Hadley shakes her head, fat curls swaying.She tucks a coverall-clad leg underneath her.You can take the girl out of the country.“I love having you here, both of you, but if you don’t call that man and tell him you weren’t leaving him but just trying to better yourself, I might just kick you out so you have no choice to return home and tell him in person.”
“Like you can talk.What about Mr.Dark and Dangerous at your firm who’s always flirting with you?When are you going to make a move?”
She shrugs and sips her wine.“This is not about me.”
“Oh, I see.Little hypocritical of you, isn’t it?”
“Not at all.You know, now that I think about it.I miss home too.Maybe I’ll move back to Red River Canyon and date West myself.You said he was big, right?”
“Oh my god!”I shriek and toss another cushion in her direction.We dissolve into laughter loud enough to wake Waylon, and the sober reality of my situation hits me.I miss West so much it hurts to breathe, but he’s there and I’m here, and the fact that he hasn’t reached out tells me everything.
I broke his heart, and I’m not sure I deserve his forgiveness.
Chapter Forty-one
West
“When are you headingout?”Colt asks, once my brothers have all left the barn for the night.I’m taking a little extra time with Blinkin’ Impressive, brushing her down and feeding her more carrots than she has a right to be eating this late.Her bright palomino coat has already been curried, and she’s probably wondering why the hell I’m taking so long to tuck her in for the night.The truth is, I don’t want to leave the barn.I don’t want to leave Miss B.Who knows how long it’ll be before I see her again, and she’s not getting any younger.
“Tomorrow.Assuming I can sleep, that is.”
My brother-in-law takes the bucket of carrots and distributes them around the stable.And, yeah, maybe some horses have to share because I gave my girl too much, but it’s not like they don’t all get spoiled too.“It won’t be the same without you around here.”
I scratch behind her ears and murmur, “It hasn’t been the same since she left.”
Colt scoffs and when I glare at him, he tries hard to hide his smile.
I scowl.“What?”
“Nothing.”
“What?”I say sternly.
“It’s just ...you look different, lighter already.”He grins and shakes his head.“But somehow ...still grumpy as fuck.”
“Yeah, well.I still feel like shit for shirking my responsibilities, but if I don’t do this, I’ll regret it my entire life.”
