Page 92 of Don't Burn Bridges
He believed her. That was the cruelest part. Not because she'd convinced him, but because despite everything that had happened, some stubborn part of his heart still recognized the honesty in her eyes.
“I love you.”
The whispered words landed with enough force to steal the breath from his lungs.
God, he'd wanted to hear her say that.
Just... not like this.
Everything in him wanted to close the distance between them, to wrap his arms around her, and tell her he'd been in love with her for days. Hell, maybe since the moment he met her. Instead, he forced himself to stay where he was. “You shouldn't.”
Her face crumpled.
He shook his head. “I can't do this. I can’t believe anything you say.”
“Seth—”
“I can't.” He swallowed against the tightness in his throat. “Because you made me question everything between us. I don't know how to come back from that.”
The tears she'd been holding back finally spilled over.
Seeing them broke something inside him. But not enough to silence the doubt that had taken root the moment he’d heard she was Shane’s sister.
“I think you should go.”
She didn't move right away. She stood there staring at him as though waiting for him to change his mind, and God help him, part of him almost did.
He couldn't.
Not until he knew how to trust his own heart again.
A sob caught in her throat before she turned toward the barn door. She paused for only a heartbeat, as though hoping he'd stop her, then walked away.
He watched her go, every step feeling like another crack splitting something inside him. Her shoulders rounded beneath the weight of disappointment, and even after she disappeared from view, he could still hear the faint sound of her sniffles drifting back through the open doorway.
His feet wanted to follow her, but his mind overruled them.
He remained where he was until the sound of her footsteps faded completely. Long after she'd gone, he stared at the empty doorway, wishing he'd had the courage to run after her.
Instead, all he could do was stand there and wonder if he'd just watched the best thing that had ever happened to him walk out of his life.
Chapter 32
Sleep never really came.
Shylo had dozed for a few minutes here and there, but every time she closed her eyes, she saw Seth standing in the barn, his body tense. She still heard the hurt in his voice and felt the hollow ache left behind after he'd asked her to leave.
By the time dawn crept through the guest room curtains, she'd given up trying to sleep.
After showering and dressing, she put her damp hair up into a ponytail, then made her way downstairs, following the scent of bacon and fresh coffee into the kitchen.
The long dining table was already filling with people. Shane sat at one end, a coffee mug in hand, while Tucker spoke with a few ranch hands who’d already dug into their breakfast. Paige was buttering a piece of toast, Ashley beside her in a highchair, while Mya deposited a bowl of sausage gravy and a basket of fresh biscuits on the table.
Shylo hesitated in the doorway.
"Morning," Shane said when he spotted her, a genuine smile crossing his face. "Grab a plate. There’s plenty, and it’s delicious."
She returned the smile as best she could and slipped into an empty chair.
