AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She was as good as married. She was planning her happily ever after with another man. Why did his chest hurt? Was it because he wanted that future to be his? Or was it walking away right now that was cutting him into pieces?
“I’m fine. Have a safe trip.” He forced a smile that matched the one she always wore for show.
“Good.” Everly stretched up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around him. “I’ll be back soon.”
Blake ignored the fire in his throat and closed his eyes. When he slid his arms around her, he tried to memorize the feeling. He wanted to write it in stone and lock it away. Her soft hair brushed against his cheek. Her small frame tucked close to him. Her grip around his neck. He wanted all of it, but he couldn’t have any of it. It was the answer to his prayers and a nightmare wrapped up in a torturous hug.
When she released him, she settled back onto her heels with a bounce that matched her smile. “I’ll text you when I get there.”
Blake rubbed the back of his neck where his skin still tingled from her touch. “Maybe text Ridge. I’ll probably work late this evening.” Texting later didn’t line up with his plan to cut ties.
“Okay. Thanks for the ride.”
Blake nodded. “You’re always welcome.”
She stepped around him, and time slowed. Each step held a slight bounce that shifted her hair just enough that the light shimmered over the gold strands. One hand gripped the strap of her purse, and the other swung back and forth at her side.
Blake watched her walk away and fought to keep his breaths even. Everly was going to marry someone else, and she would walk out of his life for good.
He scrubbed a hand over his jaw and turned away. If he’d known what was good for him, he’d have stayed in bed this morning. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t look back. Why did every muscle in his body want to turn and run the other way?
CHAPTER TWO
Everly
Everly held off as long as she could. When she reached the entrance to the security check line, she looked back. Blake stood where she’d left him, facing away from her.
What was up with him? Whatever it was, she didn’t want to leave him like that. She’d known Blake for almost a decade, and it wasn’t like him to worry. At least, it looked like he was worried. She wasn’t sure. He’d always been the calm and steady one.
“Excuse me.” A tall man pulling a small carry-on behind him stepped around Everly to get in the security check line.
Now or never. Leave or stay.
She was making a big deal over nothing. She hated it when characters in books jumped to ridiculous conclusions without knowing the facts. Blake was having an off day. She’d call and check on him tomorrow.
Everly stepped into line behind a family of four. The mother consoled a whimpering baby against her chest, while the father showed the little boy what to give the TSA attendant at the podium. The boy couldn’t have been more than six, but that small bit of independence had him eagerly awaiting his turn to hand over his paper.
Everly had been similar when she was young. The rush of moving through each section of the airport like passing checkpoints in an obstacle course still gave her a thrill. That, and the anticipation of going somewhere new.
Her older brother, Ridge, had always kept a tight grip on her hand in airports when she was younger. He was five years older and always looking out for her. Even today, he’d called before sunrise to remind her to watch her surroundings.
When she met Blake, his protectiveness rivaled her brother’s. He was only four years older than her, and, thankfully, he was less of a caveman than Ridge.
On the other side of the security checkpoint, she adjusted the strap of her backpack on her shoulder and headed straight for the cafe. They didn’t have specialty coffee drinks at the ranch, so she only got one if she was passing by Sticky Sweets on an errand in Blackwater or traveling.
She had her hot latte within minutes, and a small table near the window-wall was calling her name. Not that she’d be enjoying the view of the planes coming and going. She planned to dive into a book and not come up for air until boarding time.
Everly put the drink aside to cool, pulled the book out of her bag, and opened it to the beginning.
And she sat there, staring at “Chapter One,” unable to read the words below it.
What was wrong with her? She’d experienced writer’s block before but never reader’s block. She checked the cover.Hope for the Cowboy. Yep, this was a book she definitely wanted to read. Why wasn’t she reading?
Everly sighed and pulled her phone out of her pocket. No missed calls. No texts. No reason at all she should be thinking about calling Blake to ask him one more time if everything was really okay.
This worry over Blake was ridiculous. She’d thought about him more than her fiancé today, and that was saying something because she hadn’t seen David in weeks.
She’d just gotten up the courage to open the text app when the phone rang.
