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“Whatever, you’re only getting pissed because you know I’m right and I’m hitting a nerve.” He shakes his head. “I’m going for now, but just remember that you’re my best friend and I’ll do anything to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life.”
“Fuck! I’ve already made that!” I growl. “The biggest fucking mistake I ever made was leaving her in Lexington.”
He looks as shocked as I do. Tugging my glove off, I run my hand over my face and meet his gaze. “Now you know.” I sigh before changing the subject, “Look, I have a million things to do before the snow hits later.”
“Um, yeah. I’ll leave you to it.” He walks toward his vehicle, throwing looks over his shoulder as he moves away. “Let me know if I can help.”
I nod and wave him away while I carry on tossing hay. Once I hear his vehicle moving down the drive, I stop and finally give in to the exhaustion that is a constant these days. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could actually sleep but my nights are spent tossing and turning, wondering whether or not Charlotte has moved on. Wondering whether she ever thinks of me, and the night we’d spent together. It’s driving me crazy not knowing. But did I deserve to know? I was the one who’d stopped texting back. I was the one getting married. It would serve me right if she has moved on.
I’m the one who made love to her all night long knowing I’d just broken my engagement to another woman. I don’t regret one minute of my time with Charlotte. I remind myself that if Emma hadn’t broken her promise to me, and then begged once I’d returned home to go ahead with the wedding, I wouldn’t have anything hanging over me. I’d have been free to go after Charlotte.
It isn’t the wedding itself it’s the bride. Not a damn thing would keep me from walking down the aisle if Charlotte was meeting me there.
Sighing heavily, I turn back to work and wonder why Emma still wants to marry me. I know we’ve been together since high school and everything is familiar but that isn’t a reason to get married. I thought it was way back when. I’ve known for nearly as long that it wasn’t what I wanted. I don’t really think it was what Emma wanted anymore either.
If she was in love with me, and looking forward to spending her life with me, I hardly doubt she’d have spent three nights with someone else. The same goes for me, though. If I loved Emma, would I have been able to spend the night with another woman so soon after breaking our engagement? The answer is no. Initially, I wanted to get Emma back for humiliating me, but that backfired the minute my eyes had landed on Charlotte. Just one look had told me she would rock my world in more ways than one…and she had.
Shaking my head, I prop the pitchfork against the side of the barn and turn toward the house. Just in time to hear the phone blaring on the wall.
“Hello,” I rumble, annoyed.
“Tanner, it’s me,” Bo always says those words when I answer a call from him.
“Didn’t we just talk?” I throw both work gloves on the kitchen table and wait. He only calls when he has to because he hates the phone.
“Um, yeah. Here’s the thing, you know how I was out helping at an accident on the highway?”
“Yeah.”
“This is probably a long short, but you said you left her in Lexington, right?” He doesn’t pause for breath. “Well, rescue had to cut a woman out of a rental.”
My heart quickens as it starts to register what he’s telling me, or trying to as I drop into a kitchen chair—my legs suddenly rubbery. “Tell me quickly because you’re killing me.”
“I don’t know much but I do know she said she was visiting someone here and that she’s from Lexington. One of the guys called her Charlotte.”
My grip on the phone tightens as my breath sticks in my lungs at the thought of her hurt. “Where is she? How is she?”
“She’s lucky, and she’s at the hospital in town.”
“I’m on my way.” I start hanging up when I hear him shouting, “Tanner wait…”
“I’m still here.”
“Emma’s on shift at the hospital today. Thought you should know.”
Closing my eyes, I inhale and exhale slowly, trying to calm my racing heart. “I hear you.”
Slamming the phone down, I check that I have my cell, not that it works that well out here. Grabbing my keys, I race outside to my truck and climbing inside, I remind myself to drive with care. These roads are going to be covered in ice and snow before tomorrow comes.
It takes me an extra half hour, but I finally reach the entrance of the small hospital. I keep reminding myself that she can’t be seriously injured if she’s been brought here and not taken to one of the larger hospitals. It doesn’t do anything to calm my fear, or nerves.
My head is still spinning at the thought of Charlotte being so close. Why is she here? Is it me she planned on visiting? I can’t quash the hope in my heart, no matter how practical my head is trying to be. I don’t want to be practical right now. I just want to see the woman I’m sure I’m imagining inside those walls.
I glance at my cell as it buzzes in my back pocket and smile when I see Charlotte’s room number glaring back at me. I owe Bo. At least I can bypass reception.
Shoving through the doors, I pull my hat low on my forehead and hope like hell I don’t bump into Emma. I need to talk to her, and end this farce once and for all, but my need to see Charlotte with my own eyes is overriding everything right now.
Making my way to the stairs, I quickly run up them to the second floor, and down the corridor toward her room. I vaguely hear my name but I don’t look around as I open the door.
