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“Sounds good. We can talk more about it when you get to Houston.”
He winked and pulled down the driveway. I stood there, watching him until I couldn’t see his sports car anymore. Then I continued to simply stare at nothing. An empty driveway. My heart was just as empty, and it wasn’t because of Easton leaving.
“Chloe?” my grandmother called.
“Darling? Are you okay?” she asked, wrapping her arm around me.
“I don’t know, Grammy. I just don’t know about anything right now.”
Stepping around, she placed her hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.
“Chloe, you need to take a few days to yourself and let this all process. I didn’t want to say anything, but you and Easton argued a lot last night over the simplest things. It was hard for your granddad and I not to hear you two.”
“He wants me to just up and leave, Grammy. Like none of this matters to me. Why can’t he understand I need some time?”
She simply smiled at me. This was one of those life lessons she was going to let me figure out on my own.
“Come on, I’m making some cookies…you can help.”
We walked arm-in-arm back toward the house.
“I think that is exactly what I needed! I wanted to take some lunch out to Rip today. He mentioned working with Trevor here at the ranch.”
“Yes, he was here this morning. He’s with Cord and Trevor doing something with the cattle in the north pasture.”
“Is Daddy here?”
“He should be in his office. Head on back first if you want. I’ll get everything out and ready for our baking party.”
With a giggle, I kissed her on the cheek and headed down the hallway to the side of the house that housed all the offices for the ranch. My dad had one. Trevor too, as well as Mitchell and Wade. Granddaddy still kept his office, even though he was officially retired and had handed the running of the ranch over to my uncles and dad.
My father’s office door was slightly open, and he was on the phone talking to someone. I paused and lifted my hand to knock.
“Chloe was going to be taking on marketing for the ranch, but I’ll most likely need to start interviewing people for it.”
My stomach fell. His words made everything feel so real.
“Yes, I was looking forward to working with her, but she seems happy, and that is all I care about.”
I took a step back and leaned against the wall. My heart was pounding, and it was hard to breathe. What in the world was happening to me?
“Business management and marketing, yes. I’d like to start taking a step back from work. Spend more time with Paxton and the kids. Rip Myers has been taking on some of the accounting for me, as well. The kid is smart as a whip. He is working for his brother’s construction company handling most of their business and getting them up to date on some new computer programs. He’s doing the same with Waylynn’s dance studio, but I’m hoping I can talk him into coming to work for Frio Cattle Ranch.”
It was like all the plans I had made for my future were still happening, except I wasn’t a part of them anymore.
“We will figure it out, Dan. I think Chloe is staying on until Christmas. I won’t have to worry about filling the new position until fall.”
Placing my hand on my chest, I forced myself to breathe, but each breath was getting harder and harder.
I slid down the wall and sat.
Oh God, what is happening? I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe!
“Chloe!”
Over my panic, I hadn’t heard Rip walk up. His voice instantly sent warmth through my entire body. Then I felt his hands on my arms, pulling me up.
“Look at me, Chloe.”
I did what Rip said. My eyes met his.
“Take a deep breath in.”
Shaking my head, I felt the panic returning.
“Sweetheart, look at me. Look. At. Me. Breathe.”
“What’s going on?” my father said, suddenly next to Rip.
“I think she’s having a panic attack,” Rip stated.
Rip hugged me, holding me so close. “Feel my breathing, Chloe Cat. Focus on my breathing.”
I took deep inhales and then exhaled, my face warmed by his breath. Soon, my own breathing began to return to normal.
“That’s it. Deep breath in, then out.”
“Bring her into my office.”
Rip wrapped his arm around my waist, and I could not ignore the way it made me feel.
I closed my eyes and cursed myself. I was engaged to another man and the feelings Rip evoked were nothing short of sinful.
“Do you feel dizzy?” Rip asked.
“No. No. I’m okay.” I sat down on the small sofa on the other side of my dad’s office.
“Chloe, what happened?” my father asked.
With a shrug, I replied truthfully. “I heard you on the phone, and all of a sudden I felt this pressure on my chest, and I couldn’t breathe.”
