Texas Abduction by Barb Han

Author:Barb Han
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-09-13T19:27:05+00:00

* * *

CHEYENNE STOOD THERE for a long moment without speaking, in the kitchen of the home she’d created for their family. For a split second, she thought about closing up and going inside herself again. But what good would that do?

Her marriage had already been destroyed and the child she loved more than life itself was gone. Now she’d lost her best friend. Staying quiet held little appeal.

“I don’t like to admit to being afraid...” She took in a fortifying breath before continuing. “So, if you plan to sleep upstairs tonight, I’d like you to teach me how to load the shotgun before you go.”

“I’m not going anywhere this minute. It’s just now noon, but I thought you’d be more comfortable in our...your bed. And I didn’t think you wanted me anywhere near while you slept,” he said with brutal honesty.

The truth hurt but she was also learning that staying quiet destroyed.

She walked over to the granite island and sat on one of the bar stools. She’d already forgotten how uncomfortable this chair was right up until sinking into it. She put her elbow on the island for leverage because exhaustion threatened to land her on her backside.

“Tell me what you want, Cheyenne.” He set the bags down and walked over to the vacant chair beside her.

She slid the band of her handbag onto the chair. Ozzy was curled up inside. He blinked his eyes open when the purse was no longer against her body. She reached down and ran her hand along his back to soothe him.

“I’d rather you be close to me, if that’s okay,” she said to Riggs. “The reason is stupid because there’s no safer place on earth than the ranch. I know that logically. And yet, when I think about being down here alone and you upstairs—” she flashed eyes at him “—I can hardly breathe.”

Riggs brought his hand to cover hers and the instant he made contact, more of that warmth spread through her.

“I know,” he started and then stopped like he was searching for the right words. “Relationships change. They take different forms. But I hope you know that I will always be here for you. If you ever need anything, just ask.”

She nodded. His kindness washed over her. And maybe it was the losses that were racking up or the fact that her only living relative still hadn’t made her a priority that had her thinking she wanted to be back in Riggs’s arms if only for a few moments.

“I have a question.” She couldn’t meet his gaze because suddenly she felt vulnerable. With him, and for the first time since losing her mother and her family breaking up, she didn’t feel alone.

“I told you. Ask anything,” came the quick response. His gravelly voice traveled over her and through her.

There were plenty of reasons she shouldn’t continue...

“Kiss me.”

Riggs leaned toward her and brought his hand around to cradle the back of her neck. His thumb drew circles around the sensitized skin there.

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