“She talked trash about me?”
“Oh, no. She adores you.” She paused behind the gate, which swung open without hesitation. “Nice job on the hinge.”
“Thank you. So Jordie adores me, but what else did she say?”
“That you’ve always short-changed yourself.” She drove through the gate and out to the highway. “She’s hopeful you’re on a new path.”
“I am. Case in point. I’m here with you.”
“That’s flattering.”
“It’s not flattery. It’s the truth. Six months ago I left a nice woman. Absolutely nothing wrong with her, except… now I know what I was missing.”
She glanced at him. The heat in his gray eyes made her gulp. Heart pounding, she quickly brought her attention back to the road. “Now all I can think about is backseat sex.”
“No can do. I didn’t bring condoms. On purpose.”
“Good, because everyone around here knows my truck.” She took a shaky breath. “It’s a bad idea. But I want to. I keep telling myself the newness is making me crazy. It’ll wear off.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.”
“Yeah, I know. Certainly not during this drive to town. Let’s switch subjects. Who did you ask about me?”
“Everybody. I like to think I was subtle but I’ll bet they all knew I had a crush.”
“And what did you learn?”
“That they all look up to you as a leader. They think of Adam as a leader, too, but you’re the one they tend to ask for advice. You’re smart, steady, and have a Montana-sized heart.”
“Aww.”
“Claudie told me you two fought constantly growing up, but now you’re best friends.”
“We were desperate to stake out our territory. I know kids fight in families that aren’t blended, but getting insta-siblings adds rocket fuel to those battles.”
“You’d never know it now. This Bridger Bunch is solid.”
“You might not have said so if you’d been here when Dad died, but we’ve got our feet under us, now. We’re stronger than ever.”
“Looks like it from where I stand.” He hesitated. “I also know about your loser guy. But we don’t have to talk about him if you don’t want to.”
“It’s okay. I still can’t believe I fell for his sob-story routine, but I totally bought it.”
“Because you have a big heart.”
“And a blind spot, it seems. When he mistreated me I gave him grace because he was damaged. Turns out he enjoyed being mean. Made him feel powerful.”
“Sounds like a fudging bastard.”
“Yep. Sometimes abused people end up becoming abusers.”
“I suppose.”
“He lived rent-free in my head way too long, first when I believed I could help him and later when I felt like a fool because he didn’t want my help. He wanted control.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Here’s the good news. I clearly booted him out of my head and made room for someone new, because here you are.”
