Conquering Love

by Willow Summers

  She turned and looked at him squarely, a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. “Didn’t you know, Greg? I’m screwed up. I’ve got issues. I’m perfectly healthy, no diseases, have a ninety-nine percent likelihood of getting pregnant again, and despite the loss before, I’ve got just as good of a chance as any normal girl my age of carrying to term. But my head is a fucking mess. A disgusting place to be. You don’t want that. You don’t need it. Go for Paige. She’s nice—that’s not true. She’s pretty and wealthy and she wants you. Do yourself a favor, and stick with her. You’re wasting your time on me.”

  She abruptly took off jogging, chasing the kids with a giant smile on her face. “Check out the geese, boys!”

  Greg stared after her in surprise and confusion, a million things running through his mind he couldn’t focus on a single one. The memory of her words fired into him, over and over. I’ve got issues…getting pregnant again?…my head is a fucking mess… I don’t qualify.

  She’d been pregnant but didn’t carry to term. What happened?

  He looked at the ground as sympathy and sadness for her clawed his gut, wanting to ask a million questions. Wanting her to trust him and share her past pain so she could help. Her words, teamed with the courage and steadfast determination she’d shown in helping Sara, merged, giving him a larger picture. Then he thought of her helping the woman escape her two kids, or even Richard who always got picked on—she’d given Richard her food in front of half a dozen men who’d asked her out. She’d showed favor to none of them, but to the odd man out.

  She always felt like an odd man out, and it was because of whatever happened to her. She’d lost a child, but was that it?

  He bit his lip and wandered back to the gate, mulling over all the clues.

  “She’s really sweet.”

  Greg looked up in confusion before he recognized the woman waiting for her two kids. “Yes, she is.”

  “Are you two together?”

  “No.” Greg moved to the side so the woman would have access to run into the pen if she needed to. “We just work together.”

  “Ah.” She smoothed out her hair. “This was great. Those boys sure run me ragged. Do you have any kids?”

  “No, not yet. Have to find a girl first.” Greg looked out at the trees, wishing the woman would stand quiet so he could think.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  Greg followed her gaze into the zoo. The woman’s eyebrows danced before she tapped her chest, silently suggesting. It was just as pushy as verbally telling.

  “She’s not interested,” Greg said in curt tones. He should be a bit nicer to the guests, but the woman was getting out of hand.

  “Yes, she is. She keeps looking over here.”

  “I think she’s looking to make sure you’re okay with your kids in there…”

  “No. She’s looking at you.”

  Greg crossed his arms over his chest. He didn’t plan to say anymore. He’d probably get reported.

  As Christie started walking in their direction, the woman said, “Sometimes women don’t see something that has always been right in front of their faces. Until a move is made…”

  “Here we go!” Christie deposited the red-faced children at the gate. “You know, we have a babysitting service here for the evenings. And couples dancing. Two great things that are even better together!”

  The woman smiled gratefully. “Thank you! And I’ll look into that.”

  “Have fun.” Christie stepped next to Greg. “Those kids are a handful. No wonder she looks like she’s trapped in a tornado.”

  Greg hadn’t relaxed his stance. There was too much running through his head at the moment. Too many factors and what if’s. Too much advice that all seemed wrong.

  They stood in silence for a moment, listening to children squealing, and the distant whinny of horses. Occasionally a cow moo’d.

  “What was she talking about?” Christie asked quietly.

  A shock of adrenaline ran through Greg for reasons he couldn’t explain. “Who? When?”

  “The woman. She said something about moving?”

  “Oh.” Greg waved the thought away, trying not to let the nervousness invade his tone. “No, no. That was for work. Something about work. We were making small talk.”

  “Oh.” Christie crossed her arms over her chest, much like Greg was doing. The silence stretched until it was thick and heavy, blowing between them like a sand storm. “Sorry about freaking out, earlier. It was a lot to lay on you. It’s not all that bad. But yeah, I don’t really date, in case you haven’t noticed. I’m kind of crazy.”

