Read Second Song Cowboy (Second Chance) for Free Online Page B

feet into his boots, stood, grabbed his hat and resisted the urge to twist it in his hands.
    “Who are you to tell me anything?” Dropping her clothes, she held tight to the sheet, her fingers noticeably trembling. “As if you are perfect!”
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    “I was going to stay with you! Remember? I planned to give up everything to be with you and you turned me away.” Her gaze filled with moisture and his stomach did a loop. “When I told you I couldn’t leave, you distanced yourself, made me feel like I had no other option but to head to Nashville.”
    “April, I did what I thought was best for you. And apparently it was right because look at you. You’re a star and everyone knows your name. But you can’t blame me that you only showed your face in Texas years later at Liam’s funeral. You disappeared by your own choosing.”
    “I love how you’re turning this around , making me look bad. Let me get this straight. You told me I should leave, spread my wings, and when I do, I’m blamed for leaving everyone? Why don’t you just say it how it really is?” Her face paled.
    “And how is it?” He faced her.
    “You got what you wanted from me and you no longer had any interest.” She wrapped the material tighter around her body.
    He scrubbed his jaw. “Yeah, I’ ve heard that before from you. Who am I to argue when you have your mind made up about me?” He needed to get away. “Be grateful that you’ll never have to see me again. You can live in your materialistic world, alone, just as you like it. I see the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. The very thing you disliked about your parents you’re now the example.” He heard the whizzing and ducked as the boot struck the wall. He turned toward her, narrowing his gaze. “What the hell was that for?”
    Her chest lifted and fell with each breath as her frown creased the corners of her mouth. “You’re a real jerk, Dante.”
    “And you don’t like the facts.” He shrugged and opened the door. “This certainly has been the best rodeo I’ve ever ridden.” Laughing as he walked across the threshold, he gave her one last glance over his shoulder.
    “G ood bye, Dante.”
    He clicked the door closed .
    By the t ime he’d made it to the elevator, his humor had fizzled and displeasure filled his gut. He wanted to wash away any emotions and guilt for leaving things with April on a sour note. Yet, he couldn’t change the things he had no control over.
    The door slid open, and with one final glance down the long hall, he stepped into the cubicle.
    They belonged in different worlds. She was heading to some stage to entertain fans and he was going back home to help his brothers on the Brooke Creek Ranch. He considered this a fork in the road, a chance to move on and forget. He needed to store last night in with the rest of the filed memories of April Rayne. History.
    Who was he kidding? It wasn’t that easy. No doubt, he’d remember last night for years to come, just as he recalled every second that he’d spent with her at nineteen.
    He rubbed his tired eyes. He pitied the poor bastard she got with next. A smile crept back over his mouth. Dante had set the bar high. She’d cried his name, clawed his back and had one big O after another. Bringing his hand to his face, he got a whiff of her scent. A stirring happened behind his zipper as the void in his heart deepened. So, she did get the final jab after all.
    At least he had a good memory. The door opened and he made his way into the hotel lobby, whistling a happy tune.
    ****
    April dropped to the wrinkled sheets and buried her tear stained face in the pillow. Dante’s woodsy scent inspired her senses, reminding her of what they’d shared here in bed. He’d made love to her repeatedly, showing her what she’d missed. She’d opened the gates to him, and the flood of desire had drowned them both. But the strong emotion had oozed into her heart, making every crack and raw