Chapter Twelve

Killian sat at his desk, looking over a file. He hadn’t slept in a week. He missed Celine so much and he knew they needed to talk. He planned to go to her shop later and see when they could do that.

“Hey, Killian.”

Killian glanced up to see Beau.

“Hey, Beau. How was your weekend?”

“Good. I’m sure yours wasn’t good with Celine being gone.”

“Gone? Gone where?”

“You don’t know? She went to Spokane.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. Brenna talked to her before she left.”

“Is she coming back?”

“Brenna said she was, but she also said that Celine is heartbroken and if she decided to stay, it wouldn’t surprise her.”

Killian sat back in his chair and shook his head. “I didn’t know anything about it. We’re not talking right now.”

Beau took a seat in the chair across from him.

“Don’t you think you need to?”

Killian blew out a breath. “I was going to go to her shop today.”

“Can you get past it?”

“So, you know what happened?”

“Brenna told me. She wasn’t happy with Celine either. ”

“Would you be?”

“No. I cannot abide liars, but there had to be a good reason for her to keep it from you. I don’t know what it would be, but you need to talk about it.”

“It’s hard, Beau. I’m crazy about her but I can’t have her hiding things from me, then lying about it. She didn’t trust me enough to tell me he was in town.”

“Yeah, well, like I said, you need to talk.”

“I agree. It’ll have to be after she comes back.”

Beau nodded, got to his feet, walked to his desk, and sat in his chair.

“Killian, I want you to check this horse theft out. It’s in Hartland.” Dave placed a folder on his desk.

“Yes, sir.” Killian opened the folder, then checked the computer for more information.

Dave liked the old school ways. Although the files were on the computers, he liked the reports on the thefts printed out. None of the agents cared, as long as Dave was happy, they were happy.

“What do you have?” Kian asked him.

“A missing horse in Clifton, close to the Hartland County line. You?”

“Some missing cattle in Spring City.”

Killian grinned. “We’re going in opposite directions.”

Kian chuckled. “I’m going to head there now. Let me know when you get back, maybe we can grab lunch. I’m addicted to those burgers.”

“Who isn’t? I’ll shoot you a text. I need to head out too.”

When the elevator opened, they stepped inside, and Kian pushed the button for the lobby. Killian folded his arms and leaned against the wall.

“What’s going on?”

“I just found out that Celine is in Spokane.”

“For good?”

“Beau said Brenna doesn’t think so, but she also said it wouldn’t surprise her.” He shook his head. “I was going to stop in her shop today and see when we could talk.”

“Damn. I’m sorry, Killian.”

“I’ll have to wait, I guess.”

“Unless you go to Spokane.”

“I’m not sure about that. We need to talk but not there. I’m sure she’s staying with her parents.”

“Send her a text. Tell her you want to talk. Hell, it’s been a week and you’re miserable.”

Killian looked at his brother and shrugged. “I love her.”

“Then that’s all you need to talk about. You need to let her know you’re not happy about her lying, but she needs to explain why she did.”

“I know.”

The elevator doors whooshed open, and both men stepped out. They walked outside together to their trucks.

“Damn cool weather moved in quick,” Kian said.

“After the summer we had, I’m fine with that.”

“You just remember saying that when snow is up to your ass and you’re out trying to find some livestock.” Kian grinned, then waved when he climbed into his truck.

Killian shook his head, climbed into his truck, entered the address into the GPS, then drove to the ranch with the missing horse.

When he arrived, a man walked toward him and introduced himself as the manager, then told Killian they’d found the horse. Apparently, it had jumped the fence and decided to run all over the place.

Killian grinned, shook the man’s hand, and headed back toward town.

On his way back, he sent a text to Kian to see if he was back in Clifton yet, but he said he wasn’t and wouldn’t be for a while. That was fine. Killian didn’t have much of an appetite anyway. He hadn’t since he and Celine parted.

As he pulled back into the parking lot, he parked, and sat in his truck for a few minutes, staring out the windshield. Then he removed his phone and sent her a text.

We need to talk. He waited for a reply but after a few minutes, he sighed, put his phone in his pocket, then got out of the truck and entered the building.

