Page 107 of Stay for Me

You both deserve the love you’re too afraid to give each other.

She’s already found it in you.

Chapter Twenty-One

Diana

The next morning. Mags’ Cabin.

Therainhadstartedin the middle of the night. I knew that if I didn’t leave now, the road into town would be flooded for the rest of the day. Then, I would be stuck here, in this cabin, with a man who said he wanted me but couldn’t—no, wouldn’t—do anything about it.

After staying up half the night, drowning in my thoughts until lightning flashed outside the spare bedroom window, a powerful clap of thunder following it, I made a new pact:Get the hell out of Hallow Ranch, teach the semester in Denver, monitor my clients remotely while Thomas handled things I couldn’t, and call Yale.

It was time to move on.

Time and distance were the only things able to heal this pain, and I was going to get both. The opportunity was right there, and it was time—well beyond time. Last night, Mags’ confession struck my soul, like lightning struck the ground, searing it deep. Even though our conversation was interrupted by Denver, I knew what was coming.

The “but.”

The secondary rejection.

I didn’t have the strength to endure that again, and last night, I sure wasn’t ready to face it. Thankfully, the universe knew me better than I knew myself. Denver’s interruption was divine intervention. There was no other way to explain it. Instead of going to sleep, I quietly got up and packed my things, planning to sneak out in the morning. Luckily, the rain kept coming, as if the universe was trying to keep the cowboy asleep as I hobbled through his perfect cabin, snatched my car keys off the hook by his hat, and left.

It took me a good three minutes to get down the porch steps, but after keeping my ankle elevated most of the night, the swelling had dissipated and the pain was minimal. It was just a minor sprain. I could get by with that. Just no heels for a bit, which sucked, because despite being tall, I loved all my heels.

Now, here I was, bags in the car, keys in hand, standing in the rain, unable to move. My chest heaved as the rain soaked my clothes, sliding down my skin, drenching my hair. All at once, my brain was flooded with every single memory of Mags, from our first look to the devastation on his face last night.

My eyes squeezed shut as my heart thundered, matching the anger in the sky above.

My life was supposed to be better than this—more than this. Yes, I created it for myself, but I craved romance. I craved the love every person wanted, and when I found it, I was set on waiting.

Waiting was a fool’s errand.

A loud clap of thunder made me jump.

Okay, enough of this, Diana. Get in the car.

I knew I shouldn’t look back.

I knew it, and yet, I still did. My hair hung down my back, my clothes heavy with rain water as I looked over my shoulder to take one more look at his cabin.

A whimper flew from my mouth at the sight of him standing on his porch, arms hanging down at his sides, his dark eyes on me. He was barefoot with a pair of jeans on, the top button and his belt still undone, a dark gray T-shirt on his chest, his hat on his head. His beard was now trimmed, but his hair—God, his damn hair—-was still wild, hanging just past his shoulders.

The wild, silent cowboy, beautiful and damning all at once.

Go, Diana. Get in your car and leave.

There was nothing for me here. I knew that.

And yet?

I was leaving my heart with him, unable to take it back. She was his prisoner now.

My bottom lip trembled as I turned back around to grab the door handle—

“Where do you think you’re going?” His question weaved through the steady stream of rain falling from the heavens, jagged, filled with rage, but still oh so warm.

I didn’t get in the car, some unknown force—perhaps stupidity—preventing me from doing so. Instead, I whirled around, watching him descend from his porch into the cold rain. He stalked towards me, jaw set, eyes heated.

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