Page 50 of Waiting for the Rancher
“I appreciate that Sterling is trying to make things right between us. And now I have to do the same.”
“What does that mean?” She tried to read Maverick’s face, but before she could decipher the shadows and furrows, he pivoted away from her.
He hobbled to the window and peered down at the ranch yard. He was silent a moment before responding. “I’m doing my best to honor my word to Sterling. And if I’m gonna do that, I have to go.”
“Sterling’s forgiven you and is trying to put everything behind him.”
Maverick’s back was hunched as he leaned into his cane and rested his arm against the windowpane. He needed to get back into bed, but he was too stubborn for his own good.
“Please, Maverick, just stay a few more days and rest. It won’t hurt you.”
“It’s killing me.”
“What’s killing you?”
“I need to be back at my place, all right?”
She didn’t understand why that was so important to him, but she’d do her best to respect his decision. “Fine. Then I’ll stay at your house and take care of you there.”
He released a low, mirthless laugh. “That won’t work.”
“Why not? It’s the perfect solution. I can stay in the loft and look out for you during the day. When you’re resting, then I’ll go out and spend some time with the mares.”
“No.”
The abruptness of his refusal was like a slap in the face. She tried to tell herself he wasn’t rejecting her again like he had after their initial kiss, that this was different, but somehow it felt like she was following him down a path she didn’t want to take, and she was helpless to turn back.
Maybe if he knew the truth about how she felt, he’d change his mind. “I want to be with you, Maverick.” Her voice came out soft, plaintive. That night when she’d fallen asleep on him on his sofa, he’d mentioned that they ought to just get married. The idea of doing so had startled her then.
But now... she realized she would marry him in a heartbeat if it meant she never had to leave his side.
He was still staring out the window, his shoulders rigid.
She approached him. Maybe if she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him from behind, she’d show him how much she cared about him and wanted to be with him wherever that was.
As she stopped only inches from him, she lifted a hand, then hesitated. Something wasn’t right—hadn’t been right since she’d stepped into the room with his breakfast. She touched his back lightly.
He flinched and hobbled a step away.
She remained frozen to her spot, an ache forming in her chest. He was definitely pushing her away again. “I assumed you wanted to be with me too... after what you told me out in Dead Man’s Gulch.”
She willed him to respond, to turn around and tell her that he loved her again and that he’d do whatever it took to be together.
But his silence filled the air.
She hadn’t been wrong about everything, had she? Surely he hadn’t simply been flirting with her, telling her all the right things and leading her on with kisses because she was just another woman in his life to win over.
All of his attention had meant more than that, hadn’t it?
She had to know. “Say something, Maverick.”
He remained quiet for another moment, then he exhaled loudly. “We can’t be together, Hazel.” His voice was low but filled with determination. “Not here and not at my home.”
“I don’t understand.” The pain in her chest was swelling. “I thought we were starting to care about each other. I thought you wanted to be with me... like I want to be with you.”
With slumping shoulders, he dropped his head and leaned it against the window. “I’m sorry, but it won’t work between us right now.”
“Then someday?” If he could give her any indication of a future, she’d wait for him, just as she’d always done.
