Page 91 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

“He told me toforget you.That you were a walking bad decision.”

“Oh, he did?Did he offer something better than me and bad decisions?”

My gaze locked on his.“I told him he could take his fantasy and shove it up his ass.No one gets to label you a bad decision who’ll use me and cheat on me.”

“He said that, did he?”

“If we ever sort ourselves out, you’d never hurt me that way.But that man in there—” I pointed to the surgery suite.“That’s exactly what he’ll do the second I become too much for him.Maybe I don’t suck him off enough times.Or maybe I don’t hold his hand at the right time in public.Or maybe I miss his call, and he assumes I’m having an affair.Maybe I have one of my panic attacks.Maybe?—”

Timothy pulled me into him hard.His lips landed on mine.He kissed me deep and thoroughly until all the anger faded.

He whispered, “I’m a walking bad decision.Always have been.But you can count on me.”

“I knew that the first time I invited you to the lake.”I stepped away from him.“I’m an equally bad decision.”I shook my head dismissively as if trying to reset the air.

“I’m the one who’s sorry.For back then.For not having my phone.For making you think I didn’t care.”His voice roughened.“That’ll never be true.”

“I believe you.”

Time seemed to slow as I lifted my hand to his cheek, feeling the tension locked in his jaw beneath my palm.“Someday there might be another moment where I’m in trouble and you can’t answer your phone.Not because you don’t want to.Just because life happens.”I swallowed, but I needed to make him understand this.“If I call Jackie or Mark or whoever, it’s not because I don’t want you there.They’re my backup.That’s all.”My thumb brushed lightly across his skin.“You’re the one I need.”

His mouth pressed into a tight line, like he was trying to hold something in that hurt too much to let loose.

“Gia, is everything okay?”

I whirled out of Timothy’s hold so fast I nearly stumbled, but before I could fully step away he caught my hand and reeled me right back against his side like letting go hadn’t even crossed his mind.

Shay stood there with red-rimmed eyes and exhaustion written all over her face from hours of crying and worrying.

“Your mare is in good hands.The surgery went well,” I said quickly.

“But you and Dr.Raynes were arguing.”

“It was personal.He and Timothy don’t exactly see eye to eye.He said something…uh…” I tilted my head, trying to decide how much damage control Hudson deserved.

“He talked shit about me because he’s jealous,” Timothy said easily, like this conversation wasn’t detonating small explosives inside my chest.His thumb stroked once across the back of my hand.“Thinks he can steal Gia from me.”

My mouth parted.Nottake her out.Nothook up with her.He said:stealfrom me.

Like I already belonged somewhere in Timothy’s world.

Heat climbed straight into my face.

Shay blinked between us before a tired grin spread over hers.“Damn right she got mad.The two of you…” She pointed between us.“Weirdly works.”

I opened my mouth to object.Or clarify.Or something.Nothing came out.Timothy still hadn’t let go of my hand.

And worse, he looked completely natural standing there holding it in front of everyone.

Shay added, “That online FundMe you set up for Atrax and got your mom to spread around already has almost sixty donations and ten thousand dollars on it.”

“Told you my mother has good friends.”Timothy winked at her.

I finally found my voice.“I’ve got to go on one more farm call to see a goat peeing stones.I’m sure you’ve got a lot to take care of.”

“I do.”But instead of stepping away immediately, he gave my hand another squeeze first.A quiet one.Possessive enough to notice.Gentle enough to undo me a little.

After I changed clothes and headed back out to the truck, I phoned Lisa Hurst.“Ma’am, it’s Gia.Timothy did something big today.Real hero stuff.”