Delicate Promises (Southern Bride 2)

I walked to the door and held it open. “If you don’t mind, please leave before I call someone to remove you.”

My father and mother showed up.

“Peter? Peter Warner?” my father said, shock laced in his voice.

Peter gave me a wink. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

I pressed my lips together tightly and lifted my chin.

Do not break down in front of this man. Do. Not.

Peter gave a nod. “Ally, Steve, good seeing you again.” He walked out, and I covered my mouth with my hand, grabbed my trash can and threw up.

He had used me. I’d known it was too good to be true.

Miles had once again managed to break my heart into a million pieces.

I’d left everything behind. My clothes, my cell phone, everything. The only thing I grabbed was my purse before I made my way to the house my parents had on Lake Travis. I sat in the window and stared out over the lake, watching the breeze as it blew the trees back and forth. I concentrated on not crying. Determined not to shed another tear, I slowly rocked to the rhythm of the trees.

Back and forth. Back and forth. I chanted the same thing over and over again as I moved with the trees.

So stupid. So stupid. So. Stupid.

It had been four days since I walked out of my office after Miles’s father stopped by. I told my mother and father where I would be, and that was it. They knew I was upset, but luckily, they let me go. They knew that I needed to be alone, and moments like that made me love my parents even more. They knew if I needed them they were a phone call away. I also knew I had a four-day buffer before they called to ask what was wrong. I had asked them not to share my location with anyone, not even Miles.

I watched as a boat glided over the blue waters of the lake. It was fall in Texas, but still warm enough to be enjoying the day on the water. I sighed. The fall festival was in one week. How could I face everyone? Rumors had to be running rampant. I pulled my knees into my chest and rested my chin on them. I closed my eyes and felt my resolve slip away.

One tear. Then another. And another. Until I was crying like a baby. I squeezed my eyes shut even harder and let out a scream.

“Ahhhh!”

I had promised myself I wouldn’t do this again. I swore I wouldn’t let Miles Warner break my heart, and here I was, heartbroken and hiding in a stupid cabin.

Using my sleeve, I wiped my nose, then I palmed my cheeks and wiped away the tears. Maybe I could move to Austin. Or Dallas. Or maybe even somewhere up north where the weather was cooler. Anywhere but Hunt. I couldn’t live in the same town as Miles. If I had to see him every day I knew it would destroy me all over again. I’d eventually be a shell of a human being, simply walking around for the sake of it.

I dropped my legs down, cleared my throat and stood.

“Enough of this bullshit, Kynslee.”

A run. I needed to go for a good, long, hard run.

Slipping on the pair of tennis shoes I had bought the first day here, along with a few outfits and some food, I grabbed the key to the cabin, opened the door, and ran straight into a hard body. I didn’t even need to look up to know who it was.

Miles.

Kynslee

I FROZE IN place. The smell of his cologne and soap assaulted my senses in the most delicious way. I didn’t want to move because if I looked at him I would cry again.

“How did you find out where I was?” I asked, keeping my eyes focused on the ground.

“Your father told me.”

“My father told you where I was?” My eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes, and I know why you ran, Kynslee.”

“I didn’t run, Miles,” I said angrily.

“You did run. And you had every reason to run, but what he said wasn’t true, Kyns.”

Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “So you don’t have to get married in order to save the farm?”

He looked down and then back into my eyes. “Can we talk, please? Will you at least let me explain everything? We promised we would always talk to one another.”

I swallowed hard; we had promised that. “Answer the question, Miles.”

“I found out about that condition four days ago, Kynslee. I swear to you.”

I wasn’t sure how I should be feeling. Relieved or confused. Maybe both?

Stepping back, I motioned for him to come in. Miles looked around, taking in the small, but nice house my parents had bought a few years back. Daddy loved to fish and had always wanted a house on the lake.