Page 73 of Long Time Coming

Self-fucking-serving. She’s captivated me.

I scratch the back of my neck, trying to figure out the exact moment I traded my balls in and decided to sound like an idiot from a Shakespearean play. I cut down a street heading west until I’m bent over, trying to catch my breath in front of my building.

Jeff stands with the door to the building open. “Do you want to come in or for me to call an ambulance?”

Sweat drops from my chin when I look up. I stand, staggering toward the door. “The man’s got jokes,” I say, entering the air-conditioned lobby and soaking in the cool air as it envelops my body.

“I try.”

I punch the button in the elevator.

I crash on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. It’s no rusted tin roof with rain splattering down to the sounds of our breathing, but I guess this one will do.

Glancing at the time, I grab my phone, hoping to catch Pris before she heads inside the house. Once there, her father will be hanging around, and she’ll have to speak in code not to be busted.

Three rings and no answer have me doubting myself, but then there’s a click. “Hey there, cowboy.”

The tension in my shoulders subsides simply from hearing her voice over the speakerphone, peace finally finding me after the long day. “Hey there.” I grin and try to wipe it away, failing this time, unlike earlier in the conference room. “Bad time?”

“Perfect timing. I was just wrapping up in the barn. How was your flight? Did you make your meeting?”

“Flight was fine. Meeting was made, but I don’t want to discuss that.”

“What do you want to talk about, Tagger?” I catch the rise in her tone. Worrying her was not my intention.

“I regret leaving you.”

“I do too, but all day, I kept reminding myself that whether it was today or Wednesday, it was inevitable,” she says, which has me picturing her raising her chin.Protecting herself?The thought that she’s protecting herself from heartbreak guts me, though she’s not unwise for doing so. “You’re a busy guy with a whole life up there that I don’t even know anything about.”

Holding the phone on my chest, I lie there. What do I say to that? I’m not sure there’s a follow-up that feels right. “Pris?” I talk anyway, needing to get to what’s wrong.

“Yes?” Her response comes reluctantly and softer in tone.

“I miss the barn,” I confess. “I miss you.”

“Tagger . . .” Her voice stumbles, and then she lowers it. “I’ve been trying to keep busy so as not to think about you being gone, but my mind was always on you and the barn and the truck . . . I miss you, too.”

“I need you to know that just because I’m here doesn’t mean my heart is. I left it in your care.”

CHAPTER 26

Christine

Two weeks later. . .

Standing on the sidewalk in front of Tagger’s building, I lift my sunglasses off so my gaze can follow the building until it disappears into the sky. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live in the clouds.I’m about to find out.At least for the weekend.

Two nights to live the high life.

The doorman opens the door for me. “Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon,” I reply, feeling fancy. If I said that to the guys on the ranch, I’d be laughed all the way back to New York City. It’s a nice change hearing it while in the city. A little formal for my day-to-day, though.

He scoots around the tall marble counter. “How may I help you?”

“I’m here for Tagger Grange. Christine Greene. He’s expect?—”

“Yes, he is, Ms. Greene.” He sets a key on the counter and slides it to me. “Mr. Grange left this for you. He’s running late and sent his apologies.”

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