Page 41 of Where She Belongs

“But it’s more than that. After I moved in with my aunt, things were just… different.” She blew out a breath. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but honestly, I don’t know where I fit anymore. I don’t fit in with high society. And here?” She gestured with a wave of her hand. “I’m not sure I belong here, either.”

He shook his head at that. “You belong here, Rylee. You always have. This is where you were always meant to be.”

She met his hard stare with one of her own. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Tate.”

“That’s okay.”

Rylee laughed again. “Hardly. I can’t⁠—”

“I’ll help you. And as far as everything else goes?”

She seemed to hold her breath while he hunted for what to say. He couldn’t tell her she’d be an amazing mother. He already knew she’d brush him off. These were fears so deeply rooted in her very soul that it would take time to work through them. All he could do was assure her that she wasn’t alone. But would that be enough?

“Rylee…” he whispered. He searched her eyes as he moved closer, then his focus dipped to her mouth. He wondered for a moment if she’d push him away if he tried to kiss her. Then he chastised himself. She didn’t need the complication of knowing how he felt just yet. What she needed right now were reassurances that everything would turn out right. “You⁠—”

A loud banging sound came from the front door and both of them jumped. Rylee’s face was an adorable shade of red as she pushed the album off her lap and darted for the hole in the floor. She didn’t even look back to see if he was following her.

With a resigned sigh, Tate gathered up the items she’d pulled from the box and placed them neatly inside. He didn’t bother closing up the attic, not even after his feet touched the floor. He heard the women before he turned the hallway corner. One in particular was all too familiar.

“And this basket is filled with things from town,” Faith gushed, pushing an oversized basket filled with everything from produce to books to a few knick-knacks.

Rylee accepted the basket, surprise plastered on her face. “This is…”

Faith’s eyes collided with Tate the second he came into view. But so did the eyes of five other women. Sammie, Lacey, Jane, Wendy, and Hallie. Each of them had married into the Sagebrush family right along with his sister. Faith’s mouth popped open. “Tate? What are you doing here?”

Rylee glanced from Faith to Tate and back.

“Oh, where are my manners?” Faith laughed. “Tate’s my older brother.”

“And this is Rylee. You remember her, right?” Tate interjected before Rylee had the chance. “She lived here until she was about ten.”

At that, Faith gasped. “Oh! I do remember a little girl who used to hang around our place when I was younger. That was you?”

Tate folded his arms and leaned against the wall as all seven women chattered in the doorway. It struck him how much Rylee fit in with these women. She had such an easygoing demeanor, it made him wonder if this was how she was around the people in her aunt’s social circles.

She caught his stare and her cheeks pinked all over again. Was she thinking about their quiet moment in the attic? Because he couldn’t get his mind off it. He’d been so close to just going for it and kissing her. He’d wanted to show her just how much she belonged.

Not just in Rocky Ridge, but with him.

A lump formed in his throat as he allowed himself to pretend they had a shot at becoming more. Then someone’s elbow dug into his side and he yelped.

Faith had separated herself from her little welcoming party and she was giving him a strange look.

“What?” he muttered, rubbing at the tender spot in his side.

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t give me that. What are you doing here? Jason had mentioned you were helping with a barn that burned down, but…” she spread her arms out and made a show of looking around. “This doesn’t look like a barn to me.”

“The barn is just about done. Rylee needed help getting into her attic. That was all I was doing.”

Faith arched a brow. “Uh huh. Sure. It’s not like you’ve suddenly developed an attraction to someone out of nowhere, right? Because Jason said⁠—”

He cut her a sharp look, one he hoped told her to stay quiet. “It’s… complicated.”

A slow, measured grin spread across her face. At least it seemed like she was making an effort not to squeal out loud. “Complicated? Does that mean what I think it means? Are you two⁠—”

“Nothing has happened. And I’m not sure it will. Did she tell you she plans to leave by the end of the summer?”

Faith frowned. “Oh.”