Since Ryker and Weston have dish duty tonight, I stand and grab my jacket off the back of the chair.Sawyer does the same, but he heads into the kitchen to say his goodbyes to Weston and Ryker.
“Thanks for dinner tonight,” I tell Linda.
“Anytime, honey.”She lowers her voice and leans in.“If you have feelings for Katelyn, don’t sit on them too long.Nothing like regret to break a heart.”She smiles softly in Sawyer’s direction.
“Isn’t that the truth?”I pull her in for a hug.“Call if you need anything.”
“You know I will.”She returns my hug, then offers Sawyer one, too.“You are a great man,” she tells him.“You just need to work on your timing.”
“Yeah.Thanks.I’ll see you tomorrow.”His tone is defeated, and I imagine he’s wondering just what Jack has to say to her over lunch.
Will he fight for her if Anastasia says yes?Or will he give up and move on?
“Yes, you will.”She pats his cheek, then heads into the kitchen to try to force Weston and Ryker into letting her help with cleanup.Something neither of them will allow.
Sawyer pulls the door open, and I follow him out onto the small porch.Overhead, the sky is already alive with whatever storm is coming this way.Lightning flashes in the distance, and the earthy scent of coming rain clings to the air.
It’s one of my favorite times to be here in Stormwatch Landing.This calm before the storm always feels soalive.
“You good?”I ask Sawyer.
He shakes his head.“He’s not good enough for her.”
“Because you’d be better?”
He turns toward me.“Yeah.I would.”
I clasp a hand on his shoulder.“At least you’ll admit it to me.Now you just need to figure out how to tell her.”
“Kind of like you need to figure out how to tell Katelyn you’ve got a thing for her?I have eyes, too, you know.And the knowledge that you’ve been swinging by for coffee every morning even though we both know you prefer to make yours at home.”
“Can’t a guy support his friend’s shop?”
“Sure, but you’ve always done that by buying your coffee and supplies directlyfromAnastasia so you can make it at home.”
Because I know that Sawyer won’t let it go unless I admit it, I sigh.“I can’t get a read on her, and it’s driving me a little wild.”
“A little?”He laughs.“I tell you what.How about I meet you there tomorrow morning and we can both daydream about what we want but can’t have.”