She started out not too friendly, but then it got better when I took care of her cat. But we’re back to square one.
I look around the place, and there are several tablesfree, especially right by where Noelle is sitting with her posse.
“What’s this about?” I ask, though I know.
Rumors, as I well know and unlike what Gilbert thinks, are like pinkeye in a herd—one spark and pretty soon everybody’s infected.
“You poisoned Cade’s Angus,” Noelle shouts from the other end of the diner. “We don’t want you in Wildflower Canyon.”
A cowboy sitting at the bar grunts. “Yeah, get the fuck out of town, bitch. You’re not wanted.”
Last time, I just let them say what they wanted because I was so broken, but this time, however,no fucking way.
When I get to Blue Rock ranch, I’m vibrating with anger. My palms sting from where I clasped the steering wheel of my truck too tight.
The caliche crunches under my tires as I pull up, dust curling in the late-afternoon sun. I find Cade by the south pasture, stacking fence rails onto a flatbed. His hat’s tossed on the truck hood, and his shirt—gone.
Sweat runs down his torso, catching in the grooves of muscle I have no business noticing. His jeans hang low on his hips, and every swing of the rail makes his back flex like a damn advertisement for sin.
I slam the truck door hard.
His head jerks up, eyes narrowing as I storm across the field. “Sarah.”
“You son of a bitch!” My voice cracks across the pasture like a whip. “You’re spreading rumors again?!”
He stills, rail half-lifted. “What the hell are you talkin’ about?”
“I was at Percy Carson’s ranch. Then I went to the Horseshoe, where they wouldn’t give me a table. You know why?”
He cocks an eyebrow.
“‘Cause there’s arumorgoing around that I poisoned your Angus. That I’m the reason Thunder damn near died.” I curl my hands to stop them from shaking and set them on my hips. “How could you?”
His jaw ticks, eyes flashing. “I didn’t say that. Not to Percy, not to anyone.”
“How about your girlfriend? Noelle was at the diner. She told me I should leave Wildflower Canyon.”
“I haven’t talked to Noelle in days.”
“Maybe you’ve fucked her, and this was pillow talk,” I throw at him. But the image of him in bed with her…well, it leaves a real bad taste in my mouth.
“Not with her like that…not since I saw you.” His voice is low, but I catch his words, and they confuse me. So I stick with anger instead of bewilderment.
“Then why is she spewing that nonsense?”
“You think I’d do that to you again?” He steps closer, voice rough. “After everything?”
I want to scream yes. I want to scream no. Instead, I back up a step, but he follows, closing the distance until I can feel the heat of him, smell the mix of sweat and leather…and Cade.
I spit out a laugh, all edge and no warmth. “You already didthatonce, Cade. You believed the lieinstead of me. You turned this whole damn town against me.”
His nostrils flare, his chest rising and falling like he’s holding back a storm. “I regret that more than you’ll know. I didn’t spread this shit. I’d sooner eat dirt than let anyone lay that at your feet.”
I cross my arms tight, my heart hammering. “I don’t believe you.”
His eyes burn. “Then look me in the eye, Dove. Tell me you really think I’d hurt you this way.”
I open my mouth—ready to fling more anger, ready to protect myself with rage. But he stops me by cupping my cheek.
