Page 174 of Burn the Wild

I swallow the lump in my throat. “About what?”

“Us.” She stands and paces. “Me. I thought I could do this. What if I can’t?”

My heart pounds like it will break free from my chest.

Fuck. I can’t be too late.

I shove up from the bed. I have to tell her before I lose my chance.

She thinks she’s temporary when she’s my forever.

Around her, I don’t own any part of my heart anymore. I don’t even own myself. She does.

“What if there’s no point in staying?” Her voice is pitchy, breathless. “What if there’s no point inus? My past will never let me be. I can’t change it. It doesn’t matter—”

“It matters.” I cross the room, boots storming. “Wematter. How can you say that?” I turn her toward me. “After this summer? After what we have?”

“We had a summer. That’s it.” She looks me in the face, defiance lacing her husky voice. “Don’t worry, you’ll have another one next year with someone else.”

Her words tear a hole through me.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” If she wants to play this game, run that stubborn bratty mouth of hers hoping to push me away, she can. But I plan to win.

When it comes to my girl, I don’t lose.

Because it takes a strong man to love Reese. Not because she’s hard to love, or she’s difficult, but because she’s the most amazing woman that I’ve ever known. She forces me to be better.

And me—I’m her cowboy. I’m the man who loves her. And I will always do my damnedest to deserve her.

Starting now.

I hold her gaze, capturing her wrist. “If you’re tryin’ to start a fight right now, end it, it ain’t gonna work.”

“Let me go.”

I don’t. I keep hold, my touch steady.

“And go where, Reese?” I ask, testing her resolve. “Go back to Gavin?”

Nostrils flaring, she stomps her high heel. “No. I’ll never go back to that man. Fuck him. And fuck you for suggesting it.”

The fire in her eyes rages like a wildfire.

“That’s right, baby, let that fire burn.” I spear her with a cocky grin. “And get it through that pretty little head of yours. You ain’t goin’ back.”

“And why’s that, Ford?”

I swear violently, and then drag her against me. “Because I love you, Reese. Can’t fucking live without you.”

She freezes, going slack in my hold. Tears slip down her cheeks. “What?”

“I love you, Birdie.” I give her a squeeze, needing that gorgeous body against mine. “The day you stomped your way onto the ranch and sassed me with that smart tongue of yours, I considered you mine. There hasn’t been a day where I haven’t thought of you.”

“What if I’m not good enough for you?” she whispers.

I chuckle. Here I’ve been thinking I’m not good enough for her when she’s been thinking the same damn thing.

One thing is for sure, we’re both fucking idiots.

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