Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)(78)

Without the ranch, what kind of life can I give her? What kind of future can we build? I won’t even have a fucking truck after next week, and it won’t be long before we lose the roof over our heads. If I have to put down my whole herd…

I just can’t fathom that.

Never in the history of this ranch have we experienced anything this catastrophic.

Tilting up my head, I search for stars as though they might offer me a glimmer of hope, but the clouds hang thick above me like a bad omen.

Maybe the writing is on the wall. My ship is going down.

But Paige can still live her dream. If she takes that job, she can go do what she set out to accomplish when she agreed to marry me. She’s recovered from her injury, she’s saved some money, and now she can take that life raft. She’ll eventually settle down and marry someone who can give her the family she wants, the family she deserves.

I suck in a breath. Goddamn, I don’t know when that woman burrowed in deep, but I’m afraid I’m never gonna get over her.

I’m sorry, Danny. I fucked everything up. But I’m gonna make this right. I’m gonna do right by your sister.

I had no business messing with Paige’s life.

I won’t ruin it.

I love her enough to let her go.





43





PAIGE




I wake with a start and scramble to look at the clock. It’s after midnight.

Rhett’s bed is empty, but maybe he’s home.

My hand presses to my belly. I’m having Rhett’s baby.

My lips tilt up. I know that’s not the news he wants right now, but I want this child more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Don’t people always say that all you need is love? That love conquers all? I’m going to hold onto that right now and believe that we’ll get through this. We’ll figure out a way to keep the ranch and, sometime next year, we’ll welcome our sweet little peanut.

Isn’t that what marriage is about? In good times and in bad? It can’t get much worse than this. And when you hit rock bottom, life can only get better.

As much as I want to tell Rhett about my pregnancy, I decide to hold off a few more days. Until we can figure out what we’re doing with the ranch. He doesn’t need the added stress of a baby on top of everything.

Nodding to myself, I wrap a blanket around my shoulders and tiptoe into the hallway. There’s a light coming from his father’s office, which no one ever uses.

Peeking in, I see Rhett sitting at his father’s old oak desk with a bottle of Jim Beam and a shot glass. A small desk lamp is on, which throws just enough light to see the hollowness in my husband’s stare. The room smells musty, like dust and Old Spice. It smells like Rhett’s dad.

“Hey. Are you okay?” I move closer.

His eyes shift to me, but there’s no emotion behind them, and a chill rushes through me. “Have a seat.” He motions to the chair across from him.

I still.

Why do I feel like I’m about to be fired?

That has to be in my head.

I perch at the edge of the chair and lean toward the desk. “I know you had a terrible day. I just want you to know that we’ll fight this. We’ll figure out a way to—”

“You should take that job.” He downs the whiskey.

“What job?”

“The one in Florida.”

Pain flares hot and bright in my heart. “You want me to go?”

“Why not? It’s what you wanted, right? The whole reason you married me? Well, you’ve recovered. You can do your backflips and whatever. Now you can get that dream job.”

“Rhett, it’s on the other side of the country.”

He reaches for the half-empty bottle and pours another shot. Was it full when he started? “I’ll send you the divorce papers. I’ll need some time, but I’ll take care of everything.”

My eyes sting. “You’ll get rid of me just like that? Like I don’t matter to you at all?” Trig’s words about Darlene ring loud and clear in my head. Maybe Rhett never thought we were going to work out. Maybe he just sold me on this marriage so I’d play the part.

His jaw tightens, and he takes another shot. “I’ll always care for you, Paige,” he slurs. “How could I not? But don’t you understand? There’s nothing here for you. Besides, you and I want different things. You want kids and a husband who can provide. That’s not me. Obviously.” He laughs harshly, and I flinch.

“Don’t do this. Don’t push me away.” Angrily, I wipe tears with the back of my arm. “You said you loved me. Were you bullshitting me this whole time?” I search his face, but it goes expressionless the way it did at the Moonlight Mixer when Trig asked him if he was keeping Darlene as a backup.

He clears his throat. “Do you need money? I have a little cash.”

My husband doesn’t love me. He never did.

I push out of my chair, and it screeches across the hardwood floor. “Fuck you, Rhett Walker. I don’t want your damn money. You can shove it right up your ass.”

For just a moment, his bloodshot eyes look so desolate, but I must have imagined it because he blinks, and his stoic mask is back. “Wildflower, if it means anything, I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”