Page 8 of Expiry Dating

“I’ve had two drinks, Brady. You’re being ridiculous.”

He didn’t answer this time, he just reached for the belt buckle and tried again. She let out a frustrated groan. This man was going to be the death of her.

As she settled back in the seat, she prayed the gin would kick in soon. Tonight was supposed to be about celebrating a new life and, instead, she was back to feeling broken. She didn’t fight this time; there wasn’t much left in her. Not tonight anyway.

The car journey was silent. Not even one snarky comment left either of their lips. But that wasn’t the strangest part. The real shocker was that now Brady was in her cabin.

Why was he in her cabin? She didn’t have a damn clue. After they had arrived at the ranch, he walked down with her and just sort of invited himself inside. It was all very odd, but it didn’t change the fact that he was there. In her space. Somehow making her small home feel even smaller than it was.

“Um ... do you want a drink?”

What the hell am I saying? I should kick him out, yell at him, call him a caveman.

“Please.” His tone was soft. He was never soft. What on earth is going on?

He followed her into the shabby chic kitchenette and sat down at her tiny table. As she sneaked a glance over at him, she had to bite back a laugh. His legs were too long to even go under the table, and he had to position them to one side. He was so damn big. It was almost comical.

Swallowing her silly thoughts, she reached into the fridge and grabbed two bottles of water before taking the seat across from him. The smile she received was disarming, which was probably why she decided that now was as good a time as any to talk about his physical therapy.

“We should talk about what happened the other day ...”

“No.” Gone was the smile, replaced with the familiar knit in his brow.

Alice let out a heavy sigh. “You can’t just dismiss me like that, Brady. I know you hate me. I know you think I’m a bitch—”

“I don’t hate you, Ali, and I definitely don’t think you’re a bitch.”

That surprised her. “You don’t?” She didn’t want to analyse why that caused a pang in her chest. “But, I-I thought that ... i-i-it’s just that ...”

Great. Now I’m stuttering.

“What happened at the clinic. It wasn’t about you. It was about me. I think ... I want you to transfer me to someone else.”

“No.”

“No?” he repeated.

“No. I’m not gonna transfer you to someone else. On Monday, we will pick up where we left off.”

He ran his hands through his dark hair. “I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. Ali. This is not optional. If you don’t transfer me, then I just won’t show.”

Alice was trying her hardest to remain calm. She knew why he didn’t want her working on him now. If it wasn’t because he disliked her, then it could only be one other thing. He didn’t want her to see him differently, which made sense, seeing as they were sparring partners and all.

“Then I will come to you. I will hunt you down, Brady Mitchell.” The absurdity in her announcement seemed to disperse the lingering tension in the air. And just like that, Brady’s lips curved up again.

“Oh, yeah? And what are ya gonna do when you find me, sweetness? Tie me to a chair and try and stretch my leg?”

Why did the thought of him tied to a chair bring a smile to her face?

“Maybe I will. But the fact remains, I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. If that means spending the next few months hunting you down, then so be it.”

The bastard just smirked at her for a full minute, a devilish glint in his chocolate eyes. “Well then, sweetness, I look forward to the chase.”

And with that parting comment, he left her little cabin and didn’t look back.

***

Alice watched on from the kitchen stool as her sister mixed flour and eggs in a large bowl. Lily had never been what one would call domesticated. When they were growing up, she could barely make toast let alone cakes. So this side of her, this new rancher’s wife side of her, well, Alice didn’t know what to make of that.

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