Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Holland slowly pulls away from me, staring out over the water. I doubt my confession had any affect, so I’m surprised when she murmurs, “Thank you for saying that.” Her eyes slide to me. “That sounded genuine and I think I can actually forgive you.”
“It was genuine.” My heart soars. She’s opened the door and I’m ready to step through. “I can’t let you walk away again without trying everything in my power to win you back. I will spend every day proving to you that I can be the man you deserve. I’ll—”
“Stop,” she says, her hand gentle on my forearm. “I forgive you, Trey. But I don’t want you to fight for me.”
My stomach plummets. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t think I can ever trust you again,” she says, and that brutal admission feels like a stake driven into my heart.
Holland isn’t being dramatic. In fact, she’s being rational and I get it. But there’s no way in hell I’ll give up. “Are you still willing to see me until you leave?”
Because she is leaving. She’s not going to stay here and run the printshop. That was never her dream.
“Yes,” she whispers. “But I have to be honest with you about something.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m doing this so you know how it feels,” she admits with naked truth in her eyes. “I’m willing for us to spend time together and I’ll enjoy the hell out of it, as I imagine you will, but in the end, I’m going to be the one to walk away from you. I think only then will I have closure.”
“That’s about as fucked-up a thing as I’ve ever heard,” I mutter, still grateful she’s not cutting me out completely. I’m still of the mindset I can get her to change her tune.
Get her to fall for me again.
But I think we’ve talked enough. We’re definitely done fishing. I bring my hand up to cup her cheek and lean in to kiss her. She would have every right to pull away but instead she leans in to meet me halfway. Our lips tangle with immediate need to forget all about our past, because all we have is right now.
As our mouths meld together in a fusion of sweet and spicy desire, nothing matters but the two of us. The gentle lapping of the water against the dock synchronizes with the racing of my heart and somewhere in between gasps and soft moans, I lower her onto the blanket beneath us. I trace the curves of her body, causing Holland to arch into my touch. Her skin is so soft and my mouth waters at the thought of tasting her again.
Fingers working at the snap of her jeans, I’m surprised when she suddenly bats them away. With the sun completely extinguished and the moon newly risen, I watch mesmerized as Holland pushes away from me to stand up.
I expect her to walk away but she pulls her shirt over her head and tosses it down. Next she undoes her bra and my throat goes dry as her breasts spill free.
My entire body comes alive when she shimmies out of those jeans shorts, taking her panties right along with them, and then she’s standing gloriously naked before me.
“You’re a vision, Holland Rhodes,” I murmur.
“I’m glad you can see clear enough,” she says as she kneels down at my hip. Her hands go to the button on my jeans and she pops it open. “Because I’m about to make your eyes roll into the back of your head.”
I know this is just sex because Holland has made it clear that’s all she wants. In her mind, she needs to hurt me the way I did her, and she’s going to do that by walking away again. I suppose a prouder man would turn down this deal, but I love her too much not to let this play out the way she wants and hope to hell I can deviate her from her path.
CHAPTER 9
Trey
The sun is high but an eastern breeze has dropped the temperature to a beautiful seventy-five degrees. We held all the lessons outside today and now Kat is working one of the young geldings in the outdoor arena. I stand by her side in the center of the ring as she lunges him, the chestnut horse trotting in large circles around us.
Kat’s using two long lines, one attached to each side of the horse’s bit, which allows her to have more precise control over his movements. She holds a lunge whip in her hand, occasionally flicking it lightly behind the horse without making contact to encourage him to keep moving.
“Easy, boy,” Kat says in a soothing tone, her eyes focused on the gelding. “That’s it, keep it steady.”
The horse responds to her commands, moving in a smooth, controlled trot. Kat expertly handles the lines, adjusting them to guide the horse’s head and neck position while maintaining his forward movement. The double lunge lines allow her to work the horse on both sides evenly, promoting balance and coordination.