Libby smiled. “He’s fine. Thank you for your concern. Unfortunately, Chance set himself back helping me find Cowboy, so I’m committed to doing everything I can to get him better, starting with these.” She held up the red bands. “We were just getting ready to do some of Chance’s exercises.”
Truth was, Chance was getting ready for a different kind of exercising.
“I can help,” Billy said with enthusiasm.
Libby agreeably walked Billy through the use of the red bands, leaving Chance to ponder what ifs. What if they hadn’t been interrupted? What if Libby was really finished with her suit of a boyfriend? What if she was amenable to taking things on his terms? What if she wasn’t?
“How about I go get you two something to drink and then come back to help with the rest of the exercises,” Libby said, having finished the lesson.
Whether Chance had just lost the perfect opportunity or dodged a bullet, he wasn’t sure.
*
She’d finally made a half decent meal, if she did say so herself. Having put away the leftovers of the simple chicken stew she’d made from a recipe in one of the cookbooks, Libby wiped clean the kitchen’s white tiled countertop as she waited for the popcorn to finish popping in the microwave.
That kiss they’d shared was on her mind, and no amount of busywork could shake it from her thoughts. Could he still care? There certainly was a spark there. If only she could fan it into something more, something meaningful…and permanent. She wished she had the self-confidence to woo a man. But the reality was, this wasn’t just any man. This was a man who knew her and all her warts, a man she had hurt badly, a man who hadn’t forgiven her and probably never would.
She wasn’t the kind of girl who dreamed of excitement and adventure. She yearned for cozy and homey. Maybe because after her mother had died, nothing in her life had felt that way.
So why did if feel so right living with Chance, when he’d made it clear he didn’t want a life with Libby? But then there was that kiss. That kiss said he wanted more, but more of what?
Her feelings for him were growing deeper every day.
Watching Chance struggle through his physical therapy had left her admiring his determination, his perseverance, and strength of character, which had helped him overcome what must have been blistering pain. Those same qualities had gotten him past a mother walking out and a wife walking away.
She needed to show those same qualities to get him back and get past her father’s daily phone call filled with recriminations and threats to call Ben.
Life would be a lot less complicated if she could love Ben in the way he deserved. Soon she’d have to face him and tell him the whole truth—about Chance and what her heart was telling her. She didn’t relish the meeting, but she knew it was only right to do it face-to-face and not over the phone. He deserved a full in-person explanation.
Even though Chance might never forgive her, it wouldn’t be right to marry someone else unless she was truly over Chance. Besides, she wasn’t ready to give up on winning him back. Not yet.
She’d walked out on him and had been too ashamed to face him until she had to. If she’d had an ounce of guts, she would have stood by him. That she hadn’t revealed a flaw in her character, one she’d been trying to correct ever since. Standing up to her father about the job had been part of that correction. Facing Chance had been another part. Meeting with Ben would be yet another.
She had to have the courage to face issues, not run from them. That meant that she needed to explain to Chance her reasons, however inadequate, for doing what she did five years ago and hope he’d show some modicum of understanding, if not forgiveness. Her first attempt in the parking lot of the Cattleman’s Club hadn’t gone so well. She needed to try again.
Her second round of job interviews was scheduled for tomorrow, so she shouldn’t allow herself to be distracted. As it happened, Chance was acquainted with some of the members on the interviewing committee, and he had spent that afternoon prepping her.
Neither had attempted to reignite the passion of that searing kiss. He had been all business as he went through the names. Knowing whether the interviewer was a rancher, a stock supplier, or an administrator was helpful in understanding the potential concerns Chance certainly had peppered her with enough practice questions. Now she had to face those interviewers and win them over.
But first she had to face Chance.
“Thanks for all your info on the Denver stock show. And the rundown on some of the people I might interview with tomorrow. I would have never known Dan Smith, the livestock foreman, had gone to our high school.” Libby set the large bowl of popcorn on the bed next to Chance, who was sprawled on top of the covers with his back supported by a couple of pillows against the headboard. Dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt to hide his yellowing bruises, only the black stretch boot on his propped-up foot provided any clue he’d been injured.