Page 82 of Burnin' For You

He stepped in front of her, a wall of frustration, anger—and who knew what else.

Bully. Yes, that was the word for him.

“You can’t go—we both know this. Even if the Annie is okay to fly, you’re in no shape—”

“I’m going, Reuben. The team needs me.” She started to push past him, but a needle of pain stopped her, made her catch her breath again.

“See—you’re hurting—”

“And we’ll both be hurting if our team dies out there!”

That brought him up like a slap. “Okay, fine—but let’s get Jared—”

“He won’t do it, and you know it. I can’t leave them out there!”

“And I can’t let you go!”

She recoiled, not only at his words, at his volume, but the expression on his face. Red eyes, his body nearly trembling.

“It’s not up to you.”

“Maybe not, but I can’t watch another person I care about die! Not when I can say something, maybe stop it.”

She looked away, her eyes hot.

“Gilly, please. I love you. I know it’s fast—but I’ve probably been in love with you for a couple of years, and—please don’t go. We’ll find another way.”

He loved her.

But she couldn’t let his words stop her, derail her.

She closed her eyes, her throat thick. But she forced out the words. “If you love me, you won’t make me choose between you and the team. You and flying. You and my job.”

She looked back at him then, hoping he’d see the truth—

She wanted both. Tough and tender. Brave and beautiful.

But, no. Because his expression hardened, and he straightened up. Stepped back from her. “Because if I do make you choose, I won’t win, will I?”

His words hit her like a fist, and she stood there, her mouth open, a fist around her heart.

It was clear that the ranch meant more to him than I did.

She swallowed. “I took them out there. It’s up to me to bring them home.”

And in that space of time, in the silence, Reuben’s mouth tightened around the edges, his eyes filming. “Right.”

Then he turned and headed down the hallway.

Wait.

But she watched him go without a word.

What are you trying to prove?

Jared in her head and behind that, Reuben’s howl, reverberating through the forest.

Gilly turned into the flight office to plan her attack.