Page 5 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
The longtime Timber Falls Ranch cowboy caught Gunner’s eye, giving a subtle nod that spoke volumes. Gunner felt the familiar tug of music in his soul, something he never could resist.
Raising his beer bottle to his lips, Gunner took a long, slow sip. The cool liquid slid down his throat, removing the remainder of the tension. As he lowered the bottle, his gaze swept over the cowboys and good friends around the fire, and his breath caught.
Aubrey was making her way toward the group. His heart skipped a beat, his fingers tightening around the bottle. And holding her stare, he sang about losing himself to alcohol until love saved him.
* * *
A couple hours later, Aubrey slammed her bedroom door shut behind her, the sound echoing through the quiet farmhouse. She, Charly and Willow had renovated it after moving to Timber Falls to fulfill a dream of opening a cocktail lounge, The Naked Moose. A bar once owned by Jaxon.
A long sigh escaped her as she collapsed onto her queen-sized bed, the soft quilt a stark contrast to the turmoil raging inside her. The scent of woodsmoke clung to her hair, a lingering reminder of the campfire—and Gunner.
Her fingers curled into the fabric as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the memory of his piercing blue eyes boring into her soul. Why couldn’t he just give up? More importantly, why did her traitorous body still react to him like a moth to a flame?
“Dammit,” she muttered, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling.
Before she could spiral further into her thoughts, the door burst open. Willow stood in the doorway, her strawberry blond hair wild and her green eyes blazing with concern.
“Alright, spill it,” Willow demanded, marching into the room. “What happened with Gunner?”
Aubrey propped herself up on her elbows, forcing a casual shrug. “Nothing happened. What are you talking about?”
Willow’s eyebrows shot up. “Lies. Eli and I were coming into the kitchen but stopped when we heard you and Gunner talking. I know you, Aubrey. I know all your tells. Youliedto him. You two had a week together?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about. Really.” Even Aubrey heard the note of warning in her voice.
Of course, Willow ignored it. “Eli said for us to stay out of it, but that’s not how our friendship works.” She entered the room and perched on the edge of the bed, her gaze softening. “Talk to me, Aub. Ignoring how insane it is that fate reconnected you here, why are you pretending you don’t know him?”
Aubrey huffed. There was no outrunning this. Her carefully constructed walls began to crumble. They’d been friends since they were little. Willowdidknow all her tells. Aubrey averted her gaze, focusing on the worn pattern of her quilt. “It’s not…it’s not what you think.”
“Then tell me what it is,” Willow pressed, placing her hand on Aubrey’s arm. “Help me understand all this.”
The weight of the secret pressed down on Aubrey’s chest, threatening to suffocate her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the confession she’d been holding back since they’d moved to Timber Falls and Gunner walked into their bar on opening day.
“I met Gunner in Atlanta at one of his concerts,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “We spent a week together, and it was… God, Willow, it was intense. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”
Willow’s eyes widened, but she remained silent, encouraging Aubrey to continue.
“The chemistry between us was electric,” Aubrey admitted, her cheeks flushing at the memory. “We connected on every level—physically, emotionally. It felt like…like he got me in ways no man has ever got me, you know?”
As the words tumbled out, Aubrey felt a mix of relief and vulnerability. She’d never spoken about that week to anyone, and now that she’d started, she found she couldn’t stop.
“We talked for hours, shared our dreams, our fears. And when he finally kissed me…” Aubrey trailed off, lost in the vivid recollection. “It was passionate, tender and completely unforgettable.”
Memories flooded her. The warmth of Gunner’s calloused hands on her skin, the intoxicating scent of his cologne mixed with wood, the taste of whiskey on his lips. She shivered, her body betraying her with a surge of desire.
“His touch…it set me on fire,” she continued, lost in the memory. “And when he sang to me, just for me, I felt like the only woman in the world.” She clenched her fists, anger rising to combat the pain he’d left her with. “But then after he talked like we were going to make things somehow work between us, he left me in a hotel room. Just like that. No note, no call, nothing. Just threw me away like a piece of trash.”
Willow’s hand tightened on Aubrey’s arm. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.”
Aubrey swallowed hard, fighting back tears. “It’s not just about Gunner, you know? It’s…it’s everything.”
Willow nodded in full understanding. She knew every painful part of Aubrey’s past. That her father left her and her mother when she was eight years old and never came back. And that her dream job at a five-star restaurant in Atlanta had been cut short due to a narcissistic boss who couldn’t keep his damn hands to himself. But Willow listened as Aubrey continued, her voice cracking, “That week with Gunner, I let all my guards down for him.” She slowly shook her head in frustration at herself. “I don’t even know how he did that, considering I never let my guards down for anyone that quickly, and I hate him for that. Hate how weak it made me feel that morning I woke up and he was gone.” She paused, drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly before continuing. “So yeah, I lied to him, but obviously, my plan of denying our week together isn’t working. He just won’t give up.”
Willow’s eyes, deep and understanding, never left Aubrey’s face as she listened.
“Besides,” Aubrey said after a moment, “now that I know about his past addiction to painkillers, I bet he was probably high the entire week. He isn’t even sure what he remembers.”
A mixture of concern and doubt clouded Willow’s features. “I hear you, I do. But I can’t shake this feeling that you’re making a mistake.”
