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“I’m sorry.”

He didn’t reply, but slid his hand from the shifter to her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Chapter 14

“Samantha!” Sitting atop of the black horse, Chelsea, that was quickly becoming hers, Connor’s sudden yell out of her name threw off her concentration and the lasso completely missed the dummy calf.

Dammit!

Turning her head in the direction of his voice she spotted him storming through the field towards the fenced-in training area used to practice roping. Giving the horse a nudge, she greeted him at the railing. Swinging her leg over the animal she effortlessly dropped to the ground as if she’d been mounting and dismounting horses all her life rather than just a couple of weeks.

“Hey Cowboy.” She smiled, expecting a smile in return, but instead her efforts were greeted with a scowl, anger boiling in his grey eyes.

“I just got back from town.”

She tilted her head to the side, eyeing him. He was expecting some sort of answer, but she had no clue what he wanted to hear. “Congratulations.” When he didn’t break a smile, instead the anger in his expression deepened, she shrugged. “I’m not sure what you’re expecting to hear from me.”

“You got pretty cozy with some of the girls in town a few days ago, huh?”

“I guess. Gina seems nice.”

“And what did you girls talk about?”

She let out a loud puff of air, rocking back on her heels. “Girl stuff. My life in New York, modelling, how I like it here and our relationship.”

“And what exactly about our relationship?”

“God, I don’t remember exactly Connor.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Just general stuff.”

“Funny, because I wouldn’t think telling them I’m a widow of a drug addict would be normal girl talk.”

Her mouth dropped open. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about half of the town looking at me with pity, and the number of condolences I received today. Three in the grocery store and twice at the Walmart.”

“Ohmygod. Connor. I swear to you. I swear to God, I didn’t say a word. I’d never.” As she said the words she knew exactly where the information came from, the question was, should she tell him. She’d seen how he was at the barn dance, he may have killed Mark had she not intervened. What would he do if he knew it was Mark spreading the word around town?

“I didn’t tell the people here because I was trying to leave that behind in Miami. I’ve been trying to move on, Samantha. How could you? I was really thinking you’d changed, but this is the kind of thing I’d expect from the woman who arrived here on day one, not the woman I thought I’d grown to know.”

She closed her eyes and fought back tears. She’d been trying so damned hard for him, to prove she wasn’t the same girl. “I wouldn’t do that, it wasn’t me, Connor. And I have changed.”

“No? Wasn’t you?”

She shook her head. “I swear.”

“Then perhaps you should enlighten me on who it was. Do you really think I’d be stupid enough to believe you when two days after you find out about Rebecca, the news is all around town? There’s only two people in this town who know about Miami, William and you, and William has held the secret for years now, so guess who that leaves?”

“I’m not the only one…”

“Then who Samantha? Enlighten me.”

The anger in his eyes was too much. She lowered her eyes and sniffed.
I can’t tell him now, he’s so angry God knows what he’ll do.

“That’s what I thought. I don’t think I’ve ever been so disappointed in someone in my life and then to have the nerve to lie to my face about it.”

“You have to trust me.”

“I did trust you. I trusted you with information I never trust anyone with.” He huffed, turned and walked away.

Hearing his retreating steps she lifted her eyes and swiped at the tear running down her cheek. It was one thing if she’d done it, but quite another to have him hate her for something she never did.

I have to tell him the truth. I have tell him it’s Mark. Once he cools down… I’ll give him an hour or so then I’ll let him know the truth.

She spent the next hour attempting to lasso the calf, but it was useless. She was useless until she got it straightened out with him. She’d never felt so bad about something she’d never done in her life. Stabling her horse, she made her way to the house.

Just got to tell him. Calm him down and make sure he doesn’t go after Mark and do something he’d regret
. She huffed at herself,
easier said than done.

She called out to him as she entered the house and froze in her tracks as she stared down at her two suitcases at the foot of the stairs, presumably packed.

“My driver will be here in a few hours. I called my brother, told him it wasn’t working out with you here. They agreed that you can have your life back, like nothing ever happened. Your flight back’s tonight; I suggest you get ready.”

