Page 57 of The Unbuttoned Ranger
Behind the tree. Near the weeds.
“Milo? Did you do something with my journal?”
The dog stared at her blankly.
Anger coursed through her as she stomped over to the barn to Sharp.
“Did you take my journal?” she accused.
He dropped the brush into the bucket and wiped his hands off on a rag.“Journal?”
“The one I was writing in a few minutes ago.”
He looked toward the tree then returned his gaze to her.“I haven’t seen it.”
Embarrassment flooded her. She could never face Sharp if he read what she’d written.“It didn’t grow legs and walk away.”
“I’m a little lost here.”
“I left it under the tree and walked into the house, grabbed some vegetables from the garden and when I came back it was gone.”
He blinked.“I walked away to get more paint.”
She rubbed her aching forehead.“There was no one here but you and me.”
“And I said I didn’t take it. Why the hell would I want to take your journal?”
“Maybe because you wanted to read what I wrote.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.“I’m not Dante. I know boundaries and trust. Maybe you should check your distrust.”
“You’re saying this is because I don’t trust you? I had the journal and it’s missing.”
“Maybe Milo took off with it?” he said.
Milo whimpered and laid down at CaDee’s feet.“Why would he?”
“Right? And why would I?” He grabbed up the materials.“If you can’t trust me after everything we’ve shared then I don’t think you ever will. I should have known this would happen.” He stomped off toward the house.
She caught up to him.“What does that mean?”
“It means you’ll find some kind of reason to end things.”
“That’s not true.”
He stopped and looked down at her, frustration made the wrinkles around his eyes deeper.“No? When do you plan on divulging to people that we’re a couple?”
“We’re a couple?” She didn’t mean for the words to come out so harshly, but they did.
“What do you call what we’re doing then?”
“I’ve never tried to put a label on it,” she admitted.
He laughed.“Don’t you mean you don’t even care enough to bother figuring out what we’re doing?” He took off again.
“Maybe this is you finding a reason to stop seeing me,” she said to his back.
He stopped and turned. His eyes were lasers.“You accused me of stealing your journal. I’ve asked you not to compare me to your ex-husband. Are you ever going to be able to let go of the harm he caused you?”
