Page 22 of The Runaway and the Rugged
And Garth, the ruggedly handsome, still not sure what to think of him, rancher was currently staring at me like he had no clue what to think or do about the new revelation I had just confessed. He looked at me like I had grown two heads.
His thick eyebrows had slammed together in confusion, while his eyes searched mine for answers.
For an explanation.
On a sigh, I planted my bare feet onto the ground before lifting myself off the rock. Every muscle in my body protested, yet I still powered through.
“Whoa, hold on there,” he quickly rose from his kneeled position and steadied me with his hand wrapped around myarm. Peering down at my feet, then shifting his attention back to my face, I noticed a growing look of worry flash across his face.
Maybe even a little agitation.
“All right, now’s the best time to explain what the hell is goin’ on in that head of yours, Outlaw. What do you mean you can’t marry him?” He sounded genuinely concerned, which was surprising given our initial meeting. It could be that my emotions were all over the place and I was experiencing an adrenaline high that was yet to crash out, but even then,
“I can’t go back there,” I admitted again. “All of this.” I pointed to my now ruined ten-thousand-dollar wedding gown, then gestured to all around us. The mountains, the painstakingly beautiful scenery, it seemed almost laughable now.
I had just ruined my life in the most beautiful place that existed.
“I should have never let it get this far. I should have never said yes to him.”
He stared unblinkingly, emotionless, or maybe he was just digesting it all. I’m sure it wasn’t every day he came across a runaway bride. Or just women in general, considering how terrible he was at presenting himself.
With his hand still encircled around my arm, he used his free hand to remove the cowboy hat from his head. The movement was definitely practiced and seemingly flawless as it had me locked in a daze.
I nearly gasped at how magnificent he looked up close. It should be illegal to look that good. All sweaty with overgrown dark hair tossed haphazardly on his head, but it was the thick mustache that had my brain misfiring in all directions.
Something about it made my stomach flutter.
Nathaniel tried growing a mustache once, but it never looked like that.
Full, bristly, how one should look.
“You need to tell me that this isn’t just nerves. You need to be fuckin’ sure that this is what you want.” He laid it all out as if there was no turning back from this.
Was I sure?
My heart hammered violently like I wasn’t. That was always the problem, I was never sure about anything. And even when I was, I’d never make it known.
Until now.
I was finally at my breaking point, every worn-out thread I had now ruptured and unsalvageable. Seven long years down the drain. Seven long years of being his trophy girlfriend, following and keeping my pretty mouth tightly shut.
Wetting my lips, I peered up at Garth. “I’m sure.”
His nostrils flared in response, and as he nodded firmly, I felt the smallest relief of a weight being lifted from my shoulders.
I wasn’t alone. Even if he was just the grumpy rancher who found me, I at least had someone. Though he looked less than thrilled by it, being stuck in the middle of my mess, something in his eyes told me he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Where do I need to take you?” he asked, prompting my stomach to sink even further than it already had today.
My face immediately went hot under his piercing gaze. Formulating any sort of logical answer seemed impossible when he was looking at me like that.
Searching.
“I… I’m not sure.”
I knew I didn’t have the strength to confront Nathaniel, let alone the hundred guests who were presumably growing impatient waiting for the ceremony to begin. Even chancing it seemed risky, but what other choice did I have at the moment?
I was in a vulnerable position with little to no options, and if it weren’t for Garth stabilizing not only my body, but my turbulent emotions, I’d undoubtedly fall apart at the seams.