  “Don’t apologize, Christie.” Greg took off his hat and ran this fingers through his hair. “Don’t ever apologize for expressing yourself. I want to know. I want to help.”

  “You—” She gripped the air in front of her and gritted her teeth. Her expression was a mixture of frustration, sadness and anger. “I don’t need help. I really don’t. It’s totally fine.”

  “Just like you didn’t need help climbing that hill?”

  “That was the wagon’s fault. It took off on me.”

  “And you never need help walking the mile from the bus stop to your house in three feet of snow?”

  “I have warm boots. Exercise clears the mind.”

  “You have an excuse for everything, huh, Christie? Everything is a joke. You don’t need help, but you’re begging for it.”

  She faced him in a flash of rage. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “You looked like a murderer was barging through your door last night. Your expression…” Greg’s heart squeezed just thinking about it. He dropped his hands and faced her, letting the plea soak into his expression. “Why won’t you let me in? Is it me? Am I the reason?”

  Her face closed down and her eyes dulled. Her brow settled low, something coming he knew he wasn’t going to like. When it tumbled from her mouth, it felt like she reached into the middle of him and ripped his heart out. “Yes. You’re not my type, Greg. I’m sorry.”

  Without another word, she walked away. No glance back at her duty, no tears, no fake smile. She just left.

  The pain made his jaw drop. Greg watched the leaves tremble in her wake, dumbstruck. His ribcage felt hollow, as though his heart had just left with her.

  He stood there for he didn’t know how long. Just stood, staring, completely oblivious. It wasn’t until he felt a firm hand on his shoulder that he blinked and looked around. Night was settling through the trees, eating away the light. Animals wandered around the petting zoo enclosure, devoid of any guests among them. Judging by the light, it was an hour or so past feeding time.

  Jake stared at him for a moment, then patted his shoulder. His hand remained there for a moment, silently asking if Greg was okay.

  Greg had no idea. “She said I’m not her type. Straight faced, no tears…I don’t want to believe her.”

  Jake put his hand at his side and turned so he was standing side-by-side with Greg. He was ready to listen.

  “She told me some things—we all know she went through shit. She admitted it. More of it, this time. She’s cracking. But…the look in her eyes. She just…fuck, bro. She just stuck me where it hurts.” Greg absently wiped his chest. “Told me to go with Paige. She doesn’t want to date. Doesn’t want sex. But she’s…acting different. More open. She’s started texting me sweet dreams after I text her good night. But now… She’s… I’m too simple for any of this. I wasn’t ready for her good-bye.”

  “She’s running for all she’s worth. She’s getting tired. Wind burned. It’s not easy going it alone. Sooner or later, she’ll run out of road. That’s where it gets dangerous for her. She’ll run out of road, and if no one is there to stop her, she’ll jump.”

  “She’ll jump… What do you mean?”

  “You’re pushing her. Keep pushing. Stay the course.”

  “How am I pushing her?”

  Jake motioned down the trail. “Go. I’ll finish up here.”r />
  Greg found himself walking on wooden legs. First Christie, and now Jake. It was like Greg was stuck on a chessboard without a clue what the players were doing.

  The words dangerous for her replayed over and over, Jake’s tone anxious and his eyes worried. It wasn’t like Jake to get worked up. The last time the older man had said words in that tone, with the shadow in his eye, one of the mare’s had a breech birth. If Jake hadn’t been there with his expertise at just the right time, they would’ve lost both mother and baby.

  Jake thought there was something coming where Christie was concerned. Something bad.

  Chapter 8

  “Ready?” Greg waited by the door of Paige and Christie’s room.

  Paige’s eyes lit up as her gaze slid over his body. “Of course.”

  He glanced beyond her, hoping to find Christie. The left bed was neatly made with a neat stack of cotton garments on the end. He tried to look closer to see if that was what she slept in, but Paige stepped in his way, closing the door as she moved forward.

