Page 16 of The Rancher's Wedding Deception

If he's not for me, God...

Please help me.

Please take him out of my heart the way You alone can.

Hale

"CONGRATULATIONS SEEMto be in order," Devin drawled under his breath as he took his place next to his friend.

Today was the last day of Animal Week, and just like in previous years, Devin and Hale were tasked to personally bid their guests farewell.

Hale glanced at his friend with a frown. "Congratulations over what?"

"I saw what happened earlier between you and Heaven." Devin nearly smirked at the way his friend's lips tightened.

Good.

It was high time that the tables were turned. He had never been the type to meddle with other people's affairs. But even Devin couldn't help feeling bothered by the way Hale had treated his wife's friend with contempt all these years.

"You got what you wanted," Devin took pleasure in pointing out. "Not only has she given up trying to earn your approval, I think she's also started giving you the cold shoulder."

"I wouldn't really know," Hale answered shortly. "If I did, then that would imply I gave a fuck about what she thought of me. But I don't."

Devin nearly smirked. It was clear as day that Hale was lying to himself. His frienddidcare about what Heaven thought of him, and it was just as clear that Hale wasn't used to being ignored.

His darling wife was right again,Devin thought. When she first told him years ago she had a really good feeling about Heaven and Hale, he had politely told her she was out of her mind. But Hilary had only laughed at this.

"You don't see what I see, obviously, but I mean it, Devin. Because the way she looks at him reminds me of the way I've always looked at you, from the very start..."

"THANK YOU FOR COMING. We look forward to your next visit."

"We appreciate your support. Please come back again."

"It's our honor to have you with us. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you next year as well."

The words rolled smoothly off Hale's tongue as he shook hands with his guests. No one looking at him would ever guess that his mind wasn't there at all. Instead, it was completely focused on the one girl that had been costing him sleepless nights for years.

Damn her.

He had been unable to take his gaze off her all night.

And he hated her and himself for it.

He watched her laugh and chat with the guests, like some fucking princess holding court, and with every bastard in attendance looking like they were seconds away from proposing marriage.

Over my dead fucking body.

The thought of Heaven marrying another man made him feel murderous, but the fact that he felt this way also made him hate her even more.

DAMN HER.

Devin had said earlier that he had finally gotten what he wanted. So why did it feel like he had instead lost the only thing that mattered?

Just as Hale had never made any effort to hide his feelings towards her, neither had Heaven ever attempted to conceal her desire to change his mind.

While she had never said a word or asked directly for his approval, only an idiot wouldn't have noticed her working harder and longer hours than anyone else.

Even when her colleagues had constantly made fun of her behind her back, not once had she tried to retaliate. Hadn't even seemed to care what others said or thought of her. All she had ever cared about was winning his approval.