Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

W arrick

"Colson, I swear to God, you better get your ass back here before summer's over."

Bessie let out a moo that I chose to interpret that she agreed with me. I kicked one of the wood posts, noting that it needed to be replaced soon.

"Have you planted the roses yet?" he grunted into the phone, being the grumpy little bitch he always was.

"No, but I just renovated Mom's whole house and have plans being drawn up to build another one. Dad wanted you home. You're telling me you're going to give him the middle finger regarding his last wishes? That the kind of man you are now?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, asshole. Here I thought you were calling me to check in on your little brother, but no. You're verbally attacking me instead. I already put in my notice at work and the lease on my place is up next month."

I stopped pacing and pursed my lips. "Well, good. Fine, then. "

"Yeah." He huffed out a breath. "Dude, you need to get laid or something. All that animosity isn't good for your heart. You ain't a young kid anymore."

I rolled my eyes, but of course my brain went to Emmerleigh, stretched out on my bed, hands above her head, and wrists tied to my bedpost. Fuck. I didn't need to get laid, I needed the woman I was madly in love with to just give me an honest chance.

And then get laid.

"I'm being an asshole because I had to watch Mom cry last night, telling me she's bored now with Dad gone and not sure what to do with herself," I said quietly.

Colson huffed again, but this time it was more like a sigh. "I'm sorry. I should be checking in more. But I do have plans to move home soon. Probably by end of next month."

"Good. Let me know how I can help."

"Will do. Love ya, brother."

"Love you too."

We hung up and Bessie stared back at me chewing on something. "You gonna let Colson milk you?"

She didn't answer, but she did saunter away, which was all the answer I needed. She'd be disagreeable with every male she encountered. I'd bet my snakeskin boots on it. Instead of calling Boon next and spreading my shit mood around, I figured harassing Colson was all that was necessary right now. Perhaps Timberwolfe Farms could only handle one brother at a time.

A noise at the end of the long driveway had me turning. I wasn't expecting anyone and I'd be a goddamn liar if I said my heart rate didn't pick up thinking it might just be Em. And fuck me, it was. Her familiar piece-of-shit truck bounced over the gravel and came to a stop, her lovely face a neutral mask as she parked and got out. Even in work attire, she was stunning. A small package of womanhood and fierce mama-bear energy was clearly my kryptonite. It was with hopeful pride that I eyed the magnet attached to her door with my tagline emblazoned beneath her company logo. If she hated me, surely she would have ripped that magnet off first thing just so she wasn't reminded of me.

"Got a minute?" she asked from too far away.

"Always." What I meant was always… for her .

I walked over, noting the way she folded her arms across her chest and then dropped them, only to clasp her fingers together and wring them over and over. Hope bubbled up higher when I saw the gold band still on her ring finger.

Even if she told me she was walking away from this temporary marriage and handing me back my ring, I wouldn't want her worried. Even if she wasn't with me, I wanted all the best for her. Mom's advice was usually right. Which meant I needed to back off and let Em make her choice, even if that choice wasn't me.

"Hey," I said softly, resting a hand on the hood of her truck when what I really wanted was to take her in my arms. "Whatever's on your mind, just say it. It'll be okay, I promise."

Her shoulders dropped and her fingers stopped their frantic motions. "I, uh, just wanted to swing by and let you know I got an email early this morning, saying the custody suit is being dropped. Thank you. Thank you for working with that lawyer and whatever happened with Cayden. It worked." Her bottom lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears, but she still managed a smile.

Relief was a palpable thing. I wanted to take her in my arms and spin her around, celebrating one less hurdle in her life's path. But I couldn't. Not when things were still unsettled between us.

"That's fantastic news. Thank you for letting me know."

Em blinked several times, looking even more unsure of herself. "Yeah, so, um, you were also right about Roger."

Anger flared and I stood straighter, already going down a path in my head that involved my fist meeting Roger's face. "Yeah?"

Em nodded, her gaze flitting down to the dirt between us. "He fired me, which is utter bullshit, but when I dropped off the bill for work already rendered, he said he'd have payment by tomorrow. I, uh, I'm sorry I didn't listen to your advice."

I shook my head, a little disappointed that I might not have to confront Roger after all. I had some frustration building that would have been nice to get out in the form of an old-fashioned fistfight. "It happens in business."

