Page 82 of Peaches

He pauses, and I’m not sure if it’s to collect his thoughts or to give me a chance to say something. But I stay quiet, hoping he’ll keep going.

He does.

“Melodydied,” he forces through clenched teeth as emotion claws at him. “Melody died, and I watched my brother splinter into a thousand fucking pieces when he lost her. I watched the complete and utter destruction of the strongest man I know, and it scared the living shit out of me because I never want to feel that way. I tried to close myself off from this because I’m so fucking scared I’ll have to feel even a fraction of the way he feels right now. That losing you is going to be what breaksmeapart.”

My breaths turn ragged and uneven as he steps toward me. “That's why I didn’t call you after I left the diner. Why I wastryingto end things with you at the tower. Because I’m not sure I believe in forever, or that I’d even deserve it if I did. But you know what I’ve realized?”

“What?” I whisper.

“That all I was doing was forcing the pain to come early, when there’s still plenty of good to be had.” His eyes move to my bottom lip, where I’ve captured it between my teeth, and he reaches to swipe it with his thumb, pulling it free. “Youcamefor me. You knew I needed someone, and you came for me. I don’t know what the hell you see in me beyond a bad attitude and a black fucking heart, but being seen by you is something I don’t want to lose yet.

“I don’t want to fight this. This isn’t practice anymore, peaches. Nothing about the way I feel for you is pretend. And I’m scared of those feelings, but I’ve realized I don’t have a choice anymore because my heart’s already yours. And I don’t want to live in a world where you’re not mine.”

He cups my face with his warm hand. My eyes burn with emotion as I take in the ghost of a sad smile on his lips.

“I’m scared too,” I admit. “I’m scared of how you see yourself. Your heart isn’t black, Rhett. It’s warm and tender and safe. You’ve shown me what it is to be cared for in ways I wasn’t sure existed. You’reimportantto me. And that matters . . .youmatter.” I let my gaze wash over his face, taking in all the hard lines of his jaw and the curl of his hair. “Stop believing that this is only going to end. I mean—it might. It’s a risk to love.” I think of my mother and all that she endured. How she was still able to open her heart again because in the end her love for Mark conquered those doubts. “It’s a risk to try. But Iwantto take that risk with you. I want you to believe we can do this.”

His thumbs trails softly across my cheek and he nods. “I can’t promise I won’t make mistakes, but I’m going to be so fucking careful with you, Olivia.”

“You’re still missing the point.” I shake my head. “I don’t need you to be careful with me. I need you to be careful withyourself. I need you to care about yourself, to believe that you can be loved without the need to sacrifice so much. You don’t need to be worthy, Rhett. I see you just the way you are, and it’smorethan enough.” Pressure builds in the corners of my eyes as new tears threaten, but I try like hell to look unaffected. “And for the record, I’ve never minded you being a little rough with me. I thought you knew that.”

The corner of his mouth curves, a whisper of his devilish smirk. “I do know.”

“So,” I continue, “I think maybe you can lighten up and take off the kid gloves.”

He considers, his eyes dancing circles along my face. “All right.” He stands taller, pulling his hand back. “I’ll give it to you straight.”

I brace myself for whatever he’s about to throw at me and nod.

“At that poker game, four people were killed. One of them was a known criminal we’ve run into before. Another one a part of his gang. And the other two were cops.” I knew about the cops already, but dammit if the words didn’t sink fear into me all over again. “We didn’t know they were undercover. Ellis thought they were random cowboys from Cheyenne—the fucking idiot. Maverick killed both of the cops after one of them killed his guy. Kasey . . . Kasey shot Maverick to protect the rest of us.”

“Oh my god.”Kaseykilled someone?

Rhett’s eyes harden. “Yeah. It’s fucked. But so far, Ellis says things have been quiet. One of Maverick’s guys got out, but if he’s smart, he’s not going to say anything. I don’t doubt more cops are going to go knocking on Ellis’s door, but he’s been way too loose with his fucking stunts lately, and he’s already given his word he’ll take the fall.”

“Do you think he’ll do it?” I ask.

Rhett nods. “His brother and sister were there. He’s a prick, but he won’t jeopardize them.”

“What about the money?”

Rhett’s mouth tugs. “Ellis dropped off our cuts yesterday. It’s . . . it’s a lot of cash. Enough to help.”

I frown. “What do you need it for? You said for a funeral . . . but also a lawyer? You said your uncle is threatening the ranch?” Kasey hadn’t explained further in the truck, telling Wells they’d talk about it later.

“Yeah. He wants the ranch, and he’s not above playing dirty to get it.” He blows out a harsh breath. “Apparently, in order for the ranch to transition, its successor needs to be married—some stupid rule in all the fine print. Brooks was always going to be the one who gets the ranch, but . . .”

My chest squeezes. “Melody.”

He nods. “My uncle knows my dad’s in a wheelchair and not fit to run things anymore, but he’s never had much of a fight to the land with Brooks ready to take things over. Unfortunately, Brooks was never in a hurry to officially take things over, and now my uncle thinks he can skirt his way in. We need the money for a good lawyer, someone who can help us shut him down. Maybe even take out that stupid rule that says one of us needs to be married to inherit what’s always been ours.”

I shake my head. “That’s . . . a lot, Rhett.”

Something cracks in his expression. “Yeah.”

“Waytoo much for you to have ever thought you should handle it alone,” I add.

He sighs. “I just didn’t want you to get caught up in any of it. And I didn’t want my brothers to be disappointed or worried.”

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