“Oh yes. So many sweet little ones up there at that ranch. Does my heart good. They’re like grandchildren to me.” She beamed at Becca. “Just like yours will be.”

Awkward. But sweet, in a way. “You have a big heart, Hannah.”

“I just hope that lumberjack—excuse me, cowboy—of yours sees that you have a big one, too, and it needs snatching up.”

Becca chuckled. After well over a year of Hannah constantly dropping hints at Becca, she could take a “subtle” nudge like that easily. “Actually he said he’s got a surprise for me.”

“A ring?” She gasped. “So fast?”

“I . . . no, I don’t think it’s a ring.” Becca furrowed her brows. It wasn’t . . . was it? They were casual. Even so, her heart skipped a beat. “I think he’s just trying to surprise me. Maybe for my birthday?” Though it wasn’t for another five months. “Or his birthday?”

“Well, if it’s jewelry, I need all the details first thing in the morning.”

“If it’s jewelry, you’ll hear me screaming with delight,” Becca added wryly.

“So you’d say yes, then?”

Would she? They were still getting to know each other, but what she knew of him, she adored. It felt very different from her last relationship, when there were quirks and irritations that she cheerfully ignored because she had a goal in mind and was trying to shape Greg into that person. This wasn’t about shaping Hank into the perfect groom at all. She just . . . liked being with him. Loved being in his arms. Loved his smile, loved hearing him talk. Loved his darling little girl. She didn’t want to rush anything, but at the same time . . . she didn’t want to wait around another ten years and hope for the best.

But that might sound desperate. Becca Loftis, getting married after a short period of dating to the next guy that asked her out? She had to be careful what she said to Hannah. So she just smiled and went with, “Provided there was a long engagement so we could get to know each other better? Sure.”

Hannah was clearly disappointed in her answer. “Thought you’d be done with long engagements, but to each their own.”

Ouch.

She hurried up and finished Hannah’s hair, easing off on the conversation to try to edge the woman toward the door. Once she was gone, she headed to the back room, pretending to stock up on shampoo. Instead, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, closing her eyes.

Thought you’d be done with long engagements.

She knew Hannah hadn’t meant to cut so deeply, but that one was going to be leaving a mark for quite some time.