Taming the Heart (Crimson Ridge #3)

by Elliott Rose

“I don’t want to lose her.” It’s a gut punch to say out loud. The kind that hurts real good, because as I say those words—as I breathe life into them—it’s like admitting that she’s already lost to me. Storm stretches his legs out in front of his seat as the music drifts our way on the night air, interspersed with the chirp of insects. “So, how you gonna keep her?” he says finally. “Sage isn’t the type of creature who likes to be kept.” “Don’t sell yourself too short. You’re a catch. Fuck-off money, a big ol’ ranch… I mean, it’s a pity about your face. I suppose I can’t blame her for not wanting to stick around and look at that disgrace on your lip every day, but…” He holds his stomach with a grunt of laughter when I smack him playfully in the ribs. “I gotta deal with Mandy’s crap first. I gotta get my side of the street cleaned up. How can I expect her to put up with the mess I’ve made? I’d never do that to her… but the selfish part of me doesn’t want to let her out of my sight either.” “Have you told her any of this shit?” “I’ve tried, but it’s too hard with that sniffing around.” I shake my head before jerking my chin in the direction of the wife I’m counting down the days to be long rid of. “I asked if she’d at least give me a few days, enough time to send Mandy packing back to whatever hole she crawled out of, and then we’d be able to talk properly.”