He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Avery, I’ve got a lot on my mind. Anything that could go wrong today, has.”
Still bristling over his attitude, she shot back, “But that’s still not a reason to treat me the way you have ever since I set foot in the main building. You’re busy, fine. I get that. But I’m also not the one who lied to you about who I am and what I do for a living. I don’t understand why you thought you needed to lie to me.”
“I didn’t lie, I just omitted some of the more pertinent details.”
“Uh huh, well, when you finally decide to take that pole out of your ass and can talk to me with a measure of calm, you know where to find me.” She opened the door to her SUV. When he stood as still as a statue, she crossed the short distance, gripped his shirt, and planted a kiss on him. She might be pissed off, but that didn’t mean she didn’t still care about him.
Colt held himself back, and didn’t return her kiss. Her heart ached, and she felt the distinct urge to bawl her eyes out. She released him and climbed into her car, then asked, “Will you be by tonight?”
She held his gaze, feeling the barriers he plunked down between them with their razor-sharp edges. He shook his head. “No. I’ve got work to do that’s piled up from taking time off the last few days.”
She sucked in a breath. The days he’d been with her. “All right. Tomorrow, perhaps?”
“Perhaps. If I can get caught up. Call me if you need anything,” he murmured, and shut her car door.
Avery glanced at him, perplexed by his attitude and cold shouldered indifference, worried that she had done something last night that was making him act this way. When he turned away, she started her car and drove off.
How had their relationship that had been heading toward something spectacular go so off course?
14
Colt spent a sleepless night in his bed at home, alone, hating that he and Avery had fought. That the bubble around their perfect respite from the world had been smashed. He recalled with perfect clarity the dread that had washed over him when he had been in the hall by registration and heard Avery’s smooth alto. The bright wash of joy had been dashed as he’d listened to her conversation with his sister.
All good things came to an end, but he hadn’t been ready. It was a conflagration of his own design, and ripped apart the dreams he had been building in the back of his mind, the thrill of heading to paradise with her. They were all gone. And as the hours slowed to a crawl, Colt stared at the ceiling, replaying the unrequited joy that had crossed her face when he’d interrupted the proceedings at registration, only to see that joy replaced by wariness and defiance as she’d had Maverick escort her into the stables. She’d been thrilled to see Tank, cooing at his stallion like he was a big baby. And Tank had basked in her adoration, while Maverick laid the schmoozy charm on thick. And Colt had been an asshole. She hadn’t been able to keep the hurt from her eyes.
The shadows shifted overnight in a gradual crawl until the first rays of sunlight filtered in through the curtains.
But he still had no answer, no idea how to proceed with Avery.
She knew he owned the ranch. That changed everything about their relationship. He was no longer Colt, the ranch hand. He was now Colt, the large bank account.
He had to face it, face her, even when he was no clearer on what to say or how to broach the topic. Especially not when his head shouted one thing, and his heart whispered another. It kicked up the dust he’d thought had settled after Carly’s machinations. How she had only been in the relationship because of his bank account, and had used her body, her smile, to blind him to the truth.
He rose feeling old, his heart aching at the coming confrontation. Colt saw no other way around the matter.
After he dressed, he debated his method of transportation before he decided upon riding Tank up to the cabin. It would take him longer to arrive, but the fresh air might help him come to some conclusions that had eluded him overnight.
At the stables, he worked fast to get Tank saddled, in no mood to talk to anyone until after he settled things with Avery. On his way out, he heard Duncan and Maverick calling his name, but he ignored them. He would deal with whatever they needed when he returned.
He and Tank took the same path they had almost two weeks prior. The beauty of the day was lost on him as he wrestled with his inner turmoil. Whereas on their previous trip to the cabin, he had taken his time, today he set off with a haste that Tank seemed to sense.
When they turned onto the path that led to the cabin, Tank picked up speed, aware that there would be water and food for him soon. But now that Colt was almost there, he wanted to draw the time out, make the ride last a little longer.
They crested the small ridge and headed down the trail. The forest receded. And there she was, as stunning as ever. She sat on the porch in one of the lounge chairs, with a computer on her lap. She wore torn jeans and a formfitting tank top in a soft pink that made her skin glow golden. Her attention was focused on her task and she was unmindful of the world around her.
She was so beautiful, she made him ache. Made him wish they could rewind time. That way, he could change things, wake her up before he left, and love her before everything shifted.
Avery’s head snapped up as they neared. Her gaze focused on him and Tank, and a dazzling smile spread over her features. She laughed as she rose and set her computer on the chair. There was no fear in her as she jogged down the steps and approached them.
Tank strode right up to her.
She stroked Tank’s head. “Hi there, handsome. I’m so glad you came to visit me today. Would you like an apple?”
Tank nudged her chest, it was a move of his that showed he liked the person and was pleased by their presence.
“We need to talk, Avery,” Colt said.
She glanced up at him atop Tank. “All right, why don’t you put him in the barn? I’ll grab him an apple, and then you can come inside.”
“We’re not going to be here that long.”
“Colt, if you want to talk, we’ll talk, but only after you stable him in the barn, and we can talk inside. That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”
He ground his teeth at her ultimatum. The last thing he wanted to do was fight with her. It grated against his need to control the situation. But Avery had never backed down, and instead went toe to toe with him. It was part of what had attracted him to her in the first place.
“Fine. I’ll get him settled and then come inside.”
“Let me grab him an apple.”
“He doesn’t need—”
“I keep my promises, Colt. I brought it up, and I won’t disappoint him,” she challenged, her stance firm and unrelenting.
“Just hurry up,” he ordered, a tic forming in his jaw from clenching it so tight.
She nodded with an imperiousness that would suit a queen. Then she swiveled on her heel and sashayed into the cabin. Colt held Tank steady when his horse would have followed her right on inside. He knew the feeling well, and couldn’t blame Tank one bit.
Avery waltzed back outside holding an apple she’d halved. Tank took it upon himself to plod closer, and met her when she reached the bottom stair.
“Here you go, handsome.” She held out her hands with the apple halves in them to the horse.