Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch (The Ryan Family #1) by Carolyn Brown

“Little bit,” Jesse answered.

Addy almost smiled. Jesse had never been a guy who talked a lot. He had probably exchanged more words with her than anyone else in the world. She wondered if he’d overcome the “man of few words syndrome” as she had tagged it when they were in high school.

“Any overseas? Did you ever run into Cody?” Grady asked.

“My brother and I were in different places. Haven’t seen him in almost two years now. We all made it home for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. He couldn’t get away last fall,” Jesse answered.

Addy was surprised that he had answered with more than a simple yes or no. She could feel Jesse’s eyes on her, but she couldn’t look right at him again.

Stop it! she scolded herself. You’ve got to live on the same ranch with him, so you can’t avoid him forever.

Her hands trembled as she took a biscuit from the platter and sent them on to Sonny. “Mia and I will be glad to move out into the bunk house, and let you have your old room back.”

“Oh, no!” Pearl shook her head. “The whole reason we hired you full time was so you’d be right here close by if I need you to help with Sonny.”

“I’m glad to unload my stuff in the bunk house,” Jesse said. “As kids, us boys couldn’t wait to grow up and get to live out there. Last time all three of us were home, we stayed out there. I got to admit, it wasn’t as glamourous as we thought it would be, but it will suit me just fine.”

The only time he said more than a couple of words was when he was nervous. Despite her resolve not to look at him, she stole a quick glance across the table and caught his eye again. Just like old times when they didn’t even need words, she could actually feel his angst. Was it because seeing her affected him as much as seeing him did her?

“Well, you got the bunkhouse all to yourself unless Cody makes up his mind to come home,” Sonny said.

“Has he mentioned that kind of thing?” Grady asked.

“I can hear it in his voice when he calls us,” Pearl answered. “He’s weary with that way of life.”

“With Addy and Mia’s help and the locals that we hire from town during busy times, we don’t use the bunkhouse anymore,” Sonny said. “You might have to chase out some spiders and mice and talk your mother out of some linens. No one has stayed out there since you boys were all home the last time.”

Addy felt her cheeks burning at the thought of what had gone on in that bunkhouse twenty years ago. She and Jesse had been emotional about him leaving Honey Grove, and she had cried, and…

The blush deepened, and she shook the memory from her mind.

“Great!” Mia said. “I didn’t want to move out there anyway, and I doubt that Jesse would feel comfortable in a bedroom that’s painted lavender. Mama loves that shade of purple.”

“I remember,” Jesse said softly.

Addy wondered if he remembered anything else about that night. She had spent endless nights staring out the bedroom window at the bunkhouse in the distance and reliving that night she and Jesse had spent in the bunkhouse.

“Earth to Addy,” Grady chuckled.

“I’m sorry.” She turned slightly to focus on him. “Did someone say something? I was off in another world.”

“Evidently.” Grady grinned. “I asked if you would pass the muffins. I’ve got time to eat one for breakfast dessert before Sonny and I have our weekly visit.”

Addy passed the basket of blueberry muffins to Grady and then lowered her gaze to her half-full plate of food. Even after twenty years and so many life events had passed, she still got flutters in her stomach when Jesse Ryan was anywhere near her. They had discussed everything from the time neither of them could even talk plainly. He knew when Addy had gotten her first kiss. She knew that he had had a crush on Jenny Lynn Baker in the seventh grade. Then that last night before he left, things had gone from a goodbye kiss to a helluva lot more right out there in the bunkhouse. The next morning, she had awakened earlier than Jesse and she had slipped away before daylight. That was the last time she had laid eyes on him until right now.

She had thought that not being at the ranch when Jesse and his brothers came home would help, but maybe running from him had been a mistake.

“I don’t want to ruin our friendship,” she had said that night just before they started making out. “If we dated or even had a fling, things would be awkward between us. I don’t want to chance that.”

“What if we’re meant to be together?” Jesse had toyed with a strand of her hair.

“We’re eighteen, Jesse. We’ve got so much to do before we even think like that.” But he’d kissed her, and the rest was history. She had used the Jesse Ryan yardstick to measure every man she had dated since then, and they’d all come up short. Now Jesse was back. Time could not be turned back, and life had gone on for both of them.

“You’re doing it again,” Mia told her mother.

“I’m sorry—again.” Addy blushed and passed the muffins to Grady.

Grady chuckled. “My best friend’s mind is off in la-la land this morning. I already finished a muffin, and even though I could eat another one, the elastic in my scrub pants is already stretched pretty far. Sonny and I are going to the office for a checkup now.”