Chapter Seven
Warren
I don’t usually work on the weekends unless there’s an emergency or project that needs to get finished, but I needed something to keep myself busy before I go stir-crazy.
Unfortunately, I could only find enough stuff to do at the stables until noon, so I texted my childhood best friend, Silas, to meet me for lunch.
We’ve been through everything together, so he knows all about the rollercoaster that is Maisie’s and my relationship.
He’s going to give me so much shit when I share the details.
“Hey, man!” His face lights up, sliding out of the booth to hug me.
“How’s it goin’?” I ask, then sit across from him.
We met at Willow Branch Grill, a bar and restaurant downtown that we’ve been to dozens of times since before we could legally drink alcohol.
“I’ve been on edge since you texted that you had to tell me somethin’. What is it?”
Before I can respond, our server approaches and asks for our drink order.
“Budweiser on tap, please.”
Silas orders the same and then his gaze is back on mine. “So?”
“Impatient much?”
I’m stalling for the inevitable freak-out, but I need to talk about this with someone I’m not related to. My siblings have been blowing up our group chat now that they all know she’s here and that we’re still married. They’ve been relentless, so I had to mute it.
Mom and Dad haven’t said much since finding out she’s here, but I know what they’re thinking. They want me to move on so I don’t get hurt.
A little too late for that.
“Well, yeah. The last time you told me you had news, it was about Maisie sendin’ the divorce papers again and you sendin’ ’em back again…”
Lowering my gaze, I nod to confirm his suspicions.
“Oh shit, she sent ’em again ?”
“Worse.”
He arches a brow. “How much worse?”
I might as well get it over with and tell him what he wants to know.
“She showed up at my house two nights ago, asked me for a divorce so she can marry another man, but I said no and slammed the door in her face. A few minutes later, I caught her sneakin’ in through the patio door and said I wasn’t signin’ ’em because we never got a real chance to make things work.
The next day, she showed up to the stables in heels, demanding we talk.
Told her I didn’t have time, and if she wanted me to listen, she could ride out to the pasture with me.
So I gave her some boots and put her on Lilith, who ran off before I caught up to her, then took her over to see Posey and the goats.
My loud-mouthed sister blurted about the house, and Maisie asked to see it, so I took her there next,” I reply quickly, hoping he catches it all.
When I look up, his jaw is on the floor and his eyes wide as saucers.
“She…saw the house?” He blinks. “The whole thing?”
I lick my lips. “Yep.”
“Then what?”
The server brings our drinks, we quickly order our usuals, and then Silas’s attention is back on me. “What’d she say about it?”
“She seemed to like it but was surprised I built it for her. Then told me I needed to move on.”
He grimaces. “Shit.”
“And I told her I couldn’t.”
“She’s engaged to someone else?”
“Yeah, some guy from New York. Asked me to let her go and that I deserved to be happy, so I needed to let someone else in.”
“Well…” He shrugs cautiously.
“That’s not all.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“I told her I’d let her go, sign the papers, and move on if she gave me seven days to prove we deserve a second chance.”
“Even though she’s with someone else?” He looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind, and maybe I have, but I’m not going to admit that.
“She’s still my wife,” I remind him. “If I have to give her up for good, I need to know I tried everythin’ first. That means showin’ her what we could be if we stayed together.”
“I dunno, Warren…” He scratches the back of his neck. “That sounds like a recipe for disaster. Especially if she’s gettin’ married to someone else.”
I lift a shoulder, not caring about that part. “She isn’t married to him and we aren’t divorced. That means I still have time to make her doubt her decision.”
“You’re sure about this? It could, and probably will, backfire on you.”
“What other choice do I have? Let her walk away with my heart while she gives hers to someone else?”
“You think one week is gonna make a difference?”
“It’s my last resort to remind her how in love we used to be. I’ll be respectful of her relationship ”—I nearly choke on the word—“if it’s clear there’s nothin’ left between us. But if there’s even a sliver of a chance she’s indecisive about the divorce, then I’m not lettin’ her walk away again.”
“Do you know who her fiancé is?” He cracks his knuckles. “Could we take him?”
I snort out a laugh. “Just that his name is Hayes.”
“ Hayes ? Sounds like a tool.”
“He’s probably some guy who works in a stuffy office and has never gotten his hands dirty.”
“Most likely,” he agrees.
Silas works with his fiancée’s dad as a contractor and mostly works on new construction homes throughout the state, so he’s as familiar with hard work and getting dirty as I am.
“So what’re you plannin’ for your seven days?”
