The ground felt like it had given out from under me. “I’m not her boyfriend. Like I said, I’m her business partner.”
He chuckled with a knowing look in his eyes. leaning back in his chair. “And just how badly has your being in love with her complicated that?”
I was the one at a loss for words now. “I’m not”—I cleared my throat—“I’m not in love with her. She is a family friend and one of my partners. That’s all.”
That wasn’t all. Not in the slightest.
Ethan just laughed more. “I wasn’t born yesterday. You come in here guns blazing, singing her praises and throwing around accusations, and expect me to believe that you aren’t? The only woman I’d do that for is my wife.”
He was wrong. I didn’t love Delilah. Had feelings, sure. But not love. “No.” I forced the shake out of my voice. “I came here because she deserves your sponsorship. You know she does. Her reputation as a therapist is flawless. You told her she was the kind of person you wanted to support, and Freedom Reins was the kind of facility you wanted to back financially.”
“That was true, but things change.”
“You mean you got a better offer.” My upper lip curled in disgust. “I would’ve thought a Colonel of the U.S. Army would have more integrity than that. The ones I served did anyway.”
Recognition flickered in his eyes. “You’re the one she told me about,” he said with a hint of amused understanding.
I blinked quickly. “What?”
“She told me about you. That she went into this line of work because of you.”
“What do you mean?” My voice was unrecognizable, far away and muffled. It felt like my head was underwater.
“She said someone ‘very special’ to her served and struggled with PTSD, and the reason why she focused on veteran rehabilitation was because of you.”
Someone very special. That could’ve meant anything. I couldn’t read into it. I wouldn’t let myself. Not right now.
Ethan’s gaze flicked over me, and he stood, rounding his desk. “You said you’re gathering information on Sterling and Preston?”
“Yes. They have been coming after my family’s ranch for months now. Decades, if you want to get technical. But they’ve gone to insane lengths to try to take us under. Fake endangered species claims, poisoning our cattle, zoning lawsuits, harassment, damaged property, whatever they’ve done to get you to change your mind, and we suspect that they’ve sent in someone to pretend to be a ranch hand.”
His face went as white as a sheet of paper. “I had no idea,” he admitted, breathless. “They offered me a business deal that promised millions. I was going to funnel it all back into veteran support.”
“Well, now you know.”
He straightened quickly. “Tell Delilah that she and Freedom Reins have my support. A million a year for the next five years, and then we’ll revisit.”
“Make it ten,” I demanded. It was only fair for all the heartache he’d caused her these last two weeks.
The corner of his mouth twitched with a smile. “And you think you aren’t in love with her?”
I really wish he’d stop saying that. “Do we have a deal?” I asked through gritted teeth.
He extended his hand. “I’ll have my lawyers draft up the paperwork and send it over by the end of the day.” I nodded once and shook his hand, a little stunned by how easy it had been.
“Sorry for barging in like I did,” I murmured, my chest heating with a hint of embarrassment. It wasn’t like me to make a scene, and yet I’d been doing it a lot lately.
He just laughed, something knowing in it that made me squirm. “Don’t worry about it.”
Leaving Ethan’s office was a blur, the significance of what I’d done finally hitting me once it was over and I was back in my truck in the parking garage. I gripped my steering wheel, resting my forehead on it, catching my breath. “What the hell?”
I just saved Freedom Reins.
But I knew deep down I hadn’t done it for the ranch or even my family. I did it for her. It seemed like most things I did these days were for her.
Fuck, was Ethan right? Did I love her? I knew I had feelings for her, but I didn’t think it was thebigone. Even if I did love her, could I drag her deeper into my shit? Dump all my baggageon her? While things didn’t feel as bleak lately as they had before, I didn’t know anything about dating or being a partner to someone.
I thought of my parents and how in sync they were. How nauseating they were with their constant affection. How Mama said she wasn’t scared of death because Dad was there waiting for her. Was I even capable of that kind of devotion? Of opening myself up to that kind of pain? I remembered with vivid detail just how depressed Mama was when Dad died eight years ago—she couldn’t function. Could I put someone through that? Could I survive that level of heartbreak?
