Garnet Flats (The Edens, #3)

by Devney Perry

“Want to tell me why you’re hiding from Foster Madden?” “Nope.”

A stab of pain pierced my heart. This wasn’t my Foster. There was no version of Foster that belonged to me. Not anymore.

The man I’d dated for one year, two months and eleven days. The man I’d loved with my whole heart. The man I’d vowed to forget.

Seven years I’d waited for this chance. Seven goddamn years and I couldn’t risk fucking it up.

She knew that Talia had always been in my heart.

The fact that Talia wasn’t married had been a miracle. My miracle.

The air rushed from my lungs. My heart beat too fast. Seeing Talia was like being hit in the chest. It had been the same last night. How many times had I wished to see her face, to stand in the same room and breathe the same air, just one more time?

“When did you buy this ring?” She held up the pouch again. “Was it hers?” “No, that was never Vivienne’s.” That ring had always been for Talia.

I took the long, familiar path to my favorite place on the ranch. Garnet Flats.

My dream had always been to build a home here. To experience the seasons through every sunrise and sunset. As I stared across the snow, my eyes flooded. That dream had included Foster once.

“No, I can’t. I won’t. I’m an intelligent woman, Foster. I’m trusting. I’m loyal. And you made me question everything about myself. You made me doubt my intuition. My heart. Myself. So no, I don’t want dinner. I don’t want to hear your explanation. I don’t want you here. Go away.”

“I’m sorry.” Foster swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry.” “It’s not enough,” I whispered. “It’s not enough to be sorry.” “You’re right.”

“I just . . . you’ve always been my Tally. It’s how I think of you. It’s what I call you in my head.”

This project was part of my penance. For Talia, I’d bear every ache and pain.

“Get out of the way.” She sidestepped again, and I followed. “Gah. Just let me go, Foster.” “I haven’t let you go in seven years. I’m not starting tonight.”

My gaze dropped to his lips. “Fuck it,” he growled, then his mouth was on mine, soft and supple and exactly like I remembered.

Foster kissed me like our lives depended on it. I kissed him with every bit of frustration and longing and heartbreak and hope I’d kept locked away.

“That kiss was not from two people who are over.”

“You don’t believe me, do you?” he asked. “I believed everything about you once. That changed when you married my best friend.”

Yeah, I knew his sister. She was the love of my goddamn life.

How could Talia not have told her family about me? We’d been together for over a year. She’d been the most important person in my life.

“Does it matter? You made sure to tell him the bad. But you didn’t bother to share the good.”

“Were you ashamed of me?” Because I’d been poor. Uneducated. Because I’d used my fists to make a living.

“What? No.”

I was losing her. I was losing her all over again. Or maybe she hadn’t been mine to begin with.

“You told me it was better than rainbows.” “I do love rainbows.” She gave me a sad smile. “This kiss with Foster wasn’t just good.” “It was better than rainbows.”

“The rainbows disappeared in the storm.” The storm of Foster and Vivienne.

“I loved you for 437 days.”

“I hate you for choosing Vivienne.” Another punch. “I hate you for not loving me the way I loved you.” Then another punch. “I hate you for being so fucking hard to forget.” A tear dripped down my cheek as I threw the next punch. My eyes flooded and Foster was blurry but I just kept on swinging. “Ashamed of you? I would have done anything for you.” “Talia, stop.”

“I was never ashamed of you,” I whispered. “Never.”

GARNET FLATS “What is that?” I pointed to the words, meeting his gaze. “Why do you have that tattoo?”

It was the only ink on his body.

“You told me once that your great-grandmother loved to ...

It had been one of many stories I’d told Foster about Quincy. About the ranch. He’d always seemed fascinated by my Montana home, saying how he couldn’t wait to see it for himself. He was here now. And my special place was inked on his skin.

“Why is it tattooed on your body?” “As a reminder.” “Of what?” He gave me a sad smile. “Of what I lost.” The tears came back. “Your dreams were my dreams, Tally. I lost them when I lost you.” He hooked a finger under my chin. “Did I lose you?” Yes. It should have been an easy answer. He’d chosen Vivienne. So why couldn’t I say it? Why couldn’t I walk away?

I wanted rainbows.

“Say my name,” he growled against my skin as he kissed down my belly to the hem of my pants. “Foster,” I breathed. “Good girl.”

“Talia.”

“Did I lose you?” “You lost the woman I was.” “And the woman you are now?”

I wished I had an answer. I didn’t. So I left him in the ring and drove home.

Unless Talia would have me. Then I’d be hers until the end of my days.

We’d always been combustible together. And fuck, it had felt good to lose myself in her body. To feel her pulse around me. To see that desire in her eyes. To hear her say my name as she detonated.

“Don’t laugh.” My grin faltered. “Why?” “Because I like it.”

A guy who was lucky to have twenty bucks in his pocket and knew he’d never be able to give you the world.” She pulled her knees into her chest. “I never needed the world.” “But I wanted to give it to you anyway.”

Talia hadn’t needed cars or a fancy house. All she’d needed was to fall asleep in my arms every night and wake up to my face every morning.

“I needed you. Not money.” “Took me losing you to figure that out.”

“I’m so fucking sorry. I made the wrong choice. If I could go back, do it all differently, I would. Please know that.”

“Well, I’ll give Foster credit for something,” Lyla said

“He’s brought you out of your emotional shell.”

“Just because I’m private doesn’t mean I have an emotional shell,” I snapped.