Page 121

I gasped and was grateful that the server came to take our order because Duke had left me speechless.
CHAPTER 37
duke
Itook her out on dates.
I took her on picnics.
I spent time with her.
It was sweet, like we were teenagers. I’d kiss her goodnight outside her bunkhouse and go home and jerk off to her. I’d hold her hand, and she’d let me.
Wedated, enjoyed each other, and got to know one another. Our kisses became heated, and our old chemistry became new, also red hot.
I talked to her about the ranch's issues, especially Piper Novak's determination to acquire my land. She listened, encouraged, and supported me. When I told her about my company, she said she was proud of me, and I felt like I was ten feet tall.
I ignored my mother, who called and texted, and eventually, I blocked her. I told Cheyenne to contact me if the shit hit the fan.
“She’s doing fine, Duke,” Cheyenne assured me. “Going to parties and such.”
“Right.”
“I overheard your conversation with her when you were here,” she admitted.
I had no doubt. Cheyenne knew everything that was happening with my mother and that house. “Did you know?”
“Some.”
“You didn’t tell me?”
“What could I say? You put Miss Gloria on a pedestal. You had to find your own way to the truth.”
“And what is the truth?”
Cheyenne sighed over the phone. “She’s notnormal. She isn’t doing anything to you—she’s just doing what she needs to do; you don’t factor into her calculations. Her circuits are different, Duke, she doesn’t have empathy.”
“And I didn’t see that at all, which makes me a dumber fool than I thought I was.”
“She’s your mother,” Cheyenne said simply. “You can’t change her, only yourself.”
Dealing with my mother was complicated, but Fiona, that was easy.
My team found several irregularities in Fiona's work. Having tangible proof to present to the authorities would take time, but I knew we’d get there.
I was getting more and more comfortable with ranch life—in fact, more comfortable than I’d ever been in the city. My colleagues from Dallas teased me that I’d entirely stopped wearing suits and was on Zoom calls in abutton-down, looking beat to shit because I’d been riding half the day with Hunt, herding cattle or something else.
More often than not, I made time and made Elena make time to spend with me. Not that it was easy or always possible. But this time, I’d been victorious as I’d managed to get Elena away from the stables for a picnic dinner that Itzel had put together.
We’d eaten, and now we lay like we used to, on a blanket on the riverbank in the shade of a towering cottonwood, its silver-green leaves rustling softly in the warm breeze.
“So much has changed,” she murmured.
I propped myself on my elbow so I could look at her. She was on her back, her eyes closed. I traced her face, forehead to chin, with a finger. She kissed it when I touched her lips.
She was right—a lot had changed. Nearly three months ago, I came here ready to tear down my father’s legacy. But being back, surrounded by endless skies and mountains that stretched toward forever, felt like reclaiming a piece of myself I’d tried to bury. And then there was Elena. The fire between us had never truly burned out, and every damn day, I thanked the gods for that.
She looked radiant and peaceful. The anger, confusion, and lingering sadness that had once clouded her eyes seemed to have finally eased, fading into something softer.