The truck pulled up and my heart did that little thing it did every time I saw him.
Damn the man.
I grabbed the door handle and got myself out of the car with some creative maneuvering. I knew I should have waited, his warning echoing in my head, but I didn’t.
I wanted to go to the ranch. Go home. With him.
CHAPTER NINE
Dalton
I’d never driven so fast in my life. The truck fishtailed twice on the ice, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t. All I could think about was Amber sitting in that car, alone, in what was slowly turning into blizzard conditions.
I should never have let her go. I should have told her no. Locked her in the damn house if that’s what it took to keep her safe.
I saw her car just a few miles from the ranch. It was sideways in the ditch.
And then I saw her.
Standing beside it.
Standing. Outside. In the fucking snow.
Rage and relief hit me so hard I could barely breathe.
I slammed the truck into park and was out before the engine stopped running. She saw me coming and her eyes went wide as if she suddenly remembered what I’d said.
“Dalton, I can explain—”
“Get in the truck.”
“I saw you coming and I thought—”
“I said get in the truck.” My words came out harsher than I’d ever spoken to her.
She flinched but moved toward the passenger side, but it wasn’t fast enough. I grabbed her arm—not rough, but firm—and put her into the truck myself.
“Dalton—”
I slammed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. Got in, put the truck in gear, and didn’t say another word. I couldn’t. Not yet.
The drive back to the ranch took forever. Or maybe it was five minutes. I couldn’t tell. All I could focus on was the fact that she was sitting next to me. Safe.
And that she’d gotten out of the car when I’d specifically told her not to.
We pulled up to the house and I cut the engine. I sat there for a second, hands gripping the steering wheel.
“Dalton—” she began.
I got out. Walked around to her side. Opened the door and hauled her into my arms.
“I can walk,” she immediately protested.
I didn’t even grunt.
“Put me down.”
“No.”
