“Like Nick Spencer?” Maddie didn’t know exactly why she’d brought Nick’s name up, but she had and now she wanted to see Trey’s reaction. She and Nick were friends, period. But somehow she doubted Trey believed that, and a small part of her had rejoiced when she’d thought he’d been jealous of Nick.
Trey became quiet and long moments ticked by. Then he finally nodded, “Yeah, if he makes you happy.”
Maddie wanted to scream. Trey was the one who made her happy. He’s the one she’d wanted since the day she stepped foot in Hope Wells. He’s the one who had just made earth-shattering, mind-blowing, heart-stopping love to her.
She decided to lay it all on the line, to let him know the truth about Nick’s proposal. If Trey cared for her at all, she’d find out right now. “Nick’s part of a new clinic being developed in Denver, and he wants me to work alongside him there. The clinic will have all the latest state-of-the-art equipment, and we’d be on the ground floor of many new techniques in veterinary medicine. It would mean leaving my practice. It would mean saying goodbye to Hope Wells for good.”
Trey’s expression faltered for a moment, and she witnessed deep regret in his eyes. He spoke so quietly that Maddie had a hard time hearing him. “Maybe you should go.”
A sharp slap in the face couldn’t have stung more. Tonight, they’d shared something powerful, something special, something beautiful. They’d made love like their lives depended on it. And now, Trey dismissed her. Easily. Without much debate or thought. He’d simply decided what was best for her. He wouldn’t even give them a chance. He didn’t care enough to try.
The pain went deep. Tears threatened to spill, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. She turned away from him and pulled the car door open. Climbing out of the truck, her feet hit the ground making swift strides to the porch. She took the steps quickly and opened the door to the house without bothering to look back.
Once inside, away from Trey’s watchful eyes, her shoulders slumped and she let loose cries that tore from her throat. Hurrying down the hallway, she entered her bedroom and slammed the door. The jolt resounded against the walls and broke the desolate silence of the house. The big, comfy bed welcomed her, a cozy quilt and her pillow her only friends on such a lonely night. She flung herself down, grabbing her pillow to stifle her sobs.
The highs and lows of Trey’s affection tonight knifed through her so sharply she didn’t know if she would ever heal. But she had some pride left. Enough that she didn’t want Trey to walk into the house and hear her crying.
She reached for a tissue on the nightstand and dabbed her eyes, blew her nose. Her breathing steadied. A false sense of calm settled her. For now, she would be fine. For now, she would accept Trey’s decision. What choice did she have? He couldn’t have been any clearer.
He believed he had no staying power.
Maddie walked over to the window and peered out into the night. A shadow of a figure emerged through the darkness. It was Trey. He pulled a lead rope with Storm on the other end. The stallion kicked up a fuss, but Trey held firm and instead of retiring the stallion in his corral, he led him to the stables. He’d most likely stay up the rest of the night settling the horse, making sure he was calm.
Maddie had always thought Trey was so like Storm. Two wild spirits, two untamed souls who didn’t know how to trust. She’d been with both tonight, optimistically thinking the two had been ready and hoping the bond she’d developed with each had been enough. Maddie had tested the waters and had nearly drowned. And she’d come to realize one distinct difference between Storm and his master. While Storm couldn’t trust in others, Trey couldn’t trust in himself.
But Maddie saw Trey so differently than he saw himself.
He claimed he couldn’t commit, but Maddie knew better. She knew him to be a man of worth, and if she decided to leave the ranch, Hope Wells, and Trey Walker behind, she’d try to help him learn the truth about himself before she left.
She figured she didn’t have anything to lose.
Her heart was already broken.
*
Dawn forced its way through dark clouds, shedding dismal light and bringing a frosty chill to the air. Maddie showered quickly and dressed in her usual attire, jeans and a button-down blouse, then quickly headed to the barn where Storm was stabled. She had to make amends with the stallion. She’d pushed him too far last night and even though he’d responded to her more than any other person on the ranch, they still had a long way to go.
