“Is that why you tried to copy Julie?” he asked.

“For me, she’s a great person to emulate. You’ve seen her window displays at the shop. Her house is even more delightful. I’d love for mine to look even half as nice.” She lifted her hands and shrugged. “I’m just no good at things like this.” She gestured at the wind chimes. “I don’t have an eye for what works and what doesn’t. I got too many, and they look junky. Plus they make so much noise that they keep me awake at night.”

“It seems a shame to just throw them away.”

“Yes, well, I doubt that they’re a hot yard sale item. Maybe so, though. I could try to sell them this summer, I guess.”

Wyatt had done what he’d come there to do, only he still felt as if there was unfinished business between them. He guessed that stemmed from the fact that she clearly didn’t believe that he found her attractive, which meant she probably didn’t think any other man would, either. He wished he knew how to convince her otherwise. Of all the people he might have attacked verbally, he shouldn’t have done it to her.

“May I ask you a question, Wyatt?”

He met her gaze. “Sure. Fire away.”

“I understand your reluctance to get involved with anyone again, but don’t you think it could behoove both of us to at least try to be friends? We’re going to bump into each other all the time. It would be more comfortable for everyone if we feel no need to avoid each other when I’m visiting the ranch.” Her cheeks went pink. “I promise not to hit on you. To be perfectly honest with you and also with myself, I probably need a good friend far more than I need a lover. Right now, I’m way too messed up to get involved romantically with anyone. But being friends is harmless.”

Wyatt’s first reaction was to say no. How much worse would his attraction to her become if he agreed to be her friend? A horny man could be around a woman he wanted only so much before his self-control snapped. Only something he saw in Erin’s eyes tugged at his heart. She truly did need a friend. And whether he liked it or not, they’d both be a lot better off if running into each other at the ranch was no big deal. So, instead of rejecting the idea, he asked, “Can friends share a casual meal out? It’ll be my treat if you can spare the time.”

She planted a hand atop her head. “My hair is a complete mess!”

Her eyes were also red and swollen from crying, but he wasn’t going to point that out when she already thought she looked awful. “Well, I’m not really dressed for dinner out, either. When I knocked off work for the day, all I did was shower and throw on clean clothes. But it’ll take you only a couple of minutes to freshen up, and the Cauldron has no dress code. Sissy and Ben keep the downstairs ambience pretty casual.”