Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)(116)

B-Dub: U trust me?

Me: Without question.

B-Dub: Meet me n the clearing n twenty.

I got a funny tickle in my belly.

Me: What clearing?

B-Dub: U know where. Dress warm.

Me: Boone, are you here?

No response.

Dammit.

I bundled up, grabbed my keys and ran out the door.



The wind twisted snow flurries into shimmering ribbons that danced and spun across the sky and frozen ground.

I bumped over the cattle guard, pulled into the clearing and there he was.

Boone leaned against the driver’s side door of an SUV. He wore an oversized coat and a knit cap. His booted feet were crossed at the ankle. His arms folded over his chest. He wore his everyday uniform.

Damn, I loved him in uniform.

I threw the car in park and bailed out, then I was running straight toward him.

His arms were open when I reached him. They closed around me tightly the instant our bodies connected. His cold lips landed on mine and he kissed me with the surety, passion and possession that reminded me who I was to him.

His life. His love. His everything.

Boone ended the kiss with a groan and stared into my face.

“You’re here.”

“Not because you called me and told me what the hell was going on.”

I deserved that. “Who called you?”

“No one. I called Rory. You think I might’ve been a little concerned when I hadn’t heard from you in thirty-six hours after I was gone for two weeks?”

“I needed to get some stuff figured out before I saw you.”

His eyes searched mine. “And this isn’t something I can help you with? Whatever decision you’re wrestling with?”

“Boone—”

“Sierra. We’re a unit now.”

I snorted. “Unit. Military man to the core.”

“Unless that’s what this decision is about? You dismantling our unit?”

I hated the hard set to his jaw and the fear in his eyes. “No. No,” I repeated. “I finally have the forever kind of love with you that I wanted. Which is why the thought of being away from you makes me ache, Boone. And…the decision I made? I have to undo it.”

“What decision?”

“Phyllis offered me the directorship of PCE.”

“I know. Rory told me. I wished you would’ve told me, but we’ll table that part for now. When did Phyllis offer you the directorship?”

I looked down. “Uh. A while ago.”

The rough tips of his fingers pushed my chin back up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “When?”

“The week you moved in.” When his eyes darkened, not with anger, but with hurt, I clarified, “I hadn’t decided, okay? Phyllis gave me time to think about it. Every time I thought I’d come to a decision, something happened either at DPM or personally that made me question it. For the first time in my career I was this wishy-washy version of myself and I didn’t like it.”

“That’s why you didn’t talk to me about it? You didn’t want me to see you as less than a super-confident, super-badass business woman who had all the answers all the time?”

I allowed a smile at his vision of me because it was so freakin’ awesome he saw me that way. “Partially. You were dealing with your own career issues and I didn’t want to add to your worries. Then all the stuff went down with your dad…and the timing to talk to you about it never seemed right. So I kept putting it off. I’m sorry.”

Boone stroked my jawline with his thumb. “What aren’t you telling me? Because getting paid to run PCE is a dream come true for you. You started the organization. It’s where your passion lies.”

“I know. On Monday Phyllis informed me that WEI—Women Entrepreneurs International—has offered to bring PCE into their organization as a charter club. Which is huge. The impact would be…indescribable because there isn’t a chapter in Arizona. They have worldwide reach. But as chapter director of a new charter I’m required to undergo extensive training.” I locked my watery gaze to his. “I’d be traveling not only all over the country, but all over the world. For a year.”

“A year,” he repeated.

“Yes. And I’ve been warned little of that time will be spent in my chapter city. So you’re committed to being in Phoenix for the next two years because you wanted to be with me. How can I possibly sign on for a position that will take me away from you for a year? You’d end up resenting me—”

“Never gonna happen.” He framed my face in his hands. “Never. I love you. Without conditions. And baby, always keep that in mind when making any decisions, okay?”

I nodded.

“So you already took the position.”

“Yes, it’s a verbal agreement. But—”

“But what?” Those dark eyes bored into mine. “Are you here to give your dad your notice in person? Or are you here because you know you won’t be able to hand in your resignation if he’s looking you in the eye and asking why? So that’ll enable you to go back and tell Phyllis that the CEO refused your resignation, allowing you to back out of your verbal agreement?”

My jaw would’ve dropped if he hadn’t been holding onto it. How had he known?