That Night (Coming Home To The Grove 4)

I love it, but I’m still going to tell Trent no. “It’s beautiful.” Even I can hear the awe in my voice. But I continue. “But it’s not a good idea. I can’t rent from one of my clients.” I look away, uncomfortable under Derrick’s heavy stare. “It could cause issues.”

I’m sure Trent thinks I’m saying that because of me being the vet for the ranch. But in all honesty, it’s because of my night with Derrick. That’s what would cause issues. I’m a mess right now, with his brooding eyes staring a hole in me. Living on the ranch, even temporarily, would be too much. Plus, obviously, Derrick’s already proven that he’s an ass. Who walks out after the night we had and not say a word? And maybe it’s not just the reason that he behaved poorly leaving the way he did, but because I’m so attracted to him too. No, it’s better if I stay as far away as possible from Derrick Keller.

“I agree,” Derrick says. His quick and gruff agreement with my excuse settles the matter.

“Thank you for showing me the cabin, though, Trent. I promise I can live with some remodeling. It won’t be bad.”

I don’t wait for a response, but instead walk off the back porch, take another look at the view, and then circle the house to head back toward the barn. My abrupt departure leaves no choice for the two brothers. They follow behind me, and as soon as I get to my car, I assure them I’ll be back to check on the steer the next day.

Once I leave the Keller ranch, I know I need to do something to expend the confusing surge of energy I got upon seeing Derrick again. I decide I’m going to call it a day, and I send a group text to my friends to let them know I’m going to go work out at the gym and then go to Patty Cakes for dinner if any of them would like to join me. I welcome the company.9OliviaI work out with Rose, Lacy, and Chrissy at Get Fit. Carrie couldn’t make it because she had plans with the sheriff.

“Are you trying to kill us or what?” Lacy huffs at me. “You must be really motivated. I can’t even breathe. I’m going to have to cut back on Aunt Patty’s pastries.”

Rose is walking on the treadmill and smiles over at me. She looks so pretty with the small bump of her belly. She’s going to be a great mom. “Or does it have something to do with the guy you met the other night at the Roadside?”

Our whole workout I’ve been trying not to babble and complain about my guy trouble, but since Rose brought it up, I figure it’s fair game.

“I ran into him today, and he acted like nothing ever happened between us. He was even… offish. So what? He hates me now? The last time I saw him, he seemed as in to me as I was to him.”

“Hate is a strong word, Liv,” Chrissy says.

Rose shakes her head. “And they say women are the complicated sex. What a strange guy.”

“Maybe he’s married? Or maybe he got scared?” Rose puts in.

The conversation carries over to dinner at Patty Cakes, where Carrie joins us.

“Who is it?” Lacy asks.

I roll my eyes because as soon as I say it, I know Lacy’s going to know exactly who it is. He’s her fiance’s brother; of course she does. “You don’t want to know.”

They all pounce on that. Carrie leans forward in her chair—heck, they all do. “Who is it?” she asks, gripping on to my hand.

I take a deep breath to prepare myself for what I know is coming. This is Forest Grove, after all. They probably all know who he is. “Derrick Keller.”

“Derrick Keller? Wow, I didn’t see that coming,” Lacy says, wide-eyed. “That’s Trent’s older brother. He’s a character all right, but awful cute.”

“Yeah, he is,” I agree.

“Derrick is a good man, a hard worker, honest, quiet, and rough around the edges, but I can’t see him just ditching you at the bar if you two were having fun,” Lacy says with confusion etched on her face.

I am so glad I didn’t confess that it was actually the morning after where he pulled his disappearing act. Now that I know Derrick is Trent’s brother and Lacy knows him, I want to get off the topic and out of the danger zone of having the truth come out.

“You know, maybe I’m just being silly about all this. He could have gotten an important call or something that pulled him away. I guess I just found it strange that he left the way he did.”

“I don’t know, Liv. It’s weird. And you saw him today? How did he act?” Lacy asks, still skeptical about the fact that Derrick just left me. She must have a high opinion of him, and I don’t want to mess that up or come between family.