My gaze snapped to his, my eyes narrowing dangerously. “Have you seen the way he lives? I wouldn’t step foot in his house unless I wanted to get hepatitis.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“Go see for yourself.”
“And Bailey? Have you given up on that?”
Just her name sent a spear of pain through my chest, slicing me wide open. I hadn’t seen her since that day in her apartment. In fact, I didn’t leave the ranch unless I absolutely had to, and then I avoided anywhere she might be at all costs.
“I ruined things with her. She’d never trust me again, and I can’t blame her for that.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
“Don’t be. It’s my own fault. But I’ll never regret it. I was doing everything I could to keep her safe, and in the end, that’s all that matters to me.”
“She might still come around.”
“No.” It was easier to admit that to myself now than it had been six weeks ago. Every time I closed my eyes, I could still see the devastation on her face when she came to my house and found Ellie May with me. Like she said, she would always doubt me. There was no wiping that slate clean.
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Yeah,” I huffed out a laugh. “When the insurance money comes through, help me build a new house.”
“Same spot?”
When I had built that house, we still had cattle. Now that I could choose anywhere on the land, I had been considering what it might be like to live out here by the falls.
“Isolation won’t do you any good,” he said, as if reading my thoughts.
“No, but I like it out here.”
It reminded me of Bailey. I wasn’t sure why, but every time I thought of the falls, I imagined her out here, swinging on the front porch in the morning with a cup of coffee and a blanket wrapped around her body.
I might not have her, but I could live out my fantasies in other ways.
“Man, you are a glutton for punishment. I’ve seen that look before.”
“Yeah? When?”
Smirking, he clapped me on the shoulder before walking away, calling over his shoulder. “After you rescued her on the playground when you were in fourth grade.”
“Third grade,” I whispered.
38
BAILEY
“I’ll be backin an hour, Wyatt!”
“Make it forty-five. Nash is picking up a truck from Murky Falls Ranch.”
I gritted my teeth, giving him a tight smile as I shoved open the front door, making the bell over the Gearhead Garage entrance chime a little louder than necessary.
I didn’t mind being back early. I just hated working on anything associated with Liam Parker.
Waving to a car slowing that let me cross Winding Road, I ran toward the bank, slowing only once I reached the sidewalk. Cheyenne was just walking out of the bank in her usual flirty dress and cowboy boots. Red today.
“You know, no one actually sees your feet behind the counter at the bank.”
