Page 48 of Thaw My Heart

He starts to cough and walks over to his desk, plopping down in his leather chair. “I know it’s a lot, but Annie and I both feel the same.” His words come out hoarse.

I can see it now, the sickness taking hold of him. The dark hollows in his eyes, the stress lines on his face. He’d been sick for months, and I didn’t even notice.

Maybe I didn’t want to see it.

His eyes find mine. “If I have to name a successor, I want to name you.”

The tip of my tongue forms Blake’s name. He’s much more suitable for running a ranch. Older. Wiser. The very definition of a hard-working cowboy. Hell, even Ryker would probably do a better job than I could, but he wanted a Harlow. His stories about generations of Harlow’s and legacies were all leading to this conversation.

He wants me, and there’s no way I can say no to the man who raised me, the man who has stood by me time and time again. What kind of an asshole would that make me if I said no?

He grabs a small golden picture frame, a photo of my mother and his younger sister, whom we both lost. “Elena would’ve wanted it too.” He smiles at the frame, setting it back down. “I know I’m asking too much, but you’ve always loved this place, Kit. You’ll protect it in ways that no one else will.”

A tug pulls at my heart.

Working at Lone Pine was always temporary. I never had a plan to stay… but then again, I never had a plan.

“However, it’s your choice, son,” he continues. “I’m not going to force you.” Well, I don’t see much of a choice. One that doesn’t make me feel like the biggest pile of shit. “And if you don’t want it… well, Cash will happily sign for it.”

“You mean sell it?” I arch a brow.

He nods. “Probably.” He stares at his weathered hands, rough and saturated in scars from living a life as a rancher. “I need a decision by Christmas Eve.”

In only five weeks, I’d have to make the biggest decision of my life. My entire world just got far more complicated.

Sunlight streams in through my bedroom window as I glance at the clock next to my bed, displaying the time of nine in the morning.

It’s Saturday, and luckily, it’s my day off. Last night’s sleep was the best I’ve had in a long time. All that stress from falling in the river must’ve knocked me on my ass. My lungs still burn from the incident, constricting and swelling from inhaling too much water as I rise out of bed, glancing at Kit’s soft flannel shirt that I still have. I should give it back, but I’m too frustrated with him to care.

After feeding Fox, I stare out the frosted window at Kit’s property. Of course, his big silver truck is gone, meaning he’s gone too. I was hoping to talk to him this morning. To confront him about his words last night. To finally clear the air between us. But it looks like that’s going to have to wait.

You don’t want me, Tequila.

Despite what he thinks, I do want him, but it’s becoming very clear that he doesn’t want me. And I cannot handle that kind of rejection. I’ve spent enough years of my life around people who didn’t want me. People who treated me like dirt.

Perhaps he’s not the man I hoped he would be. The grumpy cowboy who just needed a shove to open his big and warm heart…

“This is exactly your problem, Sadie. You think you can fix people,” I mutter to myself. “And look where that’s gotten you?” Morning light fractures around my new home, shining across the wooden floors. Glinting off the stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops. Well, it has gotten me into this beautiful home and the best job I’ve ever had, but that’s beside the point.

Yup. I’m going to go insane if I sit alone in this house a minute longer.

I grab my phone and text Averie, asking if she wants to grab coffee, needing something to get my mind off things. Spending the entire weekend alone will drive me crazy. I’m not about to sit here all day thinking about people who aren’t thinking about me. Besides, staying home is something the old me would’ve done because she was forced to, and I will never live like that again.

Averie responds a minute later, telling me to meet her at Stag and Steam, the local coffee shop on Birchwood Street near the main square. For the next hour, I struggle to pick out an outfit. What’s appropriate to wear when hanging out with a rock star? Nothing seems suitable, but I know I’m overthinking it.

Finally, I settle on a pair of ripped black jeans and an old T-shirt that says Chase Whiskey, Not Cowboys. Which feels appropriate to how I’m feeling. Fox looks up at me, tilting her big ears, and I take that as approval.

On my way out the door, I grab Kit’s flannel that’s staring back at me in the mirror, deciding to leave it draped over his front porch.

Out of sight, out of mind.

About two hours later, I’m sitting at a small round table with Fox lying at my feet. Her sad brown eyes staring deep into my soul convinced me to bring her, and Averie also mentioned that the café is dog-friendly, so of course, Foxie is wearing her cutest dog harness for the occasion.

Stag and Steam might be the cutest coffee shop I’ve ever been to. With white-washed wooden tables and chairs, fairy lights strung over the espresso bar, deer antlers hanging on the walls, and silver candles on every table. A charming and cozy atmosphere as I sip on my iced peppermint mocha with marshmallows on top. No matter the season, I’ve always preferred iced drinks.

And marshmallows? An absolute must.

I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming, that I didn’t just imagine she’d want to hang out with me, but it’s real. And local celebrity Averie Knox is grinning at me with delight, holding a white chocolate latte between her delicate fingers. Soft, perfect waves of shiny blonde hair fall against a velvet cream sweater. Long silver stars hang from her ears, sparkling in the cool window light.