Pitch For You (Texas Heat)

Chapter 18

18

Sofia

“Easy there, Daisy,” Brett murmured, his muscular arms cradling the mare's head as he guided her into the stall. His hair was damp with sweat and clung to his forehead, while his broad shoulders flexed under his faded denim shirt. I couldn't help but remember the days when those arms had held me close, before life and its harsh realities drove us apart.

I shook my head, attempting to dispel the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. I had no business dwelling on the past, not when my family's ranch and Max needed my undivided attention. Yet, every time I caught sight of Brett, working tirelessly alongside me, the long-buried emotions stirred.

I glanced around the barn, taking in the familiar sights and scents – the well-worn saddles hanging from the walls, the earthy aroma of hay mingling with the musky scent of the horses. This place had always been my sanctuary when I was younger, where I could find solace from the world outside. But now, with Brett back in my life, it only served to remind me of all that I had lost and all that I feared to gain.

Damn it . I pressed my fingertips to my temples as if to hold back the tidal wave of feelings that threatened to engulf me. I couldn't keep this up; sooner or later, I'd have to confront the truth. The question was, did I have the courage to risk my heart once more?

Why was I so hell bent in pushing him away? He was amazing with my son, and had been proving time and time again that he was a better man now. He could have left the ranch when I came back, but he didn’t. He stayed and fought for it like it was his own. That should count for something, right?

My heart might be shattered still from the divorce, and my mother’s death… but Brett had been the one that comforted me and made me realize that I could do this. This ranch meant as much to him and it did to me.

“Something wrong?” Brett asked. He had finished tending to the mare and now stood beside me, concern etched across his handsome features. His blue eyes bored into my green ones, searching for an answer I wasn't sure I could give.

“Nothing.” I force a smile onto my face. “Just... tired, I guess.” It was a weak excuse, but it was all I could muster in the face of my swirling emotions.

“Long day at the ranch will do that to you.” He grinned, wiping his hands on a nearby rag. “But you know what they say – no rest for the wicked.”

“Yeah. No rest indeed.”

As I watched Brett return to his work, my mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

“You remember Cassie, right? From high school?”

My heart dropped at the mention of another woman's name. “Cassie?” I forced a smile. “Yeah, I think so. Why?”

Brett looked up from the horse's hooves. “Well, I ran into her in town today. Turns out she's a veterinarian now. She moved back and is working at Leo Harrison’s clinic. She's coming by tomorrow to check on the horses.”

A pang of jealousy shot through me like an arrow, piercing my heart. “That's… great,” I managed to say, feigning enthusiasm. Internally, I chastised myself for feeling this way. It was ridiculous. Brett was just mentioning a friend, someone who would be helping with the ranch. There was no reason for me to feel threatened.

“Isn't it?” Brett replied, still grinning as he patted the mare gently on her neck. “It'll be nice to catch up with her.”

I swallowed hard, fighting to keep my emotions in check as I watched him work, his attention now split between the task at hand and the conversation about Cassie. The seeds of doubt began to sprout in my mind – what if he was interested in Cassie? What if he had moved on from our past completely already?

I couldn't continue like this – something had to give. The fragile walls around my heart started to crumble.

“Something on your mind?” he probed, stepping closer to me.

“Uh, well, there's something I need to tell you,” I began, heartbeat pounding in my ears. “Brett, I?—”

“Hey, Sofia!” Jake called from the other end of the barn, interrupting my confession. He jogged toward us, a broad grin on his face. "I just heard the news about the big contract we landed! This is great for the ranch!"

“News travels fast,” I murmured, forcing a smile onto my lips even as my heart sank.

“Let's celebrate tonight,” Jake suggested, clapping Brett on the back. “We deserve it.”

“Sure,” Brett agreed, his gaze flickering back to me.

“Great! I'll go tell the others,” Jake said, heading back toward the barn entrance. As his footsteps receded, the tension between Brettt and I thickened, every passing second making my stomach churn.

“Look, I—” We both began at the same time, voices colliding in a messy jumble of words.

“Sorry, you go first,” Brett offered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Taking a deep breath, I braced myself for the leap I was about to take. “Brett, I've been thinking a lot lately, and I just need to say it…”

“Say what?” he asked, his gaze never leaving mine.

“I’m still in love with you,” I blurted out, voice wavering but resolute.

