Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)(115)

Jesus. Sierra had some seriously violent friends.

Raj said, “What’s up?”

After I finished explaining, I said, “You probably better pull over at the next gas station so I can get out of this uniform.” We’d both been so eager to leave we’d jumped in the SUV ten minutes after shift change. We’d stopped only to fill up with gas and switch drivers.

“No way. You need the extra love wearing that uniform will give you today. I ain’t telling you to do it all the time, but this is an emergency, amirite?”

“I guess.”

He took the airport exit. “Which airline?”

“Southwest has the most frequent flights to Denver.”

At the terminal, I hauled my duffel out of the backseat. “Thanks, man. And if you could do me one more favor…”

“Talk to my Lucinda Grace about keeping this on the down low. But you don’t gotta worry ’bout Sierra hearing from her ’cause me and my woman are gonna be occupied.”

I scored the last seat to Denver on the eight-thirty a.m. flight.

Since I was in uniform, I got a wicked military discount.

At the rental car agency in Denver, I groaned at seeing the long line.

A businessman around my dad’s age, at the front of the line, motioned me over. “On your way home, son?”

“No, sir. I’m on my way to get my girl.”

He let me cut in front of him with a pat on the back and a murmured, “Good luck.”

A quick stop at REI for a winter coat and blankets and I was on the road headed home.

Not home to Wyoming; home to her. Home wasn’t a place. It was a person. And she was mine.





I’d gotten to the cabin late last night and had immediately burst into tears because Rory had fired up the wood-burning stove and stocked the refrigerator—such a thoughtful welcome home. She’d stayed for half an hour and listened to my dilemma before she’d gone back to my dad and Ree’s house where she and Dalton were staying.

I’d been so physically and emotionally exhausted I just crawled into bed.

After a quick shower this morning, I made breakfast and checked my messages—eight missed calls from Boone. Four voice messages. He deserved at least a quick reassurance that I was all right. But how did I tell him I’d grabbed a last-minute flight to Denver to talk to my dad about the PCE/WEI job offer? When I hadn’t mentioned anything about those offers to him?

So I did nothing.

I called my dad and let him know I had a few important things to discuss with him. But his reaction? Bizarre to say the least. Acting totally put out that I’d shown up in Sundance without warning. Then he’d informed me that he and Ree had plans they couldn’t change and they’d be gone until early evening.

That sucked. I’d have to sit around and stew all damn day. I could’ve done that in Phoenix.

So then I thought, no biggie, Rory and I can catch up. But she had plans with Dalton’s family and she hadn’t invited me, assuming I’d be bored spending the day talking about cows and babies.

I wasn’t keen on heading into Sundance. Guaranteed I’d run into some of my other relatives—oh, like Kyler’s parents—and I’d have to keep a straight face about how far Ky had come in his studies with his tutors. Or any of Kyler’s or Anton’s siblings who wanted to know every single detail of their big brothers’ lives at college. Or Hayden’s mom, who always asked if her shy boy had come out of his shell, to which I could truthfully answer he still spent a lot of time in his bedroom—just not alone.

I prowled around the cabin, the urge to bake overwhelming me. The cupboards were devoid of any baking ingredients and that would require a trip to town. Then the perfect solution occurred to me. I picked up my phone and dialed.

She answered right away. “Sierra! How lovely to hear from you!”

“Hi Grams. Guess what? I’m at the cabin.”

“You are? Well, this really is my lucky day.”

“Are you busy?”

“For you? Never. What’s up, sweetie? Is everything okay?”

No. “I’m just here doing some thinking. And I wondered…did you ever figure out that Almond Joy cheesecake recipe?”

“As a matter of fact…I did. Shall we test it out?”

“I’d love that.”

“Be over with the stuff in a jif. And sweetheart, you know your grandpa is gonna tag along.”

I smiled. “He’s always welcome too.” I missed seeing my grandparents. They tried to get to Arizona at least once a year to see me but it wasn’t the same as Grams popping over and baking a cheesecake with me.

For the next three hours I forgot about everything—mostly—as I caught up on McKay gossip and laughed with Grandma Vi and Grandpa Charlie. The cabin smelled great, my belly was full and my grandpa had even loaded up the woodbox.

Immediately after they left my feeling of contentment vanished.

I missed Boone.

I wasn’t being fair to him by ignoring his phone calls. He was back in Phoenix by now, probably pissed that I was ditching him, and I didn’t blame him.

My phone dinged with a text message.

My heart jumped when I saw it was from Boone.

B-Dub: I luv u. U know that, right?

Me: Yes. I love you too.