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He lifted his phone to his ear and plugged his other one. The phone rang until it went to voicemail. She was avoiding his calls. Of course she was. What did he expect?
He might actually have to leave the rodeo to get her to talk to him.
Adam heaved a sigh and glanced at the time. The bronc riding wouldn’t start for another hour. He wouldn’t have time to leave and come back, but at this point, he was willing to forfeit. Doing so might blacklist him, but that was a risk he was willing to take.
“How could you!”
He knew that voice. The harmonious tone easily wrapped around him like the memory of his childhood blanket despite being laced with fury. Adam turned around and a wide smile spread across his face. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you.”
“Really? Because it sure looked like you were more than happy with the company you shared about twenty minutes ago.” Faye stormed toward him and poked him hard enough in his chest to force him to take a step backward. “How could you?” she repeated softer this time. He could practically taste the agony in that question. The look on her face tore him up inside.
“How could I, what?”
“Don’t play dumb, Adam. I saw her. I know you were here with Dahlia. Just…” She shook her head and her shoulders drooped. “Don’t lie to me anymore. I can’t take it.”
Without considering what he might do or say to make this better, he reached out and grasped her hands with his. “No more lies. I swear it.” He gave her another smile, then reached up to tuck a strand of hair from her face before capturing her hands once more. “I was talking to Dahlia, but I’m not here with her. She cornered me.”
Faye looked up at him, her eyes shining with what he could only assume was hope. Had she come here to hash things out? His heart flipped and he suddenly felt lighter. If Faye was here to talk, then he might have a chance after all. He’d have to tread carefully, but if he did this right, he might end up leaving with the most exciting girl this side of the Colorado River.
Adam held her hands firmly, as if doing so would prevent her from walking out of his life a second time, but he knew better than to believe he could stop her. Faye had a mind of her own, and he wasn’t going to stand in her way.
He cleared his throat.
Here goes nothing.
29
Faye
Fury, pain, and desperation whirled tumultuously within Faye as she waited for Adam to explain himself. She’d learned her lesson. She wasn’t going to fly off the handle and tell him she wasn’t interested anymore.
The truth had been proven more than once.
She wanted to be with Adam. She wanted to share her love with him and no one else.
Her fears of the unknown would have to take a backseat to that, no matter how hard that would be.
Adam released her hands and moved his own to grasp her upper arms. He rubbed them up and down. “I’m not going to lie to you. Never again, Faye. I shouldn’t have signed up without telling you.”
The wind left her sails as she stared at him. His voice and eyes had softened to resemble the man she’d fallen in love with. Gone was the moody individual who had been lost to her.
He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. “Combining two lives will never be easy. I’m positive that we won’t see eye-to-eye on everything. But we’ll have all the time in the world to do that. I just know I want to spend that time with you.”
Faye didn’t know what it was about his words that softened all the hard edges of her heart. But at this point she didn’t have to explain it. She let out a shuddering breath and forced a smile. “That’s really sweet of you, but…”
“But?” The edge returned to his voice, and even though they were surrounded by several people coming and going, it felt like they were alone together.
“But you don’t have to change who you are to be with me.”
The spot between his brows creased, and his grasp on her tightened slightly.
Faye couldn’t bring herself to maintain eye contact with him. She’d been the one in the wrong. That much was clear. She’d overreacted. She’d broken up without a thought as to why he did what he had. And worse, she manipulated him into making a promise he wouldn’t be able to keep.
Her cheeks burned with the embarrassment. “I don’t understand why you want to stay with me so much.”
“Because—”
She held up a hand and stepped back. “I need you to hear me out.”
