I'm outta practice LOL! Hopefully this time it worked!

WOW! It's been a long time since I've been here!

Big changes have happened on my life that pulled me away from my writing but I'm now back with renewed motivation and as you can probably tell, new muses.

The stories that were left abandoned and incomplete will be finished, and to those hat follow me and those stories I sincerely apologize for your extended wait.

I hope you enjoy it!

She had needed this more than she'd realized. The wind gently blew through her hair as she looked out over the acreage of her father's ranch, the Lazy E of Rock Creek. Charleigh Blackford had always loved it out there but hadn't had an opportunity to go out on a ride in quite some time. Hell, she'd probably not have made it out today either had it not been for her sister-in-law, Renee strong arming her. A large percentage of the land was untouched, so the wildflowers and trees were scattered beautifully. She sat atop her horse, Winchester, on the highest point of the ranch back in the mountainous region. Things at home, and the ranch, had been a bit hectic. Her father spent most of his time acting as attorney for various ranchers and business men in their small town, leaving Charleigh and her brother, Clayton, to run the ranch in his absence. The only catch was, she was also his secretary. Managing the two full-time jobs and two children wasn't exactly easy. She kept a mental checklist of the things she had to do each day, and at the moment, the list was so long it had driven her to a breakdown in her office. There were clients needing contracts drawn up and demanding the closing of their cases by the month's end, some demanding explanations on bills they believed were inaccurate, and then on the other side of things, there were ranchers asking for more crops and more cattle than they could supply who weren't to happy with rejection. The kids' school also had fundraisers, parent events, and music programs all planned out in the next few weeks. It was too much for her to manage and, feeling like she couldn't breathe, she finally just lost it. Charleigh was most normally on top of everything, usually having her task list done and completed in advance, but lately she just couldn't get a grip. She was worn out, mentally and physically exhausted, and just wanted to spend more time than she possessed with her children. She was mother to twins; her daughter, Riley, and son, Noah, were eight years old, and the two biggest joys in life. If she didn't have them in her life, she wouldn't know what she'd do. Their father, her husband, Jaxson Blackford, had horrifically died in a house fire six years prior. Their dog, Zip, had woken him one night and he'd managed to get her and the kids—only two years old—out in time before rushing back in to try and save Zip. The second story had collapsed on him before he made it out. It wasn't a memory Charleigh liked to talk about, and if she was being honest, it was still the cause of many nightmares. She'd struggled for a long time with the tragedy of that night, but with the help of her friends and family, and God's gift of her children, she'd managed to make it through. Wiping the tears which had leaked from her eyes, she gave Winchester a gentle nudge as he snorted and began to make his way back down, a little hurry in his gait as it was feeding time.

As Winchester came up on the barn, Charleigh brought him to a stop nearly fifty feet from where her children were assisting Declan Kopus—to the best of their ability—in bringing in sacks of feed as he hauled in bales of hay from the back of his old, beat up truck. She watched as the sweat glistened upon the tanned skin of his impressive musculature under the heat of the sun. At six foot five and all man, Declan was a sight to behold as he worked, his muscles flexing tightly and the sun-kissed golden highlights of his long, unruly dark hair mesmerizing her. Just as quickly as she began to think about it, she chastised herself for not only looking at a taken man in such a way, but for also doing so in front of her children. To some it may sound that she was creeping, but Charleigh had a history with Declan long ago, and they'd been close friends for over a decade. Most of the time she found herself marveling at him working, it was simply due to how much he'd changed over the years...and it was all in the best of ways. The kids absolutely loved him as anytime they saw him outside, they raced over. So, in the case she couldn't find her children, they were most often found wherever he was, trying to help in whatever he happened to be doing. Much as they were now. And he didn't seem to mind it one bit. If she was being honest, it seemed he had just as much fun as they did, and she was beyond grateful to him for that, especially because of their late father being absent from their lives.

