HIGH STAKES EXCERPT

Excerpt - High Stakes

“Danni, I want to talk.”

Stopping, she then slowly turned to face him.

His breath caught in his throat and he stepped closer. Her hair was the color of wheat and her eyes big and brown. Just like he remembered.

“My grandmother died. I have enough on my mind, and I don’t really feel like talking.”

Still so beautiful.

So beautiful, he was sure the splintering sound echoing in his ears was his heart breaking, yet again.

I have to get her to hear me out. “We have to talk. ”

“We were engaged and you walked away.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and jutted out her chin. Her lips thinned and stubbornness marked her pretty features. “There’s nothing to discuss.”

He looked into those dark brown depths and missed her. “I made a mistake.” That was the truth. The longer he stood there, the more he realized the truth of his statement. “Danni…”

“No, Colby. I don’t want to hear your excuses.” She glanced at the parking lot and looked back. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.” The breath she inhaled moved her shoulders.

Grief filled her eyes. She’s still hurting. The fist around his heart tightened. And I’m the cause. If only she would listen... She didn’t understand.

“Take care of yourself and stay away from me.”

His soul took the mortal blow. “Danni—”

“Good-bye, Colby.” She turned on her boot heel and walked off, making her way to the new Dodge truck then climbed in without a look back.

He noticed everything about her—from the swing of her hair in the gentle breeze to the way the denim of her outfit hugged her body. Her hips still swayed the same way when she walked, and he noticed how her white, button-down shirt tapered to her slender waist. The waist he used to wrap his arms around when he kissed her lips and swore to the stars he’d never let her go. The red pick-up pulled out of the parking lot and he stared at the taillights.

He had let her go, two years ago now. What had he done? Why hadn’t he listened to his heart?

“You realize she never got over you, right?”

Dread filled him and he turned. He closed his eyes then opened them and stared into the dark eyes of Bobby Shelton. What could he say? He wasn’t sure how he felt, except hurt. “Hi, Bobby. Let me ask you, what makes you think I got over her?”