He removes his Stetson, stabbing thick fingers into his dark waves. “Don’t think so.”
“Thank you again,” I whisper, our eyes meeting. Time stops. The air thickens, crackling with electricity and possibility.
“You know,” I say lightly, “if you ever need a radio spot or a promo for the ranch… I could help.”
He frowns. “You don’t owe me anything.”
I smile. “I know. I just want to.”
That’s when my cell phone rings.
Abrasive.
I jump, corners of my mouth drooping. My hands shake as I stare at the screen.
“I have to take this,” I say, ruing how my voice cracks and my mouth goes instantly dry.
Austin nods, jaw tightening.
I brace as I hold the phone to my ear. “Trev?—”
“You fucking bitch. Where the hell are you?”
My stomach twists, nausea washing over me. “Downstairs in the resort parking lot.”
“Don’t move.”
The call ends.
I can’t look at the big cowboy next to me, shoulders falling, heart racing. “He’s coming out here to talk. I should take my bags and go.” My words come out too fast, toppling over each other. If Trevor sees him here, sees us together…
Austin’s face storms.
“Seriously.” I hate how my voice shakes. “You staying will only make things worse.” The words fall hollow between us, a lie.
Because I don’t know the truth anymore.
I scramble out of the truck, breathing faster.
The door slams behind Austin. “If you want me to leave, I will. But I need to know—do you want that, or are you afraid?”
My gaze meets his. “Fear,” I admit like the word costs me something.
“Oh, this is fucking rich!” A voice rages. My flesh trembles as I turn, bracing myself. “You’re withhim?”
Trevor snarls, face burgundy, eyes wild. Not drunk. Erratically sober.
Austin steps forward, face stony. Not standing between us but at my side like a bulwark.
“Who I’m with doesn’t concern you anymore,” I clip, shocked by the force of my own words.
Trevor steps back, as if I punched him myself. “Oh, doesn’t it now, you fucking whore!”
A warning growl rumbles from Austin’s chest, low and menacing. Not uncontrolled and frantic, but quiet in that way that inspires dread.
Trevor ignores him, face raging. “You always do this, Allison.”
“Do what?”
