Page 48 of Claimed by the Lawman

“Yes.”

“If that’s your idea of a marriage proposal…” she sniffed.

“At least you didn’t say no.”

“When did you decide all this? When I was in the jail cell and you told me to go home? Or was it during our argument the other day when you told me I had no right to prance into Bohannan and make demands? Or that you were tired of babysitting me?”

He could feel that things were not heading in the right direction. Leave it to him to make a bad situation worse. That’s always been his MO. “I decided that you were mine the first time I kissed you,” he said in a low voice.

“That was a long time ago and a lot has happened.”

“Doesn’t change the facts, my dear. Sometimes a man just knows. The stars align and something takes shape that we’re not in control of. I’m done fighting it. How about you?”

“Are you trying to tell me that you felt this way before I left Bohannan? That you loved me?”

“I should have told you. Hell, I wanted to.” He scraped his palm across his jaw. “I was young and stupid.”

“You can’t do this, Kace. You can’t tell me that you had feelings for me, but you let me leave, allowing me to think that what we shared wasn’t true. I spent a long time believing that you didn’t care and that’s what propelled me to move forward, but I did a poor job of it. You don’t think my heart was hurt too? That I cried my eyes out and it was Susy and Isla who comforted me.”

Did he see tears in her eyes? Oh hell, if she cried he’d lose it.

“You wanted to leave, Tyler. You didn’t stop and ask me one time how I felt. What was I supposed to do? Convince you to not follow your dreams when I was leaving? How was I supposed to convince you to wait for me, or marry me?” She’d never understand how much control it had taken him to let her go. How difficult it was not to chase her. What could he have said? She had dreams, wanted to spread her wings. “I fucked up, but so did you.”

“No, Kace You let me leave Wyoming thinking that I was just another girl you fucked. You didn’t even flinch a muscle when I told you I was leaving.”

“I thought I was doing the right thing by letting you go to New York.”

“The right thing? You could have been honest and then I could have made my decision with knowledge.”

“Are you saying you would have stayed?”

“I’m saying I don’t know, but now we’ll never know. It’s too late to conjure up the past. Now I want answers to my sister’s death. That’s your job.”

“I’m doing my job, but God help me you mix up my brain and I can’t even think,” he growled. “Not only do I have a dozen responsibilities, but now I have to worry about you. I have to protect you.”

“To protect me? Since when?”

“Since someone in this fucking town wants you gone.” He was feeling defensive.

“Up until a few weeks ago, you were included in that statement.”

What could he say? “You need to understand—”

“What I understand is that you believe you could storm into the restaurant and bark orders at Jake and me. Just because you don’t want another man having me? That’s insane.”

“Damn it.”

“Yes, damn it. Just so we’re clear when I left fifteen years ago maybe I’d hoped that you’d give me a reason to stay or come back. Even as I pulled away from Bohannan, I had hoped you’d stop me, but you didn’t. You told me I had your blessing.”

“Tyler, I’m a little late—”

“A little late? Try fifteen years too late. I’ve thrown myself at you a number of times since I’ve been back and it seems the only time you want me is when you think another man does. Chew on that for a while.” She reached for the handle of the door.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m walking home! I suddenly feel the need to get some fresh air.” she muttered, then climbed out, slamming the door behind her.

Before he could think over his actions, he jumped out of the truck and followed her, his long legs eating up the stretch of sidewalk and he caught up to her before she reached the corner of the street. “It’s going to storm.”

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