Page 30 of The Rancher's Addiction

She sighed and rubbed her forehead, where the headache she’d woken with grew as the minutes went by and threatened to develop into a migraine.“Can we do this another day?I’m kind of swamped right now.”

He walked around, sat on the edge of her desk close to her chair, and stared down at her.

“Why are you crying?”

She tried to smile.“It’s been a long couple of days.”

“Why?”

She looked down at her lap.“Kaden, please don’t act as if you care.What is it you want so I can get back to work?”

“I care.”

She snorted out a laugh.“I’d hate to see what you act like if you disliked someone.”

“I don’t hate you.I never could.”

Her eyes snapped to his.He did not just say that.God, he was driving her crazy.

She pushed her chair back so she could stand.She didn’t like him towering over her, but he blocked her by wrapping his boot around the leg of the chair.

“Is this about last night at the bar?I know I owe you an apology.I’m sorry for interfering in something that was clearly none of my business.All I can say is I’ve always hated bullies.”

“You got bullied?”he asked.

She rolled her eyes and snorted.“You could say that.I was always the smallest and the youngest.The fact I was always smarter than they were made it worse.”

“I don’t understand why you helped me last night even though you think I don’t like you?”

“I already told you.I don’t like bullies.”

“I think it’s more than that.”

“What do you want from me?”she yelled in frustration.

He stood and pulled her up to stand in front of him.He kept her there with his hands on her shoulders.His hold was firm but in no way painful.

“I just want the truth.”

There was no way she would be able to get away from him until she told him the truth, even if it embarrassed her.

“Fine.I hated that she was embarrassing you.Now, are you happy?”she burst out in anger and frustration.

He didn’t say anything for a moment as he studied her.“Now, tell me, why were you crying?”

She tried to jerk away from him as she fought the tears that stung her eyelids.“Goddammit.It’s none of your business.Now, get out.”

He sighed and held her gently, but with a grip she couldn’t begin to break.“I’m not going anywhere.”

She narrowed her eyes on him as she swallowed down the agony of knowing she’d done nothing to deserve this.“What did I ever do to get you to torment me as much as you do?”

He tried to laugh, but it came out sounding more like a grunt.“Torment?Not even close.Now, tell me.”

Jenny angrily wiped her tears away because she couldn’t hold back.She hated crying in front of anyone.She knew if she was to be respected, she couldn’t show weakness.But she knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t leave until she told him.

“It’s several things.One, my parents.I know they’ll never come back here, and as used to it as I should be, it still hurts.”

“Go on.”

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