Page 118 of Revelry
“Gertie?” Cathy’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“Huh?”
“Where did you go? I’ve been calling you for ages.”
I smiled as I looked round. “I guess I just got lost in a dream.”
Cathy’s lips lifted in a knowing smirk. “This would make a great ice creamery. Right on the main strip, plenty of space in the back for freezers and a kitchen. The lease is almost up so…” She trailed off, waggling her brows at me.
I laughed. “I’m getting far too ahead of myself. I don’t know how to do this at all.”
“Then let’s start with a trip to the bank to see if we can get a loan,” she said, looping her arm through mine.
We headed towards the door, and I glanced over the road and saw straight into Tate’s veterinary practice. I could see him, talking to a family. Our eyes met through the glass and a sizzle ofawareness rolled down my spine, my heart beating wildly in my chest at the way his mouth ticked up on one side.
“On second thoughts, maybe this is a mistake.” I couldn’t imagine seeing this man every day and knowing I couldn’t have him.
Cathy’s stare followed mine across the road to Tate. She squeezed my arm.
“Have faith.”
I could have faith, I just couldn’t have a broken heart anymore. But I could do hard things and I could bury myself in my new business and the ranch.
Then at night I would just have to forget how it felt to be in his arms, to have him wrapped all around me and know I’d never feel anything that perfect ever again.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tate
The For Sale sign went up next door and had my heart juddering in my chest.
I couldn’t lose her, I missed her so much. Every time I caught a glimpse of her, it was like my heart stopped beating. She was so damn beautiful, so vibrant and full of life and my life was empty without her. How I’d been happy previously I couldn’t even fathom.
And that For Sale sign had been the push I needed. I’d been busy working with Neil continuously to get control over some of my bigger triggers and impulses. So that I could be the man she needed me to be, the man she deserved, but time was running out.
The only thing was, I didn’t think I could tackle the biggest point on my ERP list without her by my side.
Today was the day I would ask her. I would only ask, just see what she said and pray that a part of her didn’t hate me so much she would refuse.
I arrived at the ranch for my horseshoe session as normal and did the rounds in peace. August babysat Marshmallow while his shoes were changed. Then I was alone with only Fitzwilliam to change. I stared at his black eyes, challenging me and then I suddenly had a brain wave.
Heading out of the stables, I went over to where the new corral was being built, finding Gertrude there, helping out.
“Gertrude,” I called. “Can you assist me?” I didn’t look directly at her, just focused on those tiny feet encased in lilac cowgirl boots.
“Assist you?”
“Yes.”
“No, but Jack can.”
“Jack’s busy,” I retorted. Jack looked between us and I saw the moment he caught on.
“Oh yeah, I need to uh…bye.” He hurried away.
Gertrude rolled those violeteyes before she trudged towards me. I spun and stalked towards the stables, my triumph fleeting when I thought about how much she had avoided me lately. I’d even had to get sneaky and swap the days I was meant to be at the ranch because she’d grown savvy to my schedule and was mysteriously absent, despite seeing her pink Beetle parked by the main house.
I waited for her to finally appear in the stables. Her boots clomped on the wooden floor as she stopped in front of me.
