Page 29 of Pitch for You

“Thank you.” A tear slid down my cheek.

“You and Brett have both grown since the last time you were together. Perhaps now, you can grow together in ways you never thought possible. Plus Max seems to really like him. That’s a good thing for you.”

I wiped away another tear.

“Maybe you're right,” I admitted. I took a deep breath. “Maybe it's time I give myself a chance to be happy again.”

“You've been through so much these past years, and you've always put everyone else before yourself. Now it's your turn tofind happiness, and there's no shame in admitting that you still have feelings for Brett.”

“I'll talk to Brett. I won't let my past hold me back any longer.”

18

Sofia

“Easy there, Daisy,” Brett murmured, his muscular arms cradling the mare's head as he guided her into the stall. His hair was damp with sweat and clung to his forehead, while his broad shoulders flexed under his faded denim shirt. I couldn't help but remember the days when those arms had held me close, before life and its harsh realities drove us apart.

I shook my head, attempting to dispel the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. I had no business dwelling on the past, not when my family's ranch and Max needed my undivided attention. Yet, every time I caught sight of Brett, working tirelessly alongside me, the long-buried emotions stirred.

I glanced around the barn, taking in the familiar sights and scents – the well-worn saddles hanging from the walls, the earthy aroma of hay mingling with the musky scent of the horses. This place had always been my sanctuary when I was younger, where I could find solace from the world outside. But now, with Brett back in my life, it only served to remind me of all that I had lost and all that I feared to gain.

Damn it. I pressed my fingertips to my temples as if to hold back the tidal wave of feelings that threatened to engulf me. I couldn't keep this up; sooner or later, I'd have to confront thetruth. The question was, did I have the courage to risk my heart once more?

Why was I so hell bent in pushing him away? He was amazing with my son, and had been proving time and time again that he was a better man now. He could have left the ranch when I came back, but he didn’t. He stayed and fought for it like it was his own. That should count for something, right?

My heart might be shattered still from the divorce, and my mother’s death… but Brett had been the one that comforted me and made me realize that I could do this. This ranch meant as much to him and it did to me.

“Something wrong?” Brett asked. He had finished tending to the mare and now stood beside me, concern etched across his handsome features. His blue eyes bored into my green ones, searching for an answer I wasn't sure I could give.

“Nothing.” I force a smile onto my face. “Just... tired, I guess.” It was a weak excuse, but it was all I could muster in the face of my swirling emotions.

“Long day at the ranch will do that to you.” He grinned, wiping his hands on a nearby rag. “But you know what they say – no rest for the wicked.”

“Yeah. No rest indeed.”

As I watched Brett return to his work, my mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

“You remember Cassie, right? From high school?”

My heart dropped at the mention of another woman's name. “Cassie?” I forced a smile. “Yeah, I think so. Why?”

Brett looked up from the horse's hooves. “Well, I ran into her in town today. Turns out she's a veterinarian now. She moved back and is working at Leo Harrison’s clinic. She's coming by tomorrow to check on the horses.”

A pang of jealousy shot through me like an arrow, piercing my heart. “That's… great,” I managed to say, feigningenthusiasm. Internally, I chastised myself for feeling this way. It was ridiculous. Brett was just mentioning a friend, someone who would be helping with the ranch. There was no reason for me to feel threatened.

“Isn't it?” Brett replied, still grinning as he patted the mare gently on her neck. “It'll be nice to catch up with her.”

I swallowed hard, fighting to keep my emotions in check as I watched him work, his attention now split between the task at hand and the conversation about Cassie. The seeds of doubt began to sprout in my mind – what if he was interested in Cassie? What if he had moved on from our past completely already?

I couldn't continue like this – something had to give. The fragile walls around my heart started to crumble.

“Something on your mind?” he probed, stepping closer to me.

“Uh, well, there's something I need to tell you,” I began, heartbeat pounding in my ears. “Brett, I?—”

“Hey, Sofia!” Jake called from the other end of the barn, interrupting my confession. He jogged toward us, a broad grin on his face. "I just heard the news about the big contract we landed! This is great for the ranch!"

“News travels fast,” I murmured, forcing a smile onto my lips even as my heart sank.

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