Page 45 of Love, Hate, Love

“You do get paid to do this. I swear if I hadn’t known you from grammar school, I’d fire your ass.”

“You can’t fire me because you don’t trust anyone else to see your holdings or what youdowith them.”

He was one thousand percent correct. “Just shut the fuck up and handle it.”

I pocketed my phone and popped the hood of my truck and then pretended to tinker while I waited for Leah to walk out of the office.

Alec walked over. “What’s up with your truck?”

“Just checking some levels.”

He looked at the engine compartment. “Nothing’s open, though.”

“Ijustpopped the hood,” I said, watching the house.

Alec watched me watch the door. “I saw Leah going into the office. What’s going on? She trying to get switched to prison because you’re a lunatic?”

“Nothing is going on.”

“Then why are you watching the office door like there’s a bank robbery in progress?”

“Alec, do you ever take a hint?”

“I prefer not to. It’s really not my thing.”

“Go find something else to?—”

Leah walked out of the office, her step quick. She wasn’t actively crying, but she didn’t look good by any stretch.

“Whoa, what’s wrong with her?” Alec said.

“I have no idea.”

“Well, that’s clearly bullshit, or you wouldn’t be out here with your truck hood open and not even a cap undone. Is it something you did? That would be my guess,” he said, then had the nerve to laugh.

“No. I didn’t do anything.” Although I might punch him if he didn’t shut up and leave me alone right now. It almost felt like I’d lost the ranch, watching her.

“You sure?” He raised his brows as he stared hard. “Iheardabout the vote.”

“You people and that vote can all fuck off.”

He shrugged. “I guess someone who was voted unanimously against might have that attitude about it.”

I ignored him as I watched Leah walking away, debating whether to follow her or leave her be.I’dwant to be left alone, but not following her didn’t feel right either.

“Well, you’ll have to fix this one on your own. I have to leave. Hopefully you won’t screw things up too bad while you’re left to your own devices.”

“Don’t worry about rushing back,” I said, squinting as I tried to track where Leah was heading.

Chapter21

Leah

I’d turnedthe heat up in the shed before my shower. Typically my heater was a bit like the Little Engine That Could—it might take a little longer to get going, but this place would eventually be nice and toasty—but this time it didn’t feel like it was doing anything.

I’d lost my freedom. I was losing my home. It was only fitting that now I was losing my heat as well. What was life without the perfect trifecta of disasters?

I pulled the bed covers higher, my wet hair feeling it like it was forming icicles. In hindsight, blow-drying might’ve been a better option. Ponytails had been my daily go-to because the horses and chickens didn’t really care how smooth my locks were.

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