“All I’m saying, Wild, is that you’re a little emotional at the moment.” He glanced over at me. “Maybe Tally needs you with her.”
“Brownie do you need me with you? Or can I fire his fucking ass?”
“I’ll be fine. You go and fire him.” He looked at me for a beat longer and then he smiled. The warm, wide one that told me everything would be okay. That he knew I was strong. God damn I loved him for it. Loved that he knew when I needed his support and when I could stand on my own with strength.
It hit me then. I'd fallen in love with him. Not just a crush, not a passing ache, but the kind of love that rooted itself deep and didn’t let go. My heart was completely his. When I saw him, wings took flight in my stomach. When I didn’t, my eyes searched for him instinctively. Just thinking about him made me want to laugh, cry, and squeal with anticipation all at once. But when I imagined a future without him, panic bloomed like a bruise in my chest. I used to think love wasn’t for me. That because of Declan, I wasn’t worthy of it, wasn’t good at it. But Wilder proved me wrong. Because if I truly wasn’t worthy, why did he treat me like I was? Why did he take care of me, trust me, and stand beside me as my equal?
Maybe he... I couldn’t let myself finish the thought. Because if he didn’t, if one day he decided to walk away, I didn’t think I could stomach it. That kind of loss wouldn’t just hurt. It would shatter something inside me I wasn’t sure could ever be put back together.
The sound of tires on gravel pulled me from my thoughts. Through the window, I could see Ray's truck pulling up with Glenn in the passenger seat. My stomach clenched.
“He's here,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Wilder moved to the window, his jaw set like stone. “Stay inside, Brownie. I mean it.” He kissed me quickly and then left me at the loungewindow, Nash following him.
“It’ll be fine.” Lily wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Let Wilder do what he has to do.”
I watched as Glenn climbed out of the truck, laughing at something Ray had said. He looked so normal, so harmless. It was hard to believe this was the man who'd been in my cabin, touching my things, watching me.
Wilder stepped outside, and I moved closer to the window to hear.
“Glenn,” Wilder's voice carried across the porch, sharp and commanding. “We need to talk.”
“Sure thing, boss. What's up?” Glenn's casual tone made my skin crawl.
Wilder was straight to the point. No preamble. “You're fired. I want you packed and off this ranch within the hour.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Even from inside, I could see Glenn's face change, the easy smile dropping away.
“What? Why? I haven't done anything wrong!”
“Getting thrown out of Downtown Bar & Grill for harassing a woman isn't nothing, Glenn. That kind of behavior isn't tolerated here.”
“That was a misunderstanding. The woman was sending mixed signals?—”
“Pack your shit and get out.” Wilder's voice was deadly calm. “Ray will escort you to collect your things.”
Glenn's shoulders sagged, and for a moment he looked genuinely devastated. “Come on, Wilder. This job means everything to me. I've got nowhere else to go.”
“You should have thought about that before you got handsy with someone who didn't want your attention. And for your information the sheriff was here and searched your shit.”
I gasped, surprised he’d told him. Glen reared back.
“What?”
“Someone trashed Tally’s cabin and he picked you up on CCTV hanging around it. He also found photographs with her in them.”
“They’re just pictures of this place. To show my folks.” He looked toward the house, and I took a step back. “I would never…”
“Well, that’s immaterial. You know my stance on getting in trouble withthe cops and you were escorted out of a bar by a deputy, so you’re fired.”
“Please,” Glenn's voice cracked slightly. “I know I messed up, but I can change. This place...working here...it's the best thing that's ever happened to me.” His eyes briefly flicked toward the house again, toward me, before returning to Wilder. “I'll do anything to make this right.”
For a split second, I almost felt sorry for him. He looked broken, desperate.
“The decision's made, you know our stance on getting into trouble of any kind,” Nash said, appearing beside his brother. “Time to go. Ray make sure you get his security pass and any keys before he leaves.”
“Will do, boss.” Ray put his hand at Glenn’s elbow. “ Come on, let's go.”
