Page 74

Why? What does he have to be happy about? Does he know something I don’t?Chyanne fretted while working to keep the anxiety off her face.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Likewise,” she fired back.

“Why wouldn’tIbe here? I’m a certified bronco rider. You, on the other hand…” His smile grew. “Last time I checked, that wasn’t the case.”

Every instinct inside her said to reach over and shove him off his horse. In fact, any other day and she probably would have done it.

As though he’d read her mind, Lance directed his horse to back up a couple of steps. It was just the opening she needed, and Chyanne urged Sunflower through. The mare obeyed immediately and they were off.

“You’ll have to face me sometime!” Lance, no longer trying to play the nice guy, shouted at her retreating back.

“You can’t run forever!” his lackey echoed.

I have to. I have to run. I have to go where they can’t find me.

Chyanne dismounted and handed the reins to a startled Eric.

“Hey, Chyanne. You finished already? I didn’t expect you for another hour, at least.”

“Yep.” She tried to keep her anger out of her voice. It wasn’t his fault, after all. “Thanks, Eric.”

“Uh, okay. See you tomorrow.”

She gave him a tight-lipped smile and didn’t answer.I have to go. I don’t have anywhere to go, or a way to get there, but I have to. Out. Of. Here.

But her feet had a mind of their own, and no matter what her thoughts were, they took her where they wanted. Almost before she realized what was happening, she found herself in the hallway she’d walked down her first day here. She stopped right in front of his office.

Wait. Don’t do it. Don’t—

She turned the knob and threw open the door.

CHAPTER13

This was wrong. This wasn’t the way her day was supposed to end. But Chyanne nonetheless found herself standing in Nate’s office, angrier than she’d ever been.

His head lifted and he started at her, his expression nonplused despite her narrowed eyes and flaring nostrils. “What can I do for you, Chyanne?”

In that moment, she hated him. Not just disliked—hated. How could he do that? How could he just hang back and be so casual while he’d ruined her second chance? Her whole fuckinglife?

“How could you?” Despite her best intentions, the words didn’t come out angry and betrayed, but hollow and sad.

He tilted his head, considering her. “I’m sorry?”

“Don’t,” she spat the word at him. Good. Anger was coming. “Don’t look at me like you don’t know what I’m talking about! I did everything you asked me!” Betrayal was hot on anger’s heels.“Everything!I signed your stupid contract”—her hands balled into fists at her sides—“I let those menbeatme… and all for… all for nothing!” Her voice was so high-pitched, it was between a scream and a screech.

“Those men?” He lifted a brow. “I doubt they’d appreciate being talked about that way, especially with the way they care about you.” He paused meaningfully. “The way I thought you cared for them.”

“Don’t.” Her eyes narrowed, feeling on the verge of shootingactualsparks. “Don’t talk to me about them. You ruined that, too.”

Nate rolled his shoulders and sat back in his chair, eyeing her over steepled fingers. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Chyanne. I want to help you, really—”

It was too much. She had thought herself a changed woman, but she could only endure so much. And his lying, his condescending, it pushed her to her breaking point. Almost before she knew what was she was doing, she was reaching out and swiping her hand over his desk.

Papers went flying, pens, even a plaque. She heard theclunkof it hitting the floor with satisfaction. But that wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. She was already looking for her next victim, her pound of flesh. She was making her way over to a framed painting when she heard it.

“Chyanne! What the hell do you think you’re doing?”