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Monroe
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Rhett Allen. I’ve been expecting you,” I say casually, even though nothing about this feels casual.
Rhett smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Funny, I wasn’t expecting you.”
At the sound of his voice, Duke and Diesel’s ears perk up, and when they see him, they go crazy. Their tails and butts are wiggling so fast, for a second I think they might fall over. As they charge him, Rhett steps back, using one arm to keep the dogs from jumping on him—the other is in a sling—and that’s when I remember his accident.
Not that I forgot because it’s the only thing I’ve thought about since that horrible night, but the sight of him standing before me rendered me stupid there for a few seconds.
I knew it would only be a matter of time before Rhett came for his dogs. I was prepared for that. What I’m not prepared for are all the feelings that have picked this moment to come rushing back. Some good, others not so good. Against my better judgment, I’ve followed Rhett’s career over the years, but I’ve tried not to think about him outside of his bull riding. It was hard at times, especially when his face showed up in a magazine or on a commercial. But I gave his brothers and Adley strict instructions not to tell me anything about his personal life, and for the most part, they’ve honored my request.
Every once in a while, Coop would let something slip during conversation, but it was always something simple.
Rhett remodeled his kitchen.
Rhett came to town to visit Mom and Dad, but he was by himself.
Adley and I visited Rhett and went to one of his events.
I like to think it’s Coop’s way of keeping me in the loop without keeping me in the loop. There were times I wanted to beg him to tell me more, but I knew I couldn’t go there. Losing Rhett was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through—right after my dad’s stroke and my mom walking out on us. For a while, in the back of my mind, I hoped we’d find our way back to each other, but I gave up on that years ago. Rhett is lost for good to the world of professional bull riding, to his fans, to his career—and it’s mostly my fault.
“Duke. Diesel.” I call to the dogs and take a few steps forward. “Down.” They’re both overly excited, but they listen to my command.
Instead of jumping up and mauling Rhett, Duke shoves his nose into his leg—no doubt looking for a special treat—while Diesel plops down at Rhett’s feet and rolls over in hopes of a belly rub.
Rhett looks up, clearly annoyed. “They listened
to you.”
“They’re good dogs. Aren’t you a good dog?” I coo at Duke when he runs back to me. I give him a good scratch behind the ear and nudge him toward Rhett, who’s giving Diesel all sorts of love and attention. Duke pushes his way into the fray, demanding some hand action, and I can’t blame either one of them. I know what it’s like to be the center of that man’s world.
It’s consuming.
And perfect.
And I’m losing my mind.
“Didn’t know you guys were in the dog-boarding business,” Rhett says, squinting up at me. He uses his right hand to shield the sun as he stands up. There are a million questions I want to ask about his injuries and recovery, but I refrain. The less I know, the better.
“We’re not.”
I pull the ponytail holder out of my hair and re-knot it on my head. Not because it was falling out but because Rhett’s gaze is intense. Too intense. And that feeling of excitement I always got in the pit of my stomach when he was near, well, it’s back.
Rhett tilts his head and smirks. It’s the same damn smile he used to give me right before he’d strip me naked and fuck me up against the wall. Only this time I’m older, wiser, and his smile doesn’t hit me in the same spots as it used to.
At least that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.
“Wipe that damn smile off your face, Allen. I didn’t do it for you.”
“Then who’d you do it for? Seems to me this was a sure-fire way to make sure you got to see me while I’m in town.”
Lord, give me strength. With a deep breath, I put my hands on my hips and pin him with a steely gaze. “I did it for Coop.”
He lifts a brow. “Is that right?”
“He was a mess after your accident, and he knew your entire family would be at the hospital. I didn’t want to cause them any more worry, so when he called, I volunteered to take the dogs.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself, sweetheart.” Rhett walks past me, his shoulder brushing mine, and I freeze on contact. It takes a solid minute to regain my composure, but when I do, I turn around and find him grabbing the dogs’ leashes, which I’d clipped to the chain-link fence.
