Letting Go (Vista Falls #3) by Cheryl Douglas Read Free Book Online

wanted with Gabby, all the things he’d never have because it was too risky. “You know, live with her or anything. Can you imagine me being with someone twenty-four-seven? I’d lose it for sure.”
    “I don’t know about that. We’ve spent a lot of time together over the years, and you haven’t bashed my skull in yet.”
    “Wes, this isn’t funny.”
    “I know, buddy. I know.” Wes sighed. “But I think you’re selling yourself short. Being in a relationship with Gabby could be exactly what you need.” He chuckled. “Maybe then the kinder, gentler Colt would come out. You wouldn’t have all this repressed rage ‘cause you’d finally have the one thing you’ve always wanted—Gabby.”
    Was it possible that was a big part of his anger was due to his inability to be with the only woman he’d ever loved? No. Wes was oversimplifying, trying to make him feel better.
    “Thanks for the talk, but you gotta go. Give your beautiful bride a kiss for me, and don’t worry about work. You know I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone.”
    “Yeah, I know… do me a favor though?”
    “Sure, what’s that?”
    “Don’t close and lock the door on Gabby. You’ll be sorry if you do.”
    He glanced at the closed bathroom door and muttered, “I think it may be too late. The decision’s probably out of my hands by now.”
     
    ***
     
    “Thanks for bringing me home,” Gabby said, reaching for the door handle in Colt’s truck.
    Since the wedding party had taken a limo to the inn from Sage’s house, Gabby didn’t have her car, and Colt had offered to drive her home. Given the choice, she would have walked. But ten miles may have been pushing it in flip-flops.
    He turned to face her, looking miserable as he ran a lock of her hair through his fingers. “I’m sorry, Gab.”
    “Yeah, so you’ve said.” She didn’t want to hear his apologies. She couldn’t even stand to hear the sound of his voice anymore. It hurt too much.
    “If there was any way for us to work it out…”
    But of course he believed there wasn’t. It didn’t matter what she said or how convinced she was that they could make it work. He didn’t believe it was possible, and she refused to waste any more of her life fighting for a relationship. She’d done that with her husband and still walked away alone.
    Colt looked out his window when a familiar blue truck pulled up to the curb and parked in front of her house. “Who’s that?”
    “Dave.”
    “What the hell is he doing here?” Colt asked, glaring at the truck. “I thought you told him you were done with him?”
    “Actually, he told me he was done with me because he suspected I still had feelings for you. He probably came to talk to me, to make sure that I’m not making a mistake by giving my heart to you when it would be much safer with him.”
    When she picked up her purse to get out of the truck, he looked panicked and curled his hand around her wrist. “Wait! You’re not going back to him, are you?”
    He had a wild look in his eyes, and she feared that ugly temper he’d spoken of was about to surface. “Dave and I were friends before we started dating, and we’ll be friends after.” She pulled her hand back, forcing him to release her. “We live in a small town. Our paths are bound to cross. I’m sure he just wants to make sure things won’t be awkward when they do.”
    “He wants you back.” Colt curled his hand around the steering wheel, the hatred in his eyes obvious as he stared at the figure in the other truck. “Even if you’d slept with me last night, he still would have taken you back today. How desperate is he?”
    “I’m not going to listen to this.” She jumped out of the truck.
    Colt did the same, making her question his intentions. The last thing she needed was a scene in front of her neighbors.
    Reaching into the backseat for her suitcase, she said, “Please, just go home.”
    He met her around the rear of his truck, staring at Dave and