Angel Falling (Falling #1)(68)

I turned and headed back toward the main area. I could see Susie waiting for me, standing stalk still in the same spot I’d left her a good fifteen minutes ago. She’d seen me kissing Aspen and I told her we were together. Still, I felt the need to open that wound up so I could stitch it up fresh and clean, let it heal without the ugly scar I’d been carrying around for a decade. No more avoiding or *footing around. Now was as good a time as any.


“Susie. Can I have a word alone with you?”

“God, Hank, I hoped you would.”

Fuck. Her breathy tone was not helping. She was going to get this mixed up into something it wasn’t.

“Let’s go to the old wagon.” I said not having to explain where I meant. She knew. I’d kissed her more times behind that wagon than I could count. I’d even f*cked her there one cold, dark night that changed everything.





Chapter 16



After about an hour of feeding every farm animal known to man, I decided it was time to get a drink and locate Hank. He’d been gone a long time. I’d expected him back within ten or fifteen minutes. I scanned every table and all the partygoers standing around mingling. No Hank. The little hairs on the back of my neck stood up, but determined to not be a sissy, I squelched the panic stirring within my untrusting brain. I looked around the space trying to find another face … she wasn’t there either.

Damn it to hell!

I had a feeling that woman would be trouble. The way she looked at Hank when he introduced us was not just admiration for his physique and handsome face. That, I was used to. No, the look on her face matched my own. A woman in love. She wanted Hank for a lot more than his physical attributes.

After searching the entire area I still couldn’t find him. Finally coming upon his brother Heath, I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around with concerned eyes. “What’s up, Pen?”

“Have you seen, Hank? I can’t find him anywhere. Is there somewhere on the property he might go to be alone? Away from the party?”

His mouth pulled together and he tapped his lip with one long index finger. “Well, back when we were kids he used to hang out by the old wagon, watch the stars.” He shrugged and cocked his head to the side. He pointed off to the right edge of the house. It was dark, but I could barely see a couple of figures, way out in the distance, about half a city block away.

“Thanks, Heath.”

“No problem. You havin’ fun, Darlin’?” Heath said “Darlin’” just like my Hank. I snorted in an unladylike manner. The man was so sweet, and a good mixture of their mother and father with his sandy blond hair and dark eyes. Hank tended to take after his father. They both had broader chests than the younger Jensen. Hank had the same chiseled muscles, and though Henry’s were a great deal softer in his old age, he took care of himself. You could tell he was a ladykiller in his younger years. Now he just looked like a handsome, distinguished cowboy who, in his words, loved his wife somethin’ fierce.

“The best. Thanks. I’m going to head on over to the wagon now, in case anyone is looking for me.”

He nodded and I walked off in the distance of the dark wooden structure. The closer I got, the more the feeling of dread seeped its way into my psyche. He’s not with her. He wouldn’t. It was possible he was looking at the stars. Maybe reminiscing about old times. That’s all.

Mumbled words and phrases could be heard from the other side of the giant wooden structure. I saw two sets of feet, one definitely female, through the spindles of the large wagon wheels. Hank’s cowboy boots were undeniable.

The hushed tones seemed to subside and sway with the wind over to my side of the wagon.

“Hank, you have to believe me. I never would have done that if I thought—”

“But you did!” I heard Hank’s angered reply. “You can’t take it back, Susie.”

“We were so young, and in love, we had so much ahead of us. I thought … I thought that you’d leave me if I didn’t,” her voice trailed off into a sob.

“I left you because of what you did!” his voice was scathing and no longer whispered. I could hear his heavy footfalls pacing in the tall grass about ten feet away from my hiding spot.

“We were good together, Hank. Don’t you remember? You and me against the world. We still can be.” Susie’s small voice got stronger. “You heard about me and JJ, we’re over. We’re divorced. He was just another big, fat mistake!”

“Jesus Christ, Susie. You want me back?” Hank’s shocked tone broke. Those words dug a knife deep into my heart. I held my breath, waiting, dreading, but needing to hear her reply.

“Oh, God, Hank. Yes! I’ve always loved you. JJ was a mistake! I should have tried harder to come after you, made you see that it was you and me. Always you and me since we were kids!” she cried. “But you left me, Hank. You left me that day and it was the worst day of my life!”

“Fuck, Susie. This couldn’t possibly have come at a worse time.” He cleared his throat and I could tell he was emotional. The woman still had a place in his heart. “I’m with—”


“You’re with her. That city girl. Hank, you can’t seriously think she’s right for you. Look at her. Oh, she’s beautiful, I’ll give her that. But does she know how to wrangle a horse, feed the cattle, cook a man like you a feast each night after a hard day’s work? Take care of the children you want so badly?”