“I know you share it with Tara, but I thought this might replace it when she wears it,” he told her uncomfortably.
Riley sighed and handed it back. “It’s lovely. Under normal circumstances, this would be a perfect gift. If I accept it right now, it feels more like I’m getting paid off. I don’t know how much money you have or why it seemed important to Kenny, but it never mattered to me. I considered you a kind person who felt bad about almost killing me with his truck. You offered us safety when we needed it.”
“It’s a birthday present. It has no strings attached, Riley. It only reminded me of you, and I want you to have it,” he said gently.
“No,” she whispered.
“You’re the most exasperating woman I’ve ever met,” Garrett said under his breath. “I’m not trying to buy you or your affection. What will it take for you to understand I made a mistake and I’m sorry?”
Riley’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know. You hurt me. I spent all afternoon out of my comfort zone as the women instructed me about makeup, how to wear my hair, and put me in clothes with a string up my ass crack to teach me how to seduce you. Before you arrived, I felt beautiful andhopeful for the first time in forever. In five minutes, you stole all of it from me and ordered me from your home. I don’t know if I’ll ever trust you again. Will you always think I’m after your money, or because I say I like something, I want you to buy it?”
Running his hands through his hair, Garrett cursed again, “Have you ever said anything you didn’t mean out of anger? I realize you haven’t had much reason to trust people, but will you drop people from your life because they make a mistake?”
“Only those who I gave my heart to, and they crushed it to pieces,” she snapped. “My dad accuses Tara of ruining his life and our family. You did it thinking I ruined yours. I can’t live like that anymore.”
Garrett stared at her, and before she knew it, he held her in his arms. Their lips crushed together, and their tongues sought out the connection she longed for and missed every night when she went to bed. His hands gently rubbed her back and moved lower to her behind as he pressed her against his rock-hard cock.
“Damn it, I miss you, Riley. It’s like I can’t breathe without you,” he confessed, making her pull away from him.
“Do you think I’m immune to it? I may not have much experience with men, but I know what you’re feeling right now. It’s not love. It’s lust. You want the connection I miss, too, but I can’t afford to make a mistake. I have my sister think about and?—”
“What about your life? Will you ever decide without weighing the pros and cons? You’re scared to live your own life or allow Tara to have one because you don’t want to get hurt again, as your dad treated you. I made a mistake, and I’m here apologizing.”
“With an expensive bracelet in tow to express how muchyou care. I’ll wear it for a few weeks, and you’ll accuse me of using you. I gave myself to you, Garrett. At the time, you called it a special gift, and then you accused me of selling myself. It’s not a decision. It’s protection.”
Garrett gazed at her with a wounded expression. She knew exactly how he felt because she hurt too. Didn’t he see how painful his words cut?
Taking the box, he turned around and left, quietly shutting the door. Riley leaned over, picking up the silky purple bow, realizing he wrapped his gift with her favorite color. Why didn’t he wrap her heart with his love and protect it like the pretty box he brought the bracelet in? Riley wiped away the tears and returned to her room. She didn’t want Tara to see her upset after she went to great lengths to make Riley happy on her birthday.
Jared, Kara’s dad, offered to walk Tara to the cabin before they returned home. She desperately wished Tara, and she found one of their own. Garrett gave her a glimpse of a contented life, love acting as a safety net, and she finally discovered the hole. They needed to leave Embers before she caved in and forgave him. After all, her heart still sat shattered on his cabin floor, and she never wanted to love again.
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
On Saturday, Riley drove to Kara’s family farm. She barely stopped the truck when Tara jumped out and raced to hug her new best friend.
Amy smiled as she approached. “They’re two peas in a pod. I’m glad you changed your mind about helping. We can have Kara show Tara around the farm stand while I show you my goats. There’s enough cheese and butter for this week, but we’ll need to start making more. There’s a farmer’s market in a few weeks, and I’d love to sell our products there.”
“I’m happy to help,” Riley said, yawning. “Making cheese and butter relaxes me.”
Amy chuckled. “You look exhausted already. Did you sleep at all last night?”
“I got a few hours. One of the greenhorns volunteered to take a shift at dawn with one of the cowboys I haven’t met. Jay’s not experienced to work a herd alone. We did it together,” Riley explained.
“Don’t you trust the men on the ranch?” Amy asked. “I know they go through a difficult vetting system beforethey’re hired. It’s taken us a long time to trust anyone around Kara again. But Rebecca and Kara went through something together that no one should experience. It’s the only reason I allow Kara to visit there. The men may appear rough around the edges, with a few scars on their souls. When they bring new survivors to the cabins, those cowboys turn into mush. They risked their lives to bring Kara back to me, and I’ll never feel as if I can do enough to repay them.”
Riley swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Her sister seemed to spend more time in her room since they moved. She knew Tara blamed her for leaving Garrett, but she refused to explain the pain she felt every time she relived the scene in her head. Not wanting to paint Garrett a villain, she glossed over the details of why they moved out. After listening to Amy, Riley felt torn. Both girls suffered traumatic experiences and came out on the other side. It didn’t seem fair to drag them apart.
“Hi, Riley,” Kara greeted her.
“Hi, Kara. Do you think you and my sister can sell all this goat cheese and butter? It seems like we’ll be busy this week,” Riley said, trying to engage with the girls.
“It always goes fast. People come from the next town over to get Mom’s cheese,” Kara answered.
“After we finish, may Kara come home with us and hang out?” Tara asked hopefully.
“Sure, I don’t see why not. Why don’t we order pizza?” she suggested before the girls carried the product to the small farm stand, and she followed Amy to the nearby barn.
Tara’s eyes lit up for the first time over the last couple of weeks. “Awesome. What do you like on yours?” she asked Kara. They walked away, discussing toppings, and squealed when they discovered they liked the same things.
