It’s steady. Simple. Uncomplicated… And apparently nothing I’d understand. At least according to the man who stole my heart.
Priya meets me at the door with a cup of coffee and a raised brow. “You look like someone tried to wrestle a raccoon and lost.”
“Feel like it too.” I drop the heels on the porch with a wetthunk.
Her expression softens. “Where did you end up last night? I was worried until I got word from Patty June that you were seen walking toward a certain single rancher’s cabin.”
I should lie. Iwantto lie. But the lump in my throat says otherwise.
“Wow, even the gossip around here is reliable. I was originally looking for the Highland Cows, but I found Holden instead.”
“And…? Are you okay?”
“No.” I fold my arms tightly, like I can keep the hurt from spilling out. “But I will be.”
She nods like she understands more than I’m saying, and if anyone could it’d be her. “Come inside. Bowen made eggs. And cinnamon rolls.”
I follow her into the kitchen. The smell of cinnamon and coffee wraps around me like a blanket. I collapse into a chair at the breakfast nook and blink back another wave of tears. Priya slides a plate in front of me and then perches on the counter across from me, waiting.
I take a bite of the roll and nearly choke.
Because it tastes exactly like comfort.
“You know, the usual. Fell in love immediately. Had to break it off.”
Priya shakes her head in sympathy. “And now you feel awful for breaking his heart. Poor guy. Did he take it okay?”
“That’s the thing. It wasn’t him this time. It was me. I fell head over heels for Holden the moment he rescued me from the wind. We had a wild, beautiful, perfect night. Then morning comes and randomly, he says I don’t belong here,” I whisper, not sure when I decided to say it out loud. “That I’d get bored. That this was just an adventure.”
“ What?” Priya’s jaw tightens. “He said that?”
I nod. “He didn’t use the word ‘shallow’ but he didn’t have to. It was all over his face.”
She’s quiet for a second, then says, “You know, Holden’s an idiot. Like I said, he’s always been my least favorite Kingridge brother.”
That makes me laugh through my tears. “You said of all of them, he’s got a huge and sensitive heart.”
“That was before he hurt your feelings. Now he’s moved below even Danner in the family rankings,” she insists. “Then again, I’ve always had a soft spot for Danner. But that’s beside the point. Holden’s a stubborn, emotionally constipated idiot who’s convinced himself that pushing people away is noble.”
“Well, mission accomplished.”
She walks over and sets a hand on my shoulder. “He doesn’t know you. Not really. He saw the sequins and the sass and the Instagram-ready outfits, but he didn’t see the girl who shows up for her family. Who holds a billion-dollar franchise together like it’s no big deal. Who flew out here just to support her sister, even though she’s exhausted and burnt out.”
My throat tightens. “That’s the problem. I thought maybe he saw that version of me, too.”
“Maybe hedid.And maybe it scared the hell out of him.”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. I’m done playing games. I’m done shrinking myself to fit into someone else’s box.”
I push away from the table and wipe my hands on a napkin. My reflection in the kitchen window is a mess of smeared mascara and tangled hair. I’m not going anywhere near my phone like this… What would people think?
But when I look more closely at myself, there’s a flicker of something underneath the exhaustion…Resolve.
Priya eyes me carefully. “What are you going to do?”
I straighten my spine. “I’m going to shower. I’m going to fix my face. Then I’m going to help you pull off the most badass Fourth of July party this ranch has ever seen.”
“You’re not gonna?—?”
