Page 49 of Dead Man's Hand

He took her hand. “I’m sorry.”

She turned slowly to look at her godfather, frowning in confusion.

“I shouldn’t have brought DJ Diamond into your life.”

Sadie shook her head. “I was the one who followed him to Montana.”

“When I met him, I knew he was trouble. I just thought the two of you would be a good match. I had no idea that you would fall for him.”

“I never said I—”

“You don’t have to. I know you, Sadie. What I want to know now is what are you going to do about it?” She stared at him. “Don’t tell me that you’re going to let him get away with breaking your heart.”

“It wasn’t like that. I was the one who left. It’s better this way.”

“For whom? You look like someone kicked your dog. You’ve never backed down from a challenge. Why are you running now?”

Sadie shook her head, thinking about the small cozy cabin, making love in front of the fire with the snow falling outside. It had been magical—but it hadn’t been real life. It was a fantasy few days in a snowstorm. To read any more into it was beyond foolish.

“Please don’t insult my intelligence by trying to tell me that you aren’t still in love with him.”

“Even if I was, I can’t believe you’d want me to marry him,” she said, shocked by this conversation. “You’re the one who warned me not to fall in love with him.”

Her godfather shook his head. “But you did anyway and now you come back here looking like you let him steal your heart and you’re afraid to go get it back. No goddaughter of mine would give up so easily.”

“I’m your only goddaughter.” She frowned. “Aren’t I?”

He smiled, something he seldom did. “You are indeed. Does he love you?”

How did she answer that? She thought of him beside her hospital bed. She thought of the way he’d looked in her eyes, the way he’d held her, kissed her, made love to her. But how did she know that she was any different from the other women DJ had seduced?

As if reading her mind, her godfather said, “Don’t be a fool. That cowboy has been smitten with you from the start. But if you don’t believe it, go back there and ask him. He’d be a fool if he wasn’t and DJ Diamond is a lot of things, but he’s not a fool.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“Love?” He chortled a laugh. “It’s the most complicated and confusing, excruciatingly painful and exasperating emotion there is. But it’s what makes life worthwhile. Stop being a coward and find out how that man feels about you. How can it be any worse than the way you’re feeling right now?”

“Want to tell me about the woman who brokeyourheart?” she asked.

“No, I don’t,” he snapped. “And Sadie? Take the private jet, if you want. And if he says he doesn’t love you, shoot him. I have people who will take care of the body.”

“I wish you were joking,” she said, but had to smile. “Thank you.”

DJCOULDN’TBELIEVEit when he got the text from Sadie.

I’m sorry I left the way I did. I love you. If you can forgive me, I’ll be flying into Yellowstone International Airport tomorrow afternoon at 4. I’ll be the one wearing the red cowboy boots.

He read the text twice. He’d really thought that he’d never hear from her again. He’d been telling himself that he had to let her go. A part of him believed that she loved him, but maybe love couldn’t conquer all—no matter what his twin said. His heart had been breaking since finding her gone. Now he was almost afraid to trust she’d be back again.

Except this was Sadie. This was the woman he loved. He’d had to let her go even though he’d been planning to go after her. He read the message again—just in case he’d misread it.

He smiled and tried to still his pounding heart before he responded with his own.I’ll be wearing my hat.

Then he headed for the airline ticket counter to cancel his flight to Florida that was leaving in an hour. Sadie loved him. His smile was so big it hurt his face. Sadie loved him. Love had brought her back. Just as love had him wearing his lucky boots as he planned to fly to Florida and try to get her back.

Okay, maybe Ansley was right. Maybe love could bring two very different people together. Just as it had brought him to this family of his. He pulled out his phone. He couldn’t wait to tell his twin.

“Didn’t I tell you that nothing can stop true love?” Ansley cried. “You two were meant for each other. It is high time you told her what’s in your heart. But first here’s what we need to do.”

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