Page 90 of Recklessly You
A tall, muscular man with a ponytail walks in. His arms are pretty meaty. He looks like he gained his muscle by chopping wood and carrying bales of hay. He’s wearing Wrangler jeans and a shirt advertising a honky tonk bar. He definitely looks like a country boy—I mean, man.
“This is Ralph, Sophie. He works here with us at the farm. He’s been a godsend, helping us out with the livestock.” My mom smiles widely at Ralph. “Ralph, meet my beautiful daughter. I think you two are about the same age, twenty-six, right?”
My dad rolls his eyes.
“Hi, Ralph, nice to meet you.”
“Hello, there, beautiful. Nice to meet you.”
If I had met him before Liam, I would have fallen for his green eyes, sun-kissed skin, and husky body. My heart and mind are not interested. My heart only sees the man who stole my heart. He scoots a chair next to me. I make small talk—nothing to give him the attention that I’m interested.
After dinner, I take a walk around the farm. It’s beautiful and peaceful. I understand why my parents bought it. Here, it’s easy to unwind and think without the hustle and bustle. On my way to the horse stalls, a couple of chickens run past me. The air smells of fresh-cut hay and manure. On the day Liam took me to the ranch, we rode into the canyon and had sex by the lake. Pulling out my phone, I glance at the photos we took in the field of poppies. My heart thuds, and it bleeds all over again at the sight of his handsome smile. I go through my contacts and hit “block” when I get to his name. I’ll always love him, and I’ll always carry a piece of him with me. He taught me how to love myself, and I’m forever grateful. It hurts that I was not enough for him to fall in love with me. It’s time I stop letting men walk all over me and toss me to the side. It’s time I put myself first and take the reins.
CHAPTER 32
LIAM
My eyes flicker open when the nurse walks in for what feels like the millionth time to check my vitals. My body feels like I got run over by a dump truck. Pain shoots to every part of my body, and the pain medication they keep pumping into me makes me feel antsy. I can’t handle being here any longer, and it’s only been two days since I woke up. I lost so much blood and had so many surgeries that my body remained in a state of shock.
The doctors told my mom I had to get a blood transfusion during surgery. They thought I wouldn’t make it, but I kept fighting. I know why. All I kept seeing was her, my Sophie. I couldn’t leave this world without telling her how I feel about her. Whether or not she takes me back, I want her to know.
The soft snores in the corner make my heart sink. My mom sits in an uncomfortable hospital chair, her head leaning against the wall. She looks so content, so at peace in her sleep. I was worried she’d be as traumatized as I’ve been. She shot that asshole, after all, but when I asked her about it, she said she’d needed it. If this gives her peace, then so be it.
Dominic walks in with a bag of burgers and fries. Thank the fuck. This hospital food sucks. My mom stirs from her sleep and sniffs the air. I snort. She looks like Duke.
“All right, bro, I got your favorite—two doubles with a side of jalapeños to grow some chest hair.” He laughs. “Dante keeps wanting salsa and anything spicy since you explained to him spicy food grows chest hair. He keeps checking his chest for signs of hair growth.” He throws his head back in laughter.
“What did my handsome boy bring us?” my mom coos at Dominic.
Dominic wraps her in a hug.
“Burgers and fries, of course, and a side of jalapeños for this guy here. Maybe this will heal those wounds so he can get his ass out of bed.”
My mom chuckles and takes a bite of her burger. Just then, Mila comes wobbling in with her hands on her round belly. My mom runs to her and kisses the poor woman to death. My lips curve in a smile when Mila cuddles in my mom’s arms for a hug. I can’t imagine what it must feel like for her to be parentless at such a young age, having lost both her parents. She’s never known the warmth of a mother. She’s a powerful woman.
Mila walks up to me and drops a kiss on my forehead.
“How are you feeling?” She frowns at my patched-up wounds.
“I’m alive, so that’s good. The wounds from the blow don’t compare to the pain in my chest.”
She frowns and sighs. There’s a hint of frustration behind those eyes. “I spoke to her last night. I told her you were injured.” She lifts her hands up. “I know you said not to say anything, but she’s my best friend, and so are you, Liam. She’s hurting. I told her you didn’t want her to come. I heard it in her voice—she has her guard up. Call her. She’s in Manhattan now, but she’ll be back in two weeks.”
Her guard’s up. Of course, it is. That’s what I wanted, after all. All this damage…it’s all my fault.
“Is she pissed at me?” Dumbass question.
Mila laughs, shaking her head. “Oh, you have no idea. She’s pissed and hurt. She’s a firecracker, my New Yorker. You have your work cut out for you.”
My mom decides to chime in, of course. “Oh, I told him to grovel after what Inez told me. I said he’d better get on his knees.”
Mila chuckles, shaking her head.
“I know what I said was hurtful. I only said it to push her away. It fucking hurt saying those words to her. I’ll fix it if she lets me,” I shout. Of course, the women ignore me. She wasn’t just a great fuck. I mean, yes, she was a great fuck, but she’s more. She’s…my everything, my woman.
Dominic glances at me with a smirk on his stupid face because I told the fucker once I would never grovel for a woman as he did with Mila. I give him the stink eye. And he barks in a fit of laughter.
Now I have to figure out how to get my girl back. I’ll confess my love to her and drop to my knees.
