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“I’ve left you alone long enough, Monica. Stand.”
She made no move to get up from her spot on the muddy ground.
“I’m not getting any drier,” Sam remarked casually.
Monica swallowed hard and brushed at her eyes, smearing mud across her cheek. “I’m sorry, Sam. It’s just that Trey promised to figure his shit out, but he hasn’t done a damn thing yet.”
“I’m betting there is a good reason, sweetheart, but it doesn’t make it right.”
“No, it doesn’t!”
“Hey, Trey. It sounds like you’ve got a ton on your plate and you haven’t been juggling so well. What do you have to say to Monica?”
Sam ran interference like it was his job. I nodded to him before returning my attention to my girl. I hadn’t been the Daddy she needed. No, I was a Daddy only when it was convenient for me. Regret at not having maintained better control of the situation tore through me. I had to come clean and let Monica know exactly what had been on my mind. It was now or never.
“I goofed, darling. Wanting you to be here with me every day trumped my judgment. I should have asked if you could handle the amount of labor needed to maintain a ranch. I thought I’d have a better handle on things by now. A better handle on us.”
“There are things bothering you that you haven’t shared. You said so yourself. It’s putting a wedge between us, Trey.”
“Can we have this heart-to-heart inside?” Sam pushed his hair back, already soaked from the rain.
His question gently pulled us back to the reality of the situation. The storm didn’t appear to be stopping soon. We were outside in the pouring rain with thunder and lightning crackling above our heads. Monica said nothing. I waited a few more seconds before tugging her to her feet and tossing her over my shoulder.
“Trey!”
I smacked her right bottom cheek hard, three times in fast succession. “We’re leaving.”
Sam returned to the ATV. “Your cottage is closer than the stables. We should head there.”
“Good plan,” I agreed. That I’d just invited the man I’d been crushing on to get out of his soaking wet clothes while inside our home slowly dawned on me. Monica brought up his name more than once but I’d been too stubborn to talk about him. Sam started the engine and headed out of the woods. I set Monica on my ATV and climbed in front of her. She wrapped her arms around me.
“I’m still mad at you, Trey.”
“I know, jellybean, but we will not solve our issues by ignoring them.”
She stiffened, then slowly relaxed against me, leaning her head on my shoulder.
“You haven’t called me jellybean in a long time”
I kissed her temple. “There are a lot of things I haven’t been doing, but that’s changing today. I apologize for not taking care of us. That’s changing too.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
There was no use trying to convince her with words that I meant everything I said. Actions spoke louder, and she was about to hear me clearly.
I fired up the engine and trailed after Sam. I had a glimmer of hope break through the darkness that had been eating me alive. Somehow, he showed up exactly when he was supposed to. I could handle his punishment if it came to that, but I was more worried about what he’d do to my heart. If Sam could shoulder some of the weight that had been pressing down on me for so long, everything would fall into place.
Chapter 2
Monica
* * *
The three of us put away the ATVs and hurried to the cottage. We were all soaked with rain, and despite all our high emotions, our first priorities were dry clothing and warm blankets. We stood in the middle of the den, drying off. Sam had a change of clothing in his car, but he hadn’t dressed yet. I tried to keep my gaze away from his body and failed. I admired his cut muscles and the way his tight black boxer briefs cupped his ass and more than ample package. It didn’t seem like he was leaving soon.
“How much longer is your shift?” I asked, handing him a fluffy gray bath towel.
“It was already over when you rode a horse into traffic, sweetheart. I’m not in a rush.”
