Page 17 of Country and Clove
She excused herself from the table and slipped through the back door. All she wanted was some air. But who showed up like an uninvited cowboy stripper gram? Aaron. He waltzed outside like he owned the damn place and now he was staring at her like she’d shit on his dessert.
An airy “hi” was all she could manage.
Maple eyes glared back at her. “What are you doing out here?” His tone was anything but friendly. The reaction stung.
“Getting a little fresh air. Do you mind?” she bit back. He didn’t own this place and she was here first.
“Dammit to hell.” He pulled off his hat, running his fingers through the tousled curls before placing it back on his head. He strode past her, reaching for the doorknob to go back inside but stopped short, whirling on her instead. “You know what, I do mind. You are ruining my life.”
Clove gave a mirthless laugh. “I’m ruining your life? That’s funny, considering I haven’t even seen you in weeks.”
“Well you’re driving me crazy.” Aaron closed in on her, his eyes glowing like flames under whisky. “Everything I do makes me think of you. Everything. I think about you when I’m awake, dream of you when I’m asleep. Food reminds me of you, flowers, sunrises, the woods, the moon, the stars, all of it. I can’t go anywhere or do anything without thinking of you.”
He closed the distance between them, his body towering over hers. Clove’s heart raced.
“Tell me you don’t feel this. Tell me you’re not as miserable as I am all the time.” He braced his hands on either side of her. His smoky scent flooded her senses and she pressed her back harder against the wall. “Tell me you don’t feel like you left a piece of your soul back there in the woods that night.”
She didn’t want to admit it, but she’d been constantly thinking of him too, dreaming of him, missing him. It was endless, no matter how much she distracted herself. The heat of his body radiated into the small space between them.
“So what if I have? Did you suddenly decide you want me? That it was a mistake to reject the bond? That you actually do want a mate?” Her tone was bitter. She knew the answer. His lack of attempts to locate her were evidence enough of his decision to cut her out of his life. If he had wanted to find her, all he had to do was come to The Coop. He knew she worked there. But he hadn’t set foot inside since the day he rejected her.
“It’s not that simple.” His eyes were piercing as they bore into her. She stared into them, noticing for the first time the pale-blue ring that encircled his pupils, starkly contrasting the smooth maple color that surrounded them. How had she not noticed that beautiful detail in the woods?
She held her breath, willing his scent to stop wrapping itself around her. Having him this close made it extremely difficult to ignore the way her body reacted to him. Her panties were damp with arousal, her skin hot with the flush of rushing blood, her breaths quick and needy. Aaron inhaled, his eyes burning brighter as he scented her lust. He dipped his head, allowing his lips to brush over hers.
“Clove…” There was a dark desperation when he said her name. It matched her own poorly hidden feelings. She wanted him, fucking ached for him. Every part of her body yearned for his skilled touch.
Movement from above drew Clove’s gaze to the trees beyond. A small flock of crows had settled there, hopping from branch to branch and moving ever closer. An icy fear curled up her spine. Her magic had twisted to life without her even noticing. After so many years keeping it a secret
This is not happening right now.
She gritted her teeth, willing the magic away and swallowing down her unease. Aaron had her so mixed up she couldn’t even suppress her magic without struggling. It wasn’t like this before he showed up. Before he left her in the woods.
The pain in her chest that had manifested the moment he’d rejected her throbbed, flaring to life and summoning her resolve. If he was going to continue to deny their bond, then he didn’t deserve her body. She wasn’t going to be some dirty little secret he sought out every time he couldn’t resist his attraction to her. He didn’t deserve anything unless he wanted everything.
Her wolf protested but her heart spurred her on.
She ducked under his arm, taking several quick steps to put some distance between them. “I’m sorry you’ve been suffering. I’ve been suffering too. But you made your choice and since it seems like you’re sticking with it”—she moved to reenter the door to the bar—“I suggest we both do our best to avoid each other and hope this pain fades over time. No one else knows, so just move on with your life and I’ll move on with mine.”
Aaron sighed, slamming his fist into the bricks. “Aria and Lark know.” He dropped his forehead to the wall, knocking his hat off.
“Why would you tell them?” Clove snapped, anger and embarrassment crawling up her throat.
“I didn’t tell them shit. Lark pulled it out of my head. Fucking freak.” Aaron snatched his hat off the ground and shot her an apologetic look. Clove’s eyes pricked with tears as she turned her back on him.
“It doesn’t make any difference who knows.Youmade the choice. You can live with the consequences of your friends and family finding out.” She wrenched the door open, storming straight through the Daybreak Lounge and out the front door.
* * *
Burnt-orange and pale-yellow leaves were beginning to peek through the branches in the woods surrounding the ranch. The thirty-acre property belonged to Clove’s grandpa who passed away the previous winter. He was a true cowboy who instilled his strong work ethic and love of all things Western into Clove.
She and Ginger inherited the property when he died. Gigi didn’t have much use for it. She wasn’t a down-and-dirty kind of girl. She’d sleep through the farm chores and wake up just in time for breakfast. It was one of the ways they differed as twins. Different hobbies, different likes and dislikes. They were even attracted to different kinds of guys.
Ginger had ended up with Hunter. He was all golden hair and golden eyes. His laid-back energy and bright smile were a far cry from Aaron’s dark, broody, intense energy.
They were twins, but they were so different. When it came to the farm, Clove didn’t mind picking up Ginger’s slack. She had always been the protective sister. Plus, she loved the land and animals here. It was hard work to maintain a property this large, but it was worth it.
“Well ain’t your head in the damn clouds today,” Waylin teased as he rounded the corner with another bale of hay. “You making cloud animals or what?” He grinned.
