Page 120 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘And I learned how plans change and to just go with it. You taught me that.’ She gazed at the large horizon and at the simple farmhouse with a horse parked out front like a car. Most of all she saw the family who worked, lived, and celebrated life together in this place they called home.

‘Did you honestly enjoy living out here? Away from that busy world and the shopping?’

She gazed at the beauty of the sunset and colossally enormous sky and smiled. ‘Yeah, I did. I missed this place. I missed the freedom you have that comes with this lifestyle. I missed not clockwatching.’ She lifted her wrist, tapping on her watch.

‘Even Dex?’

‘Meh.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Mason, absolutely.’ But she didn’t think they’d let her see him just yet. It would take time. And time was finally becoming her friend, as she learned to work with time and not against it.

‘And me?’ He tilted his head. It was impossible to avoid his bright, all-seeing gaze and untrusting scowl. She’d done this to Ash.

Where was her gorgeous, smiling stockman now?

‘I am truly sorry, Ash, for not telling you who I was when we met in the supermarket, and I should have. But, when I first met you, with that flat tyre, I had no idea where Mason was or if you knew about him yet. But then you seemed so unsure about keeping Mason, when I wanted more than anything for you to bond with him, so he could have a home with his father.’ But that cheeky, smiling, tanned, and gloriously beautiful stockman had been her hero. Honestly, he’d dazzled her. ‘And then, after we got closer, and you did start bonding with Mason, I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want you to hate me.’ But he did now.

‘So, what now?’

‘Well, maybe you could send me photos of Mason growing up, like the ones you send your mum. And I’ll send him birthday and Christmas presents. Then, maybe, when Mason is older, and you trust me again, I’d fly Mason out to join me for summer holidays or something. It’s what I’d always planned with Gemma. I was going to be the fun aunt—who’d hire a nanny. Not be one.’

‘Do you still want to be part of Mason’s life?’

‘Absolutely. I can tell him about his mother. I have photo albums and things that belonged to Gemma that I’ve kept for Mason.’ She sighed heavily. The burden of saying goodbye and losing something that felt like a home was horrible. ‘I never wanted to cause trouble. And I never meant to …’ She paused, licking her bottom lip.

The pause just got longer.

His eyes narrowed at her. ‘Go on, what were you going to say.’

‘Oh, what the hell …’ She had to say it, or she’d regret it for the rest of her life, even if she knew she’d lost him. ‘I never meant to fall in love with you.’ There, she’d said it.

Ash’s brow crinkled as he stepped back.

‘I know, bad timing as public enemy number one. Right?’

‘Harper, you come from a fancy political family who has a ski chalet. You can’t mean that.’

‘But I do.’ She stepped closer, facing the only man who mattered to her. ‘Sure, if my father was alive, he’d hate you. But in time you’d win him over, when he’d see what I see.’

‘I have faults, Harper, plenty of them. But I am growing, I am working on it.’

‘But you also have this inner wealth at the way you look at the world, and where you live, how you live and who you live with makes you far richer than some kings I know.’

‘See, look at your list of contacts. And I’m just …’ He removed his hat, raking fingers through his hair.

‘You didn’t think like that before you knew who I was, did you?’

He slid on his hat. The sexy way it shaded his eyes made her heart ache that it was over. ‘No. But I know now.’

‘You know I’m not like that. I’m the girl who’d rather eat a packet of shortbread that I shared with someone over a cup of coffee, like we did, than eat caviar or truffles. Where I come from none of those people are my friends. Not like Bree, who was there for me without any hidden agenda. You were there when I was scared or in danger, and you also taught me about friendship and family, too. My father had this mantra: there are no friends in politics, you only have family to rely on. You have that, Ash, and you have no idea how lucky you are.’ She nodded at the table full of people celebrating the victory for their home.

‘It still makes little sense. You. Me.’

‘Why should it? I may not have the experience you have with relationships, but I can honestly say that I am thankful for all the heartbreaks, trials, failures, angst, and misery I went through before I found you, in this amazing place you call home. Without it, I never would’ve found you or appreciated the genuine gift you were to me, I just didn’t realise how deep it went until you threw me out—’

‘Harper.’

She held up her hand. ‘I wish I could rewind time for so many things. But if I was to rewind back to one time, it would be to that moment we first met. I would have done things differently, even at the risk of your rejection, but I would at least have that memory of meeting you. So, this is the last time you’ll see me—’

Ash stepped towards her, gripping her chin, he kissed her, hard. His warm lips pressed against hers, his hand cupped the side of her face where he controlled the kiss, consuming her completely. All she saw, felt, heard, and tasted was Ashton Riggs.

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