****

Celine stared at the phone. We need to talk. In her opinion, no good conversation started with those words.

“Is that phone going to do something special?” her father asked as he sat in his recliner.

“You’re funny,” she said with a grin.

“Well, the way you’re staring at it, I thought you were waiting for it to do something.”

“Quit teasing her, Dale.” Her mother sat on the sofa beside her and touched her hand. “Are you alright,” she whispered.

Celine sighed and showed the phone to her mother. “I’m afraid to hear what that means.”

“Honey, maybe he just means what it says. You do need to talk. You’re so miserable and though I don’t know him, I’m sure he is too.”

Celine looked at her mother and smiled. “I hope he is.”

Rosemary laughed. “I do too. I’ve never seen you so… in love before.”

“He’s everything to me. He treats me like gold. Like Daddy does with you. Killian is always touching me. I love him so much.”

“Then message him back. See what he says.”

“Okay. I’m going to my room. You know, just in case I scream.”

“We’ll still hear you.”

“Yes, but you won’t see me break down if this is bad news.”

“Stop worrying before you have a reason to.”

Celine got up from the sofa. “I’ll try. I’ll be back in a few… maybe. Blair and I are going to lunch.”

“Okay, honey. We’ll be here all day.”

Celine ran up the stairs, entered her room, walked to the bed and sat down. She stared at the phone, her stomach in knots. Taking a deep breath, she tried to think of what to say. Then sent a message.

Okay. She shook her head and waited. And waited. When he didn’t respond, she sighed. Maybe he was working and too busy right now.

“Men,” she muttered, but her belly dropped when a message came across.

When are you coming back? This needs to be discussed in person .

“Oh, God. He’s going to break up with me. I just know it.”

I’m not sure yet.

Well, you let me know.

She could see him clenching his jaw as he sent that. Stubborn man. Well, she could be just as stubborn.

Fine. Once she sent the message, she wished she could take it back. The typical response a woman gives when she’s pissed.

As she sat there staring at the phone, she knew he wasn’t going to respond. Damn it. That was just stupid, Celine Rosemary Nelson!

With a heavy sigh, she got up, changed her clothes, picked up her purse and went back downstairs. Her parents looked at her, but she shook her head.

“I don’t know any more now than I did before. I have to leave to pick up Blair. I’ll see you both later.”

She got into her vehicle, drove to Blair’s apartment, then they headed to town for lunch.

As they sat at the table, she handed Blair her phone to show her the messages and frowned when Blair laughed.

“I’m sorry, but it sounds like you’re both hardheaded.”

“He’s a man, that’s a given.”

“Please. You have got to be one of the most hardheaded people I know.”

“Like you’re not.” Celine shook her head. “I just hope I didn’t mess it up.”

“I do too. I can see how much you love him, and what’s not to love. He is gorgeous.”

“He’s such a good man. He treats me like I’m perfect when we know I’m not.”

“I hope it works out for you.”

“I don’t think it will. I think he just wants to talk to break up with me.”

“Now, you’re just speculating.”

“I suppose. Blair, I should probably go back to Clifton to see if I can save this relationship.”

“Yes, you should. I hate it, but you do need to see what’s going on. Just tell him the truth.”

“And what is that? That I thought he’d be upset, so I didn’t tell him about Blaine being in town?”

“Well, that’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“That and I thought he’d go after Blaine.”

“Seriously? Would he?”

“No. After giving it some thought, I know he wouldn’t. If Blaine had started something, I’m sure Killian would have finished it, but he wouldn’t start it. I’ve seen him angry about something that happened on his job, but he’s never overstepped. He had the perfect opportunity when he saved that dog. He told me the man made all kinds of excuses but as much as Killian would have loved to have punched him, he didn’t.”

“He sounds like a levelheaded man. He has to be in his job. He can’t go flying off the handle. So, maybe he just needed to think about you not being honest.”

“Maybe.” Celine knew he was not happy with her lying to him and she was going to do all she could to convince him how sorry she was and hope for the best.

*** *

Killian pulled around the back of his house and grinned when he saw the dogs at the fence, waiting for him. He opened the door, stepped out, then climbed the steps, and entered the house. The dogs ran into the house, sat and stared at him.