Samantha looked up to see Connor leaning against the wall, just outside the kitchen, watching her, cradling a nearly empty bottle of beer in his hands.

“No.” There was no way in hell she was going anywhere, not when she’d just found a life that made her happy.

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. I’m not going anywhere.”

“You don’t have a choice, Princess.”

She frowned and shook her head. “Are you going to force me on the plane? Throw me over your shoulder and carry me there kicking and screaming?”

“If that’s what it takes.” Neither the vacant look in his eyes n
or the coldness in his tone could dissuade her.

She stepped up to him, stopping a foot away. “I’m not going to be banished back to New York for something I didn’t do.” The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her. When she’d arrived at the farm with no other thought than getting back, and now she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

“Stop lying to me.”

Anger bubbled up within her. “I’m not lying. When you were mentally convicting me of this did you even consider asking the people where they got their information?”

He frowned; she could see him considering.

“Do you really think so damned poorly of me? I’ve done everything I could these past two weeks to prove to you I can be different, that I don’t have to be the girl who was dropped off here.” She scoffed. “I’m not fucking going anywhere.” She marched over to her suitcases and grabbed them by the handles, picking them up.

“Well, who was it then? What do you know, Sam?” She heard him push off the wall and walk toward her, but didn’t give him the courtesy of looking at him.

She ignored him. “Maybe you should ask someone where they got their information. I’ll be in my room waiting for my apology when you get back.”

In sneakers and after spending time performing hard labour, lifting the heavy suitcases and making her way up the staircase with both was an effortless task. As she reached the landing, Connor’s footsteps began to ascend the staircase.

“We need to talk, Sam.”

She reached her room door and spun around to face him. “Unless the conversation starts with you saying you’re sorry then we have nothing to discuss.” Turning back to her room she wheeled her suitcases back into the room and was about to slam the door shut when his booted foot stepped forward, keeping the door ajar. He gave the door a push and she stumbled backward. With lightning speed, Connor rushed forward and slipped an arm around her waist, steadying her and pulling her against his broad chest.

“If there’s something you know, please just tell me, Sam.” His expression softened and the hurt she’d seen in his eyes when he’d talked about Rebecca re-emerged. “Today was hard, I’m not used to answering questions about her, Sam. It hurts.”

Samantha placed a hand on either side of his face and her anger instantly dissolved. “It hurts you don’t trust me. I’ve tried so hard to embrace this life and be with you. I’d never betray you like that.” She leaned in and kissed him softly. “I’m not sure how beneficial it would be to tell you who’s causing the problems. I really don’t.”

“I deserve to know, and know why they’re doing this.”

“Promise me you won’t go running out of here to confront the person. What’s done is done.”

His jaw clenched, as he battled with the idea of promising her such a thing.

“If you don’t promise me, I can’t tell you.”

He closed his eyes and lowered his forehead to hers. He was silent a minute before taking a deep breath in and slowly releasing it. He nodded. “Fine. I promise.”

“Mark and Jeff have a cousin living in Miami who knew her or something like that. He was drunk, I didn’t get details.” There was no way in hell she was going to tell him everything that came out of Mark’s mouth. He knew what he needed, there was no point in adding salt to the wound. “You humiliated him Saturday night, and I assume he was getting back at you.”

His body tensed against her, so she clung tighter to him. “You promised,” she whispered.

“I know and I’ll make good on my promise, sweetie. I won’t do anything.” He pulled back to look into her eyes. “I am sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She pulled out of his arms and frowned down at the suitcases. “Now I have to unpack.” She looked back at him and jabbed him in the chest. “And I want that flight cancelled, I’m not going anywhere.”

A grin spread across his lips and he grabbed the suitcases. “These needed to be moved anyhow.” Turning he carried them out of the room, Samantha trailing behind, a smile spreading across her lips when she realized he was relocating her officially to his room.

“Is this our version of you asking me to move in with you?”