The silence that followed seemed to stretch on forever, each passing heartbeat feeling like an eternity. Finally, Brett broke the silence, his voice low and tender. “Sofia, I–”

“Wait,” I interjected, hands trembling as I held up my palms. “Before you say anything, I just needed to get this off my chest. Take some time. I know it’s been pretty back and forth since I came back and you have been trying to get me to open up to you,”

“Sofia,” he repeated, stepping closer and reaching out to gently grasp my hands in his. “All these years, I never stopped loving you either. You already know that.”

He pulled me into his strong embrace. Our bodies fit together like puzzle pieces, a perfect match we'd both been searching for all along.

As we stood there, wrapped up in each other's arms, the sound of horses shuffling in their stalls filled the air, seeming to mirror the contentment that settled. This moment, this connection, was everything I hoped for – a resolution to the unspoken tension that had haunted me for so long.

“Every time I close my eyes,” I continued, voice cracking under the weight of my heartache, “I see our past... the love we shared, and the pain we caused each other. Those memories have haunted me for years, gnawing at my insides.”

Brett's blue eyes were unwavering, a grounding force as my words tumbled from my lips like raindrops cascading down a windowpane. “I’ve been afraid, Brett,” I admitted, shakily wiping a stray tear that had escaped. “Afraid that if I let myself love again, I'd be opening up old wounds, exposing myself to the same hurt that nearly destroyed me before.”

My chest heaved as I took in a deep breath, trying to steady my shaky voice. Brett shifted his weight, his muscles tensing as he fought the urge to reach out and reassure me. Instead, he clenched his fists at his sides, willing himself to give me the space I needed to share the truth.

“Every little gesture, every shared smile... it's all brought back the feelings I've tried so hard to bury,” I confessed. “And now, standing here with you, I'm forced to confront the reality that I still love you, despite everything we've been through.”

I looked up at him, eyes searching his face for any sign of rejection or disbelief. But Brett remained steadfast, his expression gentle and understanding as he absorbed my heartfelt declaration.

“Is it too late for us?”

Brett's eyes never left my face as he pondered my question. He reached out and took my hand, his rough fingers brushing against my soft skin. My breath hitched at the contact, but I didn't pull away. Instead, I allowed myself to lean into the warmth and strength of his touch, eyes never leaving his.

“Love isn't something that can be buried or forgotten, Sofia,” Brett began. “You've been a part of my heart ever since we first met, and despite the distance and time apart, that part of me has always belonged to you.”

My chest tightened at his admission, a swell of hope and fear mingling as I watched his face for any sign of doubt or hesitation. But all I found was the same steadfast sincerity that had always defined him.

“Over the years, I've tried to move on,” Brett continued, his grip on my hand tightening reassuringly. “But every time I thought I'd finally let go, something would remind me of us, of what we had. And I'd realize that no matter how much time passed, my love for you remained.”

A bittersweet smile graced his lips as he looked down at our joined hands, his thumb tracing circles over my knuckles. “I won't pretend that our past doesn't hurt, or that the pain hasn't left scars,” he admitted, lifting his gaze to meet mine once more. “But I believe that we can heal together. And I'm willing to fight for us, if you are.”

As I listened to Brett's heartfelt words, my heart swelled. Opening myself up to love again meant risking the heartache that had once shattered my world, but as I stood there, hand cradled in his, and I wanted to.

“Can we really do this?”

Brett's eyes were fierce as he nodded, his grip on my hand unwavering. “We can, Sofia,” he promised. “I’ve never stopped loving you, and I'll do whatever it takes to prove that to you—and to Max.”

His words were like a blanket. “I’ve been so scared. So afraid to trust, to let anyone in…”

“Shh,” he soothed, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “I know. But from now on, we'll face things together. We'll be each other's strength, and we'll show Max what love and family truly mean.”

In that moment, as Brett's arms encircled me, shielding me from the world outside, I had found my safe harbor. I finally reclaimed the love that once slipped through my fingers, and this time, I would hold onto it with everything I had.

“Thank you for giving us a second chance. I will not hurt you ever again. Ever since I left for college, I have regretted my choice of leaving you behind. My heart will always be yours. Always and forever.”

As I looked into his eyes, I could see the truth of his words. He would not only be my rock but also Max's guiding star, helping us through whatever challenges life may bring. In that moment, I knew – this was my happily ever after.

“I love you.”

The corners of his mouth lifted in a gentle smile, his love for me reflected in his eyes. “I love you too, Sofia. More than you'll ever know.”

Slowly, almost reverently, he leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. The kiss was tender – a testament to the love that had endured despite the passage of time and the obstacles we had faced. Our hearts seemed to meld together.

A new chapter of our lives were beginning- a second chance.