In that moment, with the rain pouring down us, I thought he saw me. For real. Not as the boss’s granddaughter, not as an Omega, but as me—Saramaria, lost and grieving and scared. My parents had died just three months before, and I was still raw with it, still looking for something to hold onto.
So I did something stupid. I leaned in and tried to kiss him.
He’d pulled back so fast I almost fell again, his expression shifting from concern to something else I couldn’t read. Then he set me back on my feet and stalked off to catch Blossom, leaving me shaking in the rain.
The next day, he went right back to ignoring my existence, acting like nothing had happened.
I can’t even look at him without being utterly humiliated.
He had been right. I shouldn’t have tried to kiss him. That was stupid. But my parents had died. I was sad. I was scared. I had hoped he would make me feel better.
I had been wrong.
In fact, he has the same expression on his face now as he did then—something between pity and annoyance, like I’m a problem he has to deal with.
He releases me the second I’m settled, stepping back as if burned.
He tips his hat up, his eyes meeting mine for a split second before looking away. “Ride straight home. I’ll be right behind you.”
I gather the reins, my heart a frantic beat against my ribs. “Or what?”
He looks at me then, a smirk playing on his lips. “Don’t make me drag you all the way there myself. I will if you make me.”
I ignore the shivers that climb down my spine at that, the ones that have nothing to do with the breeze off the water. I just click my tongue and nudge Blossom’s sides, turning her toward the path home without a backward glance. But I can feel hiseyes on me the entire way, and I enjoy just how thrilling it feels knowing that I’ve got his full attention.
As we ride back to the ranch, my mind drifts to that day. How I’d tried to kiss him, how he’d rejected me. How I’d run back to the house, my face burning with shame, and locked myself in my room for the rest of the day. How I’d cried myself to sleep, wondering why I was so unlovable, why even the brooding ranch hand who’d been a constant in my life couldn’t stand to touch me.
As we approach the main house, I can see my grandfather standing on the porch, hands on his hips. He’s not happy. I can tell from the set of his jaw, the way his shoulders are squared.
Boone rides up beside me, his expression neutral. “Just tell him you were checking the fence line along the creek.”
I glance at him, surprised by the suggestion. “Why would you help me lie?”
He shrugs, looking away. “I’m not helping you lie. I’m helping you not get grounded for a week.”
A small smile touches my lips. “Thanks, Boone.”
He just nods, his eyes fixed on the house ahead. “Don’t mention it.”
As we dismount, my grandfather descends the porch steps, his face like thunder. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for an hour. And what the hell are you wearing?”
“I was checking the fence line along the creek,” I say, the lie rolling off my tongue more easily than I expected.
My grandfather’s eyes narrow, then shift to Boone. “Is that true?”
Boone meets his gaze without flinching. “Yes, sir. We found a section that needs repair. I was about to head back out with tools when you called.”
My grandfather studies us both, his expression skeptical. But he can’t prove we’re lying, and he knows it. “Fine. ButSaramaria, I need you in the house. There’s something we need to discuss.”
My stomach sinks. That tone never means anything good. “What is it?”
“We’ll talk inside.” He turns and marches back into the house, leaving me to follow.
I glance at Boone, who gives me a slight nod of encouragement before leading our horses to the barn. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lecture or new set of rules awaits me inside. This is my life now, a series of expectations I can never quite meet, rules I can never quite follow.
But as I step into the house, I can still smell Boone’s scent on my clothes, still feel the warmth of his hands on my waist. And for a moment, just a moment, I let myself imagine a different life. One where I’m not just the Omega granddaughter, but the rancher. One where I’m not sneaking off to the creek to escape, but riding the fence line because it’s my land to protect.
One where Boone doesn’t just help me lie, but stands beside me as an equal. One where he kissed me back that first time around...
