Page 122 of Chasing the Wild
Yet another reason why I have no intention of having children of my own. Ever. No thank you, that's just not a path that is ever going to be for me. I’ve lived through a life of having a mother who didn’t exactly want a kid. It was the easiest decision of my own knowing that I wanted to stay child-free by choice.
I know there are plenty of women out there who can’t understand that, but the ones I’ve come across in my life who get it, get it.
“I was just coming to find you.” Chy is all saccharine smiles as she winds herself around Kayce. “Let’s get out of Layla’s way. She’s apparently got some hard work to do that requires her being on her knees forhours.” Throwing me a haughty look, she drags Kayce off out of the barn.
My ears are hot, and I have to swallow down a lump threatening to rise in my throat.
I just have to get through the next week, and then I’ll be gone.
Away from that bitch.
Away from the ghosts haunting Devil’s Peak.
Away from the bullshit of Kayce and his shitty life decisions.
And gut wrenchingly, I’ll be long gone from Colt Wilder.
Chapter 34
“Layla?”
The voice that makes my heart flutter drifts through the entrance to the stall where I’m working.
Since the run-in with Chy earlier, I’ve stayed here in the barn and carried on doing as many little jobs as I can find. My mind has been on a constant loop of worry after her insinuations and thinly veiled threats earlier.
Now, the man himself is standing there looking at me, eyes soft, with one hand tucked in the pocket of his jeans, Winnie’s reins in the other. He’s finally come back from wherever he’s been hiding out, being busy all day on the ranch.
God, I just want to rush into his arms.
“It’s late. You haven’t eaten.” It’s a statement. The way this man knows that, reading me with a single glance, sends my emotions haywire.
I duck my head, not wanting him to see that I’m entirelynot okright now.
“I’m fine.” A massive lie. But what else am I supposed to say?
“Is this about last night?” He starts working on Winnie’s tack, but keeps his voice to a low murmur.
“No.” Yes. Maybe. It’s about everything and nothing and mostly about the fact that I can’t bear that I’m unable to be with him.
“I’m sorry—” He starts, but I cut him off. This is only going to make everything a million times shittier if I feel like he didn’t want things to go the way they did between us last night.
“Please. Don’t apologize.” I suck in a shaky inhale. “But tell me the truth, did you get those guys arrested at the bar?”
Colt stops what he’s doing, visibly stiffening. “They deserved it, and much more. You know that.”
“But was it because of you… or because of me?” Fuck, I don’t know what I’m asking him. That bitch has gotten to me. She’s been in my head all day after her attempts at fucking with my mind earlier on. And all I’ve had is my own thoughts to swirl around in by myself.
“What brought this on?”
“Nothing… just, Chy was out here earlier. She said something about them and a connection with your grandfather… and look, it’s best to ignore me, I’m just over-tired, I think.” I try to shrug off whatever it was I was attempting to say. Because I don’t even know right now.
“Layla.” He comes right up close, and a part of me wants to step back, to put distance between us, but the more desperate, in love with him, part of me allows him to be near. “That girl is trying to start shit. She’s a piece of work, and you know it.” His voice is gruff and hard, but not because of me. I know that from the tenderness in his gaze as he holds my eyes.
There’s a tic in his jaw as he looks me over.
“Are you ok?” He whispers, and for a moment, his palm lifts to cup my cheek.
So much longing flows through me, that I give in. I lean into his touch and close my eyes for a moment. The heat from his palm seeps into me and his masculine scent curls a deliciouspath through my bloodstream and I’m so close to throwing myself into his arms.
