucked my bag under his arm. “Want to come in?”
“I’ll wait out here.” I knelt in front of Blue. “You aren’t so bad. I think we’ll be good friends.”
Parker walked around the corner of the house, a doughnut in each hand. “Hey, Tessa. I’m seeing you out here a lot. Is that because you and Garrett are—”
“Friends.” I finished the sentence to eliminate any confusion.
“That is exactly not what I was going to say, but I’ll remember that.” After taking a bite of a doughnut, he grinned. “Y’all have fun. And these doughnuts are the best.” Chuckling, he walked toward his truck. “Catch you later, Tessa.”
“Bye, Parker.” I jumped when a hand touched my shoulder. “Oh, Garrett. I didn’t even hear you walk out of the house.”
“I can be vewy vewy quiet.” Garrett winked then dropped the tailgate on his truck. “Hop up, Blue.”
The dog obeyed, his tail wagging.
“How far away is it?” I buckled into my seat.
“Not too far, but the walk is partially uphill, so I want to conserve energy for that.” He pulled away from the house, and not long after we passed the ranch hands’ cabins, he turned and left the road completely.
We drove through a field of flowering weeds and along a line of trees. A mile or more down the road, he stopped.
“See the hill beyond these trees? That’s where we’re headed.” He grabbed a backpack out of the back seat. “I brought water.”
“This ranch is so big. It’s a wonder people don’t get lost.” I petted Blue as he eased up beside me.
“I’m still learning my way around. Just wait until we get up the hill. You can see the entire ranch.” Garrett headed into the trees.
I stayed beside him. “You haven’t said how the conversation went.”
“Right. Yeah. It went really well. Dad was even more excited than I imagined.” Garrett draped an arm around me without breaking his stride. “And I might’ve let your name drop as part of the reason.”
“I found that out when your dad bought all the doughnuts I had left. I felt so bad because you were the one who made the decision. It wasn’t me.”
Garrett dropped his arm. “You were more of a help than you know. And the guys all loved the doughnuts. I might’ve stashed a couple extra aside to eat late tonight when I get a sugar craving.”
When we reached a narrow part of the trail, I stepped behind him and put a hand on his back. He reached behind him, and I shifted my hand into his. When the path widened and we were side by side again, I kept my hand where it was. Conversation quieted as we made our way up the hill. Halfway up, I stopped to pull off my hoodie.
“You okay? Need some water?” Garrett stepped closer to me.
I let go of his hand only long enough to take off my hoodie and tie it around my waist. “I’m good. It’s just too warm for that hoodie right now.”
He helped me over some rocks, and after thirty minutes of hiking, he squeezed my hand as we reached the top of the hill.
“This view is amazing!” I turned in a circle. “From up here, you can see for miles.”
“It’s pretty great. Dad’s house sits up high, but this spot has an even better view.” Garrett handed me a bottle of water. “I hiked up here the other day, and I couldn’t wait to show you.”
He yanked a bowl out of his backpack and poured water into it. Blue lapped it up.
“Can you imagine being out here at night? Instead of seeing city lights, you’d be wrapped in a blanket of stars.” I stepped closer to Garrett. “So those are the cabins we passed on the way up here, right?”
Standing with his shoulder touching mine, he pointed. “Yep. And if you look over there, that’s the goat farm. The main house is over there, and somewhere in that cluster of trees is my cabin.”
I walked to the other side of the plateau at the top of the hill. “This is amazing. I think I said that already.”
“One of the things Dad said when we talked was that he wants me to pick a place to build a house so that this ranch feels like home. And while I like my cabin, building a house has a sense of permanence to it.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I made another decision too.”
“What’s that?”
“The Henry family has owned Stargazer Springs Ranch for generations. And I think it’s only right that if I’m going to follow in my dad’s footsteps, I should be a Henry.”
“Changing your name is a big deal.” I stepped closer to him. “But if life hadn’t pulled you away from your dad, you’d have grown up as Garrett Henry.”
“True. I started the process last week. I’m hoping it will be completed by Christmas. Please don’t say anything.”
“Of course not.” I was fairly certain I wouldn’t have to dodge questions about Garrett changing his name. I rubbed his arm. “If you can figure out how to get a road to here, this would be the perfect spot for a house. You could have a rooftop patio.”
He stared at the horizon. “And a hot tub.”
Suddenly I was jealous of some unknown woman, the one who would enjoy forever with Garrett.
Crossing my arms, I tried to smile. “What about a hot tub on the rooftop patio?” I got the words out without choking up.
Blue nudged my leg, giving me the perfect excuse to bury my face in his fur. If a dog could tell that I was upset, it probably wasn’t a secret to Garrett either, but to his credit, he emptied the dog bowl and pretended I was just giving Blue attention.
“This will be a beautiful spot for a house.” I pulled my hoodie back on.
“We’ll see. I may end up building something closer to the main gate. Not sure yet.” He stuffed the bowl back into the backpack. “You ready to head back down?”
Acting like nothing was wrong when I was visibly upset was silly. Garrett and I were friends.
“I’m not upset with you, Garrett.”
He tugged me into a hug. “I know.” He held onto me and rested his chin on my head. “Have I mentioned that I don’t like Mosquito Boy?”
Laughing, I pulled away. “You’ve been talking to Eli.”
“How can you tell?” His blue eyes twinkled.
“Would you be upset if I didn’t stay for a soak in the hot tub?” I had some deep thinking to do, and the only thinking I’d do in a hot tub with Garrett would be indulging every sort of persuasion for why it didn’t matter that we spent so much time together and claimed we were only friends.
Looking down at me, he wiped a tear off my cheek. “I don’t mind, but I don’t like to see you upset. I’m not sure exactly what is bothering you. I have only a general idea. But when I said I didn’t expect anything from you, I meant every word. I don’t care what your parents think or what Parker thinks. I care what you think.”
Nodding, I whispered, “I don’t know what I think.”
His smile wasn’t what I expected, but it calmed me.
“We’re still friends?” The tease in his voice lightened the mood.
“Yes. And I’m still staying at the cabin for Christmas. Just promise me . . .” I wasn’t sure I could get the words out, but they needed to be said.
“What’s that?”
I inhaled, thinking through the words so that they wouldn’t come out jumbled. “When you meet someone—someone you’d want to date—promise me that you won’t let the opportunity go.” As much as it would sting to see him with someone else, I wanted him to be happy . . . and not alone.
He needed someone who could make him happy day . . . and night.
Garrett stared at the landscape and rubbed the scruff on his jaw. After a second, he met my gaze. “I promise that when I meet someone who captures my heart, I will expend every last ounce of my energy to capture hers.” His eyebrows lifted. “Does that make you feel better?”
“Yes.” I could enjoy our friendship, knowing that he’d move on when he found a special someone. Now, I didn’t have to think about it anymore.
“Since I don’t expect to meet anyone new in the next three weeks, I was hoping you’d be my plus one for Eli’s wedding.” He flashed a smile that somehow made sunlight dance in his eyes. “Just friends.”
“Sure. But if you do meet someone, tell me.”
“I’ll keep you completely updated on my love life.” The tease was back in his voice.
Blue barked.
“Garrett is funny, isn’t he?”
There hadn’t been any great revelations, but I felt better about our friendship. I loved being friends with Garrett, and if he was comfortable with how things were, no other opinion mattered.
We started back down the hill toward the truck, and when I tried to imagine how Garrett would look in a suit, I almost tripped.
He reached back and grabbed my hand. “Careful.”
All thoughts of Garrett in a suit needed to be saved for when I wasn’t in danger of rolling down a hill.