When she nodded and looked like she might be spinning back to the door of her truck to leave, I held up a finger. "Hold up. I have something for you." I dug in my pocket, grabbing the little box I'd had there for two days, just in case I saw Em. I pulled it out and held it toward her in the palm of my hand.

Her jaw dropped and her gaze flew to mine. "What is this?"

"Look familiar?"

She looked back down at the box, a hand flying to her mouth. A tear slipped out and rolled down her cheek. Just like last night, it about buckled my knees to see this woman cry. Especially because I couldn't do anything about it. Couldn't take her in my arms. Couldn't whisper that I'd make everything all right. Couldn't sweep her off her feet and spend the rest of my life making sure she never had a reason to cry ever again.

With shaking fingers, she plucked the box from my palm and flipped it open to reveal the cross necklace I'd had cleaned and shined after I got it back from Cayden. The tears were coming in earnest now and I wasn't sure just how long I could withstand the pull to console her.

Turned out, I didn't have to make that decision. With a watery yelp, she clutched the box to her chest and threw herself into my body. On instinct, I put my arms around her and closed my eyes, breathing in her lemon scent, layered with sawdust. I patted her back and forced myself to disengage, my hands wrapped around each arm as I held her away from me.

"I want to call Anton. I gave him all the pictures from the private detective. Cayden's doing some illegal things and the whole town has a right to know there's a swindler in their midst. Are you okay with me calling your brother? "

She swiped at her eyes and her nose, still staring at me with unasked questions. "Y-yes. Thank you for consulting with me about it first."

I nodded. "I may be an old dog, but I can be taught new tricks."

Em tipped her head to the side and smiled at me, all the while tears kept running down her cheeks. I leaned down one last time and kissed her on the forehead before stepping back.

"I'll go give him a call."

Em watched me walk backward toward the house, never taking her gaze from me. Pretty sure the visual of her crying with that necklace clutched to her chest would be burned into my memory.

"Wait."

I froze, heart in my throat. Tell me you love me too. Just say the word and all this can be put behind us.

"I need to grab the goat-dog."

It took me a second or two to understand, wondering why she'd want Thistle or Cleveland. Then I remembered the stuffed animal I'd gotten Georgia. Disappointment flooded my system like a tsunami, but I forced myself to nod and hold up a finger before bounding up the steps and into the house. Pain gripped my chest the whole way back to the guest room where the stuffed goat sat on top of the makeshift bed Georgia had been sleeping in. I grabbed it and the unicorn I'd won at the carnival and battled back the sting in my eyes. Goddamnit this was miserable.

Em was in her truck when I stepped back outside. Each step in her direction was agony. There was so much I wanted to say, things I could offer to do, even straight-up begging wasn't too over the top right now. I didn't do a damn thing but hand her the stuffed animals and step back with a fake smile.

"Take care of yourself, Em."

I could see it on her face: the confusion, the doubt, the plea in her eyes for me to bridge the gap, just like I'd always done. But Mom's words rang in my head. It wasn't up to me to rescue her. When she came to me again, I wanted it to be because she was sure of herself and her instincts. I wanted her answer to be a clear and resounding yes, not a muddled and unsure maybe.

With my heart breaking, I turned and walked back in the house to call Anton. He listened to what had happened with Cayden and confirmed he received the photographs via email. He was already clearing his schedule for the next day. He planned to take it all to the local cops and let them deal with it as they deemed necessary. Anton was optimistic that this would shut down Cayden's business and make him think twice before ever trying to get custody of Georgia again. No judge would overlook criminal activity.

"Hey," I added at the end of our conversation. "Would you try to warn the woman first?"

There was a pause. "His new fiancée?"

"Yeah. Em would want her to know what was about to happen so she could get out. Just in case it turns ugly, you know?"

Anton chuckled darkly. "Yeah, that sounds just like Emmy. I'll talk to the woman first and then take everything to the police."

"Thanks, Anton."

"Anytime." He paused again before speaking. "I'm pulling for you, man. You make my sister happy and I have a lot of respect for you. If she knows what's good for her, she'll be back before you know it."

I looked out at the front yard, missing that ugly truck parked there, leaking oil onto the gravel drive. "I hope so."