Jace shook his head. “Yeah, it might be too late for that.”
With a final wave, Bonnie got out of his car and disappeared into the garage.
His heart ached as he thought about the pain she was going through right now. Maybe he didn’t know Bonnie as well as he should, but one thing was certain: Lew was an idiot to let her go.
* * *
Bonnie closedher apartment door behind her and leaned against it with a heavy sigh. This day had not ended the way she ever would have guessed.
Sure, she figured Lew was going to give her a hard time. His lack of communication and disdain for her job before had given her a heads up. But it hadn’t been until she’d moved here to the ranch that she’d seen his true colors.
And then there was Jace.
Whether he realized it or not, Jace had been her hero. If only she hadn’t spilled the whole story about Lew.
Bonnie groaned and let the back of her head connect solidly with the door behind her.
She hadn’t intended to tell him what Lew said about her job, and especially not about him asking her to move in with him.
But Jace had been there, the definition of support, his eyes full of concern. Before she knew it, she’d told him everything. Or at least an abridged version of it.
Jace was right, though. There’s no way Lew ever truly loved her. If he did, he would’ve fought for their relationship. He would’ve made some effort to understand her.
The sad thing, though, was while she was hurt and angry, there was also an undertone of relief. She’d been worried about Lew being angry ever since she moved out to the ranch. The truth was, she was never in love with him, either.
Her thoughts hovered on Jace. Her employer had been kinder to her tonight than Lew had been in a long time.
What she needed was a hot shower, a good cry, and some ice cream. Then she had every intention of leaving Lew in the dust where he belonged.
The sound of Oreo wheeking from her cage drew Bonnie over. The guinea pig was on her hind legs, front feet against the bars, as she asked for attention in the only way she knew how. With each wheek, her little ears lifted. The sight made Bonnie smile. “Hey, girl. Thanks for waiting up for me.” Bonnie opened the cage and ran a hand over the soft fur. “Let me grab you a treat before I go take a shower.”
A few minutes later, Oreo gratefully snagged the piece of carrot from Bonnie’s hand and dragged it into her hay house where she munched happily.
Too bad Bonnie’s mood couldn’t be as easily improved.
By the time she got out of the shower, she felt a little better. The hot water had washed away her tears, and she was content to slip into comfortable clothes and settle down with a pint of ice cream.
Bonnie checked her phone, surprised to find a text from Jace waiting for her.
“Take care of yourself. You are in my prayers.”
Tears threatened again, but this time it was because his words were like a balm to her wounded heart.
Suddenly, with Lew out of the picture, Jace’s presence became much more prominent. All of her original reasons for why she couldn’t fall for her boss were still just as valid as they were before. She’d do well to remember that.
Tomorrow.
For tonight, she’d let Jace play the part of a one-time white knight. Surely there was no harm in that.
Chapter Eight
Concern coursed through Jace quickly followed by annoyance as he studied the damaged fence.
Cabe took the glove off his right hand and leaned in for a better look. “The cuts are clean. Someone did this on purpose.” He touched the smooth edge of a damaged panel with his bare thumb.
Six panels of fencing were on the ground, leaving a space plenty large enough for a vehicle to drive through. Certainly enough room for sheep to escape. Thankfully, most of the flock was in a different pasture.
Cabe shook his head. “We’re going to have to get this fixed and soon. I’ll take the truck and go into town for panels.”
