Page 95 of Tough Love

“Well, that’s a first for Rosewood Ranch,” Louisa says brightly.

I tie off the last stitch and clean up the site one last time before pushing to my feet. Hudson is still by Cherry’s head, manually feeding her oxygen with the pump. I come to her head and rest a hand over his. He stops the pump.

I wait, making certain Cherry is breathing on her own. When she takes her own breaths, coming out of the anesthesia, I pull the gear away from her and drop a hand to Hudson.

He looks up at me, but his gaze is far away as he stands. “Thank you.”

“Always, Huddy.”

He slips out of the stall and walks out of the barn.

My stomach plummets.

No doubt he is angry I missed the twins. I missed the second foal. It turned out okay in the end, thirteen foals instead of twelve.

Louisa watches him go and then turns back, glancing between Adam and me.

Jesus.

When Adam is done with the foals, he turns back, peeling off the gloves and gown. He pulls off the hat and mask and walks over to shake Harry’s hand, as if he was the one who pulled off thirteen foals in twenty-four hours. Always so cocky. Must go with the hair.

“Adam Hervey. Lovely to meet you.” He smiles at Louisa, and she shakes her head.

“Are you one of Justin’s vets?” She glances to Harry. The old man’s face is pulled tight.

“No, actually, I work at the equine clinic in New York. Only visiting. I’m Addy’s boyfriend.”

Louisa’s shocked face finds mine.

Air lodges in my lungs like a stone.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

HUDSON

Ilean against the side of the barn in the falling snow, letting it drift onto my shoulders, into my hair. I can’t feel a thing.

“What the hell?” Reed grinds out from inside where he and the rest of my family stand, witnessing the downfall of any slim chance Addy and I ever had.

Mack stalks out of the barn and turns on me. We stand in the falling, powdery snow, listening to the conversation inside.

“You arenotmy boyfriend, Adam.” Addy’s voice is strained.

“Well, you know what I mean. When you’re not gallivanting around the countryside having a quarter-life crisis, or whatever this is.”

Reed appears through the doors next. “Did you know about this guy?”

“I know he is her ex, and he’s been harassing her, messaging and calling.”

“Seriously, does she need our help then?” Mack pushes off the wall ready to go in guns blazing to Addy’s rescue. Always the hero, my little brother.

But all I can feel is devastation after watching her and Adam work together. He is more her type. Seeing the way they worked in unison like clockwork, refined and automatic. I know thatcomes with time spent together. And if Addy is to have a great career as an equine vet, he is the type she should be with. Nothim. But someone like him. Someone with the same ambition and field of work. Someone who is already living the life she wants.

Not this.

Not me.

I can’t be the reason she doesn’t have a shot at her dreams.

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