18. Harlan
18
HARLAN
W inston calls not long after the lunch I’d worked through because I still couldn’t stomach the thought of eating. The drive has my jaw clenching, an ominous cloud following me as I walk up the steps toward the house and knock on the door.
Opening it with a flourish, Winston leads me inside, either not noticing I’m practically crawling out of my skin or ignoring it.
“Have a seat if you’d like.”
“I’ll stand, sir.” His eyes narrow, but I won’t be sitting when he fires me for being with his nephew.
For having Reid on his knees for me in the barn.
For falling in love with him even though I tried like hell not to.
“Back to sir, huh?” I dip my head and wait for the final blow. “I’ll get Elora on your case; she’s good like that.”
The comment catches me off guard, and I can’t make sense of it. Winston’s face is amused and full of sympathy when I finally have the courage to lift my gaze.
“I was hoping you’d be interested in working with Onyx. Reid said he’d been sweet on you, and it’d mean an awful lot to have you help us get him settled.”
I blink at him, my brows furrowing. “You want me to work with Onyx?” The words are slow like molasses as I force them out, my brain still stuck on the loop that this conversation would be same as the one back in Wyoming.
He wants me to stay?
“Sure,” he says, leaning back and resting his hands over his mostly flat stomach. “Horse has been through a lot, and we want to help him in whatever way we can.” He nods toward me. “Right now, that sounds like you.”
“All right…” I say slowly, still not completely sure what I’m agreeing to as panic starts squeezing the air from my lungs.
“Good.” Winston sits forward, shuffling files around his desk until he finds the folder he’s looking for and hands me the paper from inside.
My eyes scan the words one time.
And then again.
“This is a job offer.”
“It is indeed.”
My knees feel weak, and I feel no shame about dropping into the chair beside me as I let this entire morning flit through my brain.
The texts.
Leaving Reid in my bed.
Seeing him at the tree farm.
Breaking his heart and mine.
All for nothing.
Holy fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Anything you want to talk about, son?”
“I thought—” I swallow hard, the words getting lodged in my throat as I think about the way Reid had looked at me. The dejection and heartbreak and knowing in that moment I’d never be the same.
Because I had him.
I had the best thing that had ever happened to me, and I tossed it away because I’d still been living in the past. Because I couldn’t open my mouth and be honest with him—to tell him I was scared out of my mind of losing him. And even more terrified that I’d fucked up and come between him and his family.
That I was trying to do the right thing.
“I need to make things right with Reid before I can accept.” I steel myself and add, “As long as the offer is still available.”
“It’s not my business to get involved with my nephew’s love interests, but I will say that I own an awful lot of land here.”
He doesn’t say “ and they’ll never find your body .” He doesn’t have to.
Hell, if I ever fuck up like this again, I’ll help him dig the damn hole.
Licking my lips, I admit, “I thought you called me in today to fire me, and I ended things prematurely. I didn’t want to come between family.”
“Not saying they’re right, but I’m sure you had your reasons,” he says, his voice even and lacking the disdain I thought was coming.
“I need to talk to him,” I say, the words sounding desperate even to my own ears.
“He went on an errand with Wren. Won’t be back till tonight.”
My stomach drops into my boots. The idea of waiting hours to see him is something I can hardly fathom.
“If he takes me back,” I rasp, looking to the man seated across from me, “I don’t know…I guess I’m asking for your blessing. To be with him.”
Winston studies me for a long while, his gaze assessing and uncomfortable but not unfairly so. He cares about his nephew, and I can’t fault him for that.
I care about him too.
I’m in love with him.
“That boy is as much mine as any of my own kids,” Winston starts. “Lives and breathes for our town—hell, for the entire state.” He chuckles. “I want him to be happy, to have someone who loves and supports him and finds his enthusiasm charming and thinks he hung the moon. Is that you?”
“Yes, sir.”
Winston points a finger at me and grins. “That one I’ll allow.” I chuckle and it’s part relief and part hope that he thinks there’s a chance this will all work out. “If I were you, I’d start planning that apology. And make it big, because my nephew deserves it.”
“He does.”
He deserves the world.
“Oh, and Harlan?”
“Yes?”
“In the event that my nephew does take you back, I might have some ideas to run by you so we can expand our rescue program here, make it a sanctuary for horses like Onyx.”
Hope beats in my chest and I nod, my voice cracking as I answer him, “I’d be honored.”
“Good,” he grunts. “Now go figure out how I can keep you instead of making up an alibi.”
I huff out a laugh as I nod and head out the door. I have a lot of work to do, and I’ll need help if I’m gonna pull it off.
Here’s to hoping the help think I’m worth it too.