For a while, she couldn’t talk, she just listened to the sounds of the night, felt the cold as the wind penetrated even her thick coat.She was wearing gloves and a scarf, but the icy temperature seeped right through everything.
Stomping her feet, she inhaled deeply.“It’s cold damn it, but Coop said I have to talk to you.”
Something warm touched her cheek.Wiping her tears, she swallowed back the tears.“Thanks for that.I… I’m so sorry I dragged all of us into town that night.”
Everything around her went silent, even the wind quieted down.For a moment she saw her brother’s face clearly in front of her.He never blamed her.The relief poured through her like warm wine.
“Hayden, Becket, and Coop are all happily married, but you know that, don’t you?None of them believed they should be happy because you aren’t around any longer, but somehow, after they’d spoken to you, they had the courage to grab onto love.”
Huddling in her coat, she waited.Walker was quiet, though.
“You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”
A soft chuckle reached her.
“Okay, okay.I met someone.You would’ve like him, you know?I love him, so deeply, it scares me.What if something happens to him?What if it doesn’t work out between us?I don’t think I can survive losing one more person I love.”
You’re much stronger than you think.You know what you have to do.
The words were so clear, for a moment she could swear Walker had spoken.Another warm touch flitted over her face before the cold wind was back, reality crashing over her.
“But Idon’tknow!”she cried out.
For a few moments she stayed, hoping for a sign, a word, something but soon the cold had her darting back to her car.All she knew was that the fake engagement was over, and her heart was breaking into the tiniest of pieces.
Inside her car, she rubbed her cold hands together before she took off her gloves to text her mother she’d left earlier.That was when she noticed the engagement ring.Oh, damn, she was still wearing it.Gnashing her teeth, she tried to take it off.She hadn’t taken it off since Hunter had put it there.Pulling and licking, she did everything she could think of, but it wouldn’t budge.No matter how hard she tried, or how much spit she used, it wouldn’t even move a little bit.
This was ridiculous.Jamming her hand back into the glove, she started her car.She’d try again in Seattle.Maybe she could return it or send it back to him.Hayden should have Hunter’s address.
Maybe after the opening night of the exhibition, she’d visit Walker’s grave again to find answers.At the moment her mind was too absorbed with Hunter to make sense of anything else.
As she drove past the exit of the ranch, she turned her head to look in the direction of her house.There were no lights on yet, Hunter would still be asleep.
When he got up, he would tell her family they’d broken up and he would leave for Colorado.
That would be the end of their fake engagement.Inhaling deeply, she tried to ignore the pain threatening to rip her in two.
Chapter Twelve
The moment Hunteropened his eyes, he knew Willow was gone.It didn’t stop him from running through her house, calling her name, searching for her, in every room, though.
Out of breath, he finally leaned against the wall, trying to figure out what was going on inside of him.He’d known she would be leaving; he shouldn’t be surprised.They’d spoken about this.Okay, he hadn’t thought she’d leave without saying a proper goodbye, but they both knew they’d reached the end of their fake engagement.She was leaving for her exhibition; he would tell everyone their engagement had ended and leave for Colorado.
So why did it hurt so damn much?He could still smell her on his hands, taste her in his mouth—how the hell was he supposed to leave?
It was what she’d wanted.
In her room, he stripped the bed and took the bedding to her laundry room.After a shower, he looked around to make sure he’d taken all his things.He wouldn’t be back.Slowly, he walked to the front door.There was nothing left for him here.
He peeked inside her studio, but the easel was empty.A few paintings were left leaning against the walls, some facing the wall.Had she taken the one she’d made of him on his horse?
His eyes fell on one of her paintings of a winter Montana landscape.Where was this?Cocking his head, his gaze roamed over the bright colors for a few minutes before he clicked—it had to be the view she’d had while she’d been in the hot spring where he’d found her.
The picture of her rising from the water like an ancient goddess was one he’d carry in his heart forever.
And then he knew.He loved her.Deeply, irrevocably, desperately.Stunned and slightly lightheaded, he leaned forward on his knees, his mind racing.That’s the reason why he’d been so crazy ever since… well, ever since he’d set eyes on Willow.He’d lost his heart the moment his eyes had fallen on her.
Why the hell had it taken him so long to figure this out?He’d found her—the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, the one with whom he a special connection—but he hadn’t been able to hold on to her.
