Page 138 of Branded Betrayal

“No, it’s fine.” Her lips lift into something that’s almost a smile, the first real one I’ve seen since she walked into this barn. “I mean, I guess that was pretty smooth for a guy who’s been talking to a horse for six months.”

I chuckle. “Starlight’s a great listener. Very supportive. Never interrupts.”

She steps closer. “So what else have you told Starlight about me?”

Heat crawls up the sides of my neck. “Nothing.”

“Liar.” She crosses her arms, lifting an eyebrow.

“Just that . . .” I scrub a hand over my jaw. “That I miss you. That I think about you every day. That every improvement I made to this place was because I kept imagining your face when you’d see it. Your smile when you’d realize it was everything you dreamed of.”

Her expression softens.

“And maybe I told her you were the most beautiful, stubborn, incredible woman I’d ever known. But that’s it. I swear.”

When she smiles, my heart soars in my chest because maybe there’s something here after all. But I need her to be completely comfortable and to feel in control of all of this so she can settle back into her life here and remember why she loved it so much.

“I’m staying in the bunkhouse with a couple of other ranch hands I hired. It was too much for just Mikey and Randy to handle part time. The rentals have made things a lot busier around here. Lots more livestock to feed and graze. Maintenance has gotten tougher too. But don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

“Okay,” she says after a long minute. “And, Blaze, I need you to understand that I might decide that this can’t work after all. Us, I mean. That the trust is just too broken.”

“I get that,” I say, keeping my voice as even as I can manage. “And I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give. Even if it’s just the two of us working together, side by side. As . . . friends.” I almost choke on the word, but I know it’s what she needs to hear. So I say it, and even hearing it makes me die a little bit inside.

Because I know I can’t be friends with this woman. I need her, all of her, in my life. Forever.

I just need to figure out how to make her want the same thing.

“I should go inside,” Savannah says, but she doesn’t move. Just stands there, looking at me like she’s memorizing my face.

“Yeah,” I say. “You should.”

Neither of us moves.

“I’m scared,” she finally whispers. “That we won’t be able to move past what happened. That I’ll get hurt again.”

“I am too.” I step closer. “Scared I can’t be enough. That I’ll mess this up. That you’ll decide you deserve better than me.” I swallow hard. “But Savvie, I’m more scared of not trying. Of letting fear keep me from fighting for us.”

“Me too,” she says.

The admission hangs between us.

Then, slowly . . . so slowly I’m not sure she’s even aware she’s doing it . . . she reaches out for me. Her fingers brush mine. The touch is tentative and soft, and I freeze, afraid to breathe, afraid she’ll pull away.

But she doesn’t.

Instead, her fingers lace with mine, and she squeezes.

“One day at a time,” she says. “We take this one day at a time. No promises about tomorrow. We’ll just . . . see what happens.”

“One day at a time,” I repeat, the lump in my throat so big, it almost blocks my words.

The vulnerability in her eyes guts me. But there’s something else there too. Something that looks like possibility. And I’m clinging to it with everything in me.

“I want this to work, Blaze. I’m terrified it won’t, but I want to try.”

“That’s all I need.” I squeeze her hand back gently. “However long it takes. Whatever you need. I’m here.”

She nods, then takes a shaky breath and pulls her hand away. But before she goes, she rises on her toes and presses a kiss to my cheek.