Page 5 of Dandelion Sighs

A beat of triumph hit my veins. A tiny win, and meaningless, but I’d take it. “I remember her. How is she?”

“Good.” He grinned and held an arm out for me to choose a side. When I slid onto a bird-poop-free section of the seat, he sat across from me. His brown eyes had darker striations, creating a maze within. He also had a granite jaw and wide shoulders. With such an easygoing and supportive first impression, I didn’t realize how big and…hard…he was. “She’s married with four kids. Living in Crocus Valley and working at the vet’s office. All the Dukes are back in town, actually.”

“Your family left, and then you all moved back?” Mine was never that close.

He nodded, the corners of his eyes crinkling. His cowboy hat shaded part of his face, making him almost mysterious. “Lily started it, and the rest of us came back one by one.” The corner of his jaw jumped. “My grandma, uh, left some property to everyone.”

“I guess that’s what brought me back too.”

“Yeah?”

I cupped the yogurt container. “Mom and Dad started the resort when I was five. I grew up following Dad around working there. He passed away ten years ago, and Mom took over everything he was doing, on top of her tasks. She knew what that place meant to me, so she left it to me.”

I’d like to think that anyway. Most likely, it was because my brothers both operated ranches, and I had nothing to my name. I needed their support after her death.

“Your mom kept it going by herself?”

Barely, but I gave him a firm nod. “And if she could do it, so can I.” Why did I sound like I had to convince myself?

“Damn right.”

I laughed. “You’re officially the only one who has faith in me.”

“Don’t you have a couple of brothers?”

I appreciated how stunned he looked. “I’m the baby of the family. The only girl, and a daddy’s one at that. Or I was.” Hadn’t I dumped enough on Jasper? He made it easy, and it was nice to have a connection in the area that wasn’t one of my employees. I had nothing to prove to Jasper, but I’d started at rock bottom with him. “Anyway, no. My brothers aren’t cheering me on, and we’ve gone back to hardly talking.”

“Oof.”

“Yeah. I just hope they aren’t right.”

“They won’t be,” he said easily. “What’d you do before this?”

“Real estate.”

“Did you like it?”

“Hated every minute, and I was the lowest earner every year.” I couldn’t quit admitting all my failings to this guy. We just met. I barely remembered him, which meant he was likely playing with the cool kids across the playground. Football, kickball, dodgeball. I did anything that didn’t require me to get picked last for the team. “Then Mom passed, and she left the resort to me.”

“She had your back.”

I smiled and warmth flowed through me. He was wrong, but I couldn’t get enough of his quick confidence. “She wanted me to be happy.” That wasn’t a lie. “I’m going to try to make her proud and show my brothers I can do it.” And do a job I enjoy.

He gave his head a shake. “I don’t get it. Why don’t they think you can do it? I’ll always be ride or die for my sisters. My brother too, but he’s got his shit together better than anyone I’ve ever known.”

I nibbled on my lower lip. His gaze dipped to my mouth and I was tempted to lick out, just to see what he would do.

Not the time, Sheridan! “They think I’ve been bailed out or helped more than them. Dad bought me a car when each brother had to work for one. But I did work. At the resort!” When he nodded, I gathered my courage to say the rest. I’d already dumped everything and my mother on him. “I left college after sophomore year, and that upset my dad. Then I worked odd jobs, mostly at hotels.” I wanted to capture the freedom I’d had trailing my dad around as a kid. “Then just as my real estate career was drawing its last breath, Mom passed and left me an escape plan. I’ve got to make this work, and I have to do it on my own.”

Sympathy softened his eyes. “What happens if you don’t?”

“We sell and split the profits.”

“Ah. And if you draw a bunch of debt, that eats into their inheritance.”

“Yep. So I’ve gotta make this work.” I spun the container in my grip. It’s warm, like Mom was with me. Maybe she sent this guy?

As if he’d be interested in me. My first impression left a lot of room for improvement, and it wasn’t like I was in a place for a relationship when I had so much else on my plate.