Page 50 of The Spice Is Nice

The moment they cleared the door, I would lock up and call Gavin. Ask him to hurry here so I could share the news I’d collected about Seth—and ask him to protect me and my sisters until they caught him.

To my surprise, Colt was suddenly there at the door, coming inside. His eyes red and weary, with deep purple circles that could almost pass for bruises. It was a wonder he could even stand straight. His hair was flattened from dirt and grime, and probably a hat he hadn’t taken off since Sunday night. His shirt wasn’t tucked in, and mud caked on his boots. But he was here, maybe worn down to the bone, but never a better sight for my eyes.

Relief flooded me—my hero—though I wasn’t sure in his condition if he’d be able to fight off Seth if it came down to that. The plan to call Gavin went sideways in my chest. I’d call. I would. But not in the next thirty seconds.

“You didn’t think I’d let you all leave without one more hug,” he called.

Maisy made a sound that was half laugh, half sob, and threw her arms around his neck. Chelsea was right behind her, wrapping around him from the side, and the three of them stood there for a long moment, holding on to each other with the fierce love of close siblings.

I knew that love. Which was why I had to be smart about Seth. I couldn’t let him hurt my sisters. I turned away and busied myself with packing some of the order up because all I really wanted to do was openly cry.

When they pulled apart, Maisy cupped his face in both hands and studied him. “You look terrible.”

“Thanks.” He half smiled.

“You need a meal and twelve hours of sleep.” Rex slapped him on the back.

“I’ll get right on that.”

“Ivy, we’re counting on you to take care of this poor guy today. Look at him,” Chelsea begged.

“Of course, I will.” My eyes locked with his, and there was still so much heat between us, filled with everything we left unsaid.

“You come home for a visit over Christmas, okay? Mom will love seeing you. And we've already invited Ivy. She’s absolutely welcome.” Chelsea firmly gripped his forearms. His tired eyes shot to me again, wary. “After that, if you want to come back here, that’s totally fine. It’s your life, baby brother. We just want you to be happy.”

“And now that we can build a vacation home here on the Hollis ranch, we can visit often,” Rex brought his wife in for a kiss on the temple.

There were more hugs, more promises to text, and then they were gone. The bell chimed. The door shut. I ran to it and locked up, flipping the sign to closed.

“Wylde? What are you doing?” Colt protested.

“I missed you so much. I’m sorry for what I said Sunday.” I flung my arms around him, trying not to cry, reality hitting. Scared that something bad might happen to us with Seth out there somewhere.

A sigh sounding like relief whooshed from his lungs, and his arms wrapped around me, too. “Fuck, I thought I’d lost you.”

“No. Never.” I kissed him, all over his dirty, precious face.

“But when you said about the West being your place?—”

“I did say that, Colt. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any room in it for you.”

Chapter 20

It's Over

Colt

My bonesand muscles ached with every step, dog-tired. The only thing energizing me was Ivy’s ass in front of me heading up the stairs behind her shop to the apartment above.

She brought me up here to talk. The door at the top opened into a spacious loft, designed completely and unmistakably by her. A large brown leather couch, a quilt thrown over one arm, and a coffee table fashioned from a wagon wheel took up most of the living room. Boots were lined up by color on a bookcase. Books were stacked sideways on the windowsill.

The most important detail of all was her, standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed, chin up but wobbling, composure breaking down. I’d been running on fumes for two straight days. But I recognized fear when I saw it.

“What’s going on?”

“Seth—”

Just hearing the name made me bristle. “What? Whatdid he do? Come here.” I drew her into me and over onto the couch.