Page 154 of Tempting Wyatt

And my heartfucking stops.

I am her home. And she’s mine. No matter where we are.

My mom offers me an understanding half-smile when I look up.

“Would you give up all this for her? Live out there if it meant being with her?”

“Can you imagine me in California?”

“Won’t matter where you are if you’re miserable.”

I rub the back of my neck roughly, glancing at her words once more.

“Maybe we could split the time. Half here, half there.” I do quick math. The logistics of checking in back here—of Isaac, Antonio, and Willow covering my responsibilities while I’m gone—whirl through my mind.

“You think she feels any differently?”

“Only one way to find out,” I blurt out, realizing in that moment that I’m leaving and my girl got at least a twenty minute head start.

My mom’s voice conveys the same sense of urgency I feel. “Isaac and I stalled her as long as we could. Willow is calling and asking her to stop by the equestrian center, but she could be close to the interstate by now. I’ll text you her address just in case. It was on her rental agreement.” Her eyes are damp as she slips her wedding ring off her hand and places it in mine. “Good luck, son.”

HOPINGLIKE HELL I CATCH IVY before she hits the highway, I saddle Lucifer, who’s already mad at me for letting her leave. He’s visibly annoyed, and he tries his best to ignore me, but he’s the fastest, will be able to bypass stopsigns and red lights, and I’m in a hurry. He stamps his hoof and huffs out an angry breath.

“I’m going to go get her back if you cooperate, asshole,” I tell him as I mount him then trot out of the pasture.

He’s only mildly appeased.

I find Isaac near the arena beside the bunkhouse, talking to Antonio.

“Can you really handle this place without me?” I call out.

My brother grins over at me. “Hell of a lot better than I could handle your sad-sack ass busting up shit around here, wishing you’d gone after our girl.”

“Mygirl,” I correct him.

He grins like the idiot he is.

“I don’t know if I can catch her in time,” I admit. “If I don’t, I’m heading to California for who knows how long.”

“I’ll follow you in your truck just in case,” Isaac offers. “Go.”

I give Lucifer a kick, and he takes off like a shot.

I’m already gone.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

ivy

I’M ON THE PHONE WITH WILLOW, explaining why I can’t come by the equestrian center—that it’s too hard and maybe Wyatt wasn’t wrong about a clean break. It’ll only hurt worse the longer I linger in town—when I see him.

A crazed maniac riding a familiar black horse up Main Street. I’m about to pull out of the gas station parking lot across from the diner when he comes barreling in my direction. I’d know that backward ball cap and messy hair anywhere.

Wyatt.

I pull my car over and get out to gape at him as he approaches.

“Will, I have to go,” I say into the phone. “Your brother is here, um, on a horse.”