Page 183 of Burn the Wild

A tinny knock on the door has our heads snapping up.

“What?” Davis barks. His face softens when Dakota opens the door.

“Ford.” Dakota’s voice is hard. “You have a visitor.”

I follow Dakota down the walk to the garage. Parked in front of one of the doors is a red BMW. Standing beside it, Savannah. The wind whips her short shaggy platinum hair, and I really wish it would just blow her off the edge of the earth.

I have no idea what the fuck Savannah’s doing on Runaway Ranch. After all the shit she did, said, she’s got some nerve.

Savannah uncrosses her arms. Her defiant gaze clashes with mine. “You don’t look happy to see me, Ford.”

I shrug. “It’s been a long time.”

“Not long enough,” Dakota mutters, low enough for only me to hear.

Savannah looks at Dakota. “Do you mind? I’m here to discuss business.”

Dakota snaps open her mouth, and I chuckle, laying a hand on her bristling shoulder. Pissing off the women on the ranch won’t do her any favors.

Fire in her eyes, Dakota looks up at me. “Let me know if you need anything. Beer. Pastry.” Her hard gaze lands on Savannah. “Arsenic.”

“Easy, tiger.” I give her an amused look. “Go take that aggression out on a pie.”

She strides away, leaving me and Savannah alone.

“So…” Savannah’s blue eyes scan the ranch, disdain all over her face. “This is what you turned down my daddy for?”

“I wasn’t aware I didn’t have a choice.”

Before she can say another word, I enter my garage. She follows, each click-clack of her heels like needles in my brain. There’s only one woman I want wearing heels in my garage, and it’s not Savannah.

I watch as she inspects the space, silently, curiously.

Emotions roll through me, but not the ones I’d expect. There’s no regret, no bitterness—just annoyance. Annoyance that she’s here, that she thinks my life needs her, when it’s the opposite. I already have everything I want.

Turning toward me, she runs a finger along the smooth lines of my Chevy. “I remember this.”

“Don’t do that,” I warn. “Act like you still know me.”

The fire dims in her eyes.

Crossing my arms, I lean back against the shop table. “Why are you here, Savannah?”

Her red lips turn up. “Right to the point. I like that.” She nods like it’s obvious. “I’m here for you, Ford.”

I rub my jaw and glance around the shop. A pang goes through me when I see Mouse’s empty cat bed. “What are you talkin’ about?”

“When my father told me he was considering you for a job, I thought it was meant to be.” She lifts a shoulder. “I thought if you took the job, maybe we could…reconnect. Have a second chance.”

I laugh out loud. She legitimately believes she could get me back. Savannah and I are in the past. It’s all just another life that doesn’t matter because Reese wasn’t in it.

Second chances are for Dakota and Davis. Not me and Sav.

Chuckling, I shake my head. “Honey, we’re dead and buried.”

She bites her lip. “I messed up, Ford.” A long, heavy pause. “I shouldn’t have said no.”

I shrug. “Best thing that ever happened to me.”

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