Page 7 of Paper Horses

I lifted the shade, glancing over to see her lips pursed, a determined look on her face as she dragged the suitcase behind her with one hand and kept the other on the strap of her bag, which kept slipping from her shoulder.

“Why bother buying a bag that doesn’t stay?” I asked as she dropped the bag on the bed before inspecting her fingernails.

“Why would I buy some ugly off the rack purse that doesn’t look good?”

My eyes flicked to the oversized gray bag.

“That’s not ugly?”

Those eyes could have had fire coming from them, with as pissed as she looked.

“That is a one-of-a-kind designer handbag that cost two thousand dollars.”

“Good God, what a waste of money. It looks like a saddlebag. In fact, you could have saved your money. I have extras in the stable.”

Wicked. That was the expression she gave me.

“I don’t need to save money.”

I strolled past her. “Suit yourself. The bathroom is at the end of the hall if you want to wash up and contemplate why blowing two thousand dollars on a purse is your kink.”

I was a few steps out of the room when I heard her mutter, “Because that’s all I have.”

My step faltered, and for a moment, I thought maybe I’d been too hard on her before I remembered that I hated her for what she’d done to me.

Chapter 4

Liv

Footsteps continued down the hall, telling me Hudson was leaving me alone up here in this overly country room that even boasted a yellow quilt and needlepoint pillow that read, “Guests are always welcome.”

I wanted to gouge my eyes out. I wanted to be home.

I sat on the bed and texted Gabe.

Liv: I really hate you.

Gabe: I know, but you’ll forgive me.

Liv: Never.

Placing the phone next to me, I stared out of the small window with the pull-up shade that looked like it had stepped out of the 1950s.

Stuck. That’s what I was. Stuck on a farm, in a house with a man I had devastated, a man who hated me, a man I had never gotten over even when I’d forced myself to move on after years of convincing myself there was no going back.

Hudson Thomas had been the love of my life, and no one had taken his place. I had let no one in again, but even if I had, they would never have competed with him.

I buried my head in my hands, unable to fight the emotions or the memories that came rushing back.

No matter which way I turned the map, I couldn’t figure out where I was. My sense of direction was horrible, even with the map Gabe had drawn for me. My attempt at deciphering came to a halt when I smashed into something hard.

“Ouch,” I whined, taking a step back as the backpack in front of me turned and soft chocolate eyes met mine, lit with amusement that matched his grin. A mop of dirty blond hair shifted with his movement, and my pulse thudded.

“I’m sorry,” I stuttered, trying not to gawk at how cute this boy was.

“Why?” His brow arched, his eyes twinkling with humor.

“I ran into you.”