So that’s all I was here to do. Give him the opportunity to say his part, and if I didn’t like what he said, if all I saw was the same emotionally stunted man I’d walked away from all those months ago, then I’d turn around and leave.
I nodded to myself, cutting the engine. The car stilled, and that roiling discomfort returned. I pressed my hand to my gut. “You can do this,” I said, staring at those familiar turrets. “Just get out of the car.”
I groaned, pressing my head back against the headrest. I could really use one of Tess’s pep talks right about now, but it was four in the morning back in Montana. She’d offered to come with me, but I’d lied and told her I’d be fine.
I squeezed the wheel hard, trying to rid myself of some of the nerves, but they multiplied instead.
Maybe I wasn’t ready.
Maybe I never would be.
My hand reached for the key. Should I just turn the car around and take myself back to the Deerhound?
Crunch. Thunk. Jingle.
What the hell was?—
I snapped my head around, looking out the passenger window, only to spy a scruffy mane. A second later, a pair of giant pony teeth appeared, latching onto the side mirror, chewing on the plastic casing.
I rolled the window down in a panic. “Bonnie, no!” I cried.
Crunch. Crunch.
“Stop chewing on that!”
She whinnied in response, those horsey lips taunting me. I glowered at her. Oh, hell no, demon pony! I kicked the driver’s door open and climbed out, stalking around the car to the passenger side.
“Get away from there,” I hissed, shooing her. “This is a rental.”
Wee menaceechoed in my head as if Weston was standing there and saying it himself. I couldn’t help the fleeting smile that tugged at my lips. Bonnie renewed her efforts, scratching at the plastic with her teeth, leaving me no choice but to snag her by the halter, hauling her away.
“Why are you like this?” I grunted. “You have entire pastures to graze on.”
The massive front doors of the castle swung open, and Weston stepped out. My breath caught at the sight of him, casual in jeans and a navy long sleeve, dark hair mussed as if he’d been running tense fingers through it. There were dark circles under his eyes and a hollowness to him that hadn’t been there before, but he was still striking.
It was the best sight in the world.
And the worst.
My heart lobbed painfully against my ribs, my entire body yearning to close the distance between us and sink into his strong arms.
At the same time, I wanted to turn around and flee into the hills.
Before I could make up my mind, Milo appeared at Weston’s side, barking excitedly at my arrival, and Bonnie lunged forward, dragging me in their direction. I released her before I ended up on my ass, but she’d already pulled me halfway to Weston. He came down the steps, and when he stopped, he was close enough for me to touch.
I didn’t, keeping my hands firmly by my side, breathing hard as the chaos of emotion swirled inside me. “I see she’s still a menace,” I said, just to ease the tension.
“Worse than ever,” he agreed. His gaze flicked over me, up and down, like he didn’t know where to look first. Like he thought I might vanish in a puff of smoke at any minute.
My eyes ran over him too, studying those green eyes, suddenly desperate to memorize every band of color.
“You came,” he finally said, voice thick. Bonnie and Milo raced around, herding us closer together.
“I came,” I said, tearing my eyes away before I could get caught up in the intensity of his stare.
“I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I wasn’t sure myself,” I admitted. “I still don’t completely know why I’m here.”
