Page 60 of Finding Chloe

“Why can’t you stay?” Alex asked.

“There’s no job around here for an event planner.” I shrugged, then downed the rest of my glass.

“I thought I didn’t have a way to make my career come to life here too, but look at me now.” Blake held her hands out. “I went from being a traveling horse trainer to the permanent team trainer.”

Grace, Tori, and Abbey all echoed her. I hadn’t heard their stories, but it didn’t give me hope. In order to have a career, I needed to plan a steady stream of events. I’d grown up here and knew not much happened in town—not enough for me to build a business off of.

“A planner can get a job anywhere. Working remotely and traveling is basically in the job description. Also, starting your own business is an option we would all back you on.” Tori had a tiny gleam in her eyes I couldn’t place.

When we first met in New York, she’d shared her love story. It reminded me of a fairytale. The twins had swept her off her feet and helped her escape an arranged marriage to an abusive group in Cosland. No wonder I’d had a crush on them growing up. They were knights in shining armor.

But Tori’s words sparked hope. She was right. I could start my own business. It wasn’t like I had a plan. Every time I thought about my future, it had just been to work for an existing company. I didn’t even know where I wanted to go. All I could think about was how there was nothing for me here, yet the big cities didn’t appeal either.

I shook my head. I had left Cottonwood Creek to make a name for myself. Moving here just out of college didn’t make sense.

Except it did.

I wanted to be closer to Matt, Hunter, and Kyle.

“Just think about the possibility. We can discuss options after the wedding. You don’t have to get back to school immediately, right?” Tori refilled my wine glass.

“I still have to put together my presentation and then schedule a date to present it. Our graduation times are all dependent on when we finish our events.”

“Good. Then we have plenty of time to figure things out. We’re all here to help in any way we can.” Tori lifted her glass and tipped it toward mine.

I clinked my glass against hers. It was reassuring to have the support from them. The thought of moving home was scary but also comforting. I’d missed my best friends and my family. Being home for the wedding felt right. And living on the ranch… noone judged me or expected something from me. I wasn’t living in the shadows of my father and his legacy. Sure, I was Jessie’s niece, but to everyone on the ranch, that just meant I was automatically one of them.

Too bad I couldn’t live with Jessie and work on the ranch.

I laughed at that thought. Like Jessie had an event planning job tucked up under her sleeve.

The girls turned the conversation away from me, and I settled in for a night of romcoms and popcorn. Having gotten my worries off my chest, I was able to put my sorrow to the side enough to enjoy my time with the girls. Most of us fell asleep on the living room floor or the couch instead of making it to bed.

Thomas and Declan returned home at sunrise. They’d crashed at Gavin and Scott’s since Blake was here.

One by one, the men came to collect their women and children. My heart ached as I left alone. It wasn’t like I hadexpectedthe guys to suddenly reconcile and come get me, but secretly, I hadhopedfor it.

With a heavy heart, I made my way to Jessie’s. It was the day before the wedding, and I had plenty of tasks left. The rehearsal was in eight hours, and I had magic to do. And regardless of my personal life being in shambles, this would be the best damn wedding ever.

MATT

Irested my forearm along the railing of the paddock where Willow was grazing peacefully. It was a nice day, and I needed to clear my head. My room was on the top level, and every time I passed the stairs, I thought of Chloe. When I went by the tack room, I thought of her too. The room had smelled like sex when I caught them all together, and it made me want to push her over my saddle and fuck her. I couldn’t help but imagine what had happened in there before I came by.

I had ruined everything. I’d thought for sure that even with me saying I couldn’t join the three of them, she’d end up with Hunter and Kyle. When she said it was all of us or no one, I was stunned.

In the past, I hadn’t wanted a long-term relationship with anyone. Now not a day goes by that I’m not missing Chloe. When she left, she took a part of me with her. And now that I’d lost her, I had nothing but time to think.

As the days passed, I revisited that night we were all together. It still surprised me how much it turned me on. Watching her being pleasured by all of us, seeing Kyle sink into her… washot. Every stroke, every moan, every part of what we were doing wasfor Chloe. She was a goddess. She took all three of us and made each of us feel like we were perfect.

I loved having her all to myself, but it wasn’t such a strange idea for all of us to be together. And with each thought making me question the firm belief I had held on to for so long, the more it scared the hell out of me.

I never wanted a Cosland relationship. I wanted a woman all for myself.

Why would I think of sharing?

But now that I had seen what sharing was like, I could see the potential. I could understand why everyone on the ranch wanted it. Yet it made me want to run in the opposite direction. What if I agreed to give it a go and then changed my mind? I couldn’t put Chloe through that heartbreak.

I hunched over the wooden post and blew out a breath. The breeze tickled my neck, and Willow lifted her head, catching a scent on the wind. She snorted but then went to munching on her grass. Whatever it was, she was paying it no mind.

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