entry. “Not sure what the address of the ranch is out there, but Silverhill’s a small town. I’m sure someone can direct us to the ranch, once we roll in.”
His jaw still tight, Rod started the engine of the truck and pulled away from the curb of the Milano. “About the ranch…”
Oh God, here it comes. The regret. The misgivings. The chivalry… The annulment?
“Stop. You saved me. Twice. You fought off Bobby’s thugs and you agreed to marry me. You changed your plans and put your life on hold to help me—a complete stranger.”
“But I…”
Callie held up her hands. “I know you’re probably thinking people will peg you as a gold-digging cad, marrying me for money, but I know that’s not true. And what do you care what the people in Silverhill, Colorado, have to say?”
“I do care. I know—”
“I understand your real reasons, and that’s all that matters. You didn’t know who I was and that I stood to inherit a bunch of land in Colorado when you rescued me at the side of the road. You didn’t think there would be anything in it for you when you pummeled Bobby’s guys and bloodied your own knuckles. And now here you are, married to someone you’d never laid eyes on, miles away from your home in…in…” She waved her hands around, not having a clue where he lived. “You will have earned every penny I can give you from the ranch.”
She collapsed back in her seat, panting. “So don’t get any ideas about ending this marriage. I need you. I need you to get that ranch, save my father and maybe even to save myself.”
Ending on a sob, she allowed a single teardrop to tremble on the end of her lashes. As she slid her gaze in Rod’s direction, the tear wobbled and then dripped onto her cheek.
A muscle in his jaw ticked as he glanced in her direction, his gaze scanning her face. “Why do you need saving, besides the obvious, and how’s the ranch going to help?”
Drawing in a shaky breath, she tucked her hair behind one ear. “I traveled around a lot as a kid—when my parents were together, and with my mom after they split. My mom wasn’t close to her own family, and, as I said before, she didn’t like my father’s parents. Sh-she had a problem with prescription drugs.”
Rod shook his head, and she continued.
“We were living in California when it was time for me to go to college, so I ended up at UCLA for the in-state tuition and because they had a good fine arts department. I settled in L.A. by default. I don’t have any roots there. I don’t have any roots anywhere.”
“Where’s your mother?”
She curled her hands into fists. “She died of a drug overdose when I was in college.”
He drew in a quick breath. “Sorry.”
“The way she was going, it was bound to happen. She’d been skating on thin ice for a long time.”
Rod drilled the road with a steely gaze, and Callie’s heart flipped. She didn’t want him to think she’d grow dependent on him or expect anything from him. He obviously didn’t like that idea.
“Don’t worry.” She patted his muscled thigh. “With parents like I had, I’ve learned to depend on myself. That’s why the ranch is important.”
“Are you talking about the money it could bring?”
Callie clasped her hands between her knees and wiggled her toes in the new sandals. How could she explain her feelings to a man who had his own ranch somewhere? Probably had parents and extended family nearby. Probably had a life.
“It’s more than just the money, although that will help my dad…and me. My grandparents built the ranch together, and my father never appreciated that. Grandfather Ennis left it to me on the condition of my marriage, hoping I’d establish my family there, put down some roots.”
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