Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(18)

“Yeah. I thought you might like to see Wyoming. I also hoped we could make up for some lost time. I’ve waited a long time, Haley… I’ve been looking forward to seeing you again.”

She swallowed hard. What could she say to that? She’d been so busy that Reid had hardly entered her thoughts. She hadn’t heard from him in months and had thought herself long over her infatuation until she’d heard his voice again. The timbre alone awakened something she’d nearly forgotten.

“I met your grandparents,” he continued. “I like them… I think they liked me, too.”

“They would,” she replied dryly. “Gramps and I aren’t exactly politically aligned.”

Reid chuckled. “No wonder he and I hit it off. Personal politics aside, it’s clear that they love you very much. They miss you too.”

His words made her heart ache for home. “I love and miss them too.”

“But you’re not coming home for the holidays?”

“No. I can’t. What I’m doing here is too important.” She saw no point in divulging more to someone who had at least one foot in the enemy camp.

A brief silence followed. “I thought you’d set your sights on vet school. Seems you’ve veered pretty far from that plan.”

“Maybe not as far as you think,” she said. “I’m still helping animals, just wild ones now instead of pets.”

“How is it going?” he asked. “Do you like it there?”

“Well enough, I suppose, but not enough to stay permanently, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“So you plan to come back?”

“Eventually, yes.”

“I want to see you.”

“But why?” she asked.

“Do I need a reason? I just do. Why did you reply to my emails?”

“I don’t know.” She twirled a lock of hair. “It just seemed rude to ignore them under the circumstances.”

“It’s more than that,” he insisted.

“Look, Reid. I’m truly glad that you’re home safe, but there’s no point in us seeing each other.”

“Why not?”

“It doesn’t make any sense when you’ll just be leaving again.”

“But not for another six months. Why can’t we just see where it goes in the meantime?”

“Because this is crazy. We hardly know each other. We met only once almost two years ago.”

“Nineteen months,” he corrected. “But who’s counting?”

“That’s my point,” she argued. “And we’ve not seen each other since.”

“That’s what I want to rectify. I want us to get to know each other. We need some time together just to talk. Come to Wyoming and spend Christmas with me.”

“I can’t, Reid. Even if I wanted to. I have a job here and responsibilities. They’re all counting on me. But even if I could, this thing between us can’t go anywhere. I’m too busy to get involved with anyone at this point in my life. I have plans that are going to require all my time and energy.”

“I can respect that,” he said. “My job is a big strain on my resources too.”

“Yes,” she said. “I imagine it is.”

“But you still shouldn’t be alone for Christmas, Haley. We have plenty of wolves out here too. I’ll even drive you out to Yellowstone to see them. Say the word and I’ll buy your ticket.”

For a few crazy seconds she actually considered it, but then reason returned. “No, Reid. I can’t.”

“It’s your boss, right? That professor guy? He won’t let you leave?”

“It’s not that, exactly.”

“Is he there with you?”

“No,” she replied. “He went back to California.”

“And left you alone in Alaska?”

“He had important business to take care of.”

“Are you involved with him?”

“That’s none of your business,” she snapped.

Although shared politics and common values had originally brought them together, Jeffrey had recently hinted about taking their relationship in a more personal direction. She’d thought about it a lot lately.

“That’s answer enough,” Reid said. “He’s not the one for you. He’s a jackass.”

“How the hell would you know that? You’ve never even met him.”

“He left you there alone. That says everything. He’s not right for you. When do you come home?” he asked.

“I don’t know for certain. It’ll still be a couple of months yet. Probably early April,” she answered his question without knowing why.

“Good. I’ll still be around.” She could almost hear the smile in his voice. “I’ll be waiting for you, Haley Cooper.”

“Good-bye, Reid.” Haley ended the call feeling dazed and confused.

His doggedness was flattering. No one had ever shown that kind of interest in her before, but she resented how his words had roused her own feelings of self-pity and loneliness. She also hated that he made her feel unsure of Jeffrey, a man who’d offered nothing but encouragement and support. Reid, on the other hand, made her question almost everything she believed in.