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"You want me to go into more details? All right." He blew out a breath. "Because this isn't... We really are friends, Beverly. Your question just threw me off guard."

She tilted her head to the side. "You asked me about my dream."

"I know, and turnaround is fair play so... I want to be successful. yes, I know I'm a cowboy so there's not real success in my line of work, but I want to do my work with a smile on my face and not let anyone down. I want to make a name for myself. How exactly, I don't know yet, but more than all of that, I want to help others in some way." He wrinkled his nose. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do think that helping other people should be one of the main goals of life. It's what gives our lives meaning and purpose."

He glanced at Beverly, wondering if she found his words too grandiose or silly. To his relief, though, she just smiled softly and nodded in agreement.

"That's beautiful," she said quietly. "I'm glad you have such strong values about helping others. You've already helped me so much, far more than just giving me a chance with all of the work here at the orchard. And I'm sorry. I know we're friends. I just... The thought of losing anyone... It's scary. The reason why I don't have a lot of friends is because of my work schedule. It's just not... It's not a priority, and I'm so glad my mom is back home, but... She's going to go back to work eventually, maybe in the canyon, maybe elsewhere... and I'll be alone. I just... I don't feel like I have anyone right now who understands me completely." She looked away then, as though embarrassed.

"I am here for you," he said firmly. "As a friend. I'm not going anywhere, even after I run out of jobs for you to do here at the orchard with me."

Beverly laughed softly. "I'm glad we're friends."

He grinned at her, but he couldn't help being a little disappointed in himself for not asking her out.

Roy didn't just want to be her friend.

He wanted to be her boyfriend.

ChapterSixteen

Since Beverly was sticking around a little longer, she didn't mind that she and Roy took a longer lunch break. They had to discuss what precisely Roy had in mind for the grotto, after all.

Roy said he would handle getting all of the material they needed, and they finished up the work for that night, and then by the next night, the first major project was finished.

"Tomorrow, bright and early, we'll get to work on the grotto," she said. "I'm excited for the project."

"Me too." Roy beamed at her.

"Ah, if you don't mind... if this isn't... Never mind. it's none of my business."

"You can go ahead and ask me anything," Roy assured her.

"I was just wondering how you can afford to do the grotto, the materials, hiring me..."

"I don't have a lot of hobbies," he said. "I just save up what I can outside of bills, my apartment, food... It doesn't take a lot to make me happy."

"No hobbies?"

"I love to go fishing. My dad has a boat, so all we have to do is buy lure."

"Do you and your bothers all love to fish?"

"Yes, all of us. Have you ever gone?"

"My father took me once. I didn't... We didn't catch anything. I wouldn't stop talking long enough for us to get any nibbles. My father said that I scared all of the fish away."

"It doesn't have to be completely silent for fish to bite, but the steadier your hand..."

"I was maybe six at the time, so I didn't have as steady a hand as I do now."

"You have to be steady-handed when you're wielding that hammer of yours."

They laughed.

"Well, the project's all done," he said. "How about—"

"It's not, though. Not until tomorrow. Can we get all of the material to be finished tomorrow?"


Tags: Sierra Gamble Romance