She wrapped her arms around her middle and entered the damp barn, realizing that while Trey had the means to heat the barn for the animals, he didn’t have the funds. Only extreme temperatures warranted going to that expense.
Her friend, Caroline had joked about the unpredictable weather conditions in this part of Texas, and she wasn’t too far off the mark. “If you don’t like the weather in Texas, just wait about five minutes,” she’d said.
This week had gone from warm sunny days to gusty dust storms and cold temperatures. She wondered about Denver and how well she would adjust to the climate there. In truth, she’d stayed up most of the night considering Nick’s proposal, thinking about moving and wondering if leaving Hope Wells might be best for her.
Maddie put that thought out of her head as she walked up to Storm’s stall. The horse rested on his side on a bed of wheat straw that was piled up high around the edges. With Storm’s restless nature, a good bank of bedding against the walls insured the animal’s safety. Trey always put his animals first whenever he could. It was probably the first trait that had attracted Maddie to him—his willingness to protect his livestock.
“Morning.”
Maddie whirled around and stared into the dark eyes of a rumpled Trey. His appearance, including an unshaven face and disheveled hair, reminded her that if things had turned out differently last night, she would have been waking up to that look today.
“He’s all right.” He gestured to Storm. “Took some time to get him settled, but we managed.”
Maddie nodded. “You stayed with him all night?”
“Most of it. Didn’t get much sleep.”
Trey scratched his head and then ran a hand through his hair. The attempt to straighten the unruly strands only made them stick up even more. His plaid shirt hung loosely over jeans that were smattered with dirt stains and sticky straw. Maddie wondered how a man could appear incredibly vulnerable and downright sexy all at the same time.
She ached inside, seeing him and knowing that what they shared would never be again. Maddie struggled against the pain, determined to keep her composure.
“Actually, I’m glad you’re here,” he said quietly. She wondered if he ached inside the way that she did. “I was planning on checking on you. How are you feeling this morning?”
Did he want to know her heart had broken?
“You took a fall and . . . well after, when we—”
“I’m fine, Trey.” She couldn’t bear to discuss their lovemaking from last night. She couldn’t speak to him casually about something that had meant so much to her. He’d made his feelings known, rejecting even the thought of a relationship with her. Yes, she’d been terribly hurt, but not from the fall.
Trey swallowed and looked away.
Maddie turned to leave. It seemed there wasn’t much else to say. She came to check on Storm, and the poor animal looked exhausted. Apparently it had been a tumultuous night for all three of them. She promised herself to return later to make amends with the stallion.
“Maddie?”
She turned around. “Yes?”
Trey’s gaze held her immobile. “You might not believe this, but I don’t regret last night.”
She did believe him. Didn’t he say he’d never had better sex? At least she had that to cling to on lonely nights. “Neither do I,” she replied honestly.
She walked to the barn door and then turned once again to find Trey’s dark captivating eyes on her. “You know, it was a lucky day for Storm when you brought hi
m to 2 Hope. You’ve stuck by him all along, believing in that feisty, headstrong stallion, even when others gave up on him. There aren’t too many men who would have spent half the night in a cold, dreary barn worrying over him. He does belong to you, Trey. Just like you belong to him.”
Trey’s brows rose in surprise, and his thoughtful expression left Maddie with a gladdened heart. She walked away with a smile.
Chapter Eight
Under ordinary circumstances, Maddie would have looked forward to an evening with new friends. But tonight, her heart simply wasn’t up for it. She stared in her bedroom mirror to find a woeful reflection looking back. Her bleak mood matched the gloomy rain they’d been experiencing for days now. How was she going to pull herself together enough to share a dinner with Trey and his friends Paul and Brittany tonight?
She held up the lovely, handwritten invitation and reread the beginning sentiment. The pleasure of your company is requested. Maddie had almost forgotten all about this invitation until Brittany called yesterday specifically making sure Maddie would come. She’d been caught off guard and fumbled around in her head for an excuse, but Brittany’s sweet demeanor and hopeful tone made her change her mind. She didn’t want to disappoint the woman and Maddie had to face facts. She couldn’t hide from Trey Walker. They lived in the same house.
