He tried to smile and failed. “I’m pretty sure she hates me right now.”

  “She’ll get over it,” Liam remarked. “The only woman who ever got that mad with me is Kayla. And look at us now.”

  Sean still couldn’t smile. Because he didn’t like seeing Leah upset—particularly when he knew he was the cause.

  “Maybe I should go after her?” his mother suggested.

  Sean didn’t respond, because he wasn’t sure what Leah needed in that moment. Perhaps comfort from a mother figure was exactly what she needed to ease the hurt in her heart. A hurt he knew he was responsible for.

  “Mom, Dad,” Sean said, not bothering to hide his skepticism. “Did you guys ever really love each other?”

  “Of course,” J.D. replied quickly.

  His mother regarded him thoughtfully. “I know your dad’s married to Kathleen now, but that doesn’t make our marriage any less real. I’ll always be grateful for what we had and for the four amazing children we had. There were a lot of good years together.”

  Sean listened to his mother’s words, trying to find solace. And somehow, amid all the chaos screaming in his head, he did. So maybe his parents didn’t have a perfect relationship or one that went the distance, but his mother was right—it didn’t mean it wasn’t real and valuable.

  He took a deep breath. “I need to talk to you,” he said and moved closer to them. “I know you’ve all been wondering why I sold my business and came back to Cedar River. The truth is, a year ago I was diagnosed with something called sensorineural hearing loss. I’m slowly losing my hearing—now it’s to the point that I need to wear aids,” he said and gestured to the devices behind his ears.

  Sean met his mother’s gaze, saw her concerned expression quickly turn into something he didn’t expect—relief.

  “Oh, Sean,” she said and promptly hugged him. “I’ve been so worried—I know it must be terrible for you, but I’m so relieved you’ve finally told us. I really have been imagining the worst.”

  “Mom, I—”

  “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” his father asked, cutting him off.

  Sean shook his head. “Oh, you know, my pride got in the way. I’m sorry. I should have come to you, but I just wasn’t ready to talk about it.”

  They talked for a few minutes about his diagnosis and the next steps he planned to take—the lessons he’d arranged in ASL in Rapid City, his next appointment with the specialist—and he noticed how caringly his parents accepted his explanation. Which of course they would, he realized. If he’d ever doubted how much his family cared, those doubts quickly disappeared.

  “By the way, Kieran and Jonah already know, so don’t be mad at them for not saying anything. I swore them to secrecy so I could tell you myself.” He turned to face his father. “And I’ve made peace with Jonah. I know he’s not to blame for you and Mom splitting up. He’s my brother,” he said. “Actually, he’s all right. I even kind of like him.”

  J.D. grinned broadly. “Thank you, son. That means a lot.”

  Sean glanced at Liam. “Oh, and I’ll come and work at the hotel for a while,” he said and saw his brother’s startled look. “I’ll help out while Connie’s on maternity leave.”

  Liam’s brows came up. “And after that?”

  “We’ll see. I’ve got a few ideas. And I’ll probably want to change some things around here,” Sean said and grinned. “You know me.”

  “I’m hoping so,” Liam replied. “You bring a whole different perspective to the table, and I’m looking forward to any changes for the better. But honestly, after nearly ten years of running this place, I’m ready to step back a bit. The hospital has offered me a position on the board. I think they’re hoping I can help solicit donations for the new surgical wing.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be doing your fair share of donating, too,” Sean corrected.

  His brother smiled. “It’s easier to give when you have a lot. And frankly, I feel as though I have everything a man could want. A great job, a beautiful wife and kids, a lovely home.”

  Sean met his gaze. “What does that feel like? Having...everything?”

  “Why don’t you find out for yourself?”

  A tremor shook him. Because for the first time in his life, he could admit that he did want it. Like he wanted air to breath and the ground beneath his feet.

  “By the way, I want half my salary given to the hospital.”

  Liam looked at him. “What? Why?”

  He sighed. “A promise I made to a friend. And to Mom.”

  “A friend?”

  “Leah,” he admitted. “I’m in love with her.”

  Neither his parents or brother looked surprised by his declaration and it made him smile. For weeks he’d been in a cocoon of denial, refusing to admit the obvious—that after so many years of being away, he had finally come home. And with that, he’d been forced to face the truth about who and what he was.

  Scared. Angry. Resentful.

  Scared to let anyone see that he’d given up his career—that because of his failing hearing, he felt unable to control his own destiny for the first time in his life. And then he was angry at the world, but mostly at himself for being so weak. And resentful of the family—particularly Jonah and his father, with whom he had felt so estranged. But the estrangement was of his own doing.

  And while all that was going on...something else happened.

  He met Leah.

  Someone who saw him—flaws and all. And for reasons he only now understood, someone he allowed to see those flaws. And she didn’t run. She witnessed him being hurt and angry and didn’t bail. Instead, she became his friend. And then his lover. And then, without asking anything in return, the love of his life.

  And he’d hurt her, saying nothing, refusing to admit what was in his heart because he was afraid it wouldn’t last. That he would be left. Deceived. Humiliated. Like his father had humiliated his mother, and by association, the whole family. She’d admitted what she was feeling, and he should have embraced it, honored it. And more importantly, said it back.