As Declan grabbed yet another bale of hay, he glanced over to see Charleigh still sitting atop Winchester off in the distance. Stopping in his tracks, he dropped the bale of hay and started on his way over to greet her—Noah and Riley continued in their task of bringing in the sacks of feed.

"You gonna sit out here and roast all day or are you going to unsaddle this guy and take me on in a game of axe throwing?" he asked as he finally came up on her, dusting his hands off on his jeans.

Charleigh laughed and reached out her hand, silently asking him to help her down, to which he obliged, grabbing her by the waist and hoisting her off her horse.

"The use of your shoulder would have sufficed just fine, Dec, but thanks anyway," she told him, lightly shoving his shoulder. "As much as I'd love to indulge you and let you show off your exceptional axe skills, I've got things to do back at the house and from the looks of it, I'm going to have to run my heathens through a car wash before bed."

"Oh come on, Char, please?" he begged, flashing her a brilliant smile, which quickly transitioned into a pout.

"Funny. You know that doesn't work on me. They haven't driven you too crazy, have they?" she questioned, biting her lip.

"Nah, you know better than that, woman. They're fine…great entertainment. Speaking of those two rascals though, when do you think you'll be okay with me starting them in the saddle? Noah's been chomping at the bit and I have no idea what to tell him."

Declan's question caught her off guard as she hadn't realized the kids had been making their wishes known to him. She'd been meaning to ask him but had been so busy with work lately that she hadn't had a chance.

"You can start at any time. Just please be careful and watch them closely, Dec," she replied, taking Winchester's reigns and beginning to lead him over to the hitching post.

"Was it really necessary to tell me that?" he joked.

"Yes," Charleigh deadpanned. "So, how've you been? Haven't really had a chance to catch up in a while."

"I'm good. Flat fucking exhausted, but I'm good. The two jobs have really taken its toll lately." And she could see the truth of his words in his eyes. He worked sun up to sun down each and every day, never taking a day off—not even when sick—and as recently as two months ago, he'd begun fighting in an underground fight club.

"Jesus, Declan, you work too damn hard. You've got to give yourself a break. Take some time off for once and take Lisa on vacation or something."

Charleigh watched as he looked on at her with a knowing look that let her know she'd just stepped in it.

"Yeah, that's rich coming from you. You're telling me to take time off? Let me ask you a question, darlin', when was the last time you took a break? They've been running you ragged around here long enough."

"Touche, but you know as well as I do, I leave here for even one damn day and everything goes to shit. Clayton can handle some of the load, but everyone is so used to dealing with me, they call my personal line when they can't reach me at the office."

"There's a solution to that you know, it's called turning your phone off."

"Right, why didn't I think of that?" She answered with an exaggerated roll of the eyes.

"Well, are you going to be able to make it to the barbecue out at my place tomorrow night?"

"The kids and I will be there, yes."

"What about Cullen?" Declan questioned, quickly noting the sour look that instantly appeared on her face at the mention of her significant other's name. Was it bad to say that pleased him? Because it did. He had despised Cullen Atwood from the moment he learned they'd begun seeing each other six months ago. The guy had a reputation and not a good one.

"Not if I can help it," was all she said as she began loosening up the saddle. It was as she was doing so that Declan noticed the faint bruise upon her cheek which she'd obviously tried to cover up with makeup. He wasn't stupid, he knew where it had come from. With anger in his eyes, he raised his calloused hand gently to her face, his thumb grazing over the mark.

"How long?" He sternly asked as she jerked her head away from his touch.

"Don't worry about it, Dec. I handled it, okay?"

"That asshole put his fucking hands on you, so no, it's not okay. Talk to me, Charleigh."

With a heavy sigh, and fighting back the tears that had begun to sting her eyes, she gently grabbed his wrist, bringing it down and lifted her head to look at him, taken back by the concern and anger that gazed back at her. "I know, and I will okay? Just not here, and not right now. Not with the kids around."

