Monroe
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Rhett Allen. I’ve been expecting you,” I say casually, even though nothing about this feels casual.
Rhett smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Funny, I wasn’t expecting you.”
At the sound of his voice, Duke and Diesel’s ears perk up, and when they see him, they go crazy. Their tails and butts are wiggling so fast, for a second I think they might fall over. As they charge him, Rhett steps back, using one arm to keep the dogs from jumping on him—the other is in a sling—and that’s when I remember his accident.
Not that I forgot because it’s the only thing I’ve thought about since that horrible night, but the sight of him standing before me rendered me stupid there for a few seconds.
I knew it would only be a matter of time before Rhett came for his dogs. I was prepared for that. What I’m not prepared for are all the feelings that have picked this moment to come rushing back. Some good, others not so good. Against my better judgment, I’ve followed Rhett’s career over the years, but I’ve tried not to think about him outside of his bull riding. It was hard at times, especially when his face showed up in a magazine or on a commercial. But I gave his brothers and Adley strict instructions not to tell me anything about his personal life, and for the most part, they’ve honored my request.
Every once in a while, Coop would let something slip during conversation, but it was always something simple.
Rhett remodeled his kitchen.
Rhett came to town to visit Mom and Dad, but he was by himself.
Adley and I visited Rhett and went to one of his events.
I like to think it’s Coop’s way of keeping me in the loop without keeping me in the loop. There were times I wanted to beg him to tell me more, but I knew I couldn’t go there. Losing Rhett was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through—right after my dad’s stroke and my mom walking out on us. For a while, in the back of my mind, I hoped we’d find our way back to each other, but I gave up on that years ago. Rhett is lost for good to the world of professional bull riding, to his fans, to his career—and it’s mostly my fault.
“Duke. Diesel.” I call to the dogs and take a few steps forward. “Down.” They’re both overly excited, but they listen to my command.
Instead of jumping up and mauling Rhett, Duke shoves his nose into his leg—no doubt looking for a special treat—while Diesel plops down at Rhett’s feet and rolls over in hopes of a belly rub.
Rhett looks up, clearly annoyed. “They listened to you.”
“They’re good dogs. Aren’t you a good dog?” I coo at Duke when he runs back to me. I give him a good scratch behind the ear and nudge him toward Rhett, who’s giving Diesel all sorts of love and attention. Duke pushes his way into the fray, demanding some hand action, and I can’t blame either one of them. I know what it’s like to be the center of that man’s world.
It’s consuming.
And perfect.
And I’m losing my mind.
“Didn’t know you guys were in the dog-boarding business,” Rhett says, squinting up at me. He uses his right hand to shield the sun as he stands up. There are a million questions I want to ask about his injuries and recovery, but I refrain. The less I know, the better.
“We’re not.”
I pull the ponytail holder out of my hair and re-knot it on my head. Not because it was falling out but because Rhett’s gaze is intense. Too intense. And that feeling of excitement I always got in the pit of my stomach when he was near, well, it’s back.
Rhett tilts his head and smirks. It’s the same damn smile he used to give me right before he’d strip me naked and fuck me up against the wall. Only this time I’m older, wiser, and his smile doesn’t hit me in the same spots as it used to.
At least that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.
“Wipe that damn smile off your face, Allen. I didn’t do it for you.”
“Then who’d you do it for? Seems to me this was a sure-fire way to make sure you got to see me while I’m in town.”
Lord, give me strength. With a deep breath, I put my hands on my hips and pin him with a steely gaze. “I did it for Coop.”
He lifts a brow. “Is that right?”
“He was a mess after your accident, and he knew your entire family would be at the hospital. I didn’t want to cause them any more worry, so when he called, I volunteered to take the dogs.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself, sweetheart.” Rhett walks past me, his shoulder brushing mine, and I freeze on contact. It takes a solid minute to regain my composure, but when I do, I turn around and find him grabbing the dogs’ leashes, which I’d clipped to the chain-link fence.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m taking my dogs home.”
“You sure that’s a good idea, what with your arm and all?” I say, nodding toward the sling.
“Why is it that everyone seems to think they know what’s best for me? My dogs should be at home with me, not locked up in a kennel.”
I scowl. “It’s not that we know what’s best for you; it’s that we want what’s best for you. Big difference, buddy. And for the record, I would never lock your dogs up in a kennel. They’ve been staying with me. You’re welcome for that, by the way. Asshole,” I add under my breath.
“Were you doing what was best for me when you screwed Charlie Dixon?”
Once again, all the breath leaves my body. “Rhett,” I manage after a moment. “I—”
Lowering his head, he rubs a hand over his face. “Shit. I didn’t mean to say that.” He looks up at me. “I appreciate you taking care of the dogs, and you’re right, I probably shouldn’t take them back to Coop’s with me. I can barely wipe my own ass, let alone take care of these crazies.”
I can’t help it. Despite every protest, I grin. “I can’t help you with the ass wiping, but I’m more than willing to keep the dogs.”
“You sure I can’t talk you in to the ass wiping?” he asks, turning to hang the leashes back on the fence.
“Not a chance in hell.” I laugh, and it feels good. I can’t remember the last time I laughed. “I like you, but not that much.”
“You like me, huh?”
And there’s that smile again. If I didn’t know better, I’d think all the shit that happened between us doesn’t matter. Except it does, because this cowboy broke my heart, and I’m damn sure I did the same to him—the mention of Charlie Dixon proves that.
“You know what I mean.” Swallowing hard, I meet Rhett’s eyes. “I’ve always liked you; that was never the problem.”
I open the door to my truck, but Duke and Diesel hesitate to jump in. When Rhett motions for them to do so, they listen, and I shut the door.
“I should get going. I’ve got a ton of errands to run today.”
He nods, slowly backing away.
I think about Rhett sitting next to me in the truck, about being surrounded by his husky scent, and I go out on a limb. “You can come with me, if you’d like.”
He shakes his head without even thinking about it. “I’m good.”
“Okay.” I nod. “You can swing by tomorrow about this same time if you want to spend time with the dogs.”
“I have physical therapy tomorrow.”
“Right.”
“Friday?”
“Friday’s good.”
“Okay. I’ll see you Friday,” he says, pulling a set of keys out of his pocket.
The look in his eyes tells me there’s more he wants to say. I know we need to talk, about so many things, but today isn’t the day.
“Bye, Rhett.”
Before he can reply, I hop in my truck and pull away.