Page 131 of Thaw My Heart

Leaving a lasting scar.

For all the pain that she’s endured, this is for her.

After dealing with the whole Markus situation, Ryker joins me when I head to Cole’s. There’s a blonde-haired woman I know he’s dying to see. He smooths down his dark mustache in the car mirror and messes with his hair, twisting a curl down, trying to look his best.

Before he hops out of the truck, I grab his arm, pulling him back. “Hey, I wanted to thank you. If you hadn’t called me…” I struggle to say the words because if he hadn’t called, I might have found Sadie too late, and just the thought wrecks me. “Well, I owe you.”

Ryker smiles, quirking a brow. “I thought you were about to tell me to stay away from Averie.”

That did cross my mind. “She is Sadie’s best friend.” And because of that, he would need to tread very carefully.

Ryker nods with understanding. “I know,” he murmurs.

I sigh, caving at the puppy dog expression on his face. “But maybe after the fiftieth time, she’ll finally agree to go on a date with you.” I can’t believe I’m encouraging him.

Ryker grins with renewed hope.

We enter the house, finding Sadie and Averie in the living room, cuddling under a flannel blanket on the floor in front of the fireplace, gazing into the flames. The crackle of the fire fills the room as Averie runs her fingers through Sadie’s wavy, long hair, speaking soft words. There’s a moment of light laughter between them, and it fills my chest with ease. They look like a cozy painting, curled up together while the orange glow wraps them in warm light.

Cole and Annie quietly come up behind us, standing under the archway to the living room. “They’ve been in there for a while,” Annie murmurs with worried eyes. Cole places his hand on her back, comforting her. “Is her name really Emma?”

“She’s whoever she wants to be,” I reply. Her name doesn’t matter to me. I know who she is. Sadie. Emma. I love her just the same.

Annie smiles at that, a brief smile before her expression turns into despair. “I’m so sorry, I should’ve⁠—”

I wrap an arm around her, pulling her in tight as the tears fall. “You did everything you could.” And there’s nothing else she could’ve done. “It’s all over now,” I confirm.

Ryker places a firm, comforting hand on her shoulder. “You did well, Annie.”

“So where is he now?” Cole lifts a brow.

Annie nods and unravels herself from me, wiping a tear from her cheek as I pull out the documents from my coat pocket, handing them to Cole. “Well, we found out who was responsible for the missing cattle,” I grin.

Cole checks the papers, briefly flipping through. When he lands on the last page, finding Markus’s signature, he smiles brightly. “Very clever.” He tucks the documents into his vest. “And where is he now?”

“If he’s smart, he’s long gone by now,” I say. “I don’t think he’ll want to come back for round two.”

Ryker meets my eyes, and we laugh, a laugh that vibrates in the air. There was nothing more satisfying than sending him packing with a brand on his ass. A mark that would never fade. Justice for Sadie, and a family secret we’d keep for the rest of our lives.

Her eyes meet mine, suddenly realizing I’m here. “Kit,” she whispers my name with her breathless voice before she’s running towards me with Foxie following her close behind.

Her arms wrap around me, giving me a tight squeeze before her hands go to either side of my face. My heart leaps at the way she looks at me, like I’m the melody she hums when the world is silent. Like I’m her favorite person in the world. Before I get a chance to speak, her lips tangle with mine, kissing me like she hasn’t seen me in months. I kiss her back with just as much fervor, crushing her body against mine.

Averie’s throat clears as she comes up beside us. “Well, girl, as much as I love watching you make out⁠—”

Sadie unlatches her lips from mine with rose colored cheeks.

“—I’ve got a plane to catch,” Averie smiles.

“Right, sorry,” Sadie nods, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

“A plane?” Ryker asks, stepping forward.

Averie seems taken aback by his response, like she doesn’t understand why he cares or why he’s talking to her in the first place.

“Yeah, I’m heading back to Nashville.” Her eyes dart to Sadie and me, seemingly just as confused.

“Why so soon?” Ryker asks, rocking on his heels. “It’s not even Christmas.” He tries to be playful about it, but I can hear the sadness in his voice. The want for someone who doesn’t even notice him.