She’d treaded carefully, trying not to purposely bump into him these past few days. That hadn’t been too difficult a task, since she’d been working long hours, taking on appointments, going out on house calls, and making referrals when her limited ability to treat the animals hadn’t been enough. After the night when she’d taken off on Storm, she’d been swamped with work. She welcomed the distraction.
Trey hadn’t been around the house much either. She’d see him on cloudy mornings ride off on his horse with Kit or some of the other ranch hands, doing what cowboys do, but she didn’t look for him at night. She’d retire to her bedroom in the evening with a good book, trying to put thoughts of him out of her head.
With a deep sigh, Maddie fingered the silver necklace around her neck. “I’ve got a big decision to make, Aphrodite.” Nick’s proposal was never far from her mind. He’d given her some much-needed time to make her decision, but she knew he couldn’t wait indefinitely. He had a time frame and Maddie wouldn’t take advantage of his good nature. She’d have to come to her decision soon.
From down the hall, she could hear the shower door open and close, and water pelting down, reminding her that Trey also readied for the dinner party tonight. And as she moved about her room, shedding her work clothes, she heard his sounds. She’d become familiar with the noises he made while getting dressed.
Maddie donned a pair of tan slacks and a soft buttercream scoop-neck sweater. She dressed her outfit up with drop pearl earrings and a matching bracelet. She debated whether to wear the pearl necklace that matched the set, but she didn’t have the heart to remove Aphrodite. If ever she needed to feel a bond, that special closeness to Grandma Mae, it was now. Okay, so she wouldn’t make the greatest fashion statement tonight, but she’d have something more important.
Maddie styled her hair, letting the stubborn waves fall where they may, and gave it a quick spray. She grabbed her purse, took one last look in the mirror, and pasted on a smile. The transition was complete. She was ready for the evening. With a yank, she opened the door and batted her eyes. Trey stood at the threshold, his hand fisted as if he were about to knock.
“Trey?” She took a step back and stared. He looked better than sin itself in dark trousers, a white dress shirt, and a thin black bolo tie decorated with a triangle of turquoise. His hair, pushed back from his face and still a little damp, exposed clean-shaven skin, high cheekbones, and unreadable dark eyes. “Are you almost ready?” he asked.
Maddie swallowed. “Uh, ready?”
He nodded. “For dinner at Paul and Brit’s?”
She’d never seen Trey in anything but jeans and a work shirt. The man cleaned up nicely. Suddenly Maddie felt underdressed for the occasion. “Yes, but I think I need to change. Maybe I should wear a dress,” she mumbled.
She made a move to shut her door. Trey put up his hand to hold the door ajar, halting her from retreating into her room. “You look beautiful, Maddie.”
“But, I—”
He offered again, more firmly, “Look. Beautiful.”
Her heart did a little flip. It wasn’t often Trey offered up a compliment. Yet, Maddie thought that he was the one who looked beautiful, and she wondered if she’d be able to keep from staring at him all night.
Maddie gave him a smile. “Thank you. I guess I’ll see you over there.” She brushed by him, catching a delectable whiff of lime and musk aftershave. The whole Trey package was hard for her to ignore. It wasn’t fair. He was definitively the most appealing man on Earth.
“I figured we’d go together.”
Maddie stopped in the hallway. “Why would you figure that?”
“Because the rain’s only going to get worse. A T-storm is brewing and the roads might get washed out. It only makes sense, we’re going to the same place, and we’ll be returning back here when it’s over.”
Maddie knew she was being unreasonable, but she didn’t want to arrive at the dinner party with Trey. She didn’t want to be drawn to him anymore than she already was. She didn’t want to sit next to him in the truck and be reminded of the night they’d made love. She couldn’t face any of those things right now. She spoke softly and directly into his eyes. “I think it’s best if we go separately, Trey.”
Trey stood firm, pursed his lips in displeasure then inhaled deeply. “If that’s what you want.”
