Page 64 of Tempting Wyatt (Triple Creek Ranch #1)

Isaac is right. I chickened out. My dad would be so disappointed. Hell, I’m disappointed.

My mom clears her throat. “Give us a minute, Isaac.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He tips his hat and deserts me.

Once he’s gone, I lean on the workbench beside us, bracing my hands and ignoring my knuckles screaming in pain. It’s nothing compared to what’s happening in my chest.

“Son,” my mom says gently, “I owe you an apology. And I promise, I’ll respect whatever you decide. But you need to hear me out.”

I meet her worry-filled gaze. “You don’t owe me anything. I just . . . ”

“I do.” Her smile is sad and never reaches her eyes. “You’re a good man, Wyatt. And in a lot of ways, so much like your father. I know you’d give up your entire life for this ranch.”

Swallowing thickly, I nod. “This ranch, our family, this legacy—it is my life.”

Her shoulders sag. “Mine too, sweetheart. But it shouldn’t be your entire life.

You deserve love. You deserve what your father and I had.

” She sniffs softly. “If we lost this ranch, it would be heartbreaking. But nothing would be as heartbreaking as watching you fill the void that losing her left you with by working yourself to death.”

My head spins. I clench my fists, trying to find my footing. Take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart.

“I didn’t lose her. I never had her.”

My mom just stares at me. Waiting. No judgment, just patience and understanding. Something Ivy pointed out I needed more of myself.

I toss my hands up in frustration. “It was two weeks. How did she do this to me in two weeks?”

At that, she laughs. “When you know, you know, son. Your father told me he was going to marry me the day I met him. I thought he was crazy. But I wouldn’t trade a single second of our life together for anything. Definitely not for pride. Or fear.”

It’s getting harder to breathe. “I can’t just—”

“It goes by in a blink,” she breaks in, tears filling her eyes as she drops her gaze to her wedding ring.

“It’s a blink, son—our time in this world, our time together.

” She places a hand on my arm. “She made a mistake, not talking to you first. We made a mistake, asking her not to. You ever make a mistake, Wyatt? More importantly, do you really want to spend the rest of your life without her?”

I really fucking don’t. Not even a little bit. Falling asleep without her in my arms tonight will be torture. Waking up without her tomorrow will be hell. Every second I stand here, Ivy is getting farther from me, farther from where she belongs. Feels like she’s dragging my heart behind her car.

“What if she doesn’t want to give up her life in California for this? What if she doesn’t want to live here with me? Doesn’t want this life?”

Hell, she’s never experienced a Montana winter. Might send her running for the hills. Literally.

She hands me the papers she’s holding. “Willow highlighted some parts she thought you might need to see, to understand.”

I glance down at them, knowing I’ll never have time to read the entire thing. But I probably will anyways. My eyes land on one line, highlighted in neon pink.

And my heart fucking 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.”

HOPING LIKE 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 stop signs 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.”

“My girl,” 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.