His nose presses against mine, and I close my eyes. Every nerve in my body is screaming. Every wall I've built is crumbling. One inch. That's all it would take. One inch and I'm his again, and none of the rest of it matters.
"I ain't kissing you first, Harps." His whisper brushes my lips. "You make the first move. You're the one who ran away. You decide if you're coming back to me or not."
I pull back. Study his face. The way my heart flips so hard it hurts.
The inevitable pull between us I knew would happen. But the embarrassment still eats away at me, deep down. Of admitting I fucked up. That I was stupid. It’s still there, hiding in the background.
I slide my hands up his chest and around his neck, letting the moment settle. Feeling the weight of it right in my bones.
I lean in.
A man clears his throat behind us. Really fucking loud and I want to scream.
Ace groans against my lips. I pull back, but he doesn't let me go. Just turns his head toward the barn door.
"Hunter wants to see you… Both," Colten says.
God. I haven't seen him in years. He still looks the same—just a little older, a little more rough around the edges. Still as intimidating as ever, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and an expression that says he's been watching longer than we think.
He glances between us. His face doesn't change.
"Now," he says, nodding toward the house.
"I'll be there in five," Ace says.
Colten laughs. "Five minutes? You two need more like five fucking days to get this out of your systems. Come on."
My mouth drops open. Ace glares at his brother and, with a huff, removes his hand from my neck. Colten isn’t going anywhere without us.
"We ain't done, Harper," Ace whispers, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
His hand settles on the small of my back, and he leads me out of the barn, behind Colten, who puts his hat on the second we're back in the setting sun.
None of us says a word as we walk toward Hunter's ranch house.
Last time I was here, Ace's dad lived in this house. Hunter was somewhere else on the property. It wasn't this well-kept, either. Lola has added a woman's touch; now there is artwork lining the hallway, fresh flowers on the entryway table, and the smell of something cooking drifting from the kitchen. It feels like a home now. Not just a headquarters.
We walk into the living room, and Lola's green eyes meet mine, her hair still a beautiful cherry red. She stands and says, "Harper."
"Hi, Lola."
We're by no means good friends. I helped her out on one of the worst nights of her life, and then I left. Just like I always do. But there's warmth in her voice. The kind of bond that forms between two women who've both loved Sterling men and survived it.
A girl with black hair is sitting beside her on the couch. She turns to look at us, and her eyes land on Ace.
Lola's friend. Violet. She barely said a word when I saw her last. I doubt she even remembers me. Her boyfriend was the useless asshole who failed designated-driver duties, which is what landed Hunter in a cell.
"Ace Sterling." Violet stands, hands on her hips. "You and I need to have a word."
She's biting back a grin. But there's fire underneath it.
Ace takes off his hat and holds it over his chest. He seems half scared of her, which has me thinking… why?
"No words needed. I was on time. You were two hours fucking late, Vi. You think I'm waiting around for you?" Ace remarks.
I frown and step to the side. Just watching. Colten rests against a beam, arms crossed, taking everything in with that quiet, calculating stillness he always had.
Violet stomps toward Ace. She spots me mid-stride, and her whole face softens.
