Page 65 of Some Cowboys Fight for Love

What kind of businessman could afford to drop everything and be here? Either his job offered a great deal of flexibility, or he didn’t have one to speak of. As much as Daniel wanted to believe the latter, he had a feeling Cayden was one of those guys who could do whatever they wanted and their boss would allow it.

Why did the bad people of the world get away with everything?

He rubbed his hands together and blew hot air into them. Sophia was the only one who was willing to be his partner in crime. She’d messaged him about ten minutes ago to tell him that Aria and Cayden had left. They should arrive at the cabin any minute now. From what he understood, Cayden was staying in the nicest motel Copper Creek had to offer, which would allow Daniel to speak with Aria alone as soon as he left.

Headlights flashed in the darkness and Daniel shifted farther behind a tree. He had the best vantage point to see the front of the house. His truck was parked at the main house and he’d jogged over here so no one would be aware of his presence.

Now he had to wait for Cayden to leave.

The couple headed for the house, their conversation low. Daniel had expected Cayden to go into the cabin with Aria but was pleasantly surprised when he dropped her off at the door with a peck on the cheek.

Daniel waited until the lights from the car completely disappeared before he took even one step toward the front door. The closer he got, the harder his heart pounded. Their interaction at the club hadn’t been all that great. There was a chance she would only yell at him to leave.

That thought had him hesitating before he finally rapped his knuckles on the door. He waited a few minutes, then knocked again.

Finally the door opened, her voice echoing in the night air. “Cayden, I told you I didn’t feel like a visit, and I meant—” Her words died in her throat and her eyes opened wide. “Daniel.” The breathless way she said his name still did something to him—made him wish he could turn back time. “What are you doing here?” This time there was a thread of terror in the undertones of her voice. She leaned so she could peer around him. Then she grabbed at the front of his shirt and yanked him inside.

Her cheeks were flushed with the only color he could see on her face. She scowled at him, but it wasn’t the same angry look she’d given him before. This one was different.

Was she… scared?

“You can’t be here,” her voice trembled. “You have to go. Now.”

Daniel grinned, though it felt foreign to do so. “You’re the one who pulled me in here.”

She shook her head, her fingers pressing into her temples. “If he sees you… you can’t…” Her head snapped up and fierce determination flooded her expression. “You need to leave. And you can’t come back.”

“What? Why?” He took a step toward her. “We both know that’s not what you want.”

She didn’t argue with him. No words were spoken. And yet he knew exactly how she felt based on the way she nearly leaned toward him. He saw the conflict in her gaze as she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.

“Aria,” he whispered gently, “tell me what’s going on. I can take it.”

There was the briefest of moments when he thought she might actually confide in him. But then that whisper of hope fizzled and died. She shut her eyes tight and shook her head. “There’s nothing to be done.”

“But somethingisgoing on. Something that makes you feel…trapped.”

He took another step toward her, but she dodged around him and rushed for the door. Pulling it open, she gestured for him to take his leave.

“You need to go.”

While something told him to stay, to force her to talk to him, there was a small part of him that had lost the strength to fighther. If she wasn’t willing to do anything to help herself through whatever this was, then how could he expect to force her?

He frowned at her, drinking her in from head to toe like this might be the last time he would see her. Then he stormed from the cabin.

It was dark, and he didn’t see Sophia until he nearly bumped into her.

“How is she?”

His nerves were frayed and he felt sick to his stomach. “Same,” he grunted, moving past her. She followed him as he marched toward his truck.

“Did she tell you anything?”

“What do you think?” he snapped. Then his shoulders drooped. Sophia wasn’t the problem. Cayden was. “She’s protecting him. What does that say about the way she feels about me?”

A gentle, warm touch landed on his hand and he jumped before looking up to find Sophia’s searching gaze. “She cares about you, Daniel. Even I can see that.”

He scoffed, ignoring her statement. “Call me if she changes her mind.”

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