Authors: Bridget Hollister

Tags: #Alpha Male, #Cowboy, #Short Story, #romance, #Rodeo, #Erotic Romance, #contemporary romance

Rekindling the Spark (3 page)

BOOK: Rekindling the Spark

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"Rhett, it's not like that—"

"Is using me for some late-night booty call a game to you?" Rhett snarled. "Because it sure as hell isn't a game to me."

Maggie was shocked to hear his feelings come out so abruptly. The man she knew years ago hated talking about anything even remotely close to their relationship. Now, he was ready to lay it all out on the line.

"This isn't a game, Rhett. This is life. Deal with it."

Maggie silently slipped on her bra and T-shirt, propping herself on the edge of the bed as she put on her socks and cowboy boots. She didn't have to look at him to know that he was fuming. Both of them knew what was going to happen next. There was no point in saying anything else.

Running was the only option.

"The only thing that has changed is that I didn't say good-bye back then," she told him softly, leaning across the bed to give him a soft kiss. "So, good-bye. Take care of yourself."

Without another word, Maggie stood up and walked out, too hurt to look back at Rhett as she did.

***

"Damn it!" Maggie cried, watching three bottles of premium whiskey tumble from the shelf and onto the concrete floor. "This is not what I fucking needed tonight!"

The second night of finals week at the Scarlet Saddle was just as crazy as the previous one. Not only were there twice as many people, the live band failed to show up and one of her best waitresses had quit. Combining that with having to usher Rhett out of her life once again the night before, Maggie was an absolute emotional wreck.

Nick raised an eyebrow at her, a look of surprise on his face. Grabbing her by the hand, he led her to the back room.

"Nick, let go. I've got to get that mess cleaned up—"

"No. It can wait," the bartender sighed, shutting the office door with a thud. "But, what I'm about to say cannot and is in no way part of our employee-boss relationship. Instead, consider it somewhat of a big brother talking to a little sister. Get me?"

Maggie leaned impatiently against her desk, tapping one boot on the floor and crossing her arms over her chest. Nick had worked for her dad since she was a child and they were practically like family. "Fine. Go ahead."

"You've been a goddamned bitch all night. What's going on?"

Her eyes widened. In all the years she had known Nick, she had barely even heard him swear. "That bad, huh?"

"Let's see… You've made one of the waitresses cry to the point of quitting. Yelled at a customer. And now, you've broken three bottles of hundred-dollar whiskey," he said, counting off her infractions with his fingers. "Where's the demanding but laid-back boss woman I know and love?"

She felt like crying. It was good to know that
someone
in her life knew when something was wrong. Tears started spilling down her cheeks. "Long story," she sobbed.

Nick pulled her close and gave her a brotherly hug. "Let me guess, it has to do with the guy who stayed past closing last night?"

Maggie nodded.

"Ah, the notorious Rhett Lucas is back again. I'd always wondered when he was going to show up and cause you trouble."

"How did you—" Maggie started, but was cut off. In five years, she had never once mentioned the marriage to anyone.

"I've seen CMT a time or two. I know who he is," Nick explained. "Plus, Broken Branch is kind of small. It isn't exactly a secret that you were an item with Rebecca Larson's famous big brother a few years ago. Nor, is it that you were a complete train wreck when y'all broke up."

Maggie grimaced. "Was it that obvious?"

"Not to everyone else, exactly. But, I saw how you were handling Jim being sick and made a few assumptions." He shook his head sadly. "But, that doesn't mean that you have to let things get to you now."

"Nick, I'm not sure what to do," she confessed. "I mean, things with Rhett were good. And then they weren't. And now…"

"Now you aren't exactly sure whether to let him back in your life or not, right?"

"Exactly." Maggie plopped down in her office chair and set her chin in her hands. "It's really complicated."

"Let me let you in on a little secret, honey. Sometimes complicated isn't always a bad thing." Nick gave her a wink. "I have to get back out there, but don't let this guy get to you. In the end, what's meant to happen will be."

"Since when did you get so wise?" she teased.

"The advice is free tonight. Next time, you can add it to my paycheck," he called out with a laugh as he walked back into the main bar area.

