Crestfallen, Daisy turned back to us, grabbing one of Tripp’s hands with both of hers as she begged, “Please don’t go. You just got here.”
My husband shook his head sadly. “I can’t win with him. One minute, he’s in this very kitchen, flaying me wide open and pointing out all the ways I let Penny slip through my fingers. The next, he’s pissed I finally took action and made all my fucking dreams come true.” He winced when he realized he’d let a swear slip in front of his mama, muttering, “Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. He promised he wasn’t going to do this.” Her lower lip trembled, and guilt flooded my system. My actions—my impulsivity—were tearing this family apart.
Stepping out of Tripp’s hold, I kept my eyes trained on the floor. “I’m gonna take a walk.”
Fingers wrapped around my wrist before I made it to the back door. “If you’re leaving, I’m leaving.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a shaky breath. “You should stay. Visit with your mama.”
He tugged my arm until I was forced to face him. “If given the choice between comforting my upset mother and my upset wife, it’s no contest.So, if you need to step out, I’m coming with you. I happen to come highly recommended as a getaway driver.”
His joke broke through the tension, causing watery laughter to bubble up from my chest. Banding my arms around him, I pressed my ear to his heart, letting the steady rhythm drown out the worries over how our quickie wedding was impacting those we loved.
“Are you two headed straight back?” Daisy’s tentative voice sounded far away. Tripp’s soothing strokes down the length of my back were downright hypnotic.
His hold on me tightened. “The original plan was to stick around for a few weeks, but now I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
We couldn’t keep running. This was our home.
If we were going to build a life together, a future with this ranch at the forefront, we needed to stand our ground.
Lifting my head, I conveyed everything I was thinking to Tripp with just a look. He blew out a heavy breath—probably accepting that the scene with his father was only the first of many battles we would face upon our return—but nodded his agreement.
Keeping his arms locked around my waist, he turned us so he could speak to his mother. “Aspen mentioned that maybe we could use the cabin for a while?”
Daisy blinked at us for a minute before shaking out of her stunned state. “Yes, of course. I can head down there right now to air it out and put fresh linens on the bed.”
“Think you can take Penny with you?”
“You’re not coming?” Panic worked its way beneath my skin at the idea of being separated. It was silly; I was a grown woman fully capable of being independent, but I could recognize we were stronger together.
He stared down at me, lips twisted to the side. “I need to go talk to your folks.”
I reared back. “Without me?”
“It’s best if I go alone. I need to explain myself.” His hand came up to cradle my face, and his voice grew pleading. “I need you to let me do this.”
Understanding dawned. “Don’t tell me you’re headed over there to ask for permission to marry me.”
His chest brushed against mine as he let out a heavy sigh. “Something like that, considering I skipped right over that part before I gave you my last name.”
“It’s the twenty-first century. The only permission you needed was mine.”
“Not sure your father will see it that way, Lucky. Especially considering the day you married me, he’d already given you away to another man.”
I cringed. “Okay, you’ve made your point.”
He pressed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Go with my mom. Get the cabin ready for us while I go make things right.”
It was eating away at him that we had skipped several steps when we’d veered off the “normal” path to matrimony, so I agreed. If this was what he needed to clear his conscience, I wouldn’t be the one to stand in his way.
All I could do was send up a silent prayer that my parents took it easier on Tripp than Jett had.
Chapter 15
Tripp
