Page 20 of Riding the Line (Willow Ridge #2)

Duke

Cherry hasn’t spoken a word since we got in my truck. Just sat there with my jacket tucked around her, fingers gripping tight like it’s the only thing holding her together right now.

I wish I could just pull over and wrap her in my arms right now.

Let her cry all her pain and fear into me – I’ll take every last drop, no matter how much it hurts me.

I also wish my Silverado wasn’t such an old piece of shit and I had heated seats to warm her up a bit more, given that the strappy black dress she’s wearing is doing a terrible job at covering her up.

Those long legs of hers bare and hanging over the edge of the seat.

I should’ve kept that blanket from the other week in the back just in case.

Though, the last thing I ever expected to find myself doing in the early hours of a Sunday was rescuing Cherry from the city.

But here we are.

She called me.

As if she knew I’d burn the whole goddamn world for her.

‘You don’t have to tell me what happened, but … if you want to talk about it, you know I’m always here to listen,’ I eventually say, even though I’m desperate to find out who did this to her. Who I need to make pay for hurting her.

Cherry shifts in her seat, some passing headlights momentarily lighting up her face – the exhaustion painting every line, and the glassiness of her dark, heavy-lidded eyes.

All she does is nod, so I turn my attention back to the road.

Although not knowing what happened is agonising, I’ll happily be patient with her.

Hell, I’d wait a thousand years for Cherry if it meant I got to see her smile again.

I free one hand from the wheel to rub it over my face. Where the locks I usually keep on my emotions have gone, I don’t know. Tonight took me by surprise and now all these feelings, unspoken words, buzz inside of me, ready to pour out.

A couple more minutes of silence pass, nothing but the faint whirr of the odd car and the low hum of the truck’s engine filling the air. Starlight begins to speckle the sky the further away from the city we drive, the orange-tinged hazy glow from the nightlife slowly fading.

Then her sharp sigh cuts through the quietness. ‘Levi forced himself on me.’

The truck swerves abruptly as my body jolts, but I quickly get it back under control, hands clenching the steering wheel until my knuckles are practically bulging out of my skin. Red fills my vision, my muscles stiffening as I try to fight my rage.

‘I need to turn around,’ I croak out, looking frantically for signs of when I can turn off and head back to the city. For God’s sake, why can’t you do U-turns on the highway?

How fucking dare he touch her.

I’ll make sure he never even gets to look at her again.

Sliding up in the seat, Cherry stiffens. ‘What? Why?’

‘I’m gonna kill him,’ I push out, teeth gritted.

‘No, you’re not.’ Cherry laughs as she shakes her head. The sound – the brilliant, heart-warming melody that is her laugh – tugs me out of my fury.

I glance at how she’s sitting, arms crossed, and one dark brow perked up at me, not appreciating my murderous intentions, clearly.

‘Right now, you’re going to carry on driving back to Willow Ridge,’ Cherry declares, waiting for my sigh and nod before turning to face forward again. ‘Levi can wait.’

‘Fine, but he’s fired.’

‘Good,’ is her terse response.

‘Are you hurt?’ I ask, unable to stop myself from glancing over her to check.

‘No, I’m …’ Cherry unfolds her arms, sinking back into the seat and threading her arms into my jacket, fully wearing it now.

I fight the smug grin that wants to break out knowing her scent will be all over it.

‘I’m just shaken. He only grabbed me. It didn’t go any further.

But I feel, I don’t know … so stupid for trusting him and—’ a sob escapes from her, my chest cracking open at the sound and the silver brimming in her eyes ‘—for freezing. I—I should’ve fought back more, should’ve stood up for myself better, but I just ran and—’

‘Hey.’ I reach out for her, stroking her silky hair to cradle her head. I keep my thumb rubbing at the base of her skull, hoping I can caress away her tears. ‘Look at me.’

Glistening eyes flutter up to meet mine. I keep flicking my gaze between her and the road ahead, but don’t miss the way the moon highlights the long column of her throat working.

‘You are not stupid. You’re the smartest girl – no, person – I know, Cherry. You could move mountains, I’m telling you. And just because you’re goddamn beautiful doesn’t mean anyone is allowed to touch you without your consent. It is never your fault. You got that?’

She nods, lips popping open. ‘You – you think I’m beautiful?’

‘I …’ Ah fuck . I thought I’d gotten away with that slipping out. I’m hoping the darkness filling my truck cab is enough to hide the heat tingling along my cheeks. I slowly retract my hand from her head, placing it on the wheel. ‘Yes, yes I do.’

