Page 53 of From the Ashes

Three months?

Walker wants to stay with me. For.Three.Months.

I’m not strong enough for that, but I’m even weaker when it comes to telling him no and turning him away.

“Sure.” It comes out as a choked whisper, so I clear my throat and try again. “Uh, sure. Yeah.”

“I’ll pay rent and stuff. Obviously,” he says quickly.

“I’m not worried about that.”

“Whatareyou worried about?” he asks with a knowing lilt to his voice.

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”The word rumbles from his chest.

My how the tables have turned.

Chapter 25

Walker

When we arrive at the arena, everything looks different since most of the trucks and trailers are gone. I hold my breath, waiting to see Jonas with my dad’s truck and camper, but thankfully he’s among those that have already left.

We pull up to the makeshift stable and see that half of it is dismantled already.

“They don’t waste any time, do they?” I ask, coming to stand beside Phoenix.

My voice snags the attention of a couple cowgirls carrying saddles toward a truck backed up to the arena entrance. One of them makes a beeline straight for us and her friend follows.

The girl in the front is in her early twenties, and naturally, I think she’s coming to say hello or ask for an autograph…myautograph since I’m the one still competing, but to my surprise, she props the saddle on her hip and holds out a hand for Phoenix to shake.

“Oh my God, Phoenix Harding! I’d heard your name overthe speaker, but I missed you the other night when you were here. I’m Letty and I’m a huge fan!” the woman gushes.

Her friend pipes up behind her, giggling. “If by huge fan, you mean that picture you printed from a decade ago has been your go-to?—”

Letty turns and claps a hand over her friend’s mouth, shouting with a southern twang, “We ain’t even been drinkin’! Don’t you dare spill my secrets!” Letty’s face is bright red as she finally places the saddle in the dirt and turns back to Phoenix. She touches his arm andwow, I donotlike it.

“I’m a local rider. Maybe we could, uh, get together sometime,” Letty says, shrugging a shoulder, feigning bashfulness.

Bitch, please, you aren’t fooling anyone.

Phoenix’s gaze flits between her hand and her face before a slow smile creeps along his features. His face is softer than any time he looks at me. He’s less guarded with this stranger and that cuts deeply.

Unable to stand it any longer, I speak up. “Well, we stay pretty busy on the farm and if you’ll excuse us, we need to get the horses home. It’s been a long four days for them.”

Finally, the cowgirl and her friend notice me.

“Walker DeVille? I thought you left already. Sorry to hear about your wrist.” She nods at my brace like she’s not really all that sorry, before turning her attention immediately back on Phoenix.

“Got your phone? I’ll just put my number in it and you can use it, you know, if the mood strikes.”

Nope. Nuh-uh. No way.

Of course I have to have the hots for a fucking bisexual guy…meaning I havetwicethe competition.

Luckily for me, I’m an excellent competitor.