11. Callie

Iroll over and reach out for the warm body that was next to me when I fell asleep but all I find is empty space.

"Rory?" I call.

But it echoes in the empty room. I glance around and see a piece of paper on the nightstand. I pick it up, my heart pounding.

"I'm sorry, baby. One of the horses had an accident and I needed to be there when the vet got there. I promise I'll see you soon. Do not go out. I know you're not working until later today and I'll come get you. I don't want anything to happen to you, baby girl. Love ya!"

My heart squeezes in my chest and I smile. He's so sweet. I wish he had shook me awake but I bet he didn't want to wake me.

I sit up and then stand, grimacing at the strain in muscles that rarely get much of a workout.

I feel great but also really fucking sore.

But I do need to go into work. And my car is in the shop. I pick up the phone and call Denny's. The mechanic picks up and I smile. "Hey, Denny. Is my car ready yet?"

"Yeah, Callie. Why don't I have one of my guys bring it over to you?"

"That would be great!"

"No problem. And Rory's already covered it so you don't owe a thing."

"He shouldn't have done that."

He chuckles. "Good luck telling him that. I'll send Fred out with it and you're all good then."

"Thanks, Denny. I appreciate it."

I hang up and then pull out clothes for the day. I've got to get some baking done and then I can open for my few hours and have the rest of the day to spend with Rory.

I rest my hand on my belly as it swooshes. A smile tilts my lips. I've never met a man like Rory. Never felt the way he makes me feel and I'm starting to become obsessed with the grumpy cowboy.

After ten minutes, someone taps at the door and I open it to Fred. "Hey, Fred! How's Vera doing?" His wife runs the diner. She's also occasionally the town busybody.

He nods his head, taciturn compared to his vivacious wife. "She's good. She's been really enjoying that new gluten-free stuff that you've been carrying. Says it helps her belly a lot."

"That's amazing! I'm glad. Tell her that I'm looking at some new gluten -free cookies so she has to keep an eye on the shop. There's some good ones in there."

He grins. "That will make her happy. She loves her sweets."

I laugh and he tips his baseball cap at me as he turns to walk away. I see a shadow move but then shake my head. I'm probably just imagining things. I'm just tired.

But my heart just won't quit jumping around and my hands shake as I load up my things in the car and head out.

It's just minutes until I get to the shop but as I pull in in the back, I gasp. The door's standing wide open. I don't see Jenny's car anywhere and I know she's not supposed to be here this early. My hands clench on the steering wheel and I frown as I see a shadow in a car that's just pulled in behind me.

All of a sudden, an icy chill skitters across my skin and my heart pounds, my mouth going dry.

Something's wrong.

Without getting out, I back out of the parking spot and then roar down the alley, my hands clenched on the steering wheel and my eyes darting around the inside of the car and the scenery whipping by.

I turn out of town and head straight for the ranch. And as I do, I see that same car behind me, its lights slicing the darkness of the receding clouds from a storm that's moving in. The air stirs and shifts around me and my chest is tight, my eyes watering as fear builds inside me.

There's only one thing pounding in my brain right now. I need to get to Rory.

But even as I feel the tightening and the still of the air shift to wild winds shaking the car, the car behind me taps my bumper and I scream, fighting the wheel, my terrified eyes closing and praying that I don't die and that Rory finds me.

But I manage to keep the car on the road, tightening my hands on the wheel and praying under my breath.

I reach the very edges of the ranch and turn into the gate, my heart pounding as the damn car turns in right behind me.

He taps my bumper again and I jerk the wheel to get away from him, screaming as I lose control yet again and the car behind me rams into me, driving me into a fence line and everything goes black.