RANCHER BEAR’S BABY(90)

“I don’t fucking care. This is getting out of hand. Elizabeth is pissed at you. She’s already planning to slap the hell out of you the next time she sees you. If I come home exhausted from wrestling with you one more night, we’re both dead men. Her words.”

“You know what? I may consider putting my head on the chopping block for her.” I blew out a rough breath and sat up. “How the fuck did you manage this, Alex?”

He threw his arm over his face and grunted. “I didn’t beat the shit out of everyone constantly, that’s for sure.”

“I just want the incessant pain to go away. I keep hoping that one of these days, you’re going to hit me hard enough to make me forget. I should pick a fight with Matt. He’d probably fucking do it.”

“You’re never going to forget, asshole. She’s your mate. There is no forgetting. I’ll tell you one thing, though. This pain you’re feeling? She’s feeling it, too. She’ll come back. Or you’ll finally give in and go get her.”

I pulled myself to my feet and staggered for a few steps. We’d really let each other have it this time. “I’m sorry I keep doing this to you, brother. I just feel like I’m going crazy.”

“I get it. Why do you think I’m back here for more every day?”

I helped him up and then we both made our way to my truck. “I’ll figure it out. It’s got to hurt less eventually, right?”

Alex gave me a look that said that he doubted it. “Why don’t you come inside and have dinner with us? Everyone’s here.”

I looked up at the house and imagined sitting at the table with my four brothers, their mates and their children. No way. I looked away from Alex and shook my head. “Thanks for the offer. I’m heading home. A nice long swim in the lake sounds good right about now.”

He patted me on the shoulder. “Take care of yourself. Come on back tomorrow, too, if you need to. I’ll handle Elizabeth.”

I nodded and drove into town. I needed to grab something for dinner, so I stopped at the general store. I drew plenty of stares in my still healing state. I was sure I looked a lot like death warmed over, but I didn’t give a shit.

I grabbed a case of beer and a loaf of bread, resigning myself to a night of peanut butter sandwiches. I was just putting my stuff on the counter when I looked up and caught a glimpse of a tall strawberry blonde strolling past the store.

My stomach dropped into my boots. I felt light headed. It couldn’t be her.

“You going to pay for that?”

I looked back at the cashier and grunted. “I’ll be right back.”

I couldn’t not check it out. I had to be sure that it wasn’t her. I rushed out of the store and looked in the direction she’d gone. Nothing. It was like she’d vanished. It didn’t stop me from walking down the street, peering into stores and down alleys.

When I realized she wasn’t there, and probably never had been, I trudged back to the general store to paid for my things before heading home. My heart was heavier than ever. I was almost ready to check myself in somewhere because I felt a little bit like I was going insane.

I was doing the same old song and dance in my head, trying to think of something, anything, to lessen the pain. When I pulled into my driveway, there was already a truck parked there. I didn’t see anyone in it and there was no one on my front porch, but I got a strong whiff of wild cherries.

I dropped my beer and bread and rushed around the side of the house. There on the porch, sitting with her back to me, was Bunny. My heart stalled out and I was pretty sure I was going to have a heart attack and die right here in front of my mate.

“This is probably my favorite place in the entire world. You have the best view I’ve ever seen.” She stood up and turned to face me. Her eyes went wide and she touched her own face. “What happened?”

I couldn’t get the words to come out. I knew what I wanted to say but I couldn’t get anything out. I was choking at the worst possible moment.

She was stunning. Her hair was longer and she’d gotten a little bit of sun. Her toes were bare and she’d wrapped a blanket around her shoulders to keep out the evening chill.

“At the risk of making a fool out of myself, I’m just going to talk. You’re doing great at just listening, so far.” She hugged herself tighter. “There are things that I won’t negotiate on. I don’t want to get married again. I don’t want to feel trapped. I am going to work and I’m going to support myself. I’m not just some woman you can keep under your thumb and at your beck and call. I’m my own person and I want to be treated as an equal.