Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)

I’d been so physically and emotionally exhausted I just crawled into bed.

After a quick shower this morning, I made breakfast and checked my messages—eight missed calls from Boone. Four voice messages. He deserved at least a quick reassurance that I was all right. But how did I tell him I’d grabbed a last-minute flight to Denver to talk to my dad about the PCE/WEI job offer? When I hadn’t mentioned anything about those offers to him?

So I did nothing.

I called my dad and let him know I had a few important things to discuss with him. But his reaction? Bizarre to say the least. Acting totally put out that I’d shown up in Sundance without warning. Then he’d informed me that he and Ree had plans they couldn’t change and they’d be gone until early evening.

That sucked. I’d have to sit around and stew all damn day. I could’ve done that in Phoenix.

So then I thought, no biggie, Rory and I can catch up. But she had plans with Dalton’s family and she hadn’t invited me, assuming I’d be bored spending the day talking about cows and babies.

I wasn’t keen on heading into Sundance. Guaranteed I’d run into some of my other relatives—oh, like Kyler’s parents—and I’d have to keep a straight face about how far Ky had come in his studies with his tutors. Or any of Kyler’s or Anton’s siblings who wanted to know every single detail of their big brothers’ lives at college. Or Hayden’s mom, who always asked if her shy boy had come out of his shell, to which I could truthfully answer he still spent a lot of time in his bedroom—just not alone.

I prowled around the cabin, the urge to bake overwhelming me. The cupboards were devoid of any baking ingredients and that would require a trip to town. Then the perfect solution occurred to me. I picked up my phone and dialed.

She answered right away. “Sierra! How lovely to hear from you!”

“Hi Grams. Guess what? I’m at the cabin.”

“You are? Well, this really is my lucky day.”

“Are you busy?”

“For you? Never. What’s up, sweetie? Is everything okay?”

No. “I’m just here doing some thinking. And I wondered…did you ever figure out that Almond Joy cheesecake recipe?”

“As a matter of fact…I did. Shall we test it out?”

“I’d love that.”

“Be over with the stuff in a jif. And sweetheart, you know your grandpa is gonna tag along.”

I smiled. “He’s always welcome too.” I missed seeing my grandparents. They tried to get to Arizona at least once a year to see me but it wasn’t the same as Grams popping over and baking a cheesecake with me.

For the next three hours I forgot about everything—mostly—as I caught up on McKay gossip and laughed with Grandma Vi and Grandpa Charlie. The cabin smelled great, my belly was full and my grandpa had even loaded up the woodbox.

Immediately after they left my feeling of contentment vanished.

I missed Boone.

I wasn’t being fair to him by ignoring his phone calls. He was back in Phoenix by now, probably pissed that I was ditching him, and I didn’t blame him.

My phone dinged with a text message.

My heart jumped when I saw it was from Boone.

B-Dub: I luv u. U know that, right?

Me: Yes. I love you too.

B-Dub: U trust me?

Me: Without question.

B-Dub: Meet me n the clearing n twenty.

I got a funny tickle in my belly.

Me: What clearing?

B-Dub: U know where. Dress warm.

Me: Boone, are you here?

No response.

Dammit.

I bundled up, grabbed my keys and ran out the door.



The wind twisted snow flurries into shimmering ribbons that danced and spun across the sky and frozen ground.

I bumped over the cattle guard, pulled into the clearing and there he was.

Boone leaned against the driver’s side door of an SUV. He wore an oversized coat and a knit cap. His booted feet were crossed at the ankle. His arms folded over his chest. He wore his everyday uniform.

Damn, I loved him in uniform.

I threw the car in park and bailed out, then I was running straight toward him.

His arms were open when I reached him. They closed around me tightly the instant our bodies connected. His cold lips landed on mine and he kissed me with the surety, passion and possession that reminded me who I was to him.

His life. His love. His everything.

Boone ended the kiss with a groan and stared into my face.

“You’re here.”

“Not because you called me and told me what the hell was going on.”

I deserved that. “Who called you?”

“No one. I called Rory. You think I might’ve been a little concerned when I hadn’t heard from you in thirty-six hours after I was gone for two weeks?”

“I needed to get some stuff figured out before I saw you.”

His eyes searched mine. “And this isn’t something I can help you with? Whatever decision you’re wrestling with?”

“Boone—”

“Sierra. We’re a unit now.”

I snorted. “Unit. Military man to the core.”