Page 109 of Tempting Promises
Now I just feel worse.
I knew all the reasons I needed to save the farm. It is the last piece of my mom we have left. More than that, it’s where I grew up. It’s my home and I love this place.
I sniff and more tears fall, then I hear footsteps.
“Charlotte?”
Oh, God. I can’t handle Rowan today. I . . . can’t.
My breath hitches as I wipe at my tears, knowing that it’s going to be no use. My eyes are surely puffy, and I won’t be able to hide the fact I was crying like a freaking baby for the last twenty minutes.
“Charlotte?” he calls again.
Bessy, the traitorous cow, walks to the stall, poking her head out.
“Hi, girl, where is your overlord?” Rowan asks, petting her neck. Bessy shifts, forcing me to go to the right to avoid being trampled. “No idea, huh? I figured you’d protect her.”
I roll my eyes. Yes, the non-speaking animal isn’t telling him. Idiot.
Not that I wasn’t just talking to the cow myself, but that’s neither here nor there.
Rowan sighs. “I’ll go look in the pasture.”
Just then, Bessy lifts her tail and I know what’s about to come. Oh, hell no. I will take a lot, but having a cow shit on me on my birthday is not on that list. “Bessy!” I yell as I pop up to my feet.
Thwarted by my own cow.
“What the hell are you doing? Hiding from me?” Rowan asks as he sees me appear from the side.
I shake my head. “No, I . . . lost an earring.”
Seriously I’m an idiot.
His eyes meet mine, and the teasing look that was there a moment ago disappears. Concern replaces it. In a flash, he opens the stall door and enters, coming right tome. “Are you crying?”
I could lie. I should lie, but instead, I launch myself into his arms. Rowan catches me, holding me to his chest and rubbing my back. The tears I thought were done return with a vengeance.
He’s here...on my birthday. He’s the only one who has ever come.
Rowan holds me tighter. “Hey, don’t cry. Don’t you know that guys are literally the worst with tears? Especially me.”
I snort a laugh—unattractively, I might add. “I just had a fight with my sister. On m-m-my birthday. I’m s-so tired. I’m so tired, Rowan. I can’t do this anymore. I’m not enough for anyone! W-why? Why doesn’t anyone love me?”
Not that I need to give him more of a reason to hate her, but I need a friend. I need one more than anything today.
“She fought with you today?”
I nod against his chest, still not allowing him to release me. “She s-said I’m going to l-lose my mother’s farm. I can’t do it. Please, just hold me because I can’t lose it-t.”
“You’re not going to,” he assures me. “No matter what.”
I jerk back and my puffy eyes widen. “You don’t know that.”
“I do. I know it because you’re the single most stubborn woman I’ve ever met. There’s nothing that will keep you from saving this place. Nothing, Charlotte. You are resilient and smart. You’ll do it just to spite me because you know I want your land.”
I shake my head and slap his arm. “Ass.”
He smirks. “I got you to laugh.”
