Page 62 of All Night with the Cowboy
“It’s my brother, isn’t it? I knew something was going on with him.” Mia grumbled. “I’m sorry I ever asked you to treat him. He’s obviously been behaving like ajerk and it’s my fault you even had to deal with him in the first place.”
“It’s fine, he’s fine, I mean,” Lauren stumbled over her words. “He didn’t do anything, it’s both of us. We’re just, there’s been stuff going on between us but it’s over now.”
Mia pulled the car door open a bit further and leaned against it, looking down and straight into Lauren’s eyes.
“If you need me to talk to him, you just say the word.” Mia looked up and then sighed, like she wasn’t sure she should be saying whatever she was about to say. “He loves you, Lauren. I think he always has.”
She couldn’t believe that. He lusted after her, that much had been obvious, but it wasn’t love, not anymore. “I don’t think so,” she said, struggling to keep her composure. “Anyway, things are complicated between us, they always have been.”
“I’m sorry, Lauren. For whatever’s going on between you guys, I just—”
Lauren blinked through her tears. “This is between me and Tanner, it’s not your fault at all.” She should have told her that their time in Fiji had been the happiest and most content she’d felt in a long while, but she couldn’t get the words out. It was time to drive away from River Ranch for the last time.
“Goodbye, Mia.”
Mia held up her hand and stepped back, hand falling to her rounded stomach. Lauren looked at it, imagined the brood of kids Tanner had talked about, and burst into tears. She wanted that; it wasn’t a past fantasy for her, she wanted that still. Trouble was, the guy only wanted her for a good time, not a long time, and she might not be able to give him one child let alone a brood, even if he did want her. And she had to stick to her gunson this—Tanner was not right for her. This emotional roller coaster that went on whenever they were together was too intense, and that kind of intensity could only ever result in heartache. Pure and simple.
Lauren started down the drive, blurry eyed as she navigated the entrance and turned out onto the road. She had to get herself together. She’d walked away from Tanner and survived it once, so there was no reason she couldn’t do it again. She was a professional woman with a great career, a great home, and a supportive, loving family. She didn’t need Tanner, or any man, to make her happy—she had enough as it was.
So why did it feel like her heart was breaking into a million tiny pieces and her lungs were being constricted, making every single breath feel impossible?
She brushed her tears away and gripped the wheel, focusing on the road. Tanner was her past, not her future, and the faster she got her head around that, the better.
The Rangers were about to go into their full training program again soon. She had a busy season ahead of her and she needed to focus on her job. It was what she loved, it was what she’d dedicated her life to. And it was what she’d given up Tanner for in the first place.
The players were counting on her, their partners relied on her to keep their men in top condition to avoid injuries, and she had a hefty mortgage to pay—those were the things she needed to focus on.
Her family had been right—Tanner wasn’t the man for her. Loving him wasn’t enough, it never had been.
Chapter 19
One Month Later
TANNER had never been so nervous in his life. He was pacing, his heart was racing, and he couldn’t draw in enough air to fill his lungs. What the hell did he think he was doing? What was he trying to prove?
“You look scared as hell,” a voice said from behind him.
Tanner looked over his shoulder, wondering who was getting in his space when he was trying to prepare. Then he realized who was standing with his hands shoved into his jean pockets, watching him.
“Well, if it isn’t the old man,” Tanner teased. “RydergoddamnKing. You’re lucky you weren’t mobbed coming back here.”
Ryder was grinning as he strode over, hand outstretched. “Couldn’t miss the chance to see a good comeback,” he said, clasping Tanner’s hand and slapping his back at the same time. “They’re calling you the second-chance cowboy.”
Tanner stared at Ryder. “You’re fucking with me.”
“Nope. There’s even some cute-as-hell college age girls out there with a sparkly sign stating exactly that. I kid you not.”
Tanner’s chest tightened again and he flexed his wrist, grimacing. He knew he shouldn’t be competing if he didn’t feel right, but hell, half the guys out there were bandaged up to their eyeballs. He wasn’t ready to give up the sport he loved, and if he didn’t get back into it now, he wasn’t sure he ever would.
“You’re all healed up, or that wrist still giving you hell?” Ryder asked.
It was one thing lying to his family and dodging their questions, but when a former pro like Ryder King asked the question, knowing exactly what it felt like to be staring down the barrel of a ride like he was? Lying wasn’t an option.
“It’s—I don’t even know how to describe it—it feels sticky in the joint,” Tanner said, flexing it again and making a fist. “I don’t have full strength there like I used to.”
Ryder looked around. “You got a bag with tape in it? I can strap it up for you, get it good and tight, and you can powder and glue up.”
Tanner jogged over to his bag, pleased with how easily he was able to move now. The wrist was the only thing left still bothering him.