  He stepped back, allowing her to pass, before giving one last glance at the closed door and following. He missed Christie. It had only been a matter of hours, but that last thing she’d said seemed like goodbye. A real goodbye. Not one for drama or show like girls liked to do, but a closed door. Like the one he was walking away from. It made him want to glue himself to her side so she couldn’t walk away.

  “You have a nice day?” Greg asked absently. He could do useless conversation in his sleep. The number of dates he’d been on had programmed the protocol for each type of girl into his head. And while Paige was one of the most high-maintenance women he’d ever met, she was easy to ignore. Pretend to listen and occasionally flex, and she thought everything was about her.

  Had he always been this shallow? Was that why Christie didn’t want him?

  “Are we going back to your place?” Paige asked, walking straight toward the guest area instead of exiting out the staff quarters.

  “We’re supposed to turn here.” He waited for her at the hallway intersection.

  She flicked her hand in the hair. “Not when we look like this. We look like guests.”

  Greg looked at his clothes. Crisp blue shirt, a little snug so the muscle show went off better, a leather jacket that was also for show because it was too warm to wear it for long, and wranglers. He had nicer jeans, but he didn’t feel like putting them on. This pair was in grabbing distance.

  While he looked nice enough to head out that way, it was against the rules. End of story. “I’d rather use the staff exit. May and Dan are pretty specific about who leaves from where.”

  She tsk’ed. “Would you come on?” She sauntered back to him on those shiny black high heels that did wonders for her legs, yet made him constantly think she was going to fall on her face, and grabbed his arm. “I’ve been doing it since I got here. No has said anything.” She pulled.

  He didn’t move. “Staff exit. It’s how we do things.”

  A small crease formed between her eyebrows as she stared up at him. He knew that look. She was trying to see how much she could push him. She’d soon learn that when he didn’t want to bend, he wouldn’t.

  Her pretty pout turned into unyielding breasts pressed against his chest. She angled her face up for a kiss.

  Everything in him said not to follow through. He didn’t want to bend, even a little, to touch his lips to hers. It didn’t feel right. It felt like betrayal.

  Holding his breath for no reason, he gave her a soft kiss on the forehead and then puffed out his chest so she had no choice but to back away. Turning her, he thwapped her softly on the butt. “Let’s get going.”

  As expected, she giggled. After hooking her arm in his, she stuck to his side, making their stroll to the staff exit awkward and time consuming.

  “In answer to your question, my day was boring,” she said as they neared the door.

  He stepped forward and pushed it open, meeting Richard on the way in. The younger guy startled, and then paused, clearly confused on what to do with Greg blocking the doorway.

  “A lady is coming out, Richard.” Greg waited patiently while that sunk in, and then Richard backed up.

  Paige sauntered through with a little wiggle and a demure smile. Both were fake. Greg continued to stand, waiting for Richard to take the hint.

  “Are you coming?” Richard asked. Hint missed.

  “Come on through, buddy.”

  “Buddy?” Richard walked in like Greg had a concealed weapon. He eyed Greg’s clothes before stopping next to him and shaking his head. “You haven’t called me buddy before. What are you up to?”

  “You are possibly the most awkward guy on this ranch, Dick. Hats off to you. That’s a tough one to pull off.”

  “Going on a date?” Richard asked, apparently not hearing him.

  “Gotta go, bro.” Greg turned sideways to get by him.

  “I’m just going to see Christie, because Ethel and Florence give her all kinds of grief, and she likes when people stop by. She smiles and chats for a while.” Richard pushed up his glasses with his pointer finger, then stared at Greg expectantly.

  “Are we going?” Paige asked. The annoyance wasn’t well hidden in her honey-sweet tone. She had no patience for Richard. Few did, apart from Christie.

  “Gotta go, Dick. See ya.” Greg stepped through the door as Richard was commenting about his nickname.

