Page 142 of Bad Cowboy, Tennessee

It had come out like an impulse, another step toward finally being able to live a life with no more secrets, anymore.

Lily’s eyes went wide.

She looked frozen for a moment, like a spooked animal in headlights.

“And I understand, Lily,” I continued. “I understand it all.”

“It wasn’t…” she started, not finishing her sentence.

“I know he got to you after you already had some feelings for me. I know it wasn’t all a lie. But I promise you, I’m glad you were able to get that money from him, Lily. Better in your pocket than his. Byfar. I forgive you.”

I’d never seen her look so stricken with guilt. She came forward. Wrapping one arm around me in a hug on my good side.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “It killed me.”

“I know. And I don’t want it to be inside you, killing you like that, any longer.”

“You’re a good person,” she told me.

I puffed out a feeble laugh. “Don’t know about that. But thank you. You’re lucky I’m so fond of you, Lily.”

She smiled gently. “Whoever ends up with you is the lucky one.”

As I walked back inside alone, her words hung in the air.

Whoever ends up with you.

For so long, I didn’t think anyone would “end up with” me.

I thought I’d be a lone figure, forever.

Then I’d met Lily, who seemed too good to be true, and ended upbeingtoo good to be true, once the cracks started to show.

And then there was Max.

It made no sense that the first person who ever feltrightfor me was so different from me. Young, sweet, Southern, and loyal.

And yet as I looked at him, sleeping peacefully on the bed in his barn, I knew that he was the most important person I’d met.

Sometimes, the best things in life were the simplest ones.

Straight whiskey.

Riding a horse in the breeze.

Or meeting the love of your life at a time when you never should have, in a place you never thought you’d end up.

I was flying in the face of everything I’d ever known and prided myself on, just by being here. The Lyons family dynasty that I always wanted to leave my mark on, no matter how much my family tried to push me out. The Montana land that I thought would be the place I lived and died. All of my future plans, evaporating into the atmosphere.

Becausehereis where I felt like I was at home.

For the first time in my entire life.

All roses have thorns, but with Max? I couldn’t fuckin’ find one.

I’d fallen in. And for once, I didn’t mind losing even a little bit of control.

Chapter 23

---