Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)

“She’s independent and feels it’s her responsibility to make her own decision. I’d guess a lot of her attitude stems from her mom, but I won’t play pop psychologist. But the other thing is Sierra hadn’t said yes. I mean, she was wrestling whether to take the position. She’s fiercely loyal to her father.”


“Even to her own damn detriment,” I muttered.

“Exactly. But she did make a decision and say yes to the PCE position—before she knew all the travel that it entailed. So now she’s waffling. Big time. I suspect that’s why she ran to Wyoming. If she has to look her dad in the eye to turn in her resignation, then she’ll feel too guilty to leave DPM and it’ll give her an excuse to back out of the offer to run PCE.”

I briefly closed my eyes. Fuck. I wanted to talk to Sierra about this, not her damn sister. I hit the mute button. To Raj I said, “Change of plans. Take me to Sky Harbor.”

“Seriously, dude?”

“Yeah, the airport exit is coming up.”

I clicked the mute off to hear Rory say, “I’ll be blunt, Boone. This decision will affect both of you, but mostly it’ll have a lasting impact on her future. You want what’s best for her, right?”

I understood what Rory didn’t say. But what’s best for her might not be best for you.

“Always.”

“Then do the right thing.”

“Which would be what?”

“Break up with her.”

I laughed.

Which pissed Rory off. “Why is that so funny, asshole? You left her broken-hearted before when it served your purposes. I’m asking you to do it again so Sierra will take this amazing career opportunity instead of passing it up because she’d rather be home baking fucking cookies for you, beings she’s afraid if she’s not with you all the damn time you’ll leave her.” She laughed. “But you and I both know that you’re going to leave her again eventually, so I’m just asking you to do it sooner, rather than later.”

I curled my fingers into my palm, forming a fist and then slowly letting it out. “Rory. With all due respect, you and I are not going to see eye to eye on this, so I’m giving you two choices. You either listen to me and do exactly as I say, or you put Dalton on the phone.”

“Why would you need to talk to Dalton?” she demanded. “Because he’s a man and I’m far too emotional?”

“No. I’d talk to Dalton because he understands what’s at stake when you finally go after the woman who has always fucking owned you—as I believe he did with you.”

Silence.

Then Rory said, “All right, West, tell me what you need me to do.”

I released the breath I’d been holding. “If the stars align…best-case scenario is I pull into Sundance eight hours from now. Keep Sierra occupied and from meeting with Gavin until she and I can talk.”

“Done. I’ll just tell him Sierra is on a rampage because the two of you had an epic fight. He’ll avoid her at all costs.”

Of course Rory would find a way to blame this on me. But if it worked I didn’t give a damn.

“One last thing. If you fuck over my sister again? I’ll come after you. I know how to use my husband’s ax and I’ll scatter pieces of you in the forest where no one will ever find you.” She hung up.

Jesus. Sierra had some seriously violent friends.

Raj said, “What’s up?”

After I finished explaining, I said, “You probably better pull over at the next gas station so I can get out of this uniform.” We’d both been so eager to leave we’d jumped in the SUV ten minutes after shift change. We’d stopped only to fill up with gas and switch drivers.

“No way. You need the extra love wearing that uniform will give you today. I ain’t telling you to do it all the time, but this is an emergency, amirite?”

“I guess.”

He took the airport exit. “Which airline?”

“Southwest has the most frequent flights to Denver.”

At the terminal, I hauled my duffel out of the backseat. “Thanks, man. And if you could do me one more favor…”

“Talk to my Lucinda Grace about keeping this on the down low. But you don’t gotta worry ’bout Sierra hearing from her ’cause me and my woman are gonna be occupied.”

I scored the last seat to Denver on the eight-thirty a.m. flight.

Since I was in uniform, I got a wicked military discount.

At the rental car agency in Denver, I groaned at seeing the long line.

A businessman around my dad’s age, at the front of the line, motioned me over. “On your way home, son?”

“No, sir. I’m on my way to get my girl.”

He let me cut in front of him with a pat on the back and a murmured, “Good luck.”

A quick stop at REI for a winter coat and blankets and I was on the road headed home.

Not home to Wyoming; home to her. Home wasn’t a place. It was a person. And she was mine.





I’d gotten to the cabin late last night and had immediately burst into tears because Rory had fired up the wood-burning stove and stocked the refrigerator—such a thoughtful welcome home. She’d stayed for half an hour and listened to my dilemma before she’d gone back to my dad and Ree’s house where she and Dalton were staying.