Love & Hate (Book One: Hate) (6 page)

We get into Seattle right at rush hour, which means we are going to be stuck for a while. I am just hoping it isn’t hours. After a while my cell phone rings. It is Lacey.

“
Hey Chica, when will you be home?”

“
Oh I don’t know we are stuck in Seattle traffic right now.”

“
How is the drive going with Mr. Hottie McDaniels.”
Holy crap I hope he can’t hear her, she was practically yelling through the phone. I knew I shouldn’t have texted her and told her I was riding home with Cutter.

“
Fine” is all I say.

“
Well hurry the hell up because we are going to the field party tonight and I’m waiting on you.”

“
I don’t really feel up to it Lacey. I’ve been on the road all day and camping before that.” I am trying my best to get out of this.

“
Nope, you’re going. End of story. I will wait for you to shower and get ready.”

“
Fine but you owe me big time for this.”
I am such a sucker.

“
Oh and Paige, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do with your hot driver.” She yells through the phone. I’m sure Cutter heard that. I think half the people in traffic heard that.
Damn Lacey, she can be so embarrassing sometimes.

I sneak a glance over at Cutter to see if he was paying attention, praying he wasn’t. Much to my dismay he has his signature wicked grin on his face but he just keeps looking forward at traffic.
Yup, he totally heard all of that. Lacey is dead meat!

It is around seven at night when Cutter pulls into the long driveway the leads to my parent’s farm. He parks in the driveway and jumps out to help me with my bags.

“
Thank you so much for the ride Cutter.” I say to him.

“
You’re welcome” He doesn’t even pause to look at me. He jumps back into the truck and takes off. I watch as he drives down the driveway thinking about what a strange situation this has all become.
Maybe Cutter and I just had a mini breakthrough.

CHAPTER 6

Lacey and I pull up to the field party and as usual it is packed. A giant bonfire is of course going in the middle of this field. There in clusters of people sitting in the beds of their trucks listening to music. As we walk up to the party I spot Cutter directly across from us talking to a group of girls. I don’t know what possessed me to do it, probably sheer stupidity. The second I see him I lift my hand up and wave like a crazy person. He does not reciprocate; in fact he just ignores me. Wow, how awkward. Luckily Lacey didn’t notice my craziness and just continued to walk next to me.

“
There’s my girl! Gosh I have missed you!” Out of nowhere two strong hands lift me off the ground and spin me around. I know it is Jasper.
Doesn’t he remember we are broken up? Why was he acting like this?

Before I can tell him to put me down his lips are on mine. The second it happens I hear a loud crash from a beer bottle being thrown into the fire. I look over where Cutter is standing just in time to catch him stalking away through the crowd.
Now what is his problem?

Jasper sets me down and I push back from him giving him a look of disappointment.

“
I’m sorry, I was just happy to see you.” He says to me.

“
I know Jasp but we aren’t together anymore. You don’t get to just kiss me like that.” I look at the ground not wanting to see the hurt I know I am causing him.

“
Is there someone else already?”

“
No, there’s not. But that’s not the point. We aren’t together, okay? You are a dear friend to me but you can’t just man handle me that way.” I say looking up at him.

“
Okay, okay I get it. I’m sorry.” He pulls me into a bear hug.

Lacey and I stay at the party until it starts to thin out. I actually had a pretty good time minus the awkwardness with Jasper. I never did see Cutter again after he stormed off, which I’m kind of thankful for.

Lacey and I walk to my Range Rover and I start to get in when a hand grabs me out of the darkness. I know exactly who it belongs to the instant I feel their touch. It sends a jolt of electricity all the way through my body. There is only one person that has ever had that effect on me, Cutter.

“
Paige?” He comes to stand next to me. He lightly pushes me against the side of the car and one of his big arms rests on the other side of my head against the car.
Oh shit!

“
Yes.” I say breathlessly.

He pauses for a moment like he is fighting with himself. Then I see something change in his eyes. He takes a deep breath. “Remember don’t be late on Sunday. I
will
leave without you.” With that, he turns and walks off.

“
Holy shit what was that all about?” I hear Lacey ask wide eyed from the other side of the vehicle.

“
I have no idea.” I tell her honestly as I start the car.

“
Shit, I thought he was going to eat you or something. That was hot!”

“
Lace, I don’t think it is anything like that. I think he hates me and is just trying to be nice but it’s hard for him.”

“
Oh it’s hard alright.” She says making us both bust out in a fit of laughter.

“
So what do you think of him?” My Dad asks me as I walk around on a magnificent two year old Paint horse named Dexter. He is a dark liver chestnut with minimal white markings except for four high white socks and a couple of cute belly spots. His face has a perfect blaze and he has the longest forelock I have ever seen.

“
I really like him. I think once he grows into himself he will be really sharp.” I tell him excitedly.

“
When Titus saw him, he said we had to have him. So he brought him home from the show in Utah.”

“
Well I’m glad he did. I think he is breathtaking!”

“
Good, because I plan for him to be your new all-around horse.”

“
Are you serious Dad? He looks like he will be an amazing money earner. Are you sure you don’t want to just keep him as an investment?” On the farm we keep most horses as just straight investments. They are typically young horses. We buy them as babies, train them up and then sell them for a profit. It is crazy that Dad is thinking of giving this one to me. He will make more money if he sells him young.

“
Nope, Titus and I picked him especially for you.”

“
Thank you so much Dad! I don’t know what to say this is an amazing gift. I love him!”

“
You’re welcome sweetheart. Now maybe you can get that world championship you have been chasing all these years.” I have won four National titles with The Biz but I have yet to win a world title. Dexter may just be the horse to get me there. It will take years of hard work for both of us to become ready, but he has the look and the raw talent. “Well you better get in the house and get ready to go. When is that Daniels boy going to be here to pick you up?”

“
Oh shoot yeah I need to hurry. Cutter will be here in an hour.” I say panicking a bit.

“
You run along and I’ll have Dex put away for you.” He tells me as I climb down from my new horse and hand my Dad the reins.

“
Thanks Dad!” I yell back over my shoulder as I hustle out of the barn.
I better not be late or Mr. Moody Pants will leave my ass.

I am packed and waiting on the front porch when Cutter’s black truck pulls into the driveway. I had begged my parents to stay in the house for this because it was hard enough to deal with Cutter on my own, let alone introduce him to my nosey parents. They reluctantly agreed but I am sure my Mother is staring out the kitchen window watching us.

I start walking toward the truck as it comes to a stop in front of the house. Cutter gets out and grabs my bags and tosses them in the back.

“
Are you good to go?” He asks as he walks with my stuff.

“
Yup, all ready.” I say as I jump in the passenger side. As soon as Cutter gets in he turns on the radio and doesn’t say another word.

I can feel him thinking from across the truck. He occasionally sings along to country songs when it suits him but other than that, he says nothing. Currently he is humming along to Luke Bryan’s
I Don’t Want This Night To End
. I watch him in total awe. Cutter isn’t just good looking he is totally freaking handsome. He has an edginess about him that is incredibly appealing. Just holding the steering wheel I can see all the muscles flexing in his forearms. I bet he looks like a total Adonis naked.
Whoa, get it together Paige and stop ogling him!