Declan had no choice but to accept the little she was offering and silently nodded in agreement, helping her to finish unsaddling Winchester. He glanced back over in the general direction of the kids and couldn't help but laugh. Curious as to what had amused him, Charleigh followed his line of sight and widely smiled.

Noah was trying his damnedest to carry a bag of feed all on his own, and was actually managing doing so, that was until Riley ran past and knocked it out of his hands.

"Looks like Noah might put you out a job if he keeps going like he is."

"No shit," he scoffed. "The boy is a work horse and over eager for everything. You know he asked me if he could take over feeding and mucking from here on out?"

"Sure you didn't coerce the rascal into offering, Kopus?"

Both Charleigh and Declan turned at the sound of her brother, Clayton's voice.

"No, but you keep talking shit and you just might coerce me into knocking you on your ass, old man. "

Charleigh laughed as they continued to jab at each other. With Winchester being completely unsaddled, she took him by the reins and began to lead him over to the barn. Declan took her arm gently, telling her not to worry about coming back for the tack, he'd get it in a minute then took the reins from her as well with a wink.

"Damn, you put her horse up too?" Clayton questioned in mock disbelief.

"Clay, mind you're own damn business and quit harrassing him. He does more around here in one day than you do in a week," Charleigh bit out before heading back to the barn to gather up the kids for their nightly routine, completely oblivious to the look of shock on her brother's face and amusement on Declan's.

*~STA~*

"Momma, is he gonna let us swim?" Riley bounced up and down on her mother's bed as she got ready for the barbecue out at Declan's house. It had been yet another long day at work, this day particularly more frustrating as Ted Milton from down the road had called needing his fields plowed and had become incensed when she'd told him he'd have to wait in line because Declan was off that day and tomorrow. so he'd get to it as soon as he could. There were four other farmers on that list that were already needing Declan to take care of various problems, and while she knew he could have handled it, she'd chosen to give him a few paid days off.

Something Declan hadn't taken very well this morning.

Not that he was angry or ugly about it, he just insisted he was fine and could take care of it, that doing what she'd done was making her job harder and she had enough to worry about. Charleigh had simply argued back that if he wasn't going to take care of himself and take a break, she'd do it for him.

"I'm sure he will, sweetheart," she called out to her daughter as slipped on her jeans. "Riley, honey, why don't you go and get you and your brother's swim stuff together? I'll be out in a minute, " Charleigh told her as soflty as she could as he walked in, the smell of alcohol already tainting him.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Cullen slurred as he leaned against her door.

"You can check that bullshit at the door, Cullen. I told you I'm not putting up with it. We're going to Declan's barbecue."

"Oh this should be fun, watching him and your brother mad dog me all night...exactly what I wanted to do with my fucking weekend."

"Then don't come, dammit! You're already drunk as it is anyway, and they've done nothing to you. I don't want to hear it," she angrily told him, watching as anger flashed in his hazy blue eyes.

"Jesus, what crawled up your ass today? I'm just playing, angel," he said, pulling her against him to which she quickly escaped from and made for the front room with the kiddos.

Charleigh despised Cullen Blackford. The day she'd began her relationship with him six months ago was the stupidest decision she'd ever made. Everything had been great for the first month and a half or so, but he had quickly started showing his true colors little by little. His need to control her—which she'd most recently began fighting back against—his incessant drinking that was increasing more and more every day, and the worst trait that had made itself known over the last year, his temper which often led to physical violence. Something that Declan had seen proof of yesterday. It wasn't that she hadn't tried leaving or putting an end to it because she had, but he always came back and when she would start to fight back, the kids would be around and he'd hold upsetting them over her head. And those nights were most often the times she was hit. Granted, the assaults had never been bad enough where she was left bleeding or seriously injured, and Cullen wasn't a large man by any means. He stood around six feet tall and was of a lean build. However, the hardest hit Charleigh had taken was exactly what she'd failed at covering up. When Cullen had punched her the other night, she'd fought back and knocked him unconscious with a table lamp, which thank God the kids had stayed at Clayton's that night. The bruise it had left behind was a nasty one and she'd spent hours covering it up as best she could. Declan catching sight of it was the worst and best thing that could have happened. Charleigh had even put her foot down and kicked Cullen's ass out that night, but when she'd woken the next morning, he was back in her bed. She needed to change her locks, though in all honesty—after that last hit—while she was a tough woman, she was terrified of Cullen's retaliation against her.

