Page 96 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

“You’re going back to Cheyenne.” He turned back to the horse who gave a snort as he curried her rump.

“How did you know?” She’d just decided an hour or two ago.

“So, it’s true. Your boyfriend must be pretty happy.”

“What boyfriend? You’re my boyfriend.” At least, she’d thought he was.

“The guy who answered your door yesterday morning, half-dressed and saying what a good time he had with you. Your fiancé. That guy.”

“Dean?” She gasped his name. “You came to the apartment yesterday morning? He didn’t tell me.”

“Guess he didn’t think it would be important to you.”

She found her legs and walked toward him, although it felt like she was walking toward fire. “Itisimportant to me.You’reimportant to me.”

He threw the curry comb on the ground, causing the horse to fidget, and turned toward her. If his face had looked stormy before, it looked like it was twisting up to be a tornado now.

“So important that you slept with another guy. Your ex-fiancé, and now you’re heading back to Cheyenne to be with him.”

She felt anger boiling up inside of her. “I did not sleep with Dean. And I am not going back to Cheyenne to be with him.”

“Then what the hell was he doing at your apartment half-dressed?”

“The doctor said he needed to be watched since he’d suffered a concussion, and I certainly didn’t want to spend the time at his hotel room, so I did take him home. I slept in Ariel’s room. I checked on him every few hours, like the doctor said. That’s it.”

She saw the tension in his face relax a bit.

She hurried on. “I must have been in the shower when you came by, and, no, he didn’t mention it.” She took a step closer and took it as a good sign that he didn’t move away. “I have never forgiven him for what he did, and after his actions at the gala, I can honestly say that I can’t stand him. What I ever saw in him is beyond me. You have to believe me.”

“But you’re returning to Cheyenne. If you care about us, then what the hell are you going there for?”

She bit her lip as perspiration broke out on the back of her neck. “It’s part of the bargain I made with my father to get him to persuade Dean not to file charges against you. I did it to save your career. I care about you. Only you. And I don’t want you to lose everything you’ve worked for and wanted, because of me or Dean the Weasel.”

“Dean the what?” He looked askance at her, as if he couldn’t quite understand her words.

“The weasel. That’s what Ariel and I call him now.” Although Ariel had probably always called him that. She was much better at reading people than Kristy was. “And how did you even know about Cheyenne? I just made the decision an hour or so ago.”

“A little birdie left me a text. And you made this bargain without talking to me?” He shook a finger at her like she’d been a bad little girl.

She put her hands on her hips. “I tried to talk to you. I called and texted you enough.”

“You should have never made that bargain, Kristy. This wasn’t something you needed to fix. Tell your father that it’s off. I don’t give a rat’s ass if the weasel files charges against me.”

“But it will ruin your chances of becoming a police officer. That’s been your goal since you got out of the service.”

“I’m not becoming a police officer. I withdrew my application an hour ago.”

“Because of Dean?”

“Partly. But also because I don’t think it’s the career for me anymore. I’ve got some things to work through, and I don’t think being a police officer is going to help me do that. So if you made that bargain because of me, you can tell your father it’s off. And even if I were still pursuing a law enforcement career, I’d say the same thing. Because that’s how important you are to me.”

She felt like she’d just been freed from prison. She hurtled toward him and flung her arms around his neck. He held her, squeezed her close. She breathed in the scent of man, horse, and hay.

She rubbed her hands up and down his back, checking to be sure he was real. “If you’re sure, because I really don’t want to work for my father.”

“I’m sure, but honey, we’ve still got a problem.”

“Why?” She nuzzled his neck, enjoying the feel of his warm body next to hers despite the heat of the day. She didn’t want to hear about any problems. She just wanted to be with him.

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