Chapter 8
Dan dunkedhis head in the ice-cold water streaming from the outside faucet behind thebarn.
It washed away the field dust he'd accumulated on today's long ride, but did nothing for the ache burning insidehim.
He turned the off spigot, blinked water away from his eyes and shook his head like adog.
"You really gonna let her getaway?"
He stumbled, sure his ears were playing tricks on him. When he focused against the harsh mid-afternoon sunlight, he caught sight of Nate standing a couple yards away, arms crossed like they’d been the day he'd confronted Dan outside thebarn.
"What?"
Maybe if he pretended he hadn't heard, his boss would goaway.
"I asked if you're going to let the best thing that's ever happened to you get away. Megan," Nate drawled, as if Dan were too slow to figure out what hemeant.
Dan didn't want to talk about it. Not with Nate. Not withanyone.
He only shook hishead.
But Nate wouldn’t be deterred. "Somebody like her wanted to be with me, I'd be all over that. What's wrong withyou?"
Dan gritted his teeth. "You've made it plenty clear you don't want anything to do with me. Why don't you leave italone?"
Nate's expression shifted from disinterest to something sharper. He stepped closer. His hands came down and fisted at his sides. "Imade itclear?"
Anger, guilt, frustration rose up to choke Dan. Somehow he still managed to grind out, "I wish you'd just take a swing at me. Get it over with. I know I ruined our friendship. You think I don't know that? You think I don't regret it every singleday?"
Nate's expression changed again. He stepped closer, and Dan braced for a punch. It would hurt, but maybe it would take some of the edge off of missingMegan.
"I don't want to punch you, you big dope. I've been waiting for you to say sorry so I can tell you I forgiveyou."
What?
Hehad?
Dan was dumbfounded. "I'm sorry." His voice emergedrough.
"I forgive you.Dope."
Nate hauled him in, not for a punch but for a man-hug. One that Dan had never let himself hopefor.
Nate shoved him as he pulled out of the hug. "About time,man."
Moisture burned in Dan's eyes but he blinked it away. He could only give Nate so muchammunition.
"Come for dinner tonight," Nate said. "Kayla will set you straight about the gooddoctor."
Dan shook his head. "Ican't."
Nate’s smile faded, and his eyesnarrowed.
"It's... really hard for me to leave the Triple H. There's still a part of me… it's like an itch I can never scratch. A little devil sitting on my shoulder, telling me to drive past your house and hit up the nearestcasino."
Nate clapped him on the shoulder. "Admitting it is one of the steps to recovery, man. Come for dinner, and then come home to the Triple H. I'll call and check up on you, if you want. You can't stay isolated out hereforever."
That Nate had slipped right back into their years-long friendship felt right. An enormous gift Dan had neverexpected.