“I know. I’ll fill your dishes in a minute. Let me get my boots off.” He sat on the bench, removed his boots, then entered the laundry room to fill the dog’s bowls and give them fresh water.

After taking care of them, he headed for his bedroom to change his clothes. He pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, then walked back to the kitchen to find something to eat.

He stood at the fridge, staring into the freezer, then slammed the door out of frustration.

Opening the door again, he reached in and got himself a beer, removed the cap, tossed it in the trash, then headed for the living room. He sat in the recliner and took a long pull on the beer.

He wasn’t sure what to do about Celine. Unless they talked about what happened, how could there be a future for them? He knew he wanted her back in his life, but it hurt him that she thought she couldn’t be honest with him.

Picking up the remote, he turned the TV on and found a movie to watch. He had no interest in it, but maybe the sound would drown out his thoughts about her.

A while later, he jerked awake to his phone buzzing. He picked it up to see a message from Celine.

I’m sorry. He sighed when he read it, then responded .

Just what is it you’re sorry for?

Everything. Lying to you. My last message. You name it.

We still need to talk.

I know. I’m coming back to Clifton this weekend.

Alright. Let me know when you get home and we’ll see about getting together.

I don’t like you being mad at me.

He sighed again, then sent a message.

I’m not mad. I’m more disappointed than anything. You know how I feel about lying. No matter what the reason.

I know. I’ll do my best to explain. I want you back in my life, Killian. I love you.

Damn. He loved her too, and even though he knew he’d take her back, they had to get this out from between them.

I love you too. Let me know when you’re home.

I will. Goodnight.

Night.

He set his phone on the arm of the chair and looked at his watch. It was past ten. He’d fallen asleep, which didn’t surprise him. He’d hardly slept since this happened. Getting up, he made his way to the kitchen to pour the rest of his beer out, then put the bottle in the recycle bin. He flipped out the lights as he made his way to the bedroom.

After removing his T-shirt and sweatpants, he crawled between the sheets, closed his eyes and fell asleep.

*** *

Celine drove down Main Street in Clifton and was happy to be back. She had left early this morning and since it was Friday, she hoped to spend the weekend with Killian, but as she nibbled on her bottom lip, she prayed they’d get through this.

She parked across the street from the coffee shop, opened the door, and stepped out. Once there was a break in traffic, she crossed the street and entered the shop to see it packed.

She smiled when she saw Ainsleigh coming toward her and hugged her.

“I’m so glad you’re back. We’ve missed you.”

“I’m glad to be back. I missed all of you too. It looks like you’ve kept it going just fine.”

“Did you have any doubt?” Ainsleigh teased.

“Nope. Not even a little.”

“Are you coming to work Monday?”

“Yes, I’ll be back. I need to rest. Why is it you’re more tired after a vacation then before?”

“I’ve often wondered that myself.”

Celine laughed. “I just wanted to pop in for a second to let you know I’m back. I’m going to head home.”

“Oh, Celine. That guy was in here again looking for you. I told him you weren’t available. I was shocked when he went back to your office.”

Celine gasped. “He did?”

“Yes. I followed him. He opened the office door, looked inside, then after giving me a glare, he left. He came back twice after that. He was not happy.”

“He never is. Don’t worry about him. If he shows up next week, I will talk to him. I need to make things clear to him. ”

“Okay. If he shows up over the weekend, I’ll ignore him.”

“I tell you what, if he goes back to my office again, call the sheriff. I will not have him going back there.”

“Alright. Go home and get some rest. We’ll see you Monday.” Ainsleigh hugged her again, then walked behind the counter.

Celine waved at the other employees, stepped outside, and smiled. It was so good to be back. The fall air felt wonderful.

She climbed back into her car, checked traffic then pulled out. She made the block and headed back down the street. As she passed the building Killian worked out of, she looked for his truck in the parking lot but didn’t see it. He could be out on a case. Once she got home, she’d text him to let him know she was back. God! She missed that man so much.

She pulled into her driveway, sighed, and stepped out. She removed her suitcases from the back and carried them to the porch. After setting them down, she unlocked the door, picked up the cases, and entered the house.

