Wild Ride Rancher

Chloe threw both hands up. “You’re impossible. Okay. Answer this. If you do manage to someday find a woman who meets your impeccable standards, what happens if you have kids?”

“What?”

“Well,” she said hotly, “they’ll be born into money. Won’t that automatically make them losers not to be trusted?”

“No,” he countered, “because they won’t be spoiled. Like your sister.”

“Leave her out of this.”

“Happily.”

Wow. A fantastic night and a beautiful morning had all gone to hell in an instant. Chloe took a breath and blew it out. She wasn’t going to win this. His features were blank, his eyes shuttered and he might as well have been in another county. A part of Liam had already said goodbye to her. Maybe he’d been saying goodbye since the day they met—she just hadn’t heard him.

“I think I’m done with this ranching experiment,” Chloe said, keeping her gaze squarely on his. “So tell me now. Pass or fail? Do I get that land you promised me? Do I stay here at Sterling’s or are you going to tell him that the cowgirl camp won’t work?”

“You still get the land at my place. I keep my word.”

She tipped her head to one side to stare up at him. “And you won’t one day decide you want something else? Change your mind?”

“No,” he said, obviously insulted she’d think it.

“See,” Chloe told him sadly, “neither would I. The difference between us is, I believe you. I’m willing to take the chance that you won’t suddenly turn on a dime.”

“Chloe—”

“Just stop,” she said, both hands up. “I’m going to go pack. I’ll be gone by this afternoon.”

“Fine.” He stood like a statue, unmoving. Unyielding. Morning sunlight drifted through the kitchen window and threw his features into a blend of light and shadow.

She’d always remember him like this, Chloe thought, as if he was caught between the past and the future. Darkness and light.

“You know, I hope you really loved her,” Chloe said, watching him. “The woman who taught you to never trust a living soul again. I hope you loved her and that losing her crushed you.”

He nodded. “It did, thanks.”

“Good, because now you’re doing the same thing to me, and I want to make sure you know how I feel.”

“What are you saying?”

“Exactly what you don’t want to hear,” Chloe said, lifting her chin. “I love you, Liam.”

“Damn it—”

She choked out a sound that was halfway between a laugh and a cry. “Nice response. I’ll treasure it always.”

He took a step forward, so she backed up. If he touched her now, she just might shatter.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

God, he was so stupid. Were all men this ridiculous, or had she just been lucky enough to fall for someone “special”?

“Well,” she said tightly, “don’t worry. I’m just a rich girl. I’ll probably change my mind soon and won’t think about you at all.”

Then she left. While she still could.

Ten

A couple days later, Liam told himself this was better. With Chloe gone, there were no distractions. He could finish off his time at the Perry Ranch in some semblance of peace. Sort of. But even he didn’t believe his lies.

She wasn’t there physically, but she was still everywhere he looked. Their conversation in the kitchen kept repeating over and over in his mind as if it were on a loop. He could see her eyes, hear her voice, and he remembered how hard it had been to just stand there and not touch her. If he had though, it wouldn’t have helped. He’d have only prolonged the inevitable.

She was different from any other woman he’d ever known, and still Liam couldn’t bring himself to trust it. Trust her. He had chased what he wanted once before, and it had all gone to hell. How could he believe?

She loved him.

“Well, hell,” he muttered, “I didn’t ask for that. Neither of us did.”

What was he supposed to do with that? Her feelings. The feelings he had and was busy denying. Liam didn’t know. Didn’t have any answers at all. And that bothered him because he always knew what he was doing and where he was going. Until now.