Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
She always has been.
“Why?” she whispers, and I frown, not quite sure what direction she’s gone off into now.
“Why?” I ask. “What do you mean?”
“Why do we need to learn to communicate better? What’s going on, Jake? Why are you being so….”
“So?” I prompt when she looks down at the bed and I lose eye contact with her again.
“Caring,” she finally says, her forehead crinkled when she finally lifts her face so I can see her.
I use the pad of my thumb to smooth out one of the lines on her face and try to figure out how to respond. There are times when you deal with complicated issues that Katie always reminded me of a baby deer caught alone on the road in the headlights of your truck. It wants to run but is afraid to move. It took me years to get her where she felt safe with me. I hate that she doesn’t now. She’s back to being skittish and judging every single movement I make—every word I utter.
“Well, we have a beautiful little boy who is depending on the two of us to get our acts together and be good parents to him. We need to learn to let go of the past and work together for his future.”
“Oh.” She takes a deep breath and gives me a slight nod. “You’re right we do. Lennon is what is important here.”
“He is,” I respond.
“We’re agreed. It’s good you’re going home to take care of him. He needs you, Jake.”
“What about you, Katie? Do you need me?”
“Wh…What?” Instantly, her face goes back to being wary. I know I should probably let it go. It’s too soon. Yet, I’ve made my mind up. I don’t want Katie thinking there’s nothing between us when, clearly, there is. The last thing I want is for my brother to come back into town to try and win her over—leaving me out in the cold again. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be my brother. It hasn’t escaped my notice how the surgeon keeps coming in here and looking at her. He may be trying to be professional, but he is failing. Katie attracts men like flies. She always has and it was annoying as hell. The only saving grace about it was she failed to realize the way they gravitated toward her. I was never blind to it and I’m not now.
“It’s a simple question, sunshine. Do you need me?”
“Why do you keep calling me sunshine? That pet name died seven years ago, remember?”
“No, it didn’t. It just felt wrong using it, knowing I hurt you and we weren’t together any longer.”
“We’re not together now, Jake. We haven’t been in a lifetime.”
“There’s something between us, you can’t deny that,” I counter.
“A son. Of course, there’s something between us. We have a son together.”
“Are you going to deny there’s a spark between us, Katie? An attraction that still burns after all these years?”
I watch her swallow nervously. I’m hitting a nerve. I see it in her face. I don’t know if she’ll admit it, but it’s there.
“It’s just residual. Whatever it is, is like the ashes after a fire burns out. Anything between us is in the past. We both have different lives now,” she denies.
“We’re different but we’re here together.”
“Jake—”
“I love my son. I want time with him. I need Lennon in my life, but that’s not why I’m here, Katie.”
“I don’t…”
“I’m here because I care about you, too, Katie. You.”
“This isn’t—”
“And I think if you’re honest, you have to admit you care about me.”
“Of course, I care about you. You’re the father of my child. I’ve loved you for over half my life.”
I smile. “I’m going home, Katie.”
She frowns. “That’s good.”
“It is.” I grin. “I’m going home to get our son and then, I’m bringing him here to see his mother.”
“I…”
Shit, I thought this would make her happy, but instead she starts crying.
“Katie? Don’t you want me to bring Lennon to see you?”
“I do, I want to see him,” she says while tears roll down her cheeks.
“You don’t sound very happy about it.”
“When you said you were leaving, I thought…”
“You thought I was leaving you alone,” I finish for her, regret filling my stomach. Of course, she thought I was leaving her alone. The past has left scars on Katie.
“It’s stupid,” she says swiping at her face. “I want you to go home. I’m sure you have things to do. You’ll have to go back to the rodeo soon. It’s just…”
I grab some tissues from the bedside table and gently begin drying her face.
“I’m right here, sunshine. I’m not leaving.”
“Stop. I’m just being silly. I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone. I’m just under a lot of stress and medication. It’s making me crazy,” she grumbles.
“You are absolutely right. You don’t need anyone.”