  Because he loved her, wholly and completely, and wanted both Leah and the world to know it. He wanted to run down Main Street, shouting it at the top of his lungs...anything and everything so she would know she was all he wanted and needed.

  She was angry with him, that was for sure, but what they had between them was worth fighting for, even if it meant complete and total humiliation.

  Sean experienced an unfamiliar and warm sort of peace flowing through his blood and suddenly knew what he needed to do. He had to make things right. He had to grovel. He had to prove that he was serious.

  But mostly, he had to make her see that he was worthy of her love.

  * * *

  Leah drove through the gates of the Triple C Ranch on Sunday morning. She felt stronger than she had for days. Christmas was looming and she still had a few gifts to buy, and planned to head into Rapid City the following day to finish her shopping and collect some materials for the latest piece she was working on. But first she had plans to ride Chico for a while, and make arrangements to purchase him from her cousin. She was surprised to see her brother’s SUV parked outside the house, but was always glad to see her only sibling.

  David and Mitch were on the porch and she strode up the pathway, reminded about how only weeks ago she’d met Sean on the same spot. Back when they were friends. Back before they were lovers. And the memory was so acute, it made her ache down to her bones.

  “Hey,” she said as she approached, her boots clicking on the steps. Both men greeted her with a smile, and she returned the gesture. “I’ve come to make you an offer,” she said to her cousin.

  Mitch’s brow rose quickly. “You have?”

  Leah planted her hands on her jean-clad hips. “Well, you may have heard that I recently had quite a successful art exhibition?”

  “Yes,” he said and grinned. “I was there, remember?”

  Leah chuckled. “Well, I actually sold a few pieces that night and have several orders that will keep me busy for a while. Plus I am doing a piece for a hotel lobby in Las Vegas.”

  “So, fame and fortune are knocking?” Mitch teased. “That’s great news.”

  “Well, the fame is in the long game, but I have made a little money. So,” she said and took a long breath, “I’d like to make you an offer to buy Chico.”

  Mitch looked at her, then glanced toward David, and after the longest moment, he shook his head. “Ah, sorry, Leah—you’re too late.”

  Her stomach sank. “Too late? What do you mean?”

  Mitch sighed. “I sold Chico yesterday. Dropped him off to his new owner this morning.”

  Her sinking stomach plummeted, and she could barely breathe. “I don’t understand. I thought... I didn’t think you were planning on selling him to anyone else, and I—”

  “I had an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

  She knew the horse was worth a lot. “How much?” He named the figure and her eyes bulged. “Oh my God. I mean, I knew he was valuable, but never in a million years would I have imagined that—”

  “Leah,” her brother said, cutting her off, “you need to have this conversation with your boyfriend.”

  Leah stilled instantly. “My what?”

  “O’Sullivan dropped by yesterday,” Mitch replied. “Made the offer and said whatever anyone else offered he would triple it.”

  Leah sucked in a sharp breath, rooted to the spot. “He did what?”

  “Handed over a big wad of cash and asked me to drop Chico off at his place this morning, which I did. Nice place he’s got there, by the way. He must have about seven acres or so, prime real estate on the river, too.”

  All Leah heard was blah, blah, blah. “He doesn’t even like horses!”

  “Really?” David questioned. “Go figure.”

  Leah didn’t bother hiding her anger and confusion. First her house, now her horse? “Why would he do this?”

  David shrugged. “Like I said, looks like you guys need to talk.”

  “I don’t want to talk to him,” she argued.

  “Yeah,” Mitch said and grinned. “He said that. Told us you were mad at him for being a jackass, or something like that.”

  “I am mad at him,” she agreed. “And I’m even madder now.”

  “Better go and confront him then,” David suggested. “And find out what he’s up to.”

  Leah looked at her brother and cousin in turn and saw they were smiling. “What’s going on?”

  David shrugged innocently. “Beats me. You’re the one with the billionaire boyfriend who just bought the horse you love, a horse he’ll never ride, for three times its value.”

  “He’s not a billionaire,” she contradicted, not really having any idea if he was or wasn’t.

  “You sure about that?” David queried.

  “Well, no,” she replied. “Anyway, I don’t care if he is or isn’t.” She had a thought and glared at Mitch. “And for the record, he’s not my boyfriend. But if you accepted three times Chico’s value, then you should be ashamed of yourself. Since when do you take advantage of people?”

  “I don’t,” Mitch replied. “He’s pretty persuasive though. For a moment I thought he was going to throw in the Ferrari. But then he said he was selling it and buying an SUV.”

  Leah scowled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “We know,” David said, sounding exasperated. “So go and find out. You know you want to.”

  “I don’t want anything to do with him,” she retorted. “Particularly now that I know he’s robbed me of my horse.”

  Both men laughed. “He was right,” David said and looked toward Mitch for a moment before meeting her gaze. “O’Sullivan said you’d be too proud and angry to face him.”

  “He did, did he?” she asked, outraged. “Ha! He thinks he knows we so well.”

