Page 30 of Revelry
The conversation began replaying and I could see myself staring into Tate’s smoldering gray eyes while he tended to my foot. Because he actuallyisa doctor. Not of people but still... Then the rest of the night downloaded.
I’d been notified by my lawyer that my divorce had been finalized. I couldn’t handle the swarm of emotions. I’d needed to talk to someone but didn’t want to intrude on Kat and Jack’sdate night. That left Tate and he’d made it clear that we weren’t friends.
I’d felt all alone.
So I’d gotten blind drunk to celebrate and instead of living it up, I had myself a pity party. Whatever had possessed me to climb the tree, I’ll never know. I loved to be reckless and have a good time, but I usually did it when I was sober and in control of all my faculties. It’s just as well Tate had spotted me and came to the rescue, I didn’t know where I’d be otherwise.
“Dammit, now I’ll have to thank him,” I grumbled, rubbing my sore foot. I really didn’t want to thank him. I was still annoyed at him for being so mean yesterday and no amount of sexy-doctor-foot-bandaging would make up for that. Even if I now remembered how good it felt to wrap myself around him, feel him moving against me as he safely maneuvered us down the rest of the tree. How his mouth pulled into a tight line that begged to be nipped and teased until it spread wide into what I was sure would be a breathtaking smile. I shook my head, not wanting to think about him and how breathtaking his smile would be.
He’d made his feelings clear; he didn’t even think I was worth the time of day. Once I had thanked him that would be it. We would avoid each other for the next four months. As much as was possible when you lived next door to someone.
I hobbled to my feet and limped around as I made the bed. My head pounded but other than that, I felt fine. I took myself downstairs into the kitchen where the evidence of my headache sat. A two-thirds empty bottle of raspberry vodka that I’d found in a cupboard. I knew my mom didn’t drink so it was likely Cathy’s, and it was a godsend.
I puttered around the kitchen. It was similar to the Cartwrights’, cozy-cottage in style but the wooden doored cabinets were painted a sage green with brushed steel handlesand a mango wood worktop. The white tiles brightened the space and the rustic flooring kept the room warm.
After tidying up, I took myself off for a shower. The showerhead sputtered in protest and cut out occasionally as I struggled to keep my injured foot outside the cubicle and dry. I dressed in denim cutoffs and a checkered shirt, wrapped my foot in thick socks, and piled my wet hair on my head.
I wasn’t due to work at Redemption today, but I needed to keep busy or I’d spiral into my thoughts and I was already missing the ranch. I grabbed my things, gently pushed my feet into boots and headed outside to my little Beetle.
Just as I was unlocking her, I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned, seeing Tate standing there looking insanely gorgeous in dark jeans and a navy polo shirt, hair slicked back, black framed glasses perched on his stupid cute nose, and with bare feet. Why was it so attractive that his feet were bare? It seemed a little out of character for Tate who was so well put together. Ugh, I needed to stop noticing things like that.
“Tate,” I nodded, ignoring the pounding of my pulse when he tucked his hands into the back pockets of his jeans, flexing his gigantic biceps.
“Good morning, Gertrude. How are you feeling today?”
I wouldn’t have said he was smirking, but he wasn’t not smirking either, and it pissed me off. I remembered I at least needed to thank him for his efforts.
“Thank you for your help last night. I, uh, appreciate the position I put you in and well, thank you.”
There, done. Now you can forget about him and the loneliness that permeates the air around him and makes you want to spend all your time with him, working out how to make him smile.
“It’s quite all right, Gertrude. How’s your uh…” he trailed off and gestured to my boot.
“Foot? Fine, thank you, great job bandaging.” I gave him an awkward thumbs up and turned back to my car, ready to get to the ranch.
“I’m glad, although you should be resting it,” he replied, stopping me. Then he gazed about him, flailing one arm and looking supremely uncomfortable.
“Thanks for your concern. Be seeing ya,” I called and tugged the door of my car open, the metal groaning with effort.
“Do you really think I have a stick up my ass?” he blurted, tilting his head at me.
Oh crap, I remembered saying that.Bad, Gertie, bad.
“Um…no?” I flinched, unable to lie convincingly.
He nodded, rolling his lips inwards and looking at the ground. When he didn’t say more, I got into my car, except he didn’t leave, just watched me. I refused to make eye contact when I pulled away, gingerly pressing down on the accelerator, forgetting my foot was so sore.
When I got to the mouth of the cul-de-sac, I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw he was still there watching me, and my heart did this weird little thump.
When the wooden arch that saidRedemption Ranchcame into view, I released a sigh of relief and immediately my day brightened. Cattle grazed in the nearby pasture. A few members of the Cartwright clan were outside. I parked and went over to Kat and Jack who were inspecting a nearby fence.
“I’m telling you, it’s not Bert. You need to get over Bert, sweetheart.” I heard Jack say as I approached.
“I know, I know! Fences break but after the drama of last time I just want to make sure that damn bison isn’t repeating his MO!” Kat replied.
I smothered a smile. I’d heard all about the Bert the Bison drama, but also I knew it led to breaking the ice between Kat and Jack so he couldn’t be all bad.
Maybe he was like a fairy god-bison?
