“I guess.” I shrugged, trying to downplay it. “I better go finish my shopping. If you need anything …”
“We’ll call,” Georgia finished for me.
“You won’t,” I countered knowingly.
“Okay we won’t, but we’re fine. You go spend some time with your cowboy and be happy, Grace. That’s all we want for you.”
“Not sure it’s that easy,” I grumbled, heading for the door.
By the time I reached my car my head was more clouded than when I’d arrived. I felt lost. Like I didn’t know which way was up. Off-balance and scrambled, I headed to the store.
I’d just pulled into the parking lot when my phone beeped. I felt myself hold my breath. I couldn’t deal with Ben right now. I was still so mad at him. But I was more than mad. I was hurt. All the broken promises and half-truths he’d fed me, like a fool I’d believed every single one.
Without looking, I shoved my phone in my pocket and went to do my shopping, refusing to let him take anything else from me.
Chapter sixteen
Cole
What a fucking day! The sun had faded long ago, my stomach was growling, and everything hurt. I was more than ready for a hot shower, a cold beer, and some food. Damn, I could eat a horse right about now. Instead of spending my lunch break eating, I’d spent it rolling around in the hay with Grace. Something I absolutely, one hundred and ten percent, did not regret. Not for a second.
I’d spent the last two hours trying to help deliver a calf. The cow was struggling when Zane found her and nothing we did worked. Eventually, we managed to save the calf, who was now set up in the barn and relying on being bottle-fed to survive. Hismother hadn’t been so lucky. Even though I knew it was what it was, it didn’t make it any easier.
I pulled the truck to a halt and Rocket bolted toward me. The guilt smashed into me. Since Grace had strolled into my life upending it, I hadn’t spent as much time with him as I used to. Before Grace, Rocket and I had our nightly routine down pat. A cold beer, a wander around the homestead and down to the barn, me yelling for him to stop chasing anything that moved, and then he’d come back, get his treat, and curl up on the end of my bed. When Grace appeared, my routine changed and so did Rockets. Throw in Zane and we weren’t used to having people around. It was normally just us and now it wasn’t.
“Hey, boy,” I greeted as I sank to my knees in the dirt ignoring the groan of my weary bones, and rubbed his head behind his ears.
Rocket nuzzled against me.
“What’s this?” I asked, knowing I sounded ridiculous and he couldn't actually answer. Around his neck was a new bright blue plaid collar. One I hadn’t put there. “Is someone spoiling you?” I continued as Rocket rolled onto his back, legs in the air showing me his tummy.
I rubbed his tummy, unable to help myself from smiling as his tongue lolled from his mouth.
I looked up and noticed the porch lights were on, and someone was sitting in a rocking chair. With a final ruffle of Rocket’s ears, I rose to my feet and started toward the steps.
As I reached the house, I noticed the garden bed, the ones normally filled with weeds were stripped bare.
I stepped into the light and couldn’t resist smiling. “Now there’s a sight worth coming home to,” I exclaimed.
Grace was sitting on the porch wearing a pair of jeans, and a simple black tank top. Her feet were bare, and her hair was piledin a messy knot on top of her head. She wasn’t trying to be sexy, she just was.
“Hey there,” she smiled as I approached.
In her hand was a bottle of beer. “Starting without me I see,” I stated, nodding at her drink.
“I wasn’t sure when you’d be back,” she replied, bringing the bottle to her lips.
“I could really go one of those,” I rumbled as I cataloged her every move.
Grace climbed off the chair and prowled toward me. Without her shoes she somehow felt even smaller. “Me or the beer?” she taunted.
“Both,” I replied without hesitation.
“That can be arranged,” she agreed, lifting her hands to my chest.
I grabbed her wrists, stopping her from touching me only for confusion to wrinkle her brow.
“What the …?”
