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“Yes,” Gus said. “It was. But don’t worry. I’m going to marry her.”
ANGUSEVANDERMCCLOUDwas an immovable object once his mind was made up. And his mind was made up.
Alaina was miserable. And he knew that she wasn’t up to the scrutiny that would come from doing this alone. And she was alone.
The dude had fucked right off, and he had no patience for that shit.
None at all.
Gus was nobody’s savior. He’d also never planned to marry and have kids, so in a weird way that made it work even better. He wasn’t losing any fantasies about the future.
He had a big house. Plenty of money.
Most of all, she could be married. She and the child wouldn’t face stigma. No one on the ranch needed to know her business.
You think saving her will make up for everything else you’ve done?
No. It wouldn’t.
But what the hell was the point of going on if he didn’t try?
“Gus...” Fia’s voice was a study in horror and Gus might have been offended...if he had the capacity to be.
He and Fia had known each other for years, and he respected the hell out of her tenacity and spirit, the way she’d taken the ranch and turned things around after her dad had left. The way she held her family together. He related to her as much as he did anyone, really.
He respected her. Her obvious desire to step in and protect her sister.
But really, she should know he might be an asshole but he had honor.
Fia looked ready to skin him alive.
“Got a problem?” he asked.
Fury emanated from her gaze. “Yes, several.”
“Just stop, Fia,” Alaina said. “Can I talk to you?” She directed that at him.
“Have at.”
“Not here.”
He shrugged and she took his arm this time, dragging him away from the fire. Not that little Alaina could drag him if he didn’t want to go.
Once they were a good distance away, she rounded on him. “Are you out of your damn mind?”
She was furious, but then Alaina always was. The girl was a powder keg and it was only a matter of time before she exploded. This, he imagined, was it.
The explosion.
She’d always been like that. A wild, fierce little creature full of so many feelings. She was determined to bend the world to her will, and she hadn’t seemed to notice the world didn’t much care what anyone wanted.
What he kept in the deepest parts of his soul, she wore for all the world to see.
It fascinated him.
It terrified him. Forher. He’d always been worried she’d be hurt, pretty much exactly like she was now.
“Why did you do that?” she asked.