Laughing he set the cases on the bed, turned and gave her a wink. “I suppose it is.”

“Aren’t you being a little presumptuous, Cowboy?”

“Oh, I see.” He walked over to her and pulled her into his strong embrace. “All right, I’ll play along. Samantha Wilkes, will you move into my room with me?”

She pretended to consider it and he good-naturedly groaned out his frustration. “Connor Hudson, I accept your invitation.”

Chapter 15

~ 2 Months Later ~

“I think she’s better than you, Boss,” Jacob commented from his perch on the top railing of the fence surrounding the training area.

Connor cocked a brow at the young man, attempting to keep the grin from his face, but failing miserably. Redirecting his attention to Samantha he watched as she roped the running calf on the first try, making it look effortless – like she’d been doing it for years rather than only a couple of months.

“You should take her to Dallas for that roping competition next month. Bet she’d win.”

Connor watched her a while longer and had to admit, it wasn’t a half bad idea. “Don’t know if she’d want to.”

“You kidding! ‘’Course she would.”

“It would be nice to get her out of town for a few days,” he murmured, more to himself than to Jacob. They’d fallen into a routine of an old married couple, just with incredible sex. A part of him was scared she’d eventually get bored, regardless of how many times she stated how much she loved her life there.

“Yeah. Totally.”

“We could make a nice romantic week of it.”

Jacob rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Aren’t you glad I let you have her?”

“What?” Connor pulled his eyes from Sam to look over at Jacob.

“You know. When she first got here, I had a shot with her but I let you have her instead.”

Connor threw his head back and roared with laughter. When he was done laughing he had to wipe a tear from his eye as he looked over at the young man, giving the brim of his hat a tap. “Thank you for that Jacob.”

“Welcome.”

The sound of a galloping horse drew his attention back to Samantha as she approached. The wind caught her hair, sending it flying wildly behind her head. She stopped the horse a few feet away from them, and before Connor could even give a greeting the lasso was flying through the air, effortlessly slipping over his head and tightening around his torso. She dismounted and gave the rope a tug, pulling him forward.

“You know, you could have just asked me to come over.”

She grinned, giving him a wink. “What would be the fun in that?”

“You realize roping someone is dangerous.”

Dropping the rope she slipped her arms up his chest and laced her fingers behind his neck, stretching up against him. “What’s life without a little danger?” Her smile turned cocky. “Besides, I’m the best around.”

“Ohh, now that’s a bold statement, Princess.”

“Just speaking the truth.”

“Tell her about the competition, Boss,” Jacob chimed in from behind them.

She crinkled her nose up at him. “What competition?”

“In Dallas, next month. It’s a calf-roping competition.”

A gleam of excitement appeared in her eyes. “You think I’m good enough?”

“Yeah, I do. I honestly do.”

She bounced with excitement in his arms, placing a series of kisses on his neck and jaw. “Oh please. Can we? Please!”

He loved seeing her excitement. Whenever he was in a bad mood, just seeing her happy would immediately lift him back up. She was becoming the light in his world and stirring emotions within him unlike anyone before her. He never thought he’d feel like this again, but he was, and it felt so good after years of having his emotions blocked off from everyone and everything. “I’ll set it up.”

“Yes!” She reached up and her lips touched his. While the kiss began tender and playful, as her soft body pressed tight against him he quickly lost himself in the taste of strawberries on her lips and deepened the kiss. His dick jerked alive and had it not been for Jacob behind them he’d have seriously considered moving them to the stable for another romp in the hay.

“Ugh! Get a room you two!”

She giggled against his lips at the sound of Jacob’s voice, but refused to break the kiss.

“Hey, you two, I think there’s a limo coming up the drive.” Her body froze against his and her eyes opened to meet his gaze, pulling out of the kiss, but not yet moving out of his embrace.

Connor groaned. “I think you can do better than that, Jacob.” He looked over his shoulder as Samantha looked around him. They both stared at the driveway and sure enough a black stretch limo was slowly making its way down the dirt road.