Me:
SOS in the office.
“Do you want to know why I’m here?” he asked, his voice the slither of a snake. “Ask why I came back.”
“No, Declan, I don’t.” The fury churned like a pot on the brink, slow, relentless bubbles licking the edge, one breath away from spilling into chaos. “But if it’s to tell me you’ve signed the divorce papers then great. Thank you and goodbye.”
Glancing at the door, I prayed for it to swing open and Gunner to walk in. To rescue me from having to look at his supercilious smirk. Like he knew something that I didn’t. Some huge life changing secret.
My heart sank. It was obvious he wasn’t standing in front of me with good news about our divorce.
“Is that it?” I asked, hoping that maybe I was wrong. Maybe he hadsigned the papers after all.
His lips pursed, like he had something disgusting under his nose. “I’m here to tell you that I’m taking Dream Maker back.”
He said the words like they were simple. Matter of fact. Like I was going to just look him in the eye and say, “Okay, then, want me to get him ready?”.
“No.” I pushed out of my chair, my finger shaking as I pointed at him. “No.” My voice cracked like a whip. “Over my dead, trampled, stomped-to-dust body.” Taking two steps closer I felt the vomit rise in my throat. “You can’t. Bernard agreed I could have him as long as I didn’t report him for animal cruelty.” The sting of tears stabbed my eyes and panic seized me. I moved to go past him, but Declan grabbed my arm, fingers digging into my skin. I struggled but he held me tighter, pulling me against his body.
“There is a way you can keep him,” he told me. The way his eyes raked over me, made my spine stiffen and my skin prickle with distaste.
“No way and you’re not taking him. You have no right.” It took all my strength, one hand pushing against his chest, to get myself free of his grip, moving for the door. I had to make sure that Dreamy was safe.
“Tallulah! Get back here now!” Strong fingers gripped my braid, yanking my head back. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“What the fuck is going on here?”
Wilder’s muscular frame stood in the doorway, so big and wide that he blocked the watery afternoon sunlight. His stare met mine and then went to Declan’s fingers around my hair and he let out a roar.
“You bastard. You’d better let her go now!”
Declan’s grip loosened and I took the advantage to rush toward my savior. His hands came to my face, cupping it gently as he stooped to look me in the eye.
“You okay, Brownie?” His thumb brushed against my cheek. “Even if you are I’m still going to bury him in a ditch for touching you.”
“He’s going to take Dreamy.” My chest heaved as my fingers trembled at my lips. “He said he’s going to take him.”
Wilder looked over my shoulder, his jaw clenching tight. His brown eyes turned black with uninhibited fury.
“Get behind me,” he whispered, his stare still on Declan. “He’s nottaking anything.”
“It’s not her horse to keep. She damn well stole it.”
Wilder gently moved me to one side and took a step away from me. “You have five seconds to get out of here and never set foot on my land ever again.” Hands clenching into fists he inhaled slowly, chest expanding, stature growing.
“I’m not going anywhere without Bernard Kennedy’s horse.”
“He’s mine,” I cried. “He agreed I could keep him.”
“You heard her.” Wilder stood to one side, guiding me behind him. “Now get the fuck out.”
Declan looked me up and down, disgust and want mixed in his gaze. “I will get what I want, Tallulah.”
Ice trickled down my spine because I wasn’t sure as to what he was referring to; me or Dreamy.
“I think you’ll find you’ve got three seconds left before I punch you,” Wilder snapped.
Declan took a step then halted, looking around the office. “Not exactly what you’re used to is it, Tallulah?”
