West of Forever (Heartstone Ranch #1)(14)

Just then the door chimes, and we both turn to see Tristan Stone enter.

My heart immediately starts to race. I haven’t seen him since our drive home. I’ve talked to him over text, dreamed about him, and imagined seeing him again, but my memory did nothing to prepare me for the reality of it.

He looks heart-stoppingly beautiful.

Do men look beautiful? I vote yes.

He’s wearing a plaid shirt and a pair of jeans that does his body good. His cowboy hat sits low, shielding his eyes and giving him a mysterious vibe.

Every part of me feels as though it’s come to life. My body is damn near vibrating, and I hate myself for it.

Slowly, his head lifts and he pulls his hat off. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Suzanne walks forward. “You’re not, Tristan. Are you here to pick up the order for your sister?” she asks, glancing at me and mouthing: Sorry.

I clear my throat and look down at my feet.

“Yes, I am…but also I was told I’m signed up to help with boxing something?”

“Oh! You’re volunteering?” she asks, and then, with wide eyes, looks to me.

“Yes, Sadie apparently signed me up.” The tone in his voice tells me that he is not happy about this either.

Suzanne grins. “I see. Well, let me go grab the order, and since you and Lark are both here, you can work on putting some boxes together.”

He looks to me. “You’re volunteering?”

I nod.

“Of course,” he says under his breath.

Suzanne squeezes my arm as she goes past me, heading into the back, leaving me alone with Tristan.

Great.

“Hey,” I say softly.

Boy, I’m so good at this.

He smiles. “Hey.”

“I really am sorry about the whole cops thing,” I get out, feeling even stupider than I did before.

“It’s no big deal.”

It is, but I appreciate him letting me off the hook. “Okay.”

“I mean, it kind of is,” he cuts in after I dropped it.

“You just said it wasn’t.”

He shrugs. “I lied. It’s a big deal. One that I think you should repent over.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I’m right on top of that.”

“Good, you should be.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Anyway. So you’re helping?”

Obviously, Lark. You already know that.

Slowly he bobs his head up and down. “That I am. And it seems you are as well.”

“Yup.”

I shift closer to him, and just as I do, someone walks in front of the big window, stops, and with mouth wide open stares. Like, not just looking, but face pressed up to the glass now. “Dear God,” I mutter.

Tristan turns where I’m looking and grunts. “Great. This will be in the damn paper. Headline will be something ridiculous like: ‘Stone Holds a Gatlin Hostage in Bakery’.”

“I think you’re lacking in imagination. It would be more like: ‘A Sticky Situation as a Stone Pins a Gatlin’.”

He chuckles. “Now you’re giving the Infinity Ridge Gazette a bit too much credit for their use of puns.”

“Probably.”

Tristan moves closer, his head coming near mine. My heart stops before finding its rhythm again. “We could really give them something to talk about,” he teases.

Or at least I think he’s teasing.

I hope he is.

Maybe I hope he’s not, but I am not going to be stupid on this.

No, I’m going to be smart, step back, pretend I’m righteously angered by his stupid suggestions, and go break up with my boyfriend.

Instead of that, though, my cheeks redden just a touch, and I tuck my hair behind my ear. “I think…I’ve already done enough stupid things.” I stare into his brown eyes.

He stares back. “Probably. You did get your truck stuck in the mud.”

My jaw drops, and I place my hands on my hips. “Excuse me, it was storming.”

Tristan leans against the glass case. “Yes, I’m aware, but I didn’t get stuck.”

“Well, aren’t you special,” I say, taking a step closer to him.

He pushes off the case, moving toward me. “I think I am.”

I think he’s an ass.

“You’re not,” I counter.

“I’m not so sure you believe that.” Another step.

God, if we keep this up, I’m going to be wrapped around him soon.

Just then Suzanne comes around, and we both jump back. “Sorry! I had to find the other pies that I put aside.” She walks around, extending a box to him. “Oh, good, you didn’t kill each other.” Then she looks to the window. “What the hell are Mrs. Powell and Mrs. Canta doing plastered against the window?”

“Staring at us,” I say with a heavy sigh.

Suzanne laughs. “All right then.”

Tristan lifts the box. “Thank you. I’m assuming Roni paid already?”

“Uh, she didn’t. She said you’d take care of it…”

I love this right now. That is so something I would do to my brother.

“Of course she did.” He places the box down and then reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet. “Here you go. Now what do you need me to do for this volunteer thing?”