Page 23 of Yours To Take
I take a hesitant step toward her, treating her like a scared animal that might run off at a moment’s notice.
“It sounds like your high school boyfriend was a dick, and I’m sorry they did that to you.”
Gemma blows out a breath, like all the wind in her sails left. “He really was. He strung me along. We went to a party together, and that’s when I found them together. It crushed me. It’s what made dating so hard too. It was hard to trust people after that.”
We’re left staring at each other, neither one of us knowing what to say. The wind kicks up around us. It feels good after the hike.
Hell, it’s calming me down after Gemma’s revelation. It draws me to her even more. There’s something about this woman that I can’t pinpoint that I like. Something about her confession makes it easier to trust her.
Hell, ever since I arrived here, nothing about Gemma has been what I expected. There’s no airs about her. What you see is exactly what you get. Probably why Icantrust her.
And the number of people I trust can probably be counted on one hand.
I take a few steps closer to her. Up close, freckles dot Gemma’s face. No doubt from spending so much time outdoors.
“I’m sorry I made you tell me all that.”
“It’s fine. Just not something I enjoy advertising. I feel like people think there’s something wrong with you if you’re not giving it up the first chance you get.”
I laugh, brushing a few wayward strands of hair behind her ear. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, Gemma.”
Her head tilts toward my hand. “We really should get back. When it gets cool like this, it typically means rain will follow.”
“You really don’t have to keep lying about that.” I smile down at her.
Her eyes reflect the sun. Almost like it’s inside of her and fighting to get out.
“I’m not lying.”
As if on cue, a few drops fall from the sky. Looking up, I see the sun is shining brightly over the ranch, but behind the mountains, dark clouds have moved in.
“Shit, you really weren’t.”
“Stick with me, Blake. I’ll teach you a thing or two.”
Her words settle into me as we pack up and race down the trail.
There’s something I’d like to teach her.
If only I could think of a way to get her on board.
ChapterEight
GEMMA
“You here alone tonight, Gem?” Nash, Peter’s boyfriend, asks. When he’s not busy planning his big music festival in town this summer, he helps out at the bar with Peter.
“Ivy should be here any minute.”
“Can I get you something while you wait?”
“The Clara, please.”
The Clara, the bar’s best-selling drink. Named for Peter’s high school girlfriend. They were each other’s beards. Peter is now happily with his partner, Nash, and Clara moved to Jackson with her wife. She’s treated like royalty anytime she comes to town.
“What brings you two out tonight?”
I shrug out of my jacket as The Tipsy Cocktail starts to fill up. “With her starting her new job, I haven’t seen her a lot lately.”
