14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Hannah

I could not believe my ears. “No. Absolutely not.”

“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” Caleb replied.

My fingers curled around my steering wheel. If I didn’t hold on tight, I might’ve ripped out my speakers to silence Caleb’s nonchalant voice coming through them. “Convenient of you to wait until I’m already across the state line so I can’t drive over there and strangle you.”

My brother had the nerve to laugh. “Wasn’t too worried about that. Figured I’d ask you last minute so you couldn’t find another solution. If you don’t drive him back, he’ll be stranded down there.”

I flipped on my turn signal harder than necessary, steering my truck down the hard-packed dirt road leading to my client’s ranch.

“I really can’t believe you, Cay. You expect me to chauffeur Remington around after he…what—does some big city shopping? I just don’t know what could be so important—”

“He’s seeing a neurologist, Han.”

That brought me up short. “Why? Is something wrong with him?”

“He didn’t tell you about the accident?”

Cold prickled my skin all over. “No. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Seems like something he should’ve mentioned to you.” Caleb sighed. “Guess I’m left to be the one to tell you everything. At least, what I know.”

“Go on. Tell me.”

By the time Caleb got through describing what had happened to Remi, I’d been parked on my client’s property for several minutes. A low spark had lit in my belly, burning brighter with every detail, but I had to tamp it down. Now wasn’t the time to process any of this. It was much too big, and I had a job to do. My mind had to be on my horses—not the fact that Remi had almost died on the other side of the world while his father had been living his final days.

The ranch owner walked out of his barn, giving me the side-eye, no doubt wondering why the hell I was still in my truck and not tending to his horses.

“I gotta go, Cay.”

“All right. I’ll let you get to work. You’ll drive Rem home when you’re done, right?”

“Yeah.” I blew out a heavy breath. “I’ll drive him home.”

Remi didn’t keep me waiting outside the hospital. As soon as I’d texted I’d arrived, he came out, taking long, confident strides directly to my truck. I couldn’t stop myself from looking for signs of injury, but he was just as sturdy and in one piece as he’d been the last time I saw him. As he drew closer, my attention got caught on the scar on his temple. I’d noticed it, but I’d been too caught up in my anger to really process how fresh it was.

He climbed into my truck, a grin on his face, and held out a bottle of Sprite. “Tell me you still drink these.”

“I—” I glanced from his face to the bottle. “Yes, I still drink them.”

“Good.” He handed it over, and I let it rest in my hand, unsure how I felt about…well, anything. “I owe you for giving me a ride. A soda’s not gonna cut it, but it’s a start.”

“Don’t worry about it. Caleb’s the one who owes me anyway.” I placed the soda in a cup holder and wrapped my fingers around the wheel. “Ready?”

“Whenever you are.”

We were miles down the road, leaving the outskirts of the city and heading northwest toward home, the radio playing low. Remi’s head had fallen to rest against the window as soon as I’d started driving, but he picked it up now, turning toward me.

“I’m surprised you take care of horses all the way down here.”

I shrugged. “They were Graham’s clients. I took them over when he…retired. But you know this area. Everything’s far. I don’t mind driving, though. I’m used to it.”

“Yeah. It’s easy to forget how far apart things are. With enough distance, this whole place got smaller.”

My laugh was soft and a little bitter. “There’s nothing small about Wyoming. Well, except the population. Still the lowest in the country.”

I caught the twitch of his mouth out of the corner of my eye. “The way Wyomingites like it, huh?”

“Some of us, sure. I wouldn’t want to live in a crowded area, but I don’t mind being around people.”

“Guess you always had that at the ranch—enough tourists to make it interesting and enough space to never feel hemmed in.”

“Yep. Just how I like it.”

The flame in my belly was rising, each breath giving it more life. If I’d laid a hand on my abdomen, I bet it would’ve sizzled. I couldn’t keep talking to Remi like everything was normal and okay. If I did, I’d turn into a fire-breathing dragon and burn this truck to ashes. Reaching out, I turned the radio up, signaling in no uncertain terms I was finished with the idle chitchat.

Remi, for his part, took my hint graciously. After a minute of looking at me, he went back to leaning his head against the window. We spent the rest of the drive that way, Remi relaxed, and me…well, I was not relaxed.

This man had almost died. He’d been in a coma due to a traumatic brain injury. Yet he’d allowed me to be angry at him. Not only that, he’d allowed me to take that anger out on him as if any of what had happened had been in his control.

That made me…so, so mad. I couldn’t even aim my rage at him anymore since this wasn’t his fault. He was a victim who needed to rest and heal. But instead of telling me that, he’d just let me be a bitch to him. He’d played the bad guy for me, and I’d enjoyed giving him his lashes because I hadn’t been bogged down by grief while railing my frustrations at him.

Each mile that he gave me room, allowing me silence, was so goddamn considerate, the flame in my belly grew until it was almost too big to contain.

Luckily, we reached Graham’s house before I exploded.

Except Remi didn’t hop right out like I’d expected him to. Instead, he turned the radio off and twisted in his seat to face me.

“Thank you for the ride, Hannah.”

I nodded. “It isn’t a big deal.”

“Maybe not, but you helped me out, and I appreciate it.” Silence stretched between us, the burning continued, and still, he didn’t leave. “I’m planning on driving Graham’s truck.”

Blood swished through my veins like a wild, rapid ride, making my ears buzz.

“Are you?”

“Yeah. It’s my plan, but the truck’s half yours, so I wanted to make sure it’s all right with you. I get that it might not be. If you want, I can pay you your portion of the value. Just let me know what you’re thinking.”

Considerate. Again. Gah!

“Are you even supposed to be driving? Did your doctor okay you?” I asked.

“I’m good, Hannah. Doc said I’m recovering fine. My scans looked good. I still need to be mindful about too much light since it tends to bring on migraines, but I don’t plan on taking any long drives.”

“You drove yourself here. I mean, when you first came back to Sugar Brush.”

“I did.” He let out a long sigh. “Probably shouldn’t have, but I took it slow and steady. I didn’t want to put anyone out having to come to pick me up.”

That fire burned all the way up to my chest, but I swallowed it down.

“Makes sense.” I drummed my fingers on the wheel. “I have to get home, so…”

“Right. Think about the truck.” He put his hand on the door. “Really appreciate you driving me back. Anything you need, I owe you.”

“You got me a Sprite. We’re even.”

He needed to stop being so damn nice, so I could get back on the road and scream in the privacy of my own vehicle. If he didn’t leave soon, I might not be able to contain it.

He stayed where he was for so long I turned to see what the hell he was doing, only to be met by soft, gentle eyes and a curved half smile.

“What?” I snapped.

That half smile turned full on. “Nothing. You’re just a really good girl, Hannah Kelly. Really good.”

Then, as if he hadn’t shattered my bones, ground my lungs to dust, and combusted my brain, he hopped out of my truck and strode off with a casual wave over his shoulder.

I didn’t make the decision to follow him; it just happened. He’d barely gotten his front door open when I stormed onto the porch, my fists balled at my sides.

This man was going to get it.

He’d lit the spark. Now, he’d have to deal with the consequences.