Tomorrow morning, I was going to go see Walker and tell him that I was in love with his sister. I’d take whatever hits he gave, but I wasn’t going anywhere.
I slid out of my truck and headed up the stone path. My steps faltered, and my hand went to my Glock as I saw a figure hunched over on my front porch. The figure’s head came up, and he sneered.
“There he is. The life-ruiner himself.”
Fuck.“What are you doing here, Dad?”
He pushed to his feet, wobbling just a bit. “Aren’t you going to invite your old man in? I got nowhere else to go. And whose fault is that?”
I started past him and up the steps. “You’ve never had a problem finding a place to stay before now. I’m sure you’ll land on your feet.”
Dad caught hold of my arm. “That ranch was supposed to be mine. You don’t even appreciate the gift that was dropped at your feet. Not that you’d be worthy of it anyway.”
I tore my arm out of his grasp. “There’s only one person who’s responsible for your life turning into a shitshow. You, Dad. You’re the one who had everything at your feet. A wife who loved you. A son who adored you. A ranch to guide and grow. But it was never enough. You were always looking for more. More land. More control. More booze. More women. Nothing was ever good enough.”
My dad’s face twisted. “That’s rich coming from you. My son, who is just like me. Aren’t you always searching for more? Another adventure? A job with just a little more risk? More women? Hell, you’ve had half the females in the state. You’re just like your old man.”
My gut twisted, but I stayed silent.
Dad chuckled. “What? Cat got your tongue? I see you sniffing around that Cole girl. You are going to ruin her. She’ll be nothing but a pile of tears and ash when you’re done with her. And what’s worse. She’s got a kid.”
My fists clenched and flexed as blood roared in my ears. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” He grinned at me, but the curve of his mouth had a feral quality to it. “I’m just going to kick back and watch. It’s about time this town saw you for who you really are. The high and mighty Tucker Harris is really just trash. Trash that’s gonna drag an innocent woman and her son down with him.”
“Go sleep it off.” I turned to head inside, but my movements were jerky. My palms were slick, and my hands trembled as I tried to shove the key into the lock.
My dad laughed. “Oh, boy, this is going to be so much fun to watch.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see him walk down my front path and away from my house, a slight sway to his steps. I didn’t have it in me to even make sure he got to wherever he was going safely.
I took a deep breath and slid my key into the lock and turned it. He was wrong. I loved Jensen. I could be faithful. I wouldn’t get bored and turn to the bottle or other women the way my father had. I wouldn’t ruin the best thing that had ever happened to me.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I slid it out. Jensen’s name flashed on the screen. I stared at the letters. Memories flashed through my mind. Her head thrown back in unrestrained laughter. The wonder on her face when she watched the mustangs. The way her skin seemed to hum beneath my touch. The kindness that lit her eyes when she helped Arthur with his cane. The pure love that poured out of her anytime she was around Noah.
Wilder was the best woman I’d ever known. The best I wouldeverknow. She and Noah deserved so much more than a gamble. My finger hovered over the phone’s screen.
I hit accept. “Jensen.” My voice gave the slightest waver. “I can’t do this anymore.”
40
Jensen
I shovedthe drawer of the register closed a bit harder than necessary. Okay, fine. A lot harder.
“Whoa, there. What’s going on with you?” Taylor asked.
I glanced around the Kettle. Other than a couple in the far corner, it was just me, Taylor, and Kennedy. “Tuck ended things.”
Taylor’s mouth fell open. “What?”
“No explanation, no nothing. Would barely let me get a single word in before he hung up. And now, he’s not taking my calls.” I blew out a long breath. “I haven’t heard from him in three days.”
Tuck and I had eased into a routine of sorts. I saw him most days, even if it was just him popping into the Kettle for a baked treat. And we definitely spoke every day. Usually, multiple times a day. Without me realizing it, he’d become my touchpoint, my cornerstone. And I hated him a little bit for that. For giving it to me and then taking it away. My shoulders slumped. “I thought we were moving in the right direction.”
Taylor rounded the counter and wrapped an arm around me. “You were moving in the right direction. This might just be a hiccup.”
I shook my head. “It’s not. He was supposed to call me the night of the family dinner after he got home. You know, for afunphone call.”
