AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I felt a little steadier, I turned to face him. “Why did you bid so much to go on a date with me?”
His jaw tightened. “It’s to raise money for—”
“You could have bid on anyone. Why me?” And why so much money? I knew Talon had been successful with his metal designs, having been featured in several prominent architectural and design magazines over the years. But it was crazy to spend so much money to go out on a date with your ex-girlfriend.
Heath handed Sebastian a map. “Take the carriage to the date location and enjoy your evening. Don’t ask why, but Cole snagged the hot tub date with Daphne. I think he threw in more money to get it.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t ready to be in a hot tub with my ex. I wasn’t sure how he felt about me, but it couldn’t be good.
Heath’s tone was stilted, and I got the feeling he wanted to ask us if this was a good idea, but he didn’t.
“Are you two going to be okay?” Heath asked.
My lips twitched. “I’m not going to faint, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Heath’s concerned gaze swung from me to Talon.
I wrapped my arms around my body to ward off the cold. In my haste to get out of the barn, I hadn’t grabbed my jacket. “We don’t have to do this.”
Heath frowned. “Talon bid a lot of money on this date.”
“It was too much.” And I couldn’t fathom why he’d want to go on a date with me. Not when we’d had our chance, and I’d ruined it. There were many times over the years when I wanted to explain my reasoning to him, but every time I thought about it, I dismissed the idea. It was over and done with, and there was no point in rehashing the past.
When Heath and Talon exchanged a glance, I said, “I’ll just grab my jacket from inside.”
Talon touched her shoulder, stopping my movement. “I’ll get it.”
“It’s on the chair by the stage,” I said as my stomach filled with dread.
When Talon disappeared inside, Heath said, “I don’t want him to get hurt.”
The familiar shame and guilt wrapped around me. “I never wanted to hurt Talon. I wanted to protect him.”
Heath’s brow furrowed, but before he could respond, Talon was back. He helped me put on the jacket, and I held it to me.
“Have a good time,” Heath said with one last tip of his head, and then he disappeared inside.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I repeated when Talon held his hand out to me.
“It feels like the right move to me,” Talon said simply, making my heart rate pick up.
My hand trembled as I rested it in his, and I stepped into the carriage.
He climbed in and sat next to me, picking up the reins as if he’d done this a million times before. With a flick of his wrist, the horses were moving.
I wanted to ask the questions that were swirling in my head. Why did you bid on me? Why did you spend so much money? But I couldn’t seem to form the words. I had a feeling he wouldn’t answer me anyway.
“Heath said something to me when you were gone.” I concentrated on the way I could see my breath in the cold night air.
Talon shifted on the seat bench and glanced down at me. “Oh?”
“He doesn’t want you to get hurt. I don’t want to hurt you either. That’s why I don’t understand why you bid on me and why we’re riding in this carriage together.” Each step the horses took felt like we were heading down a path we never should have taken in the first place.
“We should have talked a long time ago.”
“I don’t want to rehash the past.” I’d come to terms with us a long time ago. I’d pushed him away and couldn’t go back and fix it. It was too late to beg for his forgiveness. I’d resigned myself to being the bad guy in this situation.
Talon shook his head. “I’ll talk to Heath. He shouldn’t have said anything to you.”
