Page 23 of Cruz

“Yeah, it was the backup, and now that is fucked.”

Jaxson laughed. “When it rains, it pours.” He chuckled and let out a whistle, and then continued to do so, and Cruz realized he was singing a tune.

“What the fuck is that sound?” he asked.

“I don’t know, and you shouldn’t fucking moan, because I am helping you out. So, you and Kate, you’re an item now?”

“I don’t know,” Cruz said, as he was not one to talk about his love life.

Jaxson laughed. “Okay, you want to play it that way. Just remember, I am happily married to the woman I love. Also, if you are just playing around with Kate, that means you and I are going to come to blows again.”

“You’ll leave Kate alone,” Cruz said, feeling possessive.

Jaxson sighed. “I do not love Kate, but I think of her as a sister, and I want to make sure you’re taking care of her. What are your intentions with her?”

Cruz looked over to Jaxson, and he didn’t say a word. All of a sudden, Jaxson put his foot on the brake, bringing the truck to a complete stop at the side of the road.

“What the fuck?” Cruz asked.

“I’m not kidding. Kate doesn’t have a brother or even an older sister, or a younger sibling to be looking out for her, so she has me and no one else. You’ll answer now, or I’ll take your ass back to your ranch.”

“I love her and I want to marry her. I don’t know how Kate feels about me, but I am going to do whatever it takes to make it work.” This was starting to piss him off. He didn’t like having to give reasons to anyone, especially Jaxson of all people.

Jaxson smiled. “Was that so hard?”

“Fuck off.”

Another laugh, and then they headed into town, and thankfully, Jaxson put his foot on the gas and drove toward the fabric shop. Only, it was closed as they got there, and Cruz glared toward Jaxson.

Jaxson rolled his eyes. “Fine, get it, and I will take you to where she lives.”

He didn’t want to have to owe this man anything, yet he had no choice because if he wanted to get to Kate, he needed Jaxson to get him there.

Chapter Eight

Kate looked around her home.

She used to love this place. It was a small place, with two bedrooms, a nice garden, a front yard. She had a kitchen, sitting room, and the dining room, which she rarely used. Upstairs, she had her own bedroom, and the spare bedroom she turned into a sewing room. The desire to sew was not with her today.

She had enjoyed her chicken parmesan sandwich, but she felt a little sick as she sat down on her sofa, looking toward the television she hadn’t switched on. She was not one for TV series or movies.

Taking a sip of her hot chocolate, she felt lonely. All her life, she’d enjoyed the peace and quiet, especially after moving out from her mother, who always seemed to create chaos.

Kate picked up her cell phone, and she didn’t go to her contacts, but instead, went to her social media, and found one of Tillie’s latest videos. She was giving everyone an update and showing off her honeymoon wardrobe. It was nice, the noise.

But, that loneliness was creeping in at every angle.

She missed Belle.

She missed Cruz.

She turned off her cell phone and felt her throat burn, as the tears were close to the surface. She didn’t want to cry. She was not going to cry.

When there was a sudden loud bang at her front door, she gasped, nearly spilling what remained of her hot chocolate all over her. She reached forward and put her hot chocolate on the coffee table, getting to her feet and wondering who could be calling at this time of night.

Reaching up, she looked through the peephole and was shocked to see Cruz right there. Opening the door, she didn’t even get a chance to step back, because the moment he opened it, he stepped right through.

Within seconds, she was spun against the door, her back pressed to it, and Cruz’s lips were on hers. It felt like desperation and hunger. She ran her hands up his shoulders, wrapping them around his neck and pressing her body against his. It felt so good. She had missed this.