Page 131 of Bucked Hard

“What about the phone? I called you.” My voice cracks. “You said you’d answer. You’d have your phone.”

I so badly want to believe him, then at the same time I think it would be simpler not to. I can’t set myself up for this kind of heartache. After three days I’m a mess, what happens when I’m too far gone to come back? I won’t even know who I am anymore.

“I’m an idiot, is what about the phone.” He looks down, then back at me. “I put it in my pocket, turns out it wasn’t even on. I didn’t check it. I never use the damn thing. I just figured it was like the house phone. Someone calls, it rings. You’re going to have to get used to some parts of me being backward, Mary Beth. I’m not from this century.”

I puff a breath upward and try to gather a clear thought. The sun is shining around him, casing his face in these shadows that remind me of how he looked all last night. The things he said, the things we did, and I hate that my body reacts with a shiver and a flash of desire in my core.

“Hey.” He looks at Jessie. “Put it in park.” Then back at me. “What time is your flight?”

I think about lying but can’t. “It’s canceled.”

“Canceled?” He pushes his hat up on his head, then reaches in and takes my hand. “So, you have time?”

I nod, not sure what I’m agreeing to.

“Mary Beth, I’ll get down on my knees if I need to, I’m not a proud man when it comes to you. Come with me. Come with me and talk with me. I told you this morning you’re worth fighting for, and I’m ready for the fight. Just let me set things straight and then you can decide.” He nods, looking at me with those blue eyes that seep into my soul.

I nod and take his hand, as unsure now whether I’m doing the right thing as I’ve ever been, but the pull toward him is nearly unbearable.

He looks at Jessie again. “Take the van back. I’ll take care of Dorian. I’ll take her from here.” He tips his head toward his horse, who is now off the road nibbling on grass.

“I didn’t say I was staying,” I counter as Garrett pulls me out of the van.

“I didn’t say you were staying either,” He grunts. “She’ll go back to the house. Whatever we decide, I’ll ride you back to the house when we’re done here.”

He waves Jessie off when my feet touch the ground, shutting the door behind me, and the van turns around on the grass and heads back toward the ranch.

ChapterTwelve

Garrett

Isqueeze her fingers as I walk us over to the gate leading into the front pasture behind a wooden fence.

I can’t let go of Mary Beth. I don’t mean that figuratively, like I won’t let her go. I mean I have one hand on her and I’m literally holding onto what’s mine. I walk over to Dorian and with my free hand I grab the reins, walking us slowly through the pasture. My throat is constricted as I plan every word over and over.

“Look,” she starts, but I shoot her a glare. I hear defeat in that single word, and I’m shutting that down here and now.

When I look back at Mary Beth, tears are streaming down her cheeks, and each one cuts into my heart like a rusty blade. I secure Dorian’s reins around his neck and let him go off and munch on the grass.

“Baby, please don’t cry. We’re going to be okay. Do you believe me about Abigail? Because I’m more than happy to march you right up to her and have her tell you exactly what happened. Buck was at the barn when we got back, and he heard everything I said. I’m telling you the truth. I will never be able to look at another woman after you.”

I run my hands up her arms until they’re resting on her shoulders, and I can feel her quivering under my palms.

She swipes the back of a hand over her cheeks, and I lean in and take over, kissing away each tear as it falls, feeling like I’m about to snap in two. When I can’t take any more, I lower my mouth to her ear and beg.

“Please, God, please stop crying. I can’t take it. I’ll do anything for the rest of your life to never see you cry again. Please, baby. Everything is going to be okay, I promise.”

“How?” She chokes out a restrained sob. “Harriett told me you’re terrified to fly. You have no interest in ever leaving here. My life is not just my work, it’sme. I’m a restless soul. I can’t put down roots in one place and never wander. I’d die. And for you it’s the opposite. You have roots here, I get that, the last thing you want to do is follow me.”

I step back, pulling her into me as she smacks my chest with her open palms. “Did you not hear what I said when I put my bag in the van? I’m ready to go with you. Right now, you wanna go? We’ll go. Get Jessie and go to the airport. I’ll buy us two tickets anywhere.”

“Seriously?”

“Dead. I told you, I don’t know what happened when you stepped foot on this ranch, but you shook the world out from under me. Am I scared to fly? Fuck, yes. Terrified even. Didn’t stop me from packing my bag and running you down, ready to go wherever it is you’re going.”

“But you’ll be miserable.”

“Will I be with you?”

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