Page 69 of Cash

“And what did he say?”

Cash takes a breath. Lets it out. “He said it was too late to right all his wrongs. From all accounts, he was wrecked after y’all left, and he didn’t know what to do. He knew your mom was unhappy. He said he thought it wasn’t just the ranch that made her miserable—it was being with him. He didn’t want to cause her more pain by following her to her new life.”

“But he caused so much more pain by not doing anything,” I reply thickly.

“I hear you. As far as you were concerned, he said he didn’t want to take you away from your mom. He knew Aubrey needed you, and you needed her.”

“I needed him too.”

“I told him so. I think he finally came to that realization, but he felt like he’d done too much damage at that point to ever fix it. I’m not making excuses for him?—”

“I know.”

“But he was sick over it, Mollie. I swear on my life that Garrett died loving you more than anything.”

I can only stare, eyes welling. “Cash.”

“Yeah?”

“Can I hug you?”

He laughs. “I thought you wanted to murder me?”

“I can do that too. But…thanks? For sticking up for me.”

“If I’da known you, I wouldn’t have done it,” he replies with a smirk.

I give his shoulder a shove. “Just when I was starting to like you.”

“See?” He meets my eyes, a grin on his lips. “Charming and well adjusted as fuck. You’re welcome.”

It’s then that I realize my stomach has stopped hurting.

CHAPTER 16

Cash

KEEPING UP

“Feelingfull of ourselves because we did some twirls tonight on the dance floor, I see.” Mollie’s eyes shine. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, cowboy.”

“I thought we said no more nicknames.”

“Cowboy isn’t a nickname. It’s more of a…vibe.”

“A vibe you like?”

“A vibe I can tolerate, yeah.”

I hang a right, my tires meeting with the dirt road that announces our arrival on Lucky Ranch.

Thank God we’re home, or I might be tempted to do something stupid. Like reach across the cab to grab Mollie’s face and kiss her.

I got no clue what the fuck is wrong with me. How’d I go from wanting this girl gone to wanting to taste her mouth in less than, what, a week?

Why can’t I stop flirting with her?

Why won’t she stop flirting with me?