“Thanks, Grandma.”
“Anytime, kid. Now get that sweet girl somewhere she can rest. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
I feel the need to say something, but when I open my mouth to speak, she cuts me off. “Explanations can wait. My nose belongs on my face and not in your business. But if you need an ear, I’ll pop the kettle on and lend you mine.”
Smiling faintly, I whisper, “I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you too, sweetheart. Glad you’re back where you belong.”
With that, we continue along the driveway and round the house before heading for the foothills of the mountain. We bump over the rocky, lesser-used road. My brow furrows. “Rhett, where are we going?”
His chocolate-brown eyes find mine. “Home, Noah. We’re goin’ home.”
NOAH
26
As dawn breaks,I awaken to the dim light in an unfamiliar room. T-shirt stuck to my skin, my heart lurches frantically in my chest. The comfort of Rhett’s embrace is gone. I roll to the side, feeling for him, but he’s nowhere. A whirlwind of emotion crashes through me. I’m alone.
My breath comes fast and shallow, there’s no controlling it. Too many memories ravage my mind, and a small whimper escapes my lips. I press my fingers to them to contain any more signs of distress from leaking out. Cringing at how close I came to folding in on myself and totally losing it, I rub my hands over my face and jam the heels of my palms into my eye sockets. They’re swollen and puffy to the touch. I’m a mess but can’t find it in me to care.
Then it hits me. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, a welcome distraction.Rhett.
Unfolding my legs from my chest, I slip to the edge of the bed and stand. The scent of coffee draws me from the room and down a long hallway. Several doors line the passage to the stairs.I can’t believe he actually built it.My heart stutters. Because this? It’s the home he’d been planning to build forus. For the future I stole.
Recognition dawns when Rhett’s raspy, low voice carries through the air. From the way he’s speaking, whoever is on the other end has asked after me. Could be Grandma Jo. Could be Kade or even Sage. The regret in each word twists my heart in my chest. He’s heaped all the blame for what happened to me onto himself.
Why did I think I could live without breathing the same air this man breathes, without feeling every day of my life the almost obsessive way he’d loved me?
I don’t know how to process, much less what to do about his guilt, and my heart aches for everything we’ve been through this week. But also for everything the younger versions of us lost because I was too focused on thinking a choice had to be made—him or my career. The reality is, I could have had it all.
As Rhett finishes the call, he mentions something about a fence and some cattle.That must be Kade.I slowly descend the stairs, putting one foot in front of the other until I reach the last step. My lips part in wonder asa kitchen—one that had only existed in my head and in my notebook of ideas—comes into view. All those years ago, when planning our future, Rhett had chuckled at my animated excitement about all the things I’d love to have in our dream home. My eyes skim over the expansive counter, and I can’t help but see myself here baking cookies or preparing meals for us.
He fills two mugs with coffee, then puts plenty of sugar in mine. The hardwood step creaks, giving away my presence. Rhett turns his head toward me. “I didn’t realize you were awake.” His eyes wander over my face, apprehension clouding them. “I was about to bring this up to you.” He’s been so cautious. So fucking careful. Holding out one of the mugs, he gently coaxes me to join him. “Sorry, I had coffee and sugar, but no cream.”
“It’s okay.” I scrape my teeth over my lip, everything in me screaming to run into his arms. But we aren’t ready for that. So, instead, I slowly close the distance, feeling almost like a stranger with this man I know so well.
It feels … wrong.
“I don’t stay here much. We can have someone bring some groceries later.” He sets the mug down on the granite with a distinctclunkbefore pulling back one of the stools for me. “Do you wanna sit down?”
“Sure.” Easing myself onto the seat, I wrap both hands around the warmth of the cup.
Rhett sits beside me and takes a careful sip of hiscoffee. From the corner of my eye, I watch the grimace tug at his mouth. “I’m sorry.” He rubs a few fingers over his lips. “Thought I’d be back upstairs before you woke up.”
I shrug, unwilling to cause him any more worry. “It’s fine.”
Several quiet moments pass while neither of us seems to know what to say. His eyes take in every minute flutter of my eyelashes and hitch of my chest before daring to reach out with gentle fingers to sweep the hair from my cheek.
For some reason, that simple touch does me a world of good. I don’t want to tell him as much, but Rhett might be the only one capable of holding all my broken pieces together so that I don’t shatter beyond repair. Lowering my eyes and lifting the coffee to my lips, I blow carefully while meeting his gaze.What do I say to him?I’ve been wondering about something ever since he burst into that hotel room. My voice lowers. “How did you know to come find me?”
The furrow of his brow deepens as I wait without breath for him to speak. His lips press together, and he exhales sharply through his nose. Expression grim, he shakes his head. “There was a note in my hotel room. Inside a fancy gift box, to be exact.”
Confusion tugs at my mind. “What?”
“At first I thought it was something all the guests received. Then it became clear it was not.”
“Bradley?”
