Ashley laughed, irritated that he could amuse her as easily as he irritated her. “I’m serious. We’ve been at odds since . . .” She swallowed hard and shrugged. “Well, you know.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I know. I pissed you off bad. You don’t forgive easily.”
“What? You never gave me a chance to talk to you again, let alone forgive you. Besides, you didn’t really need forgiving,” she added, looking down and kicking at the dirt. “I’m the one who needs forgiving.”
“I forgive you. Have we cleared the air now?”
She glared at him. “I just want us to get along. I’ll be living here a while and it’d be a lot more comfortable if we could just be . . .” —she hesitated. “Friends.”
He walked back to her, his stride long and loose, and stopped practically on top of her. She had to crane her neck up to not be looking at the middle of his chest. “Friends, huh?”
“Yes,” she all but squeaked.
His blue eyes were intense, taking in her face as if memorizing every detail. She felt herself grow hot.
He leaned so close their noses almost touched and she could feel his body heat radiating off of him. He rubbed the dark stubble on his chin. “Nope. Don’t think I want to do that.”
And just like that she was eighteen years old and stupid again.
Hank stepped back. “Let me know if you need anything though.” He pivoted and strode toward the barn as if once again he couldn’t get away from her fast enough.
Humiliation suffused her face as she watched the arrogant jerk jump over the corral fence and enter the barn. What did he do in that damn barn all the time? Avoided people would be her best guess, since he was so distant with them. Or maybe it was just her he was distant with. There was a time back when they were kids, she’d followed Ethan and Hank around like a puppy dog, and for the most part Hank hadn’t seemed to mind.
Then everything had changed.
Her spirits took a nose dive. She’d hoped Hank didn’t hate her anymore, but she’d been wrong and it stung. A lot. She would definitely ask Ethan for another room tonight.
She went into the house, fully intending to enjoy her ride this morning even if Hank had upset her. Hurrying to her room, she changed into jeans and boots, eager to gallop a horse across the pasture and forget about Hank’s dismissive and hurtful response to her pathetic attempt to repair the understandable grudge he held against her—and even more eager to outrun her fear that coming to Crystal Springs might be the second biggest mistake of her life.
COMING SOON!
I hope you enjoyed this book!
If so, please leave a review so other readers can find it easier.
Thank you!
—Mary Jane Morgan
OTHER CRYSTAL SPRINGS HOMECOMING ROMANCES BOOKS
Long Road Home
Coming Home
Home at Last (available soon)
OTHER BOOKS BY MARY JANE MORGAN
Dangerous Moves
Shelby’s Gift
www.maryjanemorganauthor.com
A Home for Haley Page 29
