Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
I put out my cigarette, grounding it under my boot. “Soon,” I murmur aloud, hoping the word is carried on the wind and she somehow hears my vow. I’m coming for you, Livy. Then, we can finally claim the future that should have been ours all along.
The sound of a vehicle grabs my attention and puts me on alert. I scan the area, and my eyes zero in on a blue Dodge Ram. I immediately recognize the vehicle. It’s Cross. At least one of my men is on the job. I watch as he parks out from her cabin and then surveys the area. I back into the darkness even more. I don’t want him to spot me yet. No one can know I’m alive until my Livy is safe. She’s all that matters. Cross stays for a few more minutes, then starts his truck back up and leaves. I’m going to stay until closer to morning. I won’t be able to rest until I’m positive that she’s safe for another night. This is getting old, but I know Eyeball. He might be Livy’s brother, but he’s not smart. He’ll make his move soon, and when he does, I’ll end him. Once he’s out of the way, I can finally claim my woman and make her mine.
Just as I should have done all those years ago …
15
DATING WITH A SIDE OF GUILT
LAKE
One Week Later
“Damn man, you need to go home and go to sleep,” Colt laughs after I let out a rather loud yawn.
“Believe it or not, I’ve been going to bed early and sleep like the dead. I’m not sure what’s going on with me. I’m always exhausted lately,” I complain. “I’m going into town later. I made an appointment at the clinic. I’m sure I’m fine, but I just want to make sure it has nothing to do with my previous injuries.”
“Do you need me or Coop to take you?”
“Nah, I’ll be fine. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I didn’t want you to think I left you high and dry this evening when you have men cleaning out the barn.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Colt laughs. “You’re just scheduling an appointment to get out of shoveling shit.”
I laugh with him. Over his shoulder, I can see Olivia walking out of the campground office. Crap, I’m running late. I’d planned to approach her, hoping to talk her into eating with me. I haven’t wanted to push her and have her run away, so I’ve not really spent much time with her since that night at the barn. I’m very careful when dealing with her. I could see the panic in her eyes that night when we said goodbye. So, since then, I’ve kept our interaction contained to just when she’s working or ‘accidentally’ bumping into her in town or on the ranch itself. It hasn’t been easy. I’ve become a stalker, just to learn her plans for the day so I could arrange to see her without her knowing how I keep showing up. It feels wrong to manipulate everything, but I can’t be completely honest. I have to get her to relax. I need her to trust me—which is ironic since I’m manipulating things just so I can spend time with her. Guilt is a strange bedfellow. Part of me is wondering if that’s why I’m always tired. It’s exhausting planning and manipulating a woman you have true feelings for.
“Hey, Colt, I’ll see you later. I’m going to check on Livy. Deb said she wasn’t feeling well yesterday,” I call out, already walking away.
“Hmm …” Colt hums, and I can hear the laughter in that one simple sound.
I choose to ignore it. He knows exactly what I’m doing, mostly because he’s helped me keep up with Olivia’s schedule. He hasn’t stopped me, though, so I figure he’s okay with everything. I jog over to Olivia just as she turns around at the door—having just locked it.
“Hey, Livy.”
I see the shock on her face, then take in the way her lips slide into a smile. Something inside my chest eases. Olivia is glad to see me. That’s enough for now—it has to be.
“Hi, Lake,” she responds, her cheeks blushing. “Did you need something?”
“Just wanted to say hi. Are you just getting off for lunch?”
“Actually, Carson let me close the office early today. I’m going into town. I have a therapy appointment, then I’m going to grab dinner there at the diner with some friends.”
Shit. What friends? Is she seeing someone else?
The questions are instantaneous. I realize I’m jealous and I hate it. I don’t understand why I’m so drawn to this woman—especially since I haven’t even looked at one since I woke up in the hospital. I honestly thought the injuries killed something inside of me when it came to wanting a woman. I had extensive injuries, and some were in areas that are vital for a man—so it was entirely possible.