Page 12 of Loving Hard on the Highway (Love Along Route 14)

“The crazy thing is that I get that, but at some point, you should have clued me in. I felt like such an idiot having my friends tell me all this stuff about Iverleigh Farms, Holsten Industries, and you.”

“I’m sorry.” Sean looked me in the eye with such sincerity. “I never meant to make you feel that way. You are not an idiot at all.”

“I left California with a man I thought I knew who said he loved me, and as soon as we got to Florida, he flipped the switch and became someone I didn’t know. And now I leave Florida with a man and think I have fallen in love… But I don’t know you.”

“You do know me,” he said. “You know the real me without the money, flashy bike, or jet…”

“Jet!” I gasped. Of course, he had a jet. “And here I am, walking around with cash, counting every dollar.” I turned my back on him. “What are my sisters and my friends going to think of me?”

“Gabbie, please don’t say that.” He came around to face me, hands caressing my arms as he leaned to look me in the eye. “If they love you, they’ll understand you. And they can blame me. It’s my fault for keeping this from you. You did nothing wrong. I love you.”

“You love me because you know me,” I snapped.

He stepped back. “You love me, Gabbie. You told me so. That doesn’t just vanish.”

“I love the guy I traveled across the country with, who kindly does most of the driving, and sings off key, and did something kind for a stranger that was pissed off with him. I only know that guy.” I threw my hands up.

“I don’t know Sean, the billionaire company owner with jets who keeps secrets.

And I think I need some time to figure out if I want to know that guy after he lied to me. ”

I picked up Ollie and went to the door.

“I don’t want to end this, Gabbie. I really do love you.”

“I just need some time, Sean. And I have to stay here, so…”

“You want me to go?”

I nodded. “I’ll call you when I’m ready.”

I put Ollie on his leash and walked him around the property. When I returned to the house, I saw another car approaching the driveway. I ignored it at first and continued walking with Ollie.

“Hey, Gabbie baby. There you are.”

Pure dread rushed through my body, and I froze. Fucking Rick.

It took me a moment to realize he was coming towards me, and I needed to move.

“Why did you think you could leave me, and I wasn’t going to find you?” he said so casually that it made the hairs on my arm stand.

“How did you find me?” I asked, trying to hurry my way back to the door of the bed-and-breakfast.

“I realized you were gone and that your friends, Dumb and Dumber, were giving me the run around.”

“Don’t talk about my friends like that!” I snapped.

“You know better than to raise your fucking voice at me, Gabbie.” Rick was turning red.

“How did you find me here?” I was stalling, trying to keep him talking and not reacting until I could get myself and Ollie inside.

“I was having breakfast at this dump in town and some sexy little milf came in talking about how the girl staying at their little B&B just loved anything with blueberries. How lucky am I?”

“Is everything okay out here?” Skye came rushing out of the house.

“I’m here on official police business,” Rick lied, flashing his badge.

Skye looked at me for confirmation.

“Call the police,” I said to her.

“Okay.” Skye ran back inside for a phone.

“You need to come with me,” Rick insisted.

“I’m not going back to Florida with you.”

“Not Florida, baby. I applied for my old job back, right here.”

“Fuck you,” I snapped, picking up Ollie and running for the door.

The next thing I knew, Rick ripped Ollie away from me, tossing him to the ground, and grabbed my arm.

“I said, you’re coming with me!”

I was 2.1 seconds away from kicking him in the nuts when Rick vanished.

I don’t know what in the Jiu-Jitsu Taekwondo just happened, but Sean came out of nowhere and had Rick flipped flat on his back.

Then he punched him in the face, knocking him out cold for good measure.

To top it off, Ollie came over and peed on his head while he was down.

“Good boy,” Sean picked up Ollie, and we stared at each other. “Are you okay?

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I managed.

“I’m gonna have you… fucking arrested… assaulting a police officer,” Rick mumbled, unable to get up off the ground.

“It’s a good thing I have cameras,” Skye said. “And the cops are on their way.”

“Shit.” Rick lay his head back down, defeated.

“You came back,” I said, still quite stunned.

“I called my brother and my grandpa while I was driving. They said I should come back and try groveling on my knees if I have to.” Sean pointed to Rick. “I don’t know if this qualifies.”

“Were you crying?” I asked, noticing how red his eyes were.

He wiped his cheek. “I will only admit to that if it helps me get you back.”

I didn’t know whether I wanted to laugh or cry. I reached for him, one hand at his collarbone, fingers brushing his jaw. He stood like a man bracing for something he’d nearly stopped believing in.

Then I kissed him slowly, searching, sure, letting him know the decision had been made after almost letting go.

“Of course, I still love you.” I smiled, our lips still close.

He exhaled against my mouth, and then his hand was at my waist, stilling us both in the moment…and Ollie.