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“You could have told them it was none of their business,” she continued. “Or you could have talked to me.”
“I didn’t know what to say to you, Katie. I met you out there because I couldn’t stand to go home. I know it sounds awful, but I wasn’t looking for love. I just needed a break.” He shook his head, his hands falling to his sides. “Watching my parents struggle, knowing I was headed down the same road . . . I felt like my future was doomed. I didn’t want to think about it.”
“We both went to that field looking for an escape.” She felt the heat of her argument fade away. She understood loss. No, she couldn’t imagine watching a parent die from a slow illness. But she knew the empty feeling of losing someone you loved. Forever.
“In the span of a few days, I lost my grandfather and my dad,” she continued. “It was so sudden, so overwhelming. It took me a long time to recover.”
“I know, honey. And I knew you were still grieving. It didn’t stop me from meeting you under those trees. But it should have.”
“No,” she said, her voice firm. “I didn’t need you to make that choice for me. I wanted to be with you. Everything else in my life felt as if it was beyond my control. It felt as if my life was happening to me.”
“Katie.” He reached for her. She held up her hand, unwilling and unable to let him touch her. She had so much she needed to tell him, and suddenly it felt as if she couldn’t wait.
“Th
at’s what hurt the most. You made the decision that I was too young to handle breaking up with you. All by yourself.”
“I won’t make that mistake again,” he said, meeting her gaze. “I swear.”
No, he wouldn’t. He’d never get the chance. This time she was calling the shots. And she’d never let him get close enough to hurt her again. But still, hearing those words, part of her wished she could believe him.
Or maybe it was the lingering effects of his wild touch. An orgasm like that—it messed with a girl’s mind.
The ring of her phone cut through her thoughts. Turning her attention away from Liam and orgasms, she pulled out her cell and glanced at the screen.
“Hi Chad,” she answered, knowing her brother wouldn’t call unless it was important. And he’d keep calling until he reached her.
“Katie,” her brother said. “Where the hell are you?”
“Big Buck’s,” she said. “I’m checking out the bar for Georgia.”
She thought about telling her brother that Liam was with her, but something in Chad’s voice stopped her.
“You need to get back here right now,” Chad said.
Her grip tightened on the phone. “Is something wrong? I’m about an hour away from home.”
“The sheriff drove up about five minutes ago with a pair of rescued horses,” Chad said. “I caught a glance inside, sis. They’re skin and bones. The only sanctuary in the area is full right now. He wanted to know if we could take them for a while.”
“Yes,” she said, pulling the car key from her purse and handing it to Liam. Looking up at him, her lips formed one word. Drive.
“Brody is out there now,” Chad continued. “And it doesn’t look like he’s unloading the trailer.”
“Go back out there and tell the sheriff we’ll take them.” Katie opened the passenger side door. “We have space in the barn.”
“Katie, I’m with you,” Chad said. “But Brody doesn’t want another mouth to feed.”
“It’s not his call,” she said. “Tell Brody I’ll pay for it.”
She ended the call and secured her seat belt. In the pit of her stomach she had a bad feeling her big brother would ignore her. Brody had led the family for so long it was as if he’d forgotten that his siblings were adults now—especially her. And her big brother didn’t have the right to make decisions for her.
“Katie?” Liam asked, turning the key to her wagon. “Are you OK?”
“Just drive.” For once, please listen to me. Let me call the shots and do as I ask. “Please. I need to get home.”
Chapter 9
LIAM STOLE A glance at his passenger. Her eyes were fixed on the road, her hands clutching her phone. He’d overheard enough of the call to get a sense of the situation.