Page 62 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

“I think I’m supposed to be the one saying that to you,” I told her wryly.

“I know, but I can see how worried you are.”

“Reece, do you think this could be your ex?”

I asked the question that had been burning inside me since I’d received the call from Cole. Part of me hoped it was him. What I wouldn’t give to feel my knuckles collide with his nose. The ranch was a big place. There were places around here where no one would ever find him.

“I doubt it. He doesn’t know where I am. I have no links to Willowbrook that would make him think to come looking for mehere. I just don’t see how it could be.” She looked confused, and my heart broke for her.

This was the last thing Reece needed. She should live a carefree life, doing what she wanted, whenever she wanted, and I hoped like hell there was room for me in there somewhere.

“I’ve got an idea,” I said, throwing back the covers and slapping her delicious ass before climbing out of the bed. “Get dressed. I’m going to take you somewhere.”

“Erm, okay.” Reece looked around the bedroom and then turned back to me. “I don’t exactly have any clothes, though.”

I was already at the dresser, pulling out my clothes when her voice cut through the air, and I turned slowly around.

“Damn, I didn’t think about that.”

“Could you grab me something from the cottage?” she asked.

I winced. I hadn’t let Reece out of my sight, and what had started on the couch had made its way to the bedroom before she’d passed out from exhaustion, so I knew she didn’t have time to sneak out there.

Reece had no idea what someone had done in her bedroom.

I walked back over to the bed, sitting on the edge, and her face fell.

“I don’t think I want to know,” she said, turning to get out of the bed, but my hand whipped out to grab her wrist and stop her.

She paused, staring at the ground for a moment before she slowly turned to face me. Reece looked so sad, and I hated everything about what was happening to her.

“Whoever broke into the cottage pulled your clothes out of the closet and tore them apart,” I told her gently. “It’s all destroyed.”

Her face fell, and I linked my fingers with hers, holding her hand as she worked through her emotions.

“Everything?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah, baby.”

“Why would someone do that?”

“I don’t know. I called the sheriff last night, and he’s coming to the ranch today to have a look around. I didn’t see the point in him coming yesterday, not when it was already getting dark and whoever had been here was long gone.”

Reece slowly nodded. Her face seemed to wrinkle with fear.

“The sheriff?” She sounded so worried.

“Xander will deal with it. Ethan won’t need to speak to you, and if he does, he can swing by later. This is more important.”

“What’s more important?” Reece asked, looking genuinely confused.

“You.” I leaned forward and kissed her lips because they were impossible to resist. “Now get a shower, and I’ll see if Delaney or Blake have some clothes you can borrow for a couple of days.”

I saw her getting ready to argue, but then a strange look crossed her face, and she nodded, getting up and heading into the bathroom.

I couldn’t lie. I was transfixed by the sway of her beautiful ass right up until she closed the door.

“I’m not so sure about this, Booker,” Reece said nervously, and I fought back the laugh that I desperately wanted to set free.

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