Reckless Love (Cowboys & Angels 7)

The entire drive back to the ranch I felt numb.

Eric had been her other plans tonight. She really had moved on. Maybe that was what she wanted to tell me.

Pulling up to my garage, I slammed my hand on the steering wheel and yelled out as loud as I could.

“You stupid fucking idiot! You fucking idiot!”

I ran my hands over my face, and I shook my head as I let out a gruff laugh.

“You lost her, you damn fool.”

When I finally got out of my truck and headed into my place, I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Scarlett had sent me a text.

Scarlett: Why did you leave?

Trevor: I wanted to talk to you, but I didn’t realize you were on a date.

My phone rang less than a minute later. For a moment, I thought about sending her to voicemail, but I answered.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Scarlett.”

Smiling, I replied, “I know.”

“Why are you not working at Cord’s Place? I thought you said you were going in tonight.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. I wasn’t about to tell her how I felt over the phone, and hell, I wasn’t even sure if it mattered to her anymore.

“I needed to clear my head and I happened to see you when I was walking to my truck, but I saw you were with…people…so I left.”

“I wasn’t on a date. I’m visiting with a friend of mine. I haven’t seen her since she graduated college, and she was in San Antonio with her fiancé and they drove over to Oak Springs to see me.”

“You and Eric looked cozy.”

Scarlett was silent for a moment. “Not as cozy as you and that stripper looked a few nights ago.”

Okay, ouch, I deserved that.

She cleared her throat when I didn’t answer.

“I don’t think I’ll be back home until later this evening and by then I’m sure it will be too late to talk. Are we still on for tomorrow morning?”

Forcing my voice not to crack, I answered, “Yeah, I mean, if you are. I’d like to talk to you about something. Nothing bad, I mean, I guess it’s good. I think. Fuck, I don’t know.”

I could hear the smile in her voice as she replied softly, “Same here.”

“Okay, then I’ll see you in the morning?” I asked, sort of relieved that she didn’t have anything bad to tell me.

“Yes.”

“Good night, Scarlett.”

She paused for a moment, almost as if she was debating on saying something else.

“Good night, Trevor.”

I parked across the square and sat in my truck, waiting to see if Scarlett was going to show up for breakfast this morning. After last night, I wouldn’t be surprised if she bailed.

When I saw her, my breath stilled. She was so beautiful.

Dressed in jeans and a light tan sweater, she had her dark brown hair pulled up into a ponytail. She walked into Lilly’s and took a seat in the same booth we sat in so many years ago.

I dragged in a deep breath and got out of the truck. My feet wanted to run to her, but I made myself walk at a normal pace, not taking my eyes off of her. As I crossed the street, she turned and her warm brown eyes locked with my blue.

She smiled, and I had to force my legs to keep moving because all they wanted to do was go weak.

As I got closer, I felt someone reach for my shoulder, pulling me to a stop.

“Trevor?”

His voice was like nails going down a fucking chalkboard.

Stopping, I turned to face Eric.

“Eric.”

“What are you doing?”

Lifting a brow, I asked, “What do you mean?”

“You’re playing around with her emotions, lad.”

I laughed, but not in a friendly way. “What the fuck do you know about me and Scarlett?”

He shot me a dirty look that said he knew plenty. “I know you’re hurting her, and she can’t move on because you won’t let her go.”

Pushing his hand from my arm, I took a step closer. “I don’t know what the fuck your game is, but stay away from her. She’s mine.”

He had the nerve to smile. “She’s not a piece of property you can claim, lad. And I’m going to be real honest. I like her…a lot. I’m tired of seeing you hurt her.”

My fists balled up and I was ready knock the fuck out this asshole when I heard Scarlett.

“Trevor!”

Snapping my gaze in the direction of her voice, I stepped away from Eric. Scarlett was standing out front of Lilly’s, her eyes bouncing from me to Eric.

“So will Eric be joining us this morning, Scarlett?” I asked, bitterness laced in my voice.

She looked confused as she focused on Eric, giving him a stern look before she looked me in the eyes. “No, I’m having breakfast with you. Only you.”

Eric walked over to her. “Scarlett, you were very upset the last time you saw him. Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”