When our food arrives a few minutes later, I’m still telling him my ideas and ask him for any other ones. I’ll have to work during the weekdays, but in the evenings, she’ll be all mine .
“You know I love ya.” He pulls me in for a hug when we stand. “Good luck. Keep me updated.”
“Thanks, and I will.”
“And hey, if it works out, we can go on double dates.” He smirks, and I laugh.
“Give Aundrea my love.” I pat his back as we walk outside.
He proposed last year and they’ll tie the knot this fall.
“I will.”
We go our separate ways, and I get into my truck. My heart rate spikes when I check my phone and find a new message from Maisie. After I texted her this morning to meet at my house this evening, I’ve been anxious as hell, which is why I word vomited all over Silas.
But I’m looking forward to seeing her without the hostility looming between us.
Maisie
I’m assuming boots means no skirts or dresses, right?
Warren
Not unless you wanna give me a show.
Maisie
What the fuck does that mean?
I bark out a laugh because getting under her skin the way she’s been under mine is a thrill I haven’t felt in years.
We text back and forth a few times and when I tell her she’ll have to prove me wrong she’s not wound up with a stick up her ass, I set my phone down and drive home.
“You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me.” Maisie’s head lifts to the ladder that leads to the zip line.
“You scared of heights now?” I ask because she wasn’t before.
We have a zip line for the guests that offers a beautiful view of the river and mountains. We used to do it all the time and try to beat each other’s times.
“I haven’t done this in forever.”
“Exactly. Let’s get suited up.” I nod for her to climb up and follow behind her.
The guests go through a mini training session before staff let them go, but since it’s just us and we aren’t first-timers, we’re going straight up.
“You better not be lookin’ at my ass.” She tries to glance over her shoulder to catch me.
“It’s right in my face. Where do you want me to look?”
“At the ground. The sky. The trees.”
“Nah, none of ’em are as appealin’ as the view in front of me.”
I wasn’t even staring at her ass…until she mentioned it.
“Warren!” she scolds.
“You act like I haven’t licked hot fudge off that ass. Relax.”
“Oh my God, no!” She climbs on top of the hut where we’ll get ready. “You’re not allowed to talk like that. If I have to suffer through seven days of this, no sex talk or mentions of what we used to do.”
“Shit, I wish you had told me that sooner. Kinda puts a damper on the plans I had for later of watchin’ our old dirty home movies.”
She swats my arm when I reach her. “That’s not funny.”
“Jesus, Maze. Is this you tryin’ to convince me you’re not stuck-up? Where’d your sense of humor go?”
I’m usually the one being told to lighten up, so this is a weird change of pace.
“Can we set some boundaries, please? I agreed to this so you’d see we’re over and that you need to move on. But I’m not gonna listen to you reminisce about our past sex life. That’s off-limits.”
“Okay, fine.” I tower above her, lifting a brow as she meets my gaze. “But that goes both ways. No lookin’ at my ass either.”
She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. “Not gonna be an issue on my end.”
“Great.” I smirk. “Am I allowed to help you into the harness or is that breakin’ some unspoken rule you haven’t told me about yet?”
Her tongue pokes out between her lips and I can tell she wants to respond with a smart-ass comment. “As long as you keep your eyes and hands above my waist.”
My eyes lower to her chest, purposely taunting to get a reaction out of her.
“Not there either.”
I chuckle, shaking my head.
Grabbing the harness, she avoids my gaze as I help her into it and make sure she’s secure.
“Feel okay?” I ask, giving the ropes and belts a tug.
“I think so.”
“Hey, sorry I’m late!” Asher, one of the staffers from the resort, meets us on the platform. I gave him a heads-up I’d be bringing someone before he took his last break.
“No worries. Asher, this is Maisie.”
“Hey, nice to meet ya.” He shakes her hand, then grabs two helmets and two sets of gloves.
While he double-checks Maisie’s good to go, I put on my gear.
“Y’all ready? Who’s first?” Asher asks.
“She is.”
Maisie narrows her eyes like she wants to murder me, but she should’ve known I’d want to make sure she gets to the other side safely. There’s another staff member waiting for us over there.
Once Asher clips the harness to the cable and double-checks everything, I lean into her ear and whisper, “Don’t forget to scream my name.”
She turns her head, our faces inches apart, and I shoot her a wink.
“Just for that, I’m gonna beat your time to the other side.”
“Game on, city girl.”
I back up out of the way as Maisie grabs the handle and inches closer toward the edge.
“Bend your knees and lean back,” Asher reminds her.