Page 49 of Riding the Line (Willow Ridge #2)

Cherry

It’s not like Rory to be late, if anything she’s normally early, yet I’ve been here in Sitting Pretty for fifteen minutes now.

I keep checking my phone, hoping a text will come through letting me know she’s just running late but she’s on her way.

It was Rory who text me a couple of hours ago inviting me for a quick drink in town.

Despite trying my best not to let what happened with Duke get to me when I was at Sunset Ranch for one of my riding sessions with Fliss, I know her and Rory could tell something was up.

It sucked not being able to spill everything to my girls, especially since Rory was the one who insinuated that Duke might have had feelings for me in the first place.

I realise that revealing our relationship – or whatever the hell it is – that’s a decision for both of us to make together.

Even if that means deciding to keep quiet and pretend nothing ever happened.

Fuck, I really hope that’s not what he wants.

How is it possible to be so annoyed at someone yet miss them so goddamn much at the same time?

Ugh, I really need this chat with Rory.

This time, when I lift my phone for what feels like the one-hundredth time, a message finally pops up from her.

Rory: Hey, girl! Sorry, I’m not gonna be able to make it anymore – got caught up with retreat stuff! But don’t worry, I’ve sent someone else to keep you company!! Don’t hate me x

Don’t hate her? Who could she have possibly sent—

The tinkling bell above the door of the café rings as a customer enters.

My gaze momentarily flicks up to catch sight of him – black leather jacket shining under the lights, dark Wranglers hugging solid, corded thighs, and a motorcycle helmet snug in the crook of his arm.

I fight the urge to let my eyes drift upwards, to catch those eyes that have the power to shatter my heart all over again.

Because even just knowing he’s here has my heart pounding like racing hoofbeats.

Surely this is just a coincidence.

My thumbs thunder across my phone screen, violently tapping out my message back to Rory.

Cherry: Please tell me you didn’t send Duke?!

My table sits far at the back of the café, but I still sink down in my seat, hoping Duke won’t notice me.

My hair falls across my face, and I try to peek around it to catch a glimpse of him.

He’s joined the short queue at the counter, already in conversation with one of the baristas, smiling as if Friday night isn’t weighing down on him like it has been for me, aside from the brief reprieve while riding – my new therapy, it seems.

My phone pings again and I scramble to put it on silent. Though, I doubt he can hear amongst the buzzing chatter and steaming machines in the café.

Rory: Oops …

Oh, for fuck’s sake. She knows. But then that means … he must have spoken to her.

Cherry: OMG!! What did he tell you?

Rory: Everything, babe. Which means we’re technically even because you kept a secret and so did I, soooo please hear him out!! I want to go on double dates!

Cherry: I hate you

Rory: love you too xx

I can’t bring myself to look away from my phone, particularly as I can already sense someone moving closer to my table.

It takes me a few deep breaths before I can muster up the courage to look up at him.

When I do, our gazes catch and he halts a few inches from the table, two coffee cups in his hands, a bag hanging off his arm, and his helmet tucked under the other.

His eyes glisten under the twinkling café lights with so many unspoken words. With memories of how I told him I loved him yet spent the night alone. The first person I’ve ever loved, letting me walk away.

‘Hi,’ he says, holding up one of the cups to me.

Tightness already clogs my throat as memories of the other night slam into the forefront of my mind.

I nudge the chair opposite me out from under the table with my foot, the legs scraping against the floor.

Duke’s gaze struggles to leave me before he nods and takes a seat, placing his helmet on the table, and his bag on the floor.

‘Thanks,’ he rasps, before sliding the coffee cup along to me, ‘for letting me sit.’

His eyes flick between mine, searching. Evidence that my heart is still open for him? Evidence that I’ll be okay if his isn’t for me?

‘I know you’re probably – and rightfully – angry at me, but I was hoping you might …’ Duke pauses, blinking away once and taking a deep breath through his nose. ‘I hoped you might give me a chance to apologise. To make it up to you.’

I purse my lips, regarding him for a second – as if to pretend that my heart didn’t just do a little flip with relief that there’s still hope kindling between us. ‘Okay.’

Duke dips his head, a soft curve of his lips following.

‘You didn’t have to do this,’ I say, bringing the coffee to my lips as I wait in his contemplative silence.

‘No, I did. I really did.’ Duke fiddles with his fingers against the table, my own itching to grab his hands, to feel that safety of his hold on me again.