"All right, let's go, kids," she called out from the front door, an iron grip on her keys as Cullen reached for them. "Don't even think about it. I'm driving," she bit out, ushering Noah and Riley out the door.

With each word she spoke, she knew he was getting angrier and angrier meaning it was only a matter of time before he exploded. Charleigh just hoped it could wait until after the barbecue.

As soon as Charleigh's truck pulled into Declan's drive, the kids had jumped out of the car and were tearing down the path into his backyard. She didn't even bother waiting for Cullen and began walking to the back, so when he finally caught up and took firm hold of her arm, he didn't realize someone was watching. Biting her lip from the pain in his grip, she rounded on him and threatened that either he let her go or she'd make a scene which was something she knew he didn't want.

"Charleigh, everything all right?' Declan's baritone voice boomed behind her. He'd obviously seen what was going on from the grill. She turned and gave him a tight smile and whispered an apology as his eyes moved from her panicked face down to Cullen's grip on her arm. "You gonna let her go or am I going to have to pry your fucking hand from her arm?"

When Cullen let her go, Declan gently took her other arm and led her away a few feet, pulling her into him for a hug, his arm tightening around her just slightly harder than usual, working to calm her. "You want me to get rid of him? I'll do it, right now Charleigh, just say the word," he said, leaning down to her ear.

"Declan, this is my problem, I'll handle it, okay?" Charleigh answered, her voice quivering with the weakening of her resolve.

"Like you handled it the other night? Or like you were handling it a second ago?" Declan shot back, knowing it probably hurt her but it was the truth and calling it out like that in front of Cullen let it be known that he now knew what had been going on.

"Dec, I don't want to ruin your barbecue, okay? Just let it go and enjoy yourself. Don't worry about me," she answered him, her emotions giving way as a tear slid down her cheek. Seeing the regret and anger in Declan's eyes, but not wanting to deal with the situation any longer, she quickly pulled away and walked into his backyard, straight to the bar where she could have a drink to ease her nerves.

Declan's attention then turned completely on Cullen. "You saw that, right?" He questioned Cullen, venom in his voice to which Cullen nodded. "The pain in her eyes, the tears? That was all on you. Think you can keep yourself in check for the remainder of the night?"

"Who the hell do you think you are? You ain't my fuckin' daddy," Cullen bit out, but before he could blink, Declan had firmly taken his arm in a vice-like grip and pulled him close.

"No, thank God for that, but you have seen what I'm capable of and Charleigh's like family to me. You ever fucking touch her again, I'll put your ass in the ground myself," Declan growled, making sure that Cullen heard him loud and clear before releasing him and watching him head off into the crowd, steering clear of Charleigh, who was off in the corner talking to Renee, Clayton's wife. And from the looks of it, she'd put on a mask once again because she was now laughing and smiling like nothing had happened.

The entire situation irked him, and despite how much she was attempting to hide it now, he knew he'd offended her.

"Kopus!" Clayton's voice shouted from behind him, back at the grill. "Get your ass over here, man! The damn food is burning!"

"You've got hands, McKenzie! I think you can manage flipping a burger," Declan laughed, shaking his head and headed back to the guys. After flipping a few, he pulled his phone out and glanced over in Charleigh's direction, locking eyes with her briefly as he tapped out a text to her.

I'm sorry, Char. I didn't mean to hurt or upset you, that wasn't my intention. -Dec

He watched as she reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone. "What was that all about over there anyway?" Clayton asked, disrupting Declan's train of thought.

