Page 152 of Tempting Wyatt
Then she said he would’ve sued us, and she knew we didn’t need another lawsuit.
I can still see everything clearly—those legs peeking out from my shirt when that was all she was wearing.
I didn’t tell my brother, but I stood by and watched Isaac see her off. Kept my distance so I wouldn’t be tempted to beg her to stay.
The red flare of taillights seared into my chest when she left.
She’s gone, and the home I’ve always known is even emptier than when my dad passed.
I’m distracted and I can’t think straight. I climb off of Jameson before I get one of us injured.
My hand slams into the workshop wall without consciously deciding to do it and feels as if it shattered my knuckles.
“Fuck.”
The pain comes quickly. It’s sharp and sudden, snapping me back to the present.
“What’d the wall do to you?” Isaac’s voice rings out in the silence.
I thought he’d left. He’s off his horse and standing behind me.
I whirl around to face him, trying to hold the broken pieces of myself together long enough to convince him I’m good.
“What are you still doing here?”
I step inside the shop and wipe the blood on a nearby oil-covered rag. He follows.
“Me? You’re the one hitting innocent walls.”
My jaw clenches. “Slipped.”
Isaac snorts his disbelief. “Yeah. Okay.”
My chest constricts. I move to walk past him before I have a panic attack. “I have work to do.”
Isaac nods. Then places a hand on my chest. “Yeah, you do. Like get your ass going and tell that girl you’re sorry and grovel till she comes back. Get to it. I can handle things here.”
I snort at his ridiculous suggestion. “I’m going to finish rotating the herd. Grab a few ranch hands for me, will you?”
Isaac sidesteps to block my exit. “Gotta say, I’m disappointed, big brother. My whole life, I’ve never seen you wuss out like this before.”
Glaring at him, I cross my arms over my chest. “Fuck are you talking about?”
His eyes meet mine. “Haven’t seen two people more meant for each other since Mom and Dad. You’re in love with that girl. And you just let her go. Now you’re in here, sulking and hitting shit like a pissed-off teenager. You’re a grown-ass man, Wyatt. Go fucking get her.”
I look up at the sky like it will have the answers. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“Explain it to me like I’m five.”
“We’ve been over this,” I practically growl in frustration. “I’m not having this conversation with you again.”
It’s Nina’s bullshit all over again. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to fall for the same manipulation twice. Only this time, it’s worse. Because this time, I fell in love with the little liar.
“Respectfully,” Isaac begins, “you’re a fucking idiot. She wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, man. She was trying to help.”
I laugh harshly. “How exactly does her turning our life into a television show help us? Please tell me how it’s any different from those vultures who want to turn this place into a ski resort?”
Without warning, a female voice answers before Isaac can, “Because Ivy isn’t getting anything from selling the show. She committed to giving all the contractual income, including the advance and all royalties, to the ranch.”
