Page 14 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

So much for not flying off the handle.

As she followed his motorcycle down the narrow lanes and turned toward the creek, she filled with disbelief. Unless they’d developed more of the property back there, she knew exactly where he was going. They used to sneak off to an empty cabin in the woods by the creek. It was where they had first made love. The cabin that he’d claimed, the night before she’d been taken away by her father, would be theirs one day.

She’d never forget that first time. The ranch had kept a tight rein on kids her age, and they all stayed in rooms on the second floor of the main house. The gathering space, kitchen, dining area, and offices were on the first floor. A big, bald man named Dwight had been the cook and resident manager in charge of watching over them. That night she and the two kids they’d gone on a trail ride with had gone to hang out by the horses. A little while later she’d told the other kids she was going for a walk but had really gone to meet Seeley. She hadn’t wanted them to know, for fear they’d get in trouble if she and Seeley got caught sneaking out together.

Seeley had been waiting for her at the end of the lane that led to the cabin, and his whole face had lit up when he’d seen her. He’d drawn her into a kiss so deep and powerful, she could still feel it curling her toes. His voice had been gruff but tender. Are you sure you want to do this? She hadn’t even hesitated to say yes, and when he led her into the cabin, there were candles flickering on sheets of metal to protect the scuffed and marred wooden floor, two sleeping bags zipped together, a pillow, and a tin can full of wildflowers he’d picked from beside the creek. He’d been so loving with her, so careful not to hurt her. But their emotions had quickly taken over, just as they had with all the other things they’d done, and there was no holding back.

That cabin had become their love nest, and a few weeks later, he’d carved a heart with their initials in it into the floorboards with his pocketknife and had said it would be theirs one day.

Her throat thickened as she followed his motorcycle around the last turn, and his headlight illuminated a beautiful log home with a deep front porch. She couldn’t believe he’d torn their cabin down. Wiped away their memories. Was it that easy for him to forget what they’d had? That easy to obliterate his memories of her and move on?

Of course it was. Otherwise he never would have written that letter.

While she’d been naively giving her heart and soul to him, he’d been merely satiating a physical desire. Anger and hurt prickled her skin as she parked and cut the engine.

She watched him climb off his bike and walk around her truck to help her out. She’d been taking care of herself and Lucas forever. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking she needed him for anything, so she threw open her door.

He stepped back, his brow furrowing as she climbed out. He reached for the truck door, but she got it first and pushed it shut. Those muscles in his jaw bunched, and she was pretty sure hers were, too. She didn’t want to be that angry or that petty. She didn’t want to feel that much, period, but she couldn’t help it. Being there was unearthing everything they’d said and done to each other, bringing it all back in painful detail.

An Irish setter stretched at the top of the porch steps as two other dogs bounded around the side of the house, heading straight for Juliette. Seeley whistled and patted his thigh. As if he’d carved a new path for them, the dogs ran around her directly to him.

“I see you’re still a dog whisperer. Are they all yours?” Juliette asked.

“Yeah. This is Sadie.” He petted the Irish setter’s head. “Mighty.” He petted the black Lab. “And Pickles.” He ruffled the fur of the husky mix.

“Pickles?” she asked with amusement.

“I found him on the side of the road. He was emaciated, and he smelled like pickles.” The dogs pushed their noses into him even as he petted them. He snapped his fingers. “Enough.” The dogs stepped back. “Go play.” They scampered away. “Let’s go inside and talk.”

She followed him up the porch steps, memories of whispered secrets and their naked bodies entangled in the cabin, deeper in the woods, and in the lake, came at her like a swarm of mosquitoes she couldn’t bat away.

He held the door open, and as she stepped inside, she told herself not to look around. For all she knew he had a girlfriend and there would be pictures of them everywhere.

She shouldn’t care, but jealousy speared her, and her gaze skated over a rustic yet lavish kitchen to her left with several windows, a large island, and a stone wall behind the cooking area. To their right was a spacious, two-story living room with a dark leather sectional, a stone fireplace with a live-edge mantel covered with framed photos, a bar with the same live-edge design, and an old rocking chair. Two large windows flanked glass patio doors, and the peaked wall above the doors boasted four massive windows. The walls were a mix of wide-planked knotty wood and stone, which might have seemed too dark if not for the plethora of windows and three large skylights. The skylights brought memories of the nights they’d lain in the grass by the creek, wishing on stars, sharing secrets, and making plans for a future they’d never have together. Her heart squeezed with the memories.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Seeley asked, heading for the bar.

“Yes, please.” She needed it.

He lifted his chin as if asking what she’d like.

“Whatever you’re having is fine.”

“I’m having whiskey.”

One glass to calm my nerves. “Perfect.”

He cocked a brow, amusement dancing in his eyes.

She smiled, having forgotten how much she’d liked his sense of humor, and shook her head. “I meant the drink.”

He carried the bottle and two glasses into the living room and motioned to the couch.

“I like your home,” she said as they sat down. “Do your dogs stay outside?”

“No. They have doggie doors, but they like to patrol the property.” He poured them each a drink and handed her a glass. He downed his own, then poured himself another. “Sorry for showing up at your place out of the blue. I didn’t mean to cause trouble with Lucas.”

“I wasn’t exactly discreet when I was here earlier.” She felt guilty for what she’d yelled. “I didn’t mean to blurt it out the way I did in front of everyone, but you were being such a jerk, I was just…” The hurt came out with a crack in her voice, and she hated that. She took a drink, wincing at the burn as it slid down her throat. “I don’t know why you think you have the right to be an asshole toward me after how you threw us away back then.”