Page 19 of The Runaway and the Rugged
“Then you should have gone over to the lake. You don’t go for a stroll down a trail you’ve never been on. Let alone on the day you’re getting fuckin’ married.”
Peering down at her yellow-painted toes, I made out the early stages of blisters forming on the sides of her feet. I didn’t know what pissed me off more, the fact she had been walking barefooton the rugged terrain, or the fact she wore her heels until she could no longer withstand the pain.
It all pissed me off. This whole situation. And even more so at the fact I wanted to be her savior.
“I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just had so much on my mind, and I went outside to catch my breath.” I watched as a small tear formed in the corner of her eye, immediately sending my gaze elsewhere. “And the next thing I knew, I was lost.”
Christ.
My muscles coiled in response. She sounded defeated, and I knew if I took another look at her, I’d see it etched on that stunning face of hers too.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice clawing at my chest.
Why did I suddenly feel like shit now? It wasn’t like I was connected to her in any way or seriously cared about what she thought of me. I had the right to be pissed off. I had the right to scold her any way I fuckin’ pleased, but something a lot like guilt began to wash over my conscience.
Then on a long, drawn-out sigh that rumbled through my chest, I swiftly dismounted from Ella. I could feel her stare on my form.
Watching intently.
Likely preparing for another round of criticizing. I couldn’t blame her, though. She didn’t know who I was, or the fact that ever since we've met, I haven’t been the most hospitable.
I closed the remaining distance between us, my boots just shy of her bare feet that were resting on a dry patch of dirt. Her toes curled inward, sending my gaze upward.
Fuck, she was beautiful.
No wonder her fiancé was losing his shit. With one look I was completely spellbound. Mouth dry and everything. Her piercing olive eyes down to the smattering of freckles that dusted across cheeks.
“Come on, Outlaw.” I stuck out my palm, hoping she’d see this as some sort of truce.
A flicker of fire danced in her eyes as she narrowed them at my outstretched hand and looked over my shoulder at Ella.
“You want me to…” Apprehension lined her words, causing the corner of my mouth to lift. Her throat bobbed with uncertainty as her eyes scanned over Ella.
To someone who had never been around a horse, I could see her as looking intimidating. She was damn near the same size as some of our males—broad shoulders, meaty legs—but despite her size, she was the most gentle horse on Hideaway Haven Ranch.
“Sit on the back of Ella? How else do you plan on getting back to your wedding? Surely you don’t think I’m going to let you walk.” I let my hand fall to my side.
Her stare snapped back over to mine, packing one hell of a punch to my gut as they collided head-on. So much uncertainty filled those staggering eyes that if I were a better man, I’d lift her from that rock and ask her what this was all really about.
She didn’t need to walk over a mile to catch a breather. This was somethin’ else entirely. Somethin’ a man like me had no business getting in the middle of and yet, here I was.
Wondering.
“Ella? That’s her name?” She glanced back over at Ella, skepticism still blatant in her expression, but there was also a trace of softness lifting on her eyes.
“Wanted to name her something different, but my daughter wasn’t havin’ it.”
She glanced down at my left hand before quickly catching herself. Clearing her throat, she sat taller, sending my wandering eyes down the valley of her chest.
Shit.
She was in a wedding dress, for fuck’s sake. One that you had no business imagining what laid beneath it.
“A daughter, huh?” She seemed shocked by that sliver of information. “So, you must be the infamous Garth then?”
Shifting on my boots, I tipped my hat on a scoff.
“The one and only. I’m guessin’ Greta told you all about us?”