As she was closing the door, she saw Mrs. Smith peeking out her windows, so Celine waved at her and laughed when the curtains closed. That woman did not miss a trick. She carried her suitcases upstairs, unpacked and put the clothes in the hamper. She’d do laundry tomorrow. She was just too tired.

She headed back downstairs and walked to the kitchen. She was hungry since she hadn’t eaten for a while.

After making a sandwich, she sat on the sofa, took her phone from her pocket and was about to send Killian a text when someone knocked on her door.

She placed her sandwich on the table and walked toward the door, peering through the peephole to see who was there. It was Blaine. “What do you want?” she asked in annoyance.

“Where have you been?” he shouted.

Celine frowned as she looked at him through the door. “That’s none of your business. Go away or I’ll call the sheriff.”

“You’d call him instead of your man? I knew he was afraid of me,” Blaine taunted.

Celine burst out laughing. “If that makes you feel better, go ahead and believe it.”

“Open the door, Celine. We need to talk.”

“No thanks, another guy saying we need to talk is the last thing I want right now.” She took a deep breath. “Leave, Blaine. You’re just here to cause trouble. You don’t want me any more than I want you. Leave before I call Killian.”

“Go ahead and call him, I’ll wait for him here,” Blaine said stubbornly.

“You’ll be waiting for a long time, idiot,” she muttered.

She walked back to the sofa and sent Killian a message.

I’m home early. Can we meet up tonight or do you want to wait?

She jumped when Blaine banged on the door again, but she ignored it. Hopefully he would get the hint and leave. Her phone buzzed with a reply from Killian.

Whatever you want to do.

“You are the most stubborn man I’ve ever met. Can’t you just tell me what you want?” She texted back.

It’s up to you. If you want me to come over, I can, but not right now.

“Damn it, why did I even mention that?” She scolded herself.

What do you mean, not right now?

“You knew he would ask! Don’t lie, just tell him.” She took a deep breath and sent another text.

Because Blaine is on my porch and won’t leave.

She waited for a response but didn’t get one. Was Killian mad that Blaine was there?

“For crying out loud, Killian. You get upset when I lie about him, but when I tell the truth, you don’t even talk to me. And they say women are hard to understand.” A few minutes later, she heard tires screeching outside. She got up and looked out the window to see Killian getting out of his truck and walking toward the porch.

“Oh no,” she muttered. She quickly opened the door, hoping to stop him, but with the anger evident in his expression, she knew nothing could stop him now. She looked at Blaine and almost laughed at the shock on his face. When he turned to look at her, she just shrugged.

Killian stepped onto the porch, arms folded and glared at Blaine.

Celine looked at Blaine. “You said you would wait here if I called him. Well, here he is.”

Killian glanced at her before turning back to Blaine.

“You were waiting for me?” he asked, leaning against a post .

“Oh, sure. You can act tough because you have a gun strapped to your side.”

Killian smirked. “Trust me, I don’t need this gun.”

“Then take it off,” Blaine challenged.

“I won’t do that, but it’s snapped in, so go ahead and take your best shot.”

Celine didn’t know who to watch, Blaine, who looked like he wanted to run away; or Killian, who seemed relaxed as he leaned against the post. But she knew deep down that he was anything but relaxed and ready for whatever might happen next.

Then Blaine let out a laugh. “I know what you’re doing. You’re waiting for me to hit you so you can have me arrested.”

Killian let out a sigh. “I don’t need to have you arrested. You told Celine you would wait for me. Well, here I am. I’ll even let you take the first swing.”

“You said you knew he was afraid of you, Blaine.” She knew she was egging him on, but she was so tired of his bullshit. She looked at Killian when he snorted out a laugh.

Celine watched Blaine turn away from Killian but quickly faced him and threw a punch, which Killian dodged, then before she even saw it, Killian punched him, and he fell on his ass. Out cold.

Her mouth dropped open as she looked at Blaine then Killian to see him shaking his hand.

“Shit, this is why I don’t fight,” he said.

She stared at him and when he looked at her, she couldn’t stop the tears from falling. She heard him take a deep breath, then he pulled her into his arms .