Chapter 14
ELLIOT
“The medicine’s working great,” Max tells me about Misty. But the tone of his voice, mixed with that inquisitive expression, implies he’s told me this more than once since I showed up at the main stable.
“Good.”
“Also, I’m getting married on New Year’s Eve. You and the missus are invited.” He pauses, staring at me uncomfortably. “There still is a missus, right?”
I yank the invitation out of his hand, refusing to answer the question.
I told him that Kayleigh decided to extend her holiday stay with her family through the end of the year.
But not that she’s been unusually quiet, hardly replying to my texts and refusing my phone calls because she’s tied up with family.
Have I lost her already?
Did her family convince her this whole thing was messed up? It’s not exactly a good look, dating your ex-boyfriend’s father. One who’s old enough to be her father too.
“Boss, just go get on a fucking plane already.”
“I can’t do that.” I might have claimed some sort of possessive ownership over Kayleigh, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to force her to be with me. If she doesn’t want to come back to the Bishop Ranch, I’ll let her go.
Even if it fucking kills me.
It’s easy to think you’re in love with someone when you have your own little pleasure bubble.
But when reality charges in, popping that bubble, that’s what really matters.
It happened with Rebecca. I was convinced the two of us would have this great family together, but then Dad popped that fucking bubble with his big fat check and fancy contract.
I thought Kayleigh was different.
Maybe she was only in it for the money.
Maybe—
“She loves you,” Max insists. “I’ve seen it in her eyes.
The same look Natalie has for me, when she’s not pissed at me, anyway.
Kayleigh loves you, and she loves you for the right reasons.
I may have fucked up in this whole love department a time or two, but I’ve learned the fucking lessons.
So maybe take the advice from your brother in arms so you don’t have to learn the same lessons I did the hard way. ”
“What are you saying?”
“Elliot, if you don’t drive to the airport right the fuck now, I’m hogtying your ass and dragging you there myself. Go get your girl!”