Second Burn Cowboy (Second Chance Series Book 6) by Rhonda Lee Carver

breathe.”
    “Anything you want, Deckland.” She kissed his cheeks and smoothed the pad of her thumb along the curve of his bottom lip.
     
     
    CHAPTER NINE
     
    ELSA LOOKED UP from the flowers she was watering when she heard tires on gravel.
    Deckland had left earlier to run some errands and she knew he wouldn’t be back for a few more hours.
    She brought her hand up to shield her eyes from the glare of the bright sun that blurred the car as it pulled along the grass and parked. The door opened on the sleek, silver BMW. A large ring on the driver’s right hand glistened and she lifted her gaze to his face.
    E lsa’s heart crashed into her stomach. Oh my God!
    The watering can slipped from her fingers and she barely noticed the cold liquid on her feet as adrenaline scorched her veins. The man, with too much confidence, strolled her direction, a smile lit his good looks.
    “What are you doing here?” Her throa t ached.
    “I should ask you the same question, sweetheart.” Her ex-husband, Tom, smoothed his red, silk tie.
    The past that she’d tried hard to forget stood within several feet of her, wearing a designer suit and spotless loafers. Not a hair was out of place in his slick style. Seeing him now, after so long, she couldn’t imagine that she’d once loved him—if she could call it love. As he looked at her with dark eyes of ownership, repulsion sped through her.
    “You need to leave!” She forced the words through tight lips as she took a step backward toward the porch.
    “Do you really think you can leave me?” The arrogant accent that she’d once found irresistible made her stomach turn.
    “I divorced you.” Her bottom lip trembled.
    “That’s only a technical hiccup, my dear.” He took a step closer. She withdrew, stepping on the plastic water can, and it cracked under her foot. “You’ve sent me on somewhat of a goose chase.” The darkest eyes she’d ever seen penetrated her flesh. He manipulated many people with his charm and handsome features, but she knew he was the devil in tanned flesh.
    “Coming here is a waste of your time. We are through.” She made it to the bottom step.
    Stiffness set his jaw. “No, we’ll never be through. You and I belong together.” He smiled and she wanted to run.
    “You’re on pri vate property. I’ll call for help. There are ranch hands here, and they’ll come if I scream.” Her threats sounded like idle snips, and not one muscle in him flinched. Of course he wouldn’t. He’d lived his entire life bullying others, pushing people around…including her for years until she’d left.
    He laughed and it ripped through her. “Come now, sweetheart. Gather your things and return home with me. Enough playing hard to get. I’m growing impatient.”
    There was a latent meaning to his words that ignited panic through her. He was dangerous and she wished he could no longer induce fear within her. Digging deep, she found bravery she didn’t have long ago. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
    Cold bitterness spread over his prominent features as he leaned against the post of the railing, tapping his manicured fingernails on the wood in a mechanical beat. “Elsa, I encourage you to rethink this craziness. You don’t belong here.” He swept a hand through the air and ticked his gaze over her. “Look at you. Did you crawl out of bed and forget to brush your hair this morning? You’re taking this country living to the extreme.” His nose wrinkled.
    “Go to hell. Your abusive words no longer have the same effect on me. I’m over you.” She kept her gaze steady, matching his chin tilt.
    He blinked but gained his composure. “You never did like the truth, did you? Stop pretending that you have a life beyond me—us. This cowboy you’ve been fucking will throw you to the dogs once he is finished .” His lip curled. “I’m the only one who really knows who you are, what you are.”
    “You know nothing about my life now,” she snapped.
    A brow