  She was down the steps and back in her truck without saying another word. The drive to his home was long and tense, and she barreled down his driveway faster than she would normally have done. Leah spotted Chico the moment she cleared the trees, prancing around his new paddock, clearly having a great time as he raced in and out of the stable.

  Leah pulled up outside his house, got out of the truck and halted when she saw Sean sitting on the front steps, elbows on his knees, looking as though he’d been expecting her.

  “You knew I was coming?” she demanded, standing ten feet away from him.

  He nodded. “Your brother texted me.”

  Her blood boiled. “Since when are you and my brother texting buddies?”

  “It’s a recent development.”

  Leah glared long and hard. “You bought my horse?”

  “I did,” he replied.

  “Why?”

  “I needed a way to get your attention.”

  She had no idea why. “By taking what’s mine?” she asked and waved an arm dramatically, gesturing around, being irrational and not caring because she was so hurt and angry she couldn’t help herself. “Like this house. And now Chico. You really are—”

  “I bought the horse for you,” he said flatly, still sitting.

  Leah stilled, her arms falling to her sides. “You did? Why?”

  “Because you wanted him.”

  It wasn’t nearly enough of an answer. “Being rich doesn’t give you a free pass when it comes to explaining your motives. And my cousin ripped you off,” she added.

  “Not his fault. I threw out a number and wasn’t leaving until he accepted.”

  Leah’s annoyance spiked. “Typical O’Sullivan behavior,” she muttered.

  “Well, that’s what I am,” he said quickly. “By the way, I’ve told my family everything. They were really supportive. I’ve even made up with my dad and Jonah.”

  Leah didn’t know what to say. What to think. He looked earnest. Regretful. Sorry.

  But she was too raw to imagine any of it had to do with her. “I’m happy for you.”

  “Are you?” he asked, stepping closer. “Happy, I mean?”

  No. She was so unhappy it seemed to be clinging to every cell she possessed. “Over the moon,” she replied. “I start designing the Beaumont piece next week. I have money in the bank thanks to your rapper friend. My life is sweet. Perfect. Exactly as I wanted it.”

  “Is it?” he queried.

  Heat clawed at her throat. She wasn’t going to fall apart. She wasn’t going to let him see how wretchedly unhappy she was because she’d hadn’t seen him for days. Or how much she missed his smile. His frown. The feel of his arms around her. The taste of his kiss. Instead, she concentrated on the obvious. “Why did you really buy him?” she asked and hooked a thumb in the direction of the corral.

  “For you,” he replied. “A grand gesture.”

  Leah scowled. “What does that mean?”

  “It means,” he said and sighed, “that I knew the horse was precious to you, and I didn’t want to risk him not being yours. So, yeah, I bought him, and yeah, I’m giving him to you.”

  “I can’t accept him,” she said, dying inside.

  “Why not?”

  “Because that kind of grand gesture is for people who...you know...people who are together and have feelings that—”

  “Leah, I screwed up,” he said, cutting her off. “So badly. I’ve wanted to say so many things to you and haven’t been able to admit to any of them.” He ran a hand through his hair. “That night...that night in Las Vegas when you said what you said, I was shocked. I admit it. I didn’t know how to respond, and so I backed off... I turned away from you and I know that hurt you.” He stopped, his voice shaking a little, his blue eyes dragging back to hers even though he looked as though he wanted to look anywhere else but at her. “And I’m so, so sorry.”

  Heat burned behind her eyes and she blinked, fighting back the tears she knew threatened to spill over. “It’s okay, Sean. I mean, I know you can’t feel things to order and we did start out saying we would just be friends with—”

  “I wasn’t ready for it,” he admitted, cutting her off again. “I’d never been ready to hear it.”

  “Why?” she asked, agonized and scared as she waited for his reply.

  “Because I have always believed it wasn’t real and that it didn’t last,” he stated, his voice raw with emotion. “And when you said what you said, I panicked... I thought about my parents and remembered all the lousy relationships I’d witnessed in the last decade and did the unthinkable—I hurt you.” He stepped close, his blue eyes glittering, and grabbed her hand, holding it tightly within his own. “What you deserved, what I should have done when you said what you said, was to say it back.” He inhaled heavily again and swallowed hard. “Because, Leah, of course I’m in love with you.”

  Leah’s heart surged, and the tears she was fighting immediately spilled down her cheeks. “But you said you didn’t believe in love.”

  “I know what I said,” he replied, urging her closer. “I was stupid and thoughtless.”

  “I’m not your type,” she reminded him.

  “Yes, you are,” he assured her, bringing her into contact with his lean length. “And I’m yours. We are imperfectly perfect for one another. I love your creativity and your beautiful smile and your amazing rainbow hair. I love how loving you makes me feel alive. Please,” he said, bringing her hand to his mouth and gently kissing her knuckles. “Give me a chance. Give us a chance.”

  Leah had never heard more beautiful words in her life. And she wanted to believe them so much, with every part of her aching and love-starved heart. “Give you a chance?”

  “To prove that I’m worthy enough,” he said. “To deserve you.”

  Leah’s insides soared. “Oh, Sean,” she said and reached out to touch his face. “I think that’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”