Page 74 of Quarter Miles (Runaway 3)

Aria and I drove in silence, the whirl of the tires offering no comfort. The scenery was lush and green, and though we were headed away from the ocean, its salt still clung to the air.

It was nice. Different. Except I didn’t want different. I wanted to breathe in the clean Montana mountain air, smelling hay and horses as I watched Cash work.

Training the younger animals was his favorite. Cash would spend hours with a foal, teaching it in slow, methodical steps how to wear a halter and follow a lead. Then as the horses got older, he’d teach them to wear a saddle on their backs and a bit in their mouths.

It was magic, watching him work, and one of my favorite pastimes. He was the definition of steady. Gentle. Patient. I’d stand at the arena’s fence, unable to tear my eyes away. Every few minutes, he’d glance my direction and gift me with a smile.

That smile.

There had always been love in Cash’s smile.

Liddy had said he was desperate. Desperate for what? To find me and apologize again? Or was there more?

I’d run from him so fast today that

I hadn’t given him the chance to explain. I’d shut him out and thrown up my guard. I claimed to love him but hadn’t truly let him in.

Tears filled my eyes again and no amount of biting my cheek would make them stop. They fell in silent streams down my cheeks, dripping onto my jeans and creating dark indigo circles as they fell.

My foot came off the gas. “I’m so sorry, Aria. I can’t do this.”

She gave me a sad smile. “I understand.”

“I just . . . I can’t run from this.” From my home. From my family. From him.

“What about Cash?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” I sighed. “I’m mad.”

“Uh, yeah.” She nodded. “I would be too.”

Though with every passing minute, my anger was subsiding. He shouldn’t have kept my mother’s visit a secret, but I understood why he had.

We all love you. Liddy’s words rang in my ears. We all love you. What was she getting at?

“I can’t exactly avoid him forever,” I said. “We’ll figure it out eventually. But there’s no rush. A few more hours to let things settle won’t hurt.”

“I wouldn’t count on that if I were you.”

“Huh?”

She glanced over her shoulder and through the back window. “He’s been behind us for the past few minutes.”

“What?” My eyes whipped to the mirror, where a black SUV was nearly clinging to my bumper. I’d been so focused on the road ahead, I hadn’t noticed it approach.

The SUV’s headlights flashed and a strong, sinewy arm extended out the driver’s side window, waving to get my attention.

My breath hitched. I knew that arm.

I let the Cadillac drift slower, my foot barely pressing the brake as I scanned the side of the road for a place to pull over. A mailbox caught my eye ahead, marking the entrance to a private driveway. I put on my blinker, slowing down as Cash eased back to give me some space so we could both pull off the highway.

“I’ll just wait here.” Aria grinned as I opened the door.

I stepped onto the ground, my feet barely steady, as Cash rushed to me, sweeping me into his arms in a crushing embrace.

My hands dug into his shoulders, holding tight. I wasn’t sure if I was gripping him so strongly because I was trying to punish him or because he’d come after me. But I didn’t protest as he held me tightly against his chest, lifting me off my feet until they dangled by his shins.

“I’m sorry.” His voice was filled with pain and regret. “God, Kat. I’m sorry.”