Watching her dear friend leave her office, Maggie sighed. Nick had a valid point. There was a reason why Rhett had come back into her life now. Perhaps, considering letting him back into her world wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

***

After getting little sleep the night before and a long night at the Scarlet Saddle, Maggie was exhausted. Walking into her apartment and tossing the keys on the kitchen counter, she considered curling up into bed just as she was—dusty boots still on.

Before she could get even a step away, there was a knock at her door.

Glancing through the peephole, she recognized Rhett. "We talked about this last night. Nothing has changed—" she started, answering the door.

"We need to talk. We're
going
to talk," he said with a serious tone.

Maggie sighed and stepped back from the door, giving him room to come inside the apartment. "I'm not sure what else we have to rehash, Rhett. I think I've said my piece." She shut the door and began to walk towards the sofa.

"I just want to know one thing," he said, stopping her by grabbing her elbow firmly, but not hard enough to cause pain. "Tell me why you divorced me."

Perhaps giving him a reason might actually give both of us peace
, she told herself silently.

"I saw the cover of the magazine," she admitted softly. "You and Jessa." She closed her eyes to keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks. "Between that and my dad being sick… It was just all too much."

"That's what you think happened?" Rhett let go of her arm and raked his fingers through his hair, the mix of anger and confusion evident on his face. "That's why you filed for divorce without ever giving me a valid reason?"

Maggie shrugged. "You hurt me. Do you know I cried myself to sleep every night for damn near a year? Or that, a month after her my dad's death, I came to Nashville to see your show—and ended up watching you make out with a redhead backstage," she explained, rolling her eyes. "Once a cheater, always a cheater, I suppose. I didn't want to go through life like that."

"Really, Maggie? You gave up everything we had together based on a photo from
before
we got married?" Rhett questioned, his tone laced with anger. "And then judge me moving on
after
you filed for divorce?"

"What?" she asked, stunned. "That picture wasn't taken after I came home to take care of my father?"

"Hell, no." He laced his fingers behind his head and started to pace. "Why would you think that? Jessa and I had been over for a long time before that story ran. In fact, I was planning on having someone else replace me on the tour so I could come out here. I didn't want you to be alone while you dealt with your father being ill. We were going to figure everything out
together
." He stopped and stared straight into her eyes, shaking her soul. "And then I got papers from your lawyer."

"You're serious, aren't you?" It was all becoming much clearer for Maggie. But, it still didn't change the way things had worked out. Sitting down on the edge of the couch, she felt as though her whole world had fallen off its axis. How could she have been so stupid?

Rhett kneeled down in front of her, taking her hands between his palms. "I
never
cheated on you, Maggie. Why would I? You were everything I could have ever wanted in one spitfire little package."

"Rhett… I can't…
We
can't go back to how things were…" Maggie started, pulling away from him and standing up. "I am so sorry.
So
sorry. I ruined everything for us… and…" The gravity of her decision so many years ago began to hit her and she couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Damn it, Maggie." She could sense his irritation growing by the second. "Would you please just shut up and listen for a second to what I have to say?"

Something about Rhett's tone made her pause. It was the insistence she'd wished he'd used years before when she sent him their divorce papers. If he had just come to see her then, things might have been incredibly different.

Turning to face him, he put his hands on her waist and pulled her so that their hips were square.

"Continue," Maggie replied, hesitation mounting in her voice. Although she felt like an utter fool, she was still trying to gain her composure somewhat. This whole thing was a disaster.

"I love you," he confessed. "I've always loved you. I haven't ever stopped loving you. Hell, I probably never will. There were never any other women while we were together. And frankly, there hasn't been anyone serious since." Rhett wiped away any remaining tears on her cheeks with a soft touch.

Maggie swore her heart stopped beating for a second. "Go on," she urged, realizing she was holding her breath.

"Maggie McClure, will you marry me… again?" Rhett asked softly.

"Yes," she replied. "But only on one condition."

He gave her a quizzical look as she wrapped her arms lovingly around his neck. "You promise to never let me be so stupid again."

"It's a deal."

###

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