Page 61 of Playing With Love

“So?”

Chelsea was pulling the rope off Rebel’s neck, shooing her away. Now was not the time for me and Tucker to get into a kickdown-knockout argument.

“Maybe we table this until after the fire’s out,” I suggested.

Tucker tipped his head back, blew out a breath, and shook his head. When he looked back down at me, he looked no less pissed, but I knew he was going to drop it.

“Matt’s almost here,” Tucker told Chelsea.

“Right,” she mumbled. “And I take it you or Logan tattled and told him I went back in for Trigger and Rebel.”

“Nope. Didn’t have to. Your husband’s not stupid.”

Chelsea didn’t move. Which was surprising. I figured as soon as she was done dealing with me acting like a runaway bride on the back of an untamed stallion, she’d rush back to talk to the firefighters.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

Gah. What a stupid question.

“Yeah,” she breathed.

“Sorry. That was a dumb thing to ask.”

“No, really, I’m okay. All my babies are out and Matt will be home soon. It’s just a barn. We can replace it.” Her head turned toward the house. “And the fire didn’t spread. Our neighbors have goats and pigs. I’m just grateful it didn’t catch the field or their hay shed on fire.”

It was hot and dry; it was a miracle the fire hadn’t gotten out of control.

Tucker stepped closer to Chelsea and threw his arm around her shoulder. She leaned into him and sighed.

“Thanks for coming,” she murmured.

“Always.”

Tim’s the man who kept me safe until Matt could save me.

For some bizarre reason remembering what Chelsea had said, seeing her lean into Tucker for support, it made me remember the mysterious phone call from Crystal.

My stomach roiled and it had nothing to do with watching the fire blaze or the adrenaline that was quickly leaching out of my system, or my unexpected, unwelcome wild ride bareback.

Tucker made it clear he wanted to be with me. He’d said he loved me.

But who was Crystal and where did she fit in?

A shiny black Chevy slid to a stop behind a fire truck.

Without a word, Chelsea tore out of Tucker’s embrace and took off in a full sprint. Matt was out of his truck, and with one hand on the top rung of the fence, he catapulted himself over before sprinting to Chelsea.

I wanted that.

I wanted a man who would jump a fence like it was nothing and run full speed to get to me. Not because I was in danger, because he knew I needed him. Because he knew there was no place safer than in his arms. Because he needed to give me what I needed. This wouldn’t be a chore or a job to him, he’d do it because he was driven to do it out of love for me.

That was all I ever wanted—not to be a chore or a burden. To be wanted. To be loved. To be worth something.

“Lizzy?”

I tore my gaze from Chelsea and Matt and focused on Tucker.

“You scared the fuck out of me, baby. But goddamn, you’re stupid brave.”