Page 1 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

CHAPTER ONE

REECE

Istared at the little flashing lights illuminating the entire dash and swore.

Of course, this was where my car chose to take its last spluttering breath—in the middle of damn nowhere!

This was what my life had turned into. A failure of epic proportions.

Everything I had left was in this car. All of my belongings were shoved in garbage bags, and I had thirteen dollars left in my pocket.

What was I supposed to do now?

The telltale lump in my throat started to choke me as I tried desperately to hold back the tears. If I started crying now, I wouldn’t stop. I didn’t have time to fall apart. This wasn’t far enough, and I still hadn’t figured out where to go.

I couldn’t go back. The dulling ache in my ribs was a reminder of why.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

I…

My head started thumping, and I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to stop the spiral I didn’t have time for.

Ihadto do this.

But then a gust of cool air hit my cheek, and a voice growled, “Are you out of your damn mind?”

“I think I might be,” I whispered.

My body felt like it was wading through sand as I turned my head to see the owner of that gruff voice. I should probably be scared, but I didn’t have the capacity to feel any more than the sorrow and despair that currently filled me.

The sight of the scowling cowboy in front of me didn’t register as real. I thought I was in New York State. Yet there he stood, jeans, a flannel shirt, and a Stetson sitting on top of his head.

Maybe I really had lost my mind after all.

He grumbled something under his breath and then reached across me, unfastening my safety belt, and suddenly, I was in his arms as he pulled me from the car.

Most women would probably start screaming at this point. I was fighting the urge to lay my head on his chest and start crying.

Was it so wrong to need someone else to carry the burden, even if it was just for a moment?

He carried me over to a truck that was parked a little way in front of my car, dropped the tailgate, and gently sat me down on it.

When he pulled off his hat and bobbed down to look me in the eye, his expression confused me. He was either furious with me or extremely concerned. It was a strange mix that I’d never seen on anyone’s face before.

“You with me, sweetheart?”

My eyes took in his face, his dirty-blond hair, and the beard that only made his chiseled jaw look like it was begging to be touched. I should probably answer his question, but I found myself mesmerized by his stormy blue eyes and the way theywere pinched in concern in the middle. It had been too long since I’d seen that expression on anyone’s face. At least when it came to me.

“Val. Here,” he suddenly barked, and I flinched.

I couldn’t help it. It was a natural reaction for me now. One I doubted I’d ever be free of.

When did I become this person?

He raised his hands in surrender as his gaze moved across my face. I’d usually duck my head now, turn away, and try to hide the fading bruises, but there was something about this man that strangely made me feel safe.

Something wet nudged against my hand, and I blinked in surprise and glanced down. A dog shuffled closer to me, staring up at me with big brown eyes before laying its head in my lap. My fingers brushed through the soft brown and white hair on its head, and I felt the tightness in my chest loosen enough for me to take a deep breath.

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