Page 15 of Unexpected Second Chance For Love

Payton scrambled for an answer. She couldn’t very well offer the truth, which is that she had a major crush on him and thought about kissing him constantly.

“I was just thinking about how much I love fall in Montana,” she said instead.

Austin laughed echoed through the trees. “Nice try. I think you were pining over a guy.”

Payton whipped her head around to look at Austin. “No, I wasn’t.” How did he know?

He laughed. “I know a lovestruck look when I see it. Seriously, I don’t know how you’re still single. Or does Griff scare away all your boyfriends?”

Payton’s heart twisted at how easily Griffin’s nickname rolled off Austin’s tongue. She’d heard the name so many times growing up that it felt out of place now that the men didn’t speak.

“He is protective but the truth is I’m picky. I haven’t met a guy that I’m interested in dating.”

Austin slowed his horse to ride along side Payton and turned serious eyes towards her. “That’s the downside to a small town. You know the same people since birth and they get a certain idea of who you are…”

Payton knew he was talking about himself. About the past that still haunted him. For the first time, she really considered how that must have hurt Austin. It made sense that he’d have wanted to say as far away from Wildwood Falls as possible.

“Why’d you come back?”

The question just popped out—more personal than she had a right to know and she wished she could shove the question back in her mouth. Too late now. Austin’s expression was thoughtful as he gazed at the horizon. He was silent so long Payton thought he wouldn’t answer, but he did.

“It was time to come home. The pull of family finally outweighed the pain of returning.”

Payton couldn’t say she understood what he’d been through but she understood the lure of family. It was why she’d never left town in the first place.

It was time she had answers, though, to the mysterious circumstances neither Griffin or Austin wanted to discuss. Their feud involved her now that she was working so closely with Austin. Before she got any deeper into this, she needed to know what happened.

CHAPTER 7

Of course Payton would ask the questions that he’d been avoiding asking himself. True to her curious nature, she jumped right into the very things he’d wanted to keep buried.

“What really happened? Now that I’ve gotten to know you again, I can’t imagine you’re the bad guy Griffin makes you out to be.”

Austin breathed deeply, allowing the cold air to ground him. He knew he needed to share his past with Payton. She was coming to mean a lot to him and he braced himself for her inevitable rejection once he shared his story.

“You remember me as a teenager. All impulse with very little thought.”

Payton laughed. “You were a lot of fun. I never laughed as much as when you were around.”

“I was cocky and took too many risks.”

“Like skinny dipping after too much beer at the Fourth of July party?”

Austin grinned. “You heard about that?”

“It was legendary. My friend Missy’s older sister gave us a detailed report.”

Austin felt a flush creep up his neck. “How detailed?”

Payton winked. “A great amount of detail. Large detail.” Her glance to his lap told him she was referencing what he thought.

“Payton, I’m surprised at you,” he teased.

“Hey, girls are just a curious as boys.”

Their shared laughter warmed Austin but it was time to lay it on the line.

“Well, that boldness came around to hurt me and others.”

---