None of this was what Maddie wanted. But Trey hadn’t given her much of an option to her wants and desires. He hadn’t given them a chance, but that wouldn’t stop her from making him see his own potential. If she could leave him with one gift, it would be to make him trust in himself again.
Even though she’d been hurt, she wasn’t angry at Trey any longer. She understood him, and where he believed he had a weakness, she saw only a loss of faith. Once his faith was restored, Trey Walker could move on with his life.
She gave him a slow nod then walked to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, she removed a frosted lemon layer cake and carefully set it onto a large plate.
Trey followed her and stood in the doorway. “What’s that?”
“I baked a lemon cake this afternoon.”
“You . . . baked?”
Maddie chuckled. “For what it’s worth, I did.”
“Lemon’s my favorite.”
Maddie glanced at Trey’s puzzled expression. She’d learned a lot about Trey Walker lately, but she hadn’t known his favorite . . . anything. “It was Brittany’s suggestion.”
“Oh.”
“She and Paul think the world of you, Trey. You’ve been a good friend to them, working at their place nonstop, and even after you hurt your hand—”
“Hell, it was a scratch, Maddie.”
“And even after that, you went back to finish the job you’d started. That new baby is going to have a wonderful nursery, thanks to you. Your friends want to show their appreciation.”
Trey found the floor real interesting then, scratching the back of his head. “They don’t have to do this.”
“They want to. I imagine there’ll be a lot of your favorites at dinner tonight.”
Trey stepped closer to stare into her eyes. He tucked a finger under her chin and cast her a heart-melting smile. “I imagine so.”
“Trey?” The blood in her veins warmed.
“You’re one of my favorites, Maddie,” he whispered and bent his head.
Maddie couldn’t allow him to kiss her. She’d fall deeper and harder than ever, and that would prove disastrous. She retreated, whispering, “Cross me off your list.”
Trey’s head popped up. He ran a hand down his jaw, staring at her lips with regret in his eyes. “I’m trying,” he said solemnly, as if caring for her
was the worst of all possible options. And sadly, Maddie knew that in his heart Trey really believed his loving her would be her downfall. “Trouble is, I’m crazy about you.”
Maddie wanted to shout the famous movie line, “Snap out of it.” But instead, she grabbed the cake plate and headed to the front door, muttering under her breath, “Maybe, we’re both just plain crazy.”
*
A little bit of hurt was far better than a whole world of hurt, Trey rationalized, as he sat on a wing chair in the Fuller parlor, sipping beer. Trey knew that he’d hurt Maddie the other night. He hadn’t meant to. He hadn’t meant to touch her, much less make love to her. But he’d come to his senses far too late and even now he didn’t regret that night. How could he, when everything had been so perfect? How could he regret the best night of his life?
He couldn’t be sorrier about rejecting Maddie, but it had been his only option because she deserved more. She deserved a fair chance in life. She deserved a man who would be there through thick or thin, a man who could weather any of life’s storms, a man with staying power.
Trey would never forget the sober, nearly desperate look on his father’s face, when he’d spoken those last bitter, haunting words. “Don’t make the same mistakes I made, son.” Trey hadn’t told a soul, but today was the anniversary of his father’s death. And today, more than ever, his father’s plea had stuck in his mind with dawning clarity.
Then he’d gone and witnessed Maddie lifting a two-layer cake from the refrigerator with pride in her eyes. He liked the idea of Maddie Brooks baking his favorite cake for him. He’d lost all sense of clarity then and tried to kiss her.
Stupid move.
She’d been right to step away. She’d been right to protect her heart. Trey had little willpower when it came to Maddie. But he wouldn’t subject her to that whole world of hurt. Hooking up with Trey Walker meant disaster to any decent woman and she was the last person he wanted to injure.
Outside, the storm raged. Thunder boomed and lightning illuminated the night’s sky, yet all seemed peaceful inside the parlor with licking flames crackling in the fireplace. Maddie sat on the sofa next to Paul and Jack. She’d been introduced to a few others as well, and everyone held a tall glass of champagne in their hands. Everyone except Trey and Jack. Walker men didn’t drink anything with bubbles.
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