Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
KADE
It’s been a stressful few days. Between things going wrong at the ranch and work picking back up, I’m ready for an easy day.
But of course, when running a ranch, there’s no such thing as an easy day. Which is why I’m two towns over—in Thistle Creek—buying all the chicken coop wire I can as a temporary fix.
“Do you have any more of this?” I ask the man behind the counter.
“I think I might have some in back.” He studies me with a curious eye. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
I shake my head. “What gave it away?”
“I haven’t seen you around town. And I pretty much know everyone here.”
Sounds about right.
“I’m from Pinecrest. I’m working on fixing up the ranch out there.”
“The Lost Spur?” he asks.
I nod. “One and the same.”
“I heard it was in pretty bad shape. I used to go out there as a kid.”
“Well, I’m hoping to get it back to its glory days.”
“How’s old Verne out there?”
I wince. “He passed away a few months ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. He was a nice guy. Always kind to me.”
“That sounds like him.”
Even if he sometimes was a crotchety old man when he wanted to be.
“I’ll check in the back and see if we have any more wiring for you.”
“I appreciate it.”
I grab a few more things I’ll need and when I turn to head to the counter, I stop in my tracks.
Fucking Paul.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the prodigal child.”
“What the hell are you doing out here?” I ask.
“What’s it matter to you?”
I cross my arms, not wanting to get into it with him, but I can’t help the anger boiling through me. Of all the places, how in the world did I bump into him in a tiny hardware store outside of Pinecrest?
“I’d hate for Pinecrest to think their golden boy was cheating on them and coming to another town to get supplies.”
I roll my eyes. I don’t need to tell him that I already got all of it from every store in Pinecrest. He doesn’t need to know anything about me.
“Why are you here at a hardware store? Didn’t think you knew what hard work was if it bit you in the ass.”
The smarmy smile drops from his face. “I can see why Presley’s dad didn’t think you were good enough for her. I’m glad he’s not here to see her running around with trash like you.”
I grind my teeth together, nearly cracking one of them.
Don’t hit him. Don’t hit him.
He’s not worth it.
“And she still didn’t choose you either.”
He scoffs. “If she were smart, she’d come back to me and we could put this whole mess behind us and we’d both get what we want. She never belonged to you.”
“She didn’t belong to you either. She’s her own person.”
He takes a step closer to me. “And Poppy?”
“She’s mine,” I growl.
“Not according to the state of Montana.”
Crack.
So much for controlling my temper and not letting this man get to me. My fingers ache as a bruise blooms on Paul’s jaw. Shock colors his face.
“You really are the asshole her dad thought you were.”
“I’m the asshole? You’re the one using a child to get what you want.”
Paul rubs his jaw, not making a move to retaliate. “You proved why I’m the better choice for her and will always be the better choice. But I don’t care about that. Presley knows my terms.”
“That’s Presley’s decision, not mine.”
Bitterness laces my voice. I don’t know two things about this guy, other than I hate him.
I’ve hated him ever since the night I was serving cocktails to Pinecrest’s elite and her dad announced their engagement. It was a pain like I’ve never felt. Hearing the woman I love promised to another man.
This man. Someone her dad deemed acceptable.
I fled Pinecrest that night and never looked back.
I really hate this guy. I hate that he got all those years with Poppy and Presley that I can never get back.
“Is everything okay out here?”
The guy comes back out with three more packages of wiring.
“Fine.” Paul throws down his basket and leaves the store.
I blow out a breath, scrubbing a hand down my face. My hand is already throbbing from where it connected with Paul.
So much for not telling Presley about this.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Just someone I don’t like.”
He rings me up and I pass over my credit card, cringing at seeing the total. Another downside to running your own business. You’re responsible for everything. And at a ranch? All the little things seem to cost a couple thousand dollars.
“If you need any help with the ranch, or need more supplies, feel free to come on over.”
“Thanks, man.”
I nod at him as I grab everything and head outside to my SUV. Clicking the fob, I throw everything into the trunk before hopping in.
I can’t believe I lost my cool like that. It’s not like me. Being around that asshole makes it really hard to think straight.
Something else I can add to the long list of things that aren’t going my way this week. I don’t know what I’ll do if one more thing goes wrong.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it, let alone my bank account.
Things back home in Seattle really are easy. I mean a few problems here and there are easy to take care of. Is this a sign that I really should be going back home?
Except…I don’t want to leave Presley and Poppy.
Every time the three of us are together, it feels like we’re a family.
I only just got them back. Going back and forth between Seattle and Pinecrest?
It’s not going to be easy. Sure, closing more deals back home will help with money for the ranch, but the travel will deplete my funds.
At this point, Poppy doesn’t even know I’m her father. I don’t know when Presley will be ready to tell her, but I want her to know.
I squeeze my hands around the steering wheel, getting ready to leave, but my hand aches.
God, I really wish things were easier here. That we didn’t have to deal with Paul, her father’s estate, and telling Poppy the truth.
I guess that’s life. Nothing is easy.
Especially when it comes to the woman I love.