and old enough to be his grandmother. She reminded herself that he also knew exactly how charming he could be. It went a long way toward cooling her jets.
She took a deliberate sip of coffee. “I’m not a total hermit, you know.”
He chuckled. “I’m glad to hear it. And sitting on a bench in the sunshine no less. What’s the occasion?”
She considered for a moment and then wondered what she had to lose by being truthful. “Drowning my sorrows.”
The half smile evaporated. “Are you feeling okay?”
Meg fought back irritation. This is how it would always be. Something would go wrong and everyone would automatically assume it was her health.
“I’m fine.”
When she didn’t elaborate Clay shifted his weight and looked pointedly at the seat beside her. “May I?”
The fact that he asked rather than simply took it upon himself to sit down made something warm curl inside Meg’s stomach. For all her feminine reactions, they were friends. Or at least they used to be. She slid the brownie back inside the wrapper and nodded. “Of course.”
His large form seemed to dwarf the wood and iron bench and Meg swallowed. When she met his gaze, his chocolate eyes held concern. Maybe things weren’t as over for her as she’d thought. Being next to Clay, having his undivided attention, brought all sorts of old feelings to the surface. Feelings that would be better if they remained buried, all things considered.
“Anything I can do?”
Of all the things she expected him to say, the simple offer had been furthest from her mind. “Not really,” she answered. This was her problem, and it was up to her to find a solution—if there was one. “Looks like my big plan is a bust after all.”
His brow pulled together in the way she knew it would. “What do you mean, it’s a bust?”
“I met with the bank today. I can’t get a loan, and no loan, no expansion. Simple.”
Only three days ago she had been on horseback, looking down over the ranch and sharing her plans with Clay. She’d been able to see it all in her head—the new building with the riding ring, the horses grazing in the pasture, the corral where she taught youngsters how to ride and put their mounts through their paces.
Now it was all gone in a puff of smoke, and she felt foolish for telling him anything. She hated failure, but in particular she hated failing in Clay’s eyes. Clay had always done every single thing he’d put his mind to. Nothing had ever stood in his way, no matter how much adversity he’d faced, and he’d had his share.
“I’m sorry, Meg. Maybe there’s a way you can get the bank to reconsider.”
She shook her head and tossed her coffee cup in the garbage can next to her bench. The flavor had suddenly gone stale and flat. “I don’t see how. I have no collateral to back me up. The only way is to get Mom and Dad to cosign and I refuse to let them take on the burden of this project. I won’t put the ranch at risk. They’ve just paid off the mortgage and they’re still just scraping by.”
Clay remained silent, which only served to cement the facts in Meg’s mind. “Even if I did get financing, I would have a hard time insuring the loan,” she continued, the final nail in the coffin. “With my medical history …”
Clay put his hand on her knee, a gesture she was sure was meant to be reassuring, but his touch seemed to burn through her trousers right through to her skin. She bit down on her lip.
“Don’t give up yet, Meg. When life puts up a roadblock, you have three choices.”
“I do?” She lifted her head and met his gaze. The half smile was back and he patted her knee before removing his hand.
“You can give up, you can bust through it, or you can go around it.”
“I don’t want to give up.”
“Then don’t. It might take some time, but a way will come. You’ll see.”
But she didn’t want to take her time. Time was too precious these days and she was hungry for everything. How could she explain that to him? She couldn’t, not without going into details about the last year. Details she wasn’t comfortable sharing and ones that she knew Clay wouldn’t be comfortable hearing. There was nothing like staring death in the eye to prompt a sense of urgency to live in the present.
“I hope you’re right.”
“Of course I am. You’re not a quitter, Meg.” He nudged her arm. “So you stopped for a chocolate fix?”
“I shouldn’t have. Lord knows it doesn’t solve anything.” She brushed off his question but couldn’t help the tiny ray of hope that still glimmered. Clay didn’t have a solution, but he wasn’t simply nodding his head and saying sorry she’d failed. He believed in her, and he had no idea how much that meant at this moment.
He laughed. “I’ve lived with a woman long enough to know that chocolate brownies can cure a lot of ills.”
Meg smiled. His aunt Stacy. The woman had stepped in when Clay had been a boy and raised him as her own. Now she was getting a second chance at love and Meg thought it was lovely. “Well, maybe.” She nudged his elbow back. “But eventually the brownie’s gone and reality is still there, staring you in the face.”
“Reality is, you only fail if you quit. So don’t quit.”
She turned her head to study his face. It was utterly relaxed, showing a confidence in her that she didn’t necessarily feel in herself. She might have confusing feelings where Clay was concerned, but today she was glad he’d stopped. She’d needed the dose of no-nonsense optimism.
“Thanks,” she said quietly. “For the pep talk.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Lots of people will get behind you, you’ll see. Speaking of, did you see Jen inside?”
“No. She wasn’t in.”
“She’s not in the bakery as often these days, I hear.” He nodded at a neighbor passing by, then rested his elbows on his knees. “Andrew says he wishes she’d take it easier now that there’s a baby on the way. She has catering jobs booked right up until her due date he says. Stacy’s wedding is one of them.”
“When’s Stacy’s big day?”
Clay crossed an ankle over his knee. Lord, where did he get the energy? He couldn’t seem to sit still and it made Meg smile.
“Three weeks. The second Saturday in April. She’s practically moved everything to Pincher Creek already.”
Meg knew Stacy Gregory had reconnected with her high-school sweetheart and they were finally making a go of it. “It seems odd thinking of your place without her,” she said. For years it had been the two of them running the Gregory ranch. The thought of Clay alone in the rambling house left an empty feeling in Meg’s heart.
“I won’t deny I’m going to miss her,” he admitted. “She’s all the family I’ve got. But I’m a big boy,” he replied with a low
