“I like the way you look.”
His smile is hesitant as he takes a step closer, and then another before reaching for my hand and intertwining our fingers. I let him, the familiarity settling my nerves and making me believe this will all be okay.
“I fucked up this morning.”
“Did you?”
“Yeah, Christmas, I did.” Harlan’s rough palm cups my jaw, his thumb brushing away the wetness on my cheek. “This morning before you woke up, your uncle texted me, asking to see me.”
“About Onyx and the job.”
He nods, his lips pressing into a firm line. “Would’ve saved a hell of a lot of heartache if I’d just told you about the message, huh?”
“What happened?” The question lingers between us, but I don’t mean today. I mean whatever sent him spiraling over a simple text.
“I was engaged,”—he chuffs out a laugh—“well, kind of.”
“How are youkind ofengaged?” I ask, my voice rising.
“You ask someone to marry you, they sayyeswhen they have no intention of going through with it, and you learn your relationship was as fake as the love they professed for you.”
“Oh, Harlan.”
“He was the ranch owner’s son and had a bit of a reputation and they—he—used me to fix it.”
“How long?”
“Over a year,” he admits with a tone I can’t quite read. “We kept a low profile around the ranch, by never going out and by staying away from public events. I didn’t mind because I was thankful for the privacy. When his father called me to his office,Dante was already there. I was fired, paid to keep my mouth shut, and realized the man I thought I was in love with had used me for his own financial gain.”
“And then?”
“I traveled around, working and getting drunk—went on a bender I’m not particularly proud of when his engagement to a woman in another high-powered family made headlines.” I nod, as I take it all in. “And then I found myself in Wintervale with a man who just wouldn’t let up.”
“He sounds awful.”
“He turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Leaning in, his hand moves to grip the back of my neck, the smell of pine and soap invading my senses. “Youare the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I’m so sorry that I broke us.”
And I’m so sorry that I broke us.
Me too, Harlan, me too.
“So, what now?”
21
HARLAN
“So, what now?” Reid asks, his sky-blue eyes locked on me, his free hand resting on my hip as the other remains tangled with mine.
“Your uncle offered me a job,”—I swallow hard—“but I told him I’d only accept it if you gave me another chance, if you thought you could forgive me. If you want me to stay.”
“No pressure,” he murmurs and I chuckle, but it’s pained, my body strung tight at the possibility that I’d ruined us before we even started.
“You love this place more than anything, and I won’t ruin that. I?—”
“You’re already everywhere, Harlan.” The words are even, his inflection not giving anything away, so I brace myself. My heart stutters in my chest, the hurt unbearable as I wait for the final blow becauseI did this to us.And I won’t make it worse by staying.“You belong here.”
“Reid,” his name comes out on a choked sob, my own tears leaking from my eyes, and I can’t stop them.
