Page 92 of Wild For You

Chapter Twenty-Six

Erin

“Doyou have any idea how much pain you’ve caused me?” My voice is shaking as I stare at Cash, taking in the dark shadows around his eyes and the tired expression on his face.

“It wasn’t my intention,” he says softly.

“It wasn’t?” I laugh. “You’re a prick. After pouring my heart out to you, after everything we’ve fought for, getting you as far as possible in such a short time, you went to Paeroa. You said you’d never risk your life again, and yet—” I shrug, fighting for words. That he went to a bull riding event shouldn’t be a big deal. But it is. None of the accidents he had ever stopped him from pursuing this madness of his. I harbor no false hope that this time things are different.

“Erin.” Cash touches my arm gently. I pull back, frustrated, furious, hurt.

“Sleeping with you was a mistake. Do you realize how you’ve just made me feel? Dirty, used, like the last few weeks were just a big joke to you.” I pause to regard him for a moment. He remains quiet, his eyes taking me in, his expression betraying no emotion. “I thought we had something, and then you up and left, and betrayed the trust I put in you.”

I start to squeeze more clothes into my suitcase.

“I won’t let you leave,” Cash says with enough determination to make me look up from my task.

“Why? Because you’re used to the world catering to your every whim? Big newsflash. You don’t own me.”

“I love you.”

I blink, confused. “What?”

“You heard me.” He’s reached me in two long strides and sinks onto the bed, bringing his face close to me. “I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry that I can’t let you go. You’re far too important to me.”

I scoff, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. “Obviously not important enough that you wouldn’t betray my trust.”

“I never betrayed your trust, Erin,” Cash says. “I promised that I would never ride, and I haven’t.”

“I don’t believe you.” I cross my arms over my chest as I try to read his expression. He looks honest, his words ringing with truth, but maybe he’s just a good liar. “Why did you go to Paeroa, then?”

“To buy Dillinger.”

I stare at him for a few seconds. His words echo in my mind, but I can’t quite grasp their meaning…or make sense of them.

“To do what?”

“To buy the bull.” Cash laughs at my shocked expression. “My guys are readying his new home this instant.”

“Why would anyone want to buy a bull if they’re not planning on riding it?”

“In the beginning, I planned on getting back in the saddle. But then you had that accident, and it got me thinking. I don’t want to lose you, but more than that, I want to live. I want to see where this relationship might take us. And then a friend called to tell me that Dillinger was going to be euthanized because he’s become too uncontrollable and I knew I had to save him.”

“You never rode?”

Cash shakes his head, and a little smile lights up his eyes. “No.”

“You sure?”

“I promised I wouldn’t.”

My doubts slowly begin to melt away. I want to throw myself into his arms, thankful that he didn’t risk his life. But I hold back because he still hasn’t answered all my questions.

“Why?” I ask warily.

“Why what?”

“Why would you buy him?”

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