Page 100 of Tough Love

I steer Felix back into his cage and secure it tight. “Well, I guess this is goodbye. I won’t see you before I leave next week. It has been lovely getting to know you and Felix.”

She presses a thin hand to my cheek. “You are a gem. We’re sorry to see you go, sweet girl.”

The smile falls from my face. My gut twists, sending pangs through my chest. Oh, fantastic—every other thing now reminds me of Hudson. The man who gave me back half of my life. The half that I thought I’d lost for over eight years. The part of me that lived and breathed in my soul. The part that felt like joy and freedom bundled into one.

Every time I look at a horse, swing into the saddle, it will be bittersweet. And that is going to be one hell of a problem for this equine vet. I walk Mrs. Johnson out to reception, and she waves goodbye. When I turn back, Sally is standing in my way. “Another appointment?”

“In the spare treatment room. He’s waiting for you.”

My heart thunders and I walk around her. Sally’s gaze tracks me, and I have to shake out my trembling hands. But when I open the door, my gut plummets. No Hudson.

Harry.

I close the door and lean against it, bottom lip between my teeth. When he turns back, it is all I can do to steady each burning breath and hold back the burn of tears that prickle the bridge of my nose.

“Addy, still here.”

I release a breath. “Yep. I have ’til the end of the week.”

“Have you thought about the offer I made you?”

“I didn’t think that would still apply after the foaling.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I missed the twins on the lead-up examinations. And Hudson?—”

Harry holds up a hand.

I wait for the reprimand.

“You know, I have been working alongside equine vets for over twenty years. And in all that time, you are the first to ownup to a mistake and to correct it. With a successful outcome, I may add. That takes skill, knowledge, and a whole lot of gumption. I’m impressed, not annoyed.”

I don’t know what to say.

“Hudson—he’s a stubborn, strong man. But he does what he thinks is right for his family. Always.”

I suck in a breath on that last word.

Did we subconsciously pick up ouralwaysandneverfrom Louisa and Harry? Hudson, my ship. Me, his captain? No, he told me to leave. So, he can what? Sail aimlessly, lost at sea. Find another captain...

What?

“My son has it in his head that he will never be good enough. For the ranch. For the people he loves. It’s why I challenge him every day, why I spent the last four years trying to get him to take the lead. He is beyond capable and a better horseman than I will ever be. But he is missing one thing. The one thing that is the makings of every man. And when the two of you figure it out... However long that takes, or if you ever do. My offer, the business partnership that we spoke about for the mobile equine veterinary clinic, will be there. That particular demand in this area is never going to dry up.”

All I can do is nod. Louisa was right. Harry is up front, he is honest, and he knows what his family needs. I stifle a chuckle. Usually, he knows before they know themselves. And having my own practice is my end goal, what I’ve always wanted. But he is missing one crucial part. Hudson doesn’t want me to stay. It doesn’t matter if he needs me; he doesn’t want me. A stark contrast to Adam, who always wanted me but never needed me.

The way I see it, by telling me to leave, he gave me two choices... To live a career life and dive headfirst into what I love doing by following my plan of accumulating experience allover the horse industry. Or to return to New York and hone my surgical skills. Back to the life I had before this.

Nowhere in those choices was the wordstay. Or the idea that we could build a life together.

“Actually, I am going back to the clinic in New York. They have requested I return, so I will take them up on their offer.”

“I see. Well, if things don’t work out, please know you have a place here. At least within our community.”

A consolation prize.

“Thanks, but I don’t?—”

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