Page 7 of Bull Rush

“He was covered up by the time I got outside.” It’s not a lie. The fact that I noticed that he’s in the best shape of his life and has a couple dozen more tattoos than I remember doesn’t need to be mentioned.

“You know I’m not gonna tell anyone, right? Won’t even whisper a word to Dakota or Bristol.” She raises a brow at me skeptically. Our two best friends would run wild with the truth I’m about to admit.

I sigh and she just watches and waits patiently for me to say the thing she already knows is true.

“He looked good—reallygood,” I admit bitterly. “It’s not fair.”

“I mean… he was in the pros and then in prison. Lots of time and incentive to be in the gym.”

“He has more tattoos too. And the scruff.” I huff and shake my head. “Too bad it’s all wrapped up in that package.”

“I thought we liked that package enough to marry it,” she muses.

“And then we hated it enough to divorce it,” I counter. “I feel sorry for the next woman who falls for it.”

“Touché. When is the new divorce happening then?”

“Not quick enough. I’ll probably have to play nice to get him to hurry up and re-sign everything. But then, hopefully, he’ll be on his way.” That was the only upside to him being in town. He’s here, and I can sit down with him, redo all the paperwork, and get it turned in without any of the cross-country back-and-forth that we had the last time.

Marlowe’s mouth twitches, and then she turns and looks out the window, leaning on her hand and trying to cover the way her lips betray her otherwise serene face.

“What?” I ask flatly.

“Nothing…”

“Just say it.”

“I just think you’re being a little naïve if you think he drove a thousand miles just to fill out divorce paperwork.”

“What? You really think he’s going to stick around He hates it here.?”

“I think he’s not playing football anymore, and this is his hometown. His family’s here. His ranch.”

“Myranch.”

“Technically his.” She tilts her head.

“He doesn’t want it. And his family? The brothers haven’t even spoken in years to my knowledge.”

“To be fair, your knowledge of what he’s been up to isn’t very extensive. Maybe the whole prison and near-death experience changed things for him. Even if the relationshipsareall strained, maybe he’s got a mind to mend them.”

“Like it changed him the last time?” I ask because it was violence and death that had driven us down the road to divorce in the first place.

“I mean, last time it sent him running away. This time it might have sent him running home.” Marlowe gives me a look that tells me I should reconsider my preconceived notions. “I’mjust saying… consider the possibility and prepare yourself. He might stick around for a bit.”

“Not if I can help it.” I’d make the man’s life a living hell if he tried. No way does he get to disappear for five years, move on with his life, and then come back home and take it all away again because of a clerical error.

“You do know how to push his buttons,” Marlowe notes, and I offer a wry grin in return that makes her shake her head. “All right. Then we’ll have to keep you fueled for the rebellion. What’ll it be—turkey or ham?”

“Turkey, please. And cold brew? I need something to wake me up before I go back. I barely slept last night, and thanks to him, I didn’t get my second cup.”

“One turkey on farmer’s bread coming up. You can grab the cold brew for yourself if you want.” She nods to the small fridge.

We spend the rest of my late morning break chatting about our new business ideas and making plans for the weekend. It’s a much-needed break from my current reality. But when the line at the door starts to get longer, she has to say goodbye, and I have to face reality.

“Go find out what he wants. Better to rip the Band-Aid off than be stuck wondering.” She raises her brow, and I sigh but reluctantly nod my head. I might as well learn what my fate’s going to be and how long it’s going to involve Ramsey Stockton.

When I get backto the ranch, I pull down the long dirt and gravel drive, parking in the lot in front of the barn.I want to check to make sure the trail ride the guests took this afternoon was a good one and check in on one of the rescue horses that justgot here earlier this week. But when I walk across the lot and into the stables, Kellan, the trainer, and Eli, his assistant and the barn manager, are missing. Instead, I see Ramsey, dressed in all black, with a baseball hat on backward, leaning into one of the stalls, smiling and talking like he’s catching up with an old friend. When Wolfsbane lifts his head over the gate and lets Ramsey run his hand over his nose, I realize that’s exactly what he’s doing.

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