Out of the corner of my eye – because I couldn’t possibly face her as I admitted such – I see her nibble on her thumbnail. She does that when she’s nervous, I’ve learnt, or is thinking intently.

‘To be fair, he’s the one who got hurt, technically.’ Tucking her legs up beneath her, Cherry snorts. ‘I kneed him in the balls. Told you I knew self-defence.’

Chuckling, I’m all too grateful for the quick redirection of the conversation. ‘You have a habit of doing that, don’t you?’

‘Oh, shut up.’ She waves me off. ‘That was half your fault anyway for being just as clumsy as me.’

‘I blame the hot-pink skates.’ I flash her a grin.

‘Or your clown feet,’ she counters.

Still, her smile lasts barely five seconds before she twists in her seat to rest her head against the window and stare out at the passing scenery.

We finally zoom off the highway and make our way towards the familiar country roads filled with too many memories.

Snow-tipped peaks of the shadowy mountains are faintly illuminated by the glowing moon in the distance, acting as Willow Ridge’s north star.

‘Please don’t tell Wyatt,’ Cherry pipes up again.

‘Cherry, he’s your brother. I can’t lie to him. He’s my best fr—’

‘ Please , Duke.’ Her fingers land on my forearm.

The hairs on my arm stand to attention as the tips of her long red nails faintly graze my skin.

‘I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.

I’d also like my brother to not end up in jail.

It’s my story to tell once I’ve processed everything.

At least then I can stop it from becoming the town’s gossip. ’

‘Okay, okay,’ I groan.

‘Promise?’ Her fingers pulse against my arm.

‘Promise.’ Anything for you, Baby Hensley. My eyes briefly leave the road to catch hers, which are finally glistening with a bit more hope. ‘Now, let’s get you home.’

‘No.’ Now her fingers wrap around my arm, reminding me of too many recent dreams of her slender fingers digging into my skin … ‘I can’t go home.’

‘Why not?’

Cherry’s gaze reaches beyond me, somewhere out of the driver’s side window where her thoughts must lie.

She worries her lip and finally loosens her grip on my arm.

Though, her fingers still rest there, hand moving with my arm as I shift and turn the wheel, like she’s more stable when we’re connected.

I know the feeling.

‘I was supposed to be staying at Montana’s. If I go home, my parents will wonder why I’m back and start asking questions and … I’m just not ready to talk about it yet.’

‘Okay … So, should I take you to Montana’s, then?’

‘Um …’

‘That’s not an answer, Cherry.’

‘I just …’ Her breath shuttles out as her body deflates, fingers finally slipping away from my arm.

‘Hey, you can tell me.’ I release one hand from the wheel and fold it around hers. I’m being way too greedy with touches tonight.

Cherry’s body stills, eyes locking onto where I’m harbouring her hand.

The usual concern runs through my mind about whether I’ve pushed the boundaries between us, but then she twists her hand, soft skin sliding against my rough palms, and laces her fingers between mine.

I’ve never noticed the gaps between my fingers before, yet suddenly, all the nerve endings in my hands are lit up, relishing how right it feels to be connected to Cherry.

How the bumps in our knuckles line up so perfectly, fingertips slotting into the ridges effortlessly.

I have to ignore the way my body whispers meant for me.

‘I have a key to Montana’s place but … I don’t want to be alone tonight.’ As she admits this, Cherry’s gaze remains locked on our intertwined fingers.

Tentatively, her thumb rubs over the edges of the tattoos across the top of my wrist, exploring.

It’s a tiny movement, inconsequential really, but to me, it’s goddamn brazen.

Not even trying to hide the way she’s letting her searing touch wander, especially when she just told me she didn’t want to be alone …

The words brand my mind as deeply as the warm pad of her thumb against my hand.

Because when you’ve wanted someone secretly for so long, everything they do – whether it’s just a glance, or a smile, or a quick touch – burns .

I shouldn’t read into it.

I should just insist I take her back to her parents.

But we’d have to drive past my place anyway. Plus, I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep knowing she’s been hurt tonight, and I’ve just left her alone. With no one there to make sure she’s safe. To make sure she sleeps soundly.

Wyatt would want me to look after her, right?

That’s why I drove all this way.

To protect her.

To keep Baby Hensley safe.

It takes me a few seconds to prepare mentally for what I’m about to suggest, all the while I give Cherry’s hand a tender squeeze, to remind her I’m here. Then, I ask, ‘Did you want to stay at mine?’

She doesn’t hesitate one second before saying, ‘Yes.’