Page 61 of Broken Boundaries

I nod. “I know how hard it is to lose someone you love, but sometimes the way to show them how much you love them is to let them go.”

“Did you ever love Mom?” he asks, suddenly. I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting that.

“I did. Of course, I did. But we didn’t want the same things. The ranch was always my plan, and she didn’t want that. I knew that if I had stayed with her, neither one of us would’ve been happy. She would’ve ended up resenting me.”

“I guess I can understand that.” For the first time in years, I think this might be a turning point for us. “So, you think I should let Aspen go?”

I swallow, knowing that the answer is going to hurt him but also knowing that I feel like complete shit for having feelings for the woman he’s still in love with. “I think that’s what she wants.”

“Yeah…”

He sits in silence for a minute, taking that in before he quickly drinks the rest of his coffee. “I should probably go, but thanks for the coffee. And thanks for giving Aspen a job and a place to stay. I’m glad she likes it here.”

“Yeah, of course.”

He leaves while I stay at the table for a few more minutes, just thinking. How did I end up here? How did I start falling for a woman who is way too young for me and the only woman in all of Blue Haven that I literally cannot have?

I can be friends with her. I can be her employer. But I cannot let it go any further than that. I’m a grown ass man and should be able to control myself.

I clean off our table before I head back to the ranch. Aspen is already at the desk. She’s smiling at someone when I walk up. Her eyes glance in my direction as I pass, and I give her a slight nod.

Yeah, I can do this. I can stay away from her.

I hope.

CHAPTER 23

Aspen

“I’ve got to run into town for some things. Need anything?” Brooks asks me one day after work when he sees me outside my cabin. It’s almost as if he read my mind because I do actually need to go to town.

“Actually, yeah, can I ride along with you?”

Without any hesitation, he says, “Of course.”

Things with Brooks have slowly gotten back to normal. I know he’d rather I forget about the kiss, but there’s no way I could ever do that. The best I can do is to pretend I’ve forgotten for his sake. Unfortunately for me, my crush on him has done nothing but grow since that night.

But pretending everything is fine has worked out so far. We’ve even started up our nightly rides again. Things are starting to feel normal again.

I get in his truck, and he drives us to town.

“Where do you need to go?” he asks as he finds a spot in the center of town.

“The pharmacy. It should be quick. Do you want me to meet you somewhere?”

“I’ll just come with you,” he offers.

My hand freezes on the door handle. Oh, crap. I didn’t think this part through. I’d really rather him not be with me while I pick up my birth control refill, but I can’t ask him to leave me alone. I should’ve just driven myself.

“Ok,” I say slowly, but he’s already walking toward the pharmacy. The man walks with such confidence, I can’t help but stare. I’ve noticed other women like to stare at him, too. I wonder why he doesn’t go on any dates. From what Jazz tells me, there are plenty of single women around town who make it very obvious that they would love a chance to try to win over Brooks Calloway. He’s a smart man. I refuse to believe that he doesn’t know about his charm. So, I wonder why he keeps them all at arm’s length? I’d ask him, but after everything that’s happened, it would feel like I was too invested. It’s best if I keep my thoughts to myself.

Once I catch up to him and we’re inside the pharmacy, Brooks points to the other side of the store, telling me he’ll be over there, which is a relief. The last thing I want this town to start talking about is how I picked up birth control with my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

I get to the counter where an older lady stands waiting to help me.

“Hi. I’m here to pick up a prescription for Aspen Fallon.”

She smiles and types my name into her computer before turning to find my medicine from the shelves. It takes her forever to find it, and by the time I see her coming back, I’m checking over my shoulder to see if Brooks is making his way over here yet. Thankfully, I don’t see him.