Page 155 of My Cowboy Freedom
“What about him?” I’d gotten the latest news from Elena. “He’s coming home day after tomorrow, isn’t he? They’re transforming one of the guest rooms at the ranch house?”
He gripped my hand tighter. “Chandler fires queers.”
I laughed at that. “I’m pretty sure we could take him right now. He’s awfully weak.”
Sky didn’t even smile.
“Wait. Did someone say something to you?”
He shook his head. “Elena thinks we’ll be okay, but I can’t see how. He wanted me gone before all this happened.”
“But you still gave Elena your money? She told me all about that.”
His gaze slid away from mine. “So?”
I leaned against the wall, held him away so he had to face me. “How would you get a place without cash?”
He waved that off. “I’d manage. I’m a pretty resourceful guy when I need to be.”
I cupped his whiskery face between my hands and just studied him. He was no model. No porn star. But he had nice, even features. Sharp cheekbones and dark, soulful eyes. With four days’ growth of beard he looked a little disreputable, but that bad boy vibe hit my sweet spot like nothing else ever had. He got to me.
He got to me, and not only that, hegotme.
He understood me in a way I was afraid no one ever would.
My throat hurt. “That’s got to be the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
“I”—he took my hands—“I thought they were going to lock you up somewhere. Like a mental hospital or something.”
I shrugged, even though the thought of it terrified me. “I thought so too. I didn’t know how far they’d be willing to go. I think... I think maybe they surprised themselves. And not in a good way.”
I lifted our clasped hands and kissed his fingers. I loved the ink and the scarred-up knuckles. I loved every line and every vein.
He watched me with an expression of such earnest longing that our eyes met and held fast.
“Foz was afraid you’d have to go to one of those conversion camps.” His voice was nothing but a bare whisper. “Those places are dangerous.”
“My parents threatened me with that, and a conservatorship.”
He shook my hands as if it was me he wanted to shake. “Then why the hell did you go home in the first place?” he asked. “You should have run.”
“I’m a giant with a service dog. How far do you think I’d get?”
He let out a shuddery breath. “That was an awful damn chance you took.”
“They’re still my parents. I had to give them a chance to do the right thing.” I kissed him, our breaths mingling in the dank air. “You understand that, don’t you?”
“I don’t.” He shook his head, comically. “I do not.”
“I had to try. I had to know. They’re my family.” I hesitated to ask the question but it was on my mind. “Have you even called your sister since you got out?”
Silence, thick as the country darkness, fell between us.
“I can understand why you wouldn’t call your mother but your sister would want to hear from you. She’s probably missed you terribly.”
“If I call, it will only remind her.”
“You don’t know that. You have to let your sister decide.”