  “I do not know how you put up with the people at this ranch. It’s so small-time.” Paige put her hand on his forearm. He bent his elbow so she had somewhere to hang on. Her body pressed against his as they walked, once again making their trek more difficult. “You deserve to be in charge of ten times as many people. I think you have a gift. You could do big things.”

  “Working on it. I’m heading up the ladder, one rung at a time.”

  “At a tiny ranch, though.”

  “No where near as big as your family’s ranch, probably, but it’s decent.”

  They reached the parking lot and Greg opened the door for her. Unlike with Christie, he didn’t have to race to be a gentleman. There was no beguiling to treat her like a lady, and no deals made. Just a couple going on a date.

  He crossed to his side of the truck, staring at the ground. Once in the truck, he put the truck in gear and eased it out of the space before heading down the hill.

  “Do I get to see your place?” Paige prompted.

  Greg felt a flush of embarrassment. A girl like her would scoff at his tiny house. He owned it, which he’d thought was good, but after hearing what she’d grown up in, he didn’t need his manhood to take another hit. He also didn’t know how he’d be able to keep his clothes on. She would strip him as soon as she got the chance, and he wasn’t ready. He hadn’t walked away from Christie. Not quite yet. Her final good-bye was still sinking in.

  “Not tonight,” he said. “I want to show you something.”

  “Oooh.” Paige reached over and rubbed his thigh. “A surprise.”

  Not taking the road toward town, he took a detour toward one of his favorite spots. Off the road and at the top of the hill, he got out and then opened her door. From the back of his truck he took out two chairs and then placed them facing the meadow that was softly touched with moonlight.

  “I can’t really…” Paige put her hands out to the side and teetered. The points of her heels dug into the dirt, sinking with each step.

  “Here.” Greg scooped her up and felt a chill as her hands came around his neck. Surprising himself, he lingered a moment, enjoying the feeling of carrying a woman. Of a woman letting him take control.

  “There you are.” He set Paige down beside a chair and then stepped to the other.

  “Did you bring champagne or anything?” Paige looked around but Greg had no idea what she was looking for. Besides his truck, there was nothing out here. Just wide open space.

  “No champagne. Just peace and quiet.” Greg sat down and crossed his ankles in front of him.

&
nbsp; “Oh.” She sat as well, her butt on the edge of the seat and her hands braced on her knees. “Are we going to dinner after this?”

  “If you’d like.”

  “I haven’t eaten, so…”

  “Sure, thing.” Greg let the calm of the night settle into him, hoping to share a little time and get to know her better.

  “Do you come out here often?” she asked, not letting the hush of the night, or their surroundings, soften her voice.

  “Pretty often.”

  “Do you own it?”

  “This? No. A buddy of mine owns it, but he’s not doing much with it at the minute.”

  Paige looked around again and then leaned back slowly, her posture awkward and anything but relaxed. “Do you ever bring your friends here?” she asked after a moment.

  “Not often. Usually I just come to think.”

  “Oh.” Her tone perked up a little. She settled in a little more. “Or that girl Christie?”

  “What about her?”

  “Does she know about this place?”

  Greg tried to keep from tensing. “She’s been here a time or two. As have a few of my other good friends. Just to sit. Look at the stars.”

  “Oh.” Her tone was back to being flat.

  This wasn’t turning out to be a great idea. “Did you want to hang out, or maybe get some grub?”

  “Well…I mean…if you want to stay, that’s fine.” She put her hand on her stomach and looked away. That was girl code for I’m lying, let’s leave.

  “Let’s go eat, I’m hungry.” Greg stood.

  “Are you sure?” She got up nearly as fast as he did.

  “No problem. I probably should’ve done that first, anyhow.”

  “And brought a blanket so we could be snuggly.”

  She waited where she was while he put the chairs in the back of the truck. He paused next to the passenger side door.

  “Carry me?” She held out her hands like a child.

  “Right. Sorry.”

  Once they were back in the truck, he headed to the second nicest restaurant in town. She hadn’t been too fond of the nicest, but there wasn’t a whole lot he could do. It was this or a diner.