Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)(7)

“Whatever you’re trying to do, Boone…stop.”

“What do you think I’m trying to do? Besides reminding you that it wasn’t all bad between us?”

His agitation that I’d interrupted him allowed me to remain cool. “I think you’re beating a dead horse.”

Boone quirked an eyebrow at me. “That’s a little folksy coming from you.”

“You want it in plain terms? Fine. I have no desire to reminisce with you.” I paused. “Ever.”

“Bull. I know you, Sierra.”

“No, you don’t. Not anymore.”

And that played perfectly into his hands. He bestowed that dazzling smile on me. “Then give me a chance to get to know you. Starting over would be best for us anyway.”

I caught sight of Marty in the open doorway. Talk about perfect timing. “Not today. My scheduled appointment is here.”

Boone banked his irritation at my brush-off and rose to his feet. After sparing Marty a quick glance, he returned that laser focus to me as I stepped around the desk.

Today I’d worn my favorite power suit: a pencil skirt the color of black cherries I’d paired with a cream-colored sleeveless shirt with a swoopy drape of fabric that allowed a hint of cleavage. My black heels were 1950s-style peep-toe pumps with white stitching and dotted with tiny cherries the same color as my skirt. I rocked this outfit and always felt a boost of confidence wearing it.

When our eyes met again, Boone didn’t hide the fact I’d wowed him.

Eat your heart out, f*cker. “See you around, West.”

His eyes narrowed. He moved in and brushed his right cheek across mine until his lips met my ear. “You aren’t shaking me off that easy.”

“I can try.”

Boone’s soft laughter burrowed into my ear and sent vibrations throughout my entire body. “Fair warning. I’m more stubborn than you. I’m that burr you can’t shake off until I get completely under your skin. I’ve got nothing but time to convince you we need to talk so we can fix this between us.” He retreated and offered Marty a “Hey” and a chin lift before he strolled away.

I found myself watching that finely muscled ass…and wondering.

When I looked up at Marty, he lifted a brow at me. “I could’ve come back if I was interrupting something.”

“You weren’t.” I snagged my suit jacket off the coat tree. “We were done.”

He held the door open as we left the reception area. “Is he a friend of yours?”

“Former friend.”

“Maybe you should tell him that.”

I started to argue, but I suspected Marty was right.





I wasn’t expecting anyone to be around when I returned to McJock Central. My McKay cousins had a sweet setup, even if they had to drive several miles to get to the ASU campus.

They’d invited me to crash on their couch until my army buddy Raj got here from Fort Hood, so I’d stopped by to pick up my stuff before my meeting at the VA.

It surprised me to see Kyler sitting at the dining room table. When Ky wasn’t in class he was at football practice, or at team meetings, or watching game tapes, or working out. Everyone claimed I was an intense guy, but I was a candidate for ADHD meds compared to Kyler McKay. Even now he exhibited impressive multitasking skills, performing biceps curls with free weights as he flipped through a textbook. He glanced up and flashed me a sheepish smile. It was really f*cking spooky how much he looked like his dad—but a super-sized version. “Hey. Didn’t think I’d see you again today.”

“Did you plan on IDing me in the morgue later?”

“Nah. I figured Sierra would just maim you—that’s more painful than a quick death.” After his methodical inspection, he said, “You don’t look worse for the wear.”

“You sure I don’t have icicles on my face?”

“Icicles in the desert? Dream on.” Kyler laughed. “But dude. You had to expect this from her.”

I ran my hand over the top of my head. “Yeah. I did. But that doesn’t mean I like it.”

“At least you’re not bleeding. So what happened?”

“I blew it. She was prickly as a damn cactus. She acted like I’d assumed we could just pick up where we left off seven years ago.”

The weight in Kyler’s left hand froze midair. “You didn’t tell her that?”

“No.” I scowled at him. “I’m not a complete idiot.”

“I didn’t think so. Did you act all ‘I’m in the army now, I’m a big, badass soldier and you will listen to me, woman.’”

“What the f*ck? No, I didn’t do that.” Did I?

“The cold shoulder doesn’t sound like Sierra.” Ky frowned. “Wait, if you were at her office…I take that back. That is exactly how she’d react. She’s got the whole Stepford thing goin’ on at work.”

That description fit. “Why?”

“Since she’s the boss’s kid, she has some whacked-out idea she has to rise above the fray. One night she got a little drunk and told me her male colleagues treat her like a bimbo who’s just collecting a paycheck from Daddy until she gets married and pregnant.”

“Jesus.”