"Dude, I won't get into right now because even I don't know the full story. What I do know is that piece of shit she arrived here with needs his ass severely beat," Declan bit out, suddenly in a state of pissed off again.

"Why? What the fuck did he do, Dec?" Clayton all but shouted, until Declan assured him he'd fill him in later.

*~STA~*

A few hours later, Charleigh stood talking to Lisa, Declan's wife, and laughing as she watched the kids splash around in the pool with Clayton and Declan, who'd both jumped in after everyone had eaten. Charleigh, having had two drinks was feeling good, but still completely sober—the complete opposite of Cullen. He'd completely gone off on his own and had most likely ingested fifty percent of the alcohol that Declan and others had provided out there. While talking to Lisa, Charleigh was facing yet another problem; She couldn't help but feel that something was off with Lisa, she just couldn't put her finger on what. She was a beautiful woman full of independence and integrity, blessed with one of the best men Charleigh had ever known to call her husband, and yet tonight, she sensed a bit of underlying anger and bitterness emanating from her. Not that Charleigh felt any of those things were directed at her, but just...something wasn't right. And as they sat there, her attention would go to Declan now and again. She'd never answered his text that he'd sent her earlier. It wasn't that she was angry, because she wasn't. However, she'd be lying if she said his words and accusations hadn't hurt. She honestly had no idea what to say to him. No one knew what she was going through, and no one knew how many times she'd tried to end the shit relationship she was in, how many times she'd fought back.

"Momma, watch!" The sweet voice of her daughter, Riley, called out, shaking her from her thoughts. Riley was perched upon Declan's shoulders, as Noah was on Clayton's.

Chicken fighting.

She couldn't help but laugh as she watched their small bodies fight it out, but due to Clayton being quite a bit smaller in stature than Declan, Riley had an advantage and she used it to the fullest extent, sending Noah toppling into the water, pulling Clayton with him. Charleigh cheered for her, clapping and laughing as Riley giggled...at least until she locked eyes with Declan. Eyes which held knowledge of what she'd been trying so hard to keep hidden and now that it was out, she couldn't look at him without feeling ashamed and embarrassed.

Declan watched as the smile quickly disappeared from Charleigh's face the moment she looked at him. What he'd said had obviously struck a little deeper than he'd realized. He fully intended to go and try to smooth things over with her, especially since she'd never texted him back but he couldn't as she was standing with his wife, Lisa, who'd been staring daggers at him all night. He had no idea what her problem was this time. They'd fought so frequently over the past six months that he no longer knew what they were fighting about half of the time. He'd get home and she would be at his throat. And the thought of what Lisa could possibly be filling Charleigh's head with made his stomach sick. Lord knew, the woman didn't need any more reasons to think ill of him.

Sometime later, as the kids continued splashing around and playing with Clayton, Declan caught sight of a completely drunken Cullen making his way toward Charleigh in a stupor, and there was no mistaking the anger in his eyes. Declan, knowing shit was about to go down, called out to Clayton over his shoulder, never taking his eyes off of the scene before him.

"What's up?" Clayton asked breathlessly.

"Get the kids in the house. Now." Declan told him in a low menacing tone that Clayton knew better than to argue with, especially after he followed Declan's line of sight, realizing that whatever was going on was related to whatever Declan had walked up on earlier in the night.

Declan waited until the kids were inside before he steathily made his way across the pool and slowly approached the scene. Everyone in attendance at the barbecue had begun watching as Cullen obnoxiously shouted at her, backing her into the corner of the pool fence.

"It's high time you start respectin' me and doin' as I tell ya...quit bein' such a bitch all the fuckin' time! I ain't takin' it no more and you know what happens when you piss me off, we don't want that now do we?"

