Page 140 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

My hands wouldn’t stop trembling.

All I could see were images from my past. Todd and kickball. Christopher and the dance in high school. Adam Fowler’s face as he told me he’d hired me for my body and not my brains.

Tears sprung to my eyes, but I blinked them away. I still needed to talk to William before I left.

And yes, I was leaving. I’d already ordered a ride share.

Nothing good would come from me trying to hold my emotions at bay while William stood there innocently. I’d explode, and he’d end up ripped to shreds. There was no way I could keep this in.

As soon as Matthew whatever-his-name-was had walked away from William, I’d started toward him.

William was breathtakingly handsome in the dark pants, light shirt, and dark blazer. With the glasses he looked like a sexy Tony Stark.

No, I couldn’t think like that. I needed to get away from the poor man before my temper got the better of me.

Or before I started to cry in earnest.

Instead of focusing on him, I began rehearsing what I’d say.

I’m sorry, but I just found out that my brother is still an idiot, and I need to go before I take it out on you.

No, that was awful.

I’m sorry, William, I know you probably have questions, but I don’t have it in me to answer them without screaming, so can I call you later?

Ugh, more polite seemed worse.

Sorry, darlin’, I need to go wrestle a barbed wire fence until I feel better. I’ll text you when I’m finished.

He might accept that one.

I didn’t want to tell him about my brothers or Christopher. He already knew about Adam Fowler. I wanted to be alone so I could yell into pillows, eat food that was terrible for me, and maybe punch something. Jessica was already prepping.

By the time I got to William, he looked wary, which made me feel bad.

He took a few steps to meet me, and I stopped. His first words to me threw me off my groove.

“What did they do this time?”

“Who?” I asked before I thought about it.

His eyes darted behind me, and I realized he must be talking about his family. “My sister and my mother.”

I waved a hand. “Nothing. Your mother doesn’t think I’m good enough for you, and your sister is fighting with her own demons. They’ve both been drinking.” This isn’t what I needed to be talking about. Every moment I delayed, the closer my anger got to the surface.

William, in all of his wonderful William-ness, spoke in a concerned voice. “What’s wrong?” He came toward me, but I backed away.

I had to get this over with. “Did you get a call from my brother?”

“I did. He left me a message.”

The mere thought of Todd meddling in my life made me say something I shouldn’t have. “And?”

Before I could tell him that I didn’t want an answer to that he smiled and said, “And I’m going to withdraw my offer to your father.”

“Why?” The word bit the air. I almost winced.

William took another step toward me and reached for my hand but stopped short. His arm returned to his side. For the first time I noticed the tension in his shoulders. His business mask had slipped into place. Had Matthew Grant upset him?

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