Page 29 of Crossroads of Love

“I don’t even know what that means,”she snaps.

She turns away, crossing her arms over her chest. I can see the tension in her shoulders and how she struggles to hold everything in.

All of the rage I’m feeling at my dad dissipates when I realize my outburst scared her. I instantly feel bad, my stomach clenching at the thought.

“I didn’t mean to scare you. I definitely didn’t mean to hurt you back then,” I say softly, taking a step toward her. “But I couldn’t stay here. My dad never saw me, never. I was a disappointment to him. And...he didn’t want me here. He told me…”

That if I didn’t stay away from you, I wasn’t welcome at home.

“Are you kidding me?” she hisses as she spins around.

“No,hetold me to leave.”

She stares back at me for a full minute before she clears her throat.

“Well, he’s not here anymore to tell you to leave. Any more excuses? Are you going to run again? Or are you going to stay and face the consequences of your choices?”

Damn, Lena, don’t hold back.

I don’t have an answer for that, not one that would satisfy her or even myself. The truth is, I don’t know what I’ll do. I don’t even really know what the hell I’m doing here. I thought I would float into town, pay for the funeral, say my last goodbye, put closure to my tumultuous relationship with my father, and then never look back.

I should have known better.

All I can think about now is how pissed I am at my dad. And also, how much I want to pull Lena into my arms and kiss her stupid.

He told me to stay away from Lena, and I did that. It was the biggest mistake of my life, and I buried myself in my work to forget about it. And now, he wants to take that from me, too.

I don’t want to give up my life in the city, but I won’t allow the farm to be sold out of the family.

My mother would be heartbroken. And so would Jayla.

Dammit if I wouldn’t stay in Hicks Creek forever if Lena told me she wanted me to stay for her.

Chapter Six

Lena

How could he think for a second that I would believe Henry told him to leave town?

Henry would never. His boys were his life, his pride and joy. He was devastated when Gavin left. But then again, the Wells men have never been good about letting their feelings be known.

Being this close to him isn’t a good idea. I take another step back, putting as much distance between us as possible. I need to be able to think, and I can’t do that with him this close. I take a few steps away from him, going to stand in front of the window that overlooks Main Street.

My body is on fire, begging him to kiss me again.

I had no clue Henry put this stipulation in the will, but knowing him as well as I do, there’s a reason he did it without telling either of us.

What did he know that I don’t?

If Gavin stays, then Jayla will keep the farm in the family. It’s what she’s always dreamed of. I want that for my baby girl.

Even if it means avoiding Gavin at all costs for the next year.

I turn around to tell Gavin that I want him to stay for Jayla when Michael walks back into the room. He sits in the large chair behind his oversized mahogany desk.

“The will stipulates you have a week to decide and make arrangements.”

“A week?” Gavin’s voice is tight.

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