And all because I’m not a man who poaches.
But I am a man who waits.
And now?Well, now she’s sitting at a wedding on this mountain—my mountain—with a glass of wine in her hand and heartbreak written all over her posture.
Her piece-of-shit husband didn’t just leave her.
He gutted her.Left her embarrassed.Humiliated.And alone.
Oh, I’ve heard the rumors.
He drained accounts.Took her son’s college fund.Probably did other shit I don’t even know about—but I will.
He made her scramble in public like she’s the one who failed.
Oh, I know what that little prick did.I’ve heard the story.
Hell, we all have.
It’s an old one and not at all original.
Cheated with a younger woman.
Made a run for it by stealing what wasn’t his.
You don’t build an empire in a town like Woodhaven without being privy to the gossip, and yes, I’ve been hearing things.
I’ll say this much—Mike Stevens made a grave mistake.Because Kelly McCrae is not a woman you discard and walk away from unscathed.
And he’s gonna get his.
I guarantee it.
But that will be for later.Right now, I have other things to do.Like approach the woman who’s been driving me wild for years and make my intentions known.
Finally, it’s gonna happen.
I breathe in the night air—and God, it’s ripe with possibilities.
The music swells under the tent.
Laughter carries on the wind.
Clara glows in her gown.
Greyson looks at her like he’d burn the world down if she asked.
I’m happy for them.
But my gaze is drawn to her—to Kelly—and my entire body tenses.
I’m old enough to know better.
Old enough to understand what people will say.
Too old.Too recognizable.Too damn much.
But I’m also old enough to know something else.