But I know that’s expecting a lot when we’re in public.

‘I’m so sorry, Cherry. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you.

I just – I freaked out. But I know it’s not an excuse for how I acted the other night.

You were right, I should’ve stood up for our relationship, and the last thing I should’ve done was push you away like I did. So, I truly am sorry. The truth is …’

Duke’s eyes flash, then he heaves down a deep breath and reaches across the table for my hands, wrapping his around them. I freeze from the contact, my lips popping open as I stare at where our hands are linked, out and open for anyone to see.

‘I am so goddamn in love with you, Cherry. I’m pretty certain I’ve been in love with you for years, if I’m being honest.’ Duke laughs nervously, a shake of his head following.

‘You said you felt like you were falling without me, that I wasn’t by your side, but that’s only because I’m already so far down, so deeply, madly, irrevocably in love with you.

And I promise you that I’m here, waiting to catch you in my arms. I’ve got you, Baby Hensley. Always.’

I bite the inside of my bottom lip to stop it from wobbling.

All his words – the ones I’d needed from him that night – hit me in my very core, the deepest part of my soul, branding me there in a way that means I’ll never be able to turn back from this moment.

Because he’s right, I’ve been falling for so long, there’s no way I can ever claw my way back out of this love I have for him. This love we have for each other.

Duke rubs his thumbs over my knuckles. ‘But that’s also why I froze when everything went down with Sawyer.

Because there’s no going back for me, not now.

And it all hit me then – that I’ve been so afraid of upsetting Wyatt if he found out about us, but there’s no if anymore, it’s only when.

This,’ Duke squeezes my hands, ‘isn’t just for the summer to me, which means one day we’re gonna have to tell Wyatt.

So, when that realisation struck me, I – I got scared.

I pushed you away, if only to give myself some respite from the fear.

‘But I’m ready, Cherry. If you want to tell everyone about us, then …

then let’s do that. I’m serious about being in a relationship with you – I love you, and that’s all that matters.

Wyatt will see that, I’m sure. So, hopefully we’ll be able to figure things out.

And to prove it, I got this done yesterday. ’

Carefully slipping his hands from mine, the loss of his heat an unwelcome feeling, Duke shrugs his jacket off, then holds out one of his wrists to me, upturned.

When I catch sight of the tattoo lying on the inside of his wrist, I grab his arm, dragging him closer so I can inspect the drawing – a small, intricate image of two cherries.

My eyes flick up to his. ‘You got cherries tattooed on you? Duke …’

‘Did I ever tell you what this one meant?’ He lines his other wrist up, bringing the cherries side by side with the horseshoe tattoo I’d noticed at the beginning of the summer. ‘I got the horseshoe to represent the bar – something that gives me life, that keeps me going every day.’

My thumb runs over the transparent sticker that covers the cherries so the tattoo can heal. I can’t stop my bottom lip from trembling, even as I try to speak. ‘You – you didn’t have to do that.’

Duke harbours my hands again, bringing them to his lips to plant a kiss on either one. ‘Yes, I did. Because you give me life, Cherry. You bring so much joy into my world. Every summer, I feel like I’m revived again, because you are home. Back with me. Where you’re meant to be.’

My heart stammers, beating faster than I’ve ever known, and the song it sings is a continuous mine, mine, mine.

Duke Bennett is all mine.

‘I love you too.’ I push out a wobbly smile. ‘I know I said it before, accidentally … but can we pretend this is the first time I’m saying it?’

Even Duke’s eyes look shinier than before, his smile seeming to require more effort to keep calm. ‘Definitely. I’d rather pretend the other night didn’t happen at all.’

‘Deal,’ I confirm, tangling my feet with his under the table, just to be able to touch more of him. To weave myself into him, where I know I’ll be steady. Where I’ll be strong.

‘Oh, I almost forgot.’ Duke leans over to grab the bag sitting beside him.

‘I think we got a little bit side-tracked with some of the, um, more adult parts of your bucket list …’ I bite my lip as he perks a brow at me, his darkening eyes sending a zap of need straight to my core.

‘But I think it’s time we finally tick this one off. ’

And with that, Duke pulls out a glossy, sleek black helmet. When he angles it around to show me the back, I almost fall off my chair as I read the cursive writing that spells out, Baby Hensley.

With a knowing smirk, and the darkest of eyes, gaze sending shivers skittering across my skin, Duke asks, ‘Are you ready for the ride of your life?’