“I love it. My parents built it when I was a teenager. My father was a retired Air Force colonel, and prior to this place, there wasn’t one I lived in longer than four years.”
“It’s a very nice house,” Tristan murmured. “Especially the kitchen.” She hadn’t seen much more of it other than that and the family room, but just those two areas were beautifully designed.
“I was out here, on the deck, late one afternoon, and I saw a black bear, over there, near the forest.” Liv pointed to the edge of the clearing. “I believed it was a sign that I was meant to be alone.” Liv paused and shook her head. “I can’t tell you how many times I almost lost Ben because of my fear. And my stubbornness.”
Tristan didn’t know what to say, so she listened.
“I was watching you. All evening you were wondering about him but were too stubborn to ask. When he came in, your eyes twinkled like Christmas lights.”
She was happy to see him, but then he took it too far. He toyed with her, and he did it in front of everyone. She hadn’t heard from him since he dropped her off at the airport. Not even a text. Did he really think he could waltz in and she’d fall into his arms like some lovesick cowgirl? She’d done that once before in her life, and vowed never to be that naive again.
“
Is it really so hard for you to give him a chance?”
“A chance at what? A chance to make a fool of me?” Tristan’s eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, honey. I don’t know who hurt you so badly that you’ve closed your heart at such a young age. But, please, listen to me. It’s time to open it again.” Liv wrapped her arms around Tristan and hugged her tight. “If there’s anything I know, it’s love is worth it.”
“Love? God, Liv. Are you kidding? He’s a cowboy, a bull rider, for God’s sake.”
“I’m confused. Do you think bull riders are incapable of loving someone?”
That wasn’t the point. Of course they were. But not her, that was a lesson she’d already learned.
“You make him want to be a better man,” said Lyric who Tristan hadn’t heard come back outside.
“Do I? Why? So I can get him a Lost Cowboy sponsorship?”
“You know better than that,” she heard Liv murmur.
“He doesn’t even need it,” she said softly.
“Why not?” Lyric asked.
“Your brother is on the fast track to championship bull riding. Between now and October, he won’t have time to think about anything else. Do you know who he trained with? Buck Bishop, that’s who. You know as well as I do that Buck would never invest that kind of time in someone he didn’t believe was world champion material.”
Besides, she had her own dreams to chase, to coin Lyric’s expression. Tomorrow’s meeting would determine how much money she’d have to produce her line. The more she had, the faster she could do it.
As much as she tried to stop them, tears fell from Tristan’s eyes.
Liv rubbed her shoulder. “What is it that’s got you so riled up. Be honest.”
“You really want to know? I’ll tell you. We had a great time at the ranch. I did some of my best work and so did he. We had amazing sex, and then we both went home, and I haven’t heard from him since.”
“I can’t speak for Liv, but that was way more than I wanted to know.”
Tristan couldn’t help but laugh. Leave it to Lyric to say something to diffuse her anger.
Liv shook her head. “Not me. I want details.”
“Ew. You’re talkin’ about my twin brother. Come on.” Lyric covered her ears. “No details, please.”
Liv put her arm around Tristan’s shoulders. “You’ve got a big day tomorrow. Let’s call it a night.”
Tristan followed Liv inside. Other than Lyric’s mother and grandmother, who were waiting for Lyric to head back to Bullet’s, everyone but Renie was gone. Liv led Tristan downstairs to the guest rooms.
“Get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.”