Charleigh shrunk back against the fence, the stench of alcohol on his breath obviously getting to her. "Cullen, don't do this here. Not now. The kids are here and everyone is watching, you're making a fool of yourself," she mumbled, loud enough for Declan to hear. At that moment, Cullen's hand shot out, grabbing her roughly at the waist, making her cry out in pain. "Dammit, I can't do this shit anymore, Cullen! I can't handle your fucking drinking anymore. You need help! You've put your hands on me for the last time. I'm done with you!" She angrily cried as she watched his eyes fill with rage and his fist rear back. Knowing what was coming, Charleigh winced and put her hands up in defense of her face—that is until Cullen was ripped away and slammed forcefully against the wall beside her, Declan's hand tight around his throat, as his other hand balled into a fist and plowed into Cullen's face. Twice.

Charleigh watched on in horror and confusion as Declan seethed, his body dripping from his sudden leap out of the pool.

"You son of a bitch, I warned you to keep your fucking hands off of her!" Declan shouted, plunging his fist into Cullen's gut. "Two things are going to happen here; one, you're going to get the fuck off of my property, and two, you're going to apologize."

"The hell I am!"

"Really?" Declan darkly chuckled before headbutting him, splitting Cullen's head open as blood start to seep from the wound. "You really want to play this game? Apologize or it's only going to get worse for you."

Needing all of the yelling to cease, Charleigh took hold of Declan's large bicep, gently tugging to no avail as she pleaded with him to stop.

"Fuck you, asshole," Cullen shouted, then grinned drunkenly, looking around as though he were untouchable and was doing this for everyone's entertainment. With a move so quick it was no more than a blur, a resounding crack was heard as Cullen screamed in pain. Charleigh followed Declan's left hand down to where it held Cullen's hand, bent at a completely unnatural angle.

He'd just broken his hand.

Declan's eyes turned black as he visibly tightened his grip around Cullen's neck. He moved in closer until they were nose to nose.

"You better listen to me fucking good, Atwood; if you ever, and I do mean ever, contact Charleigh or the kids again, if you so much as look their way or speak their names, I will put you in the ground," Declan growled menacingly in an octave and voice Charleigh had never heard come from him before. "The only saving grace you have right now are the kids being here because I can promise you one thing, ain't a soul here that would rat me out for fucking killing you."

"Declan," Clayton spoke, coming up on him from behind, having left the kids inside with his wife, Renee. "Want some help in getting this pathetic piece of shit off your property?" Declan turned his head to smile at Clayton and nodded.

"Hear that, bitch?" Clayton snarled, getting up in his face as they moved and began hauling him out of the pool area and off the property where Charleigh was sure he'd receive a beat down he was sure to not recover from for some time. As they disappeared into the darkness she caught Declan glance back at her but she couldn't read his expression.

The silence surrounding her was deafening as she glanced around at friends and neighbors she'd grown up with, all eyes trained on her. From looks of sympathy, to pity, to disapproval...she could feel it all closing in on her and she couldn't handle it.

Then her eyes met Lisa's.

Declan's wife looked on at her with such hatred that she'd wished the world would swallow her up whole. Then Lisa had turned her attention in the direction Declan had gone, the look not leaving her face, before turning and leaving. This was why she never talked about what really went on between she and Cullen. This was why she hadn't wanted him to come with her. And this was why she suddenly felt tears spill over; it was as though she couldn't breathe.

"Charleigh..." Renee called out, snapping her out of it. "Go home, okay? The kids can stay with Clay and I tonight. Just go."

"Thank you," she cried, "Tell Declan I'm sorry for ruining his night and thanks anyway, okay?"

Renee nodded her affirmation that she would and then ushered her to go.

Not needing to hear the words a second time, Charleigh hurriedly grabbed her purse from inside and ran out to her truck, where she sat inside and cried alone in silence for some time. It was only when she heard a tap against the window, that she snapped out of her thoughts. She tearfully glanced out at Declan, who stood outside her truck, his chest still heaving in anger, and emotions flashing in his eyes that she didn't recognize. Too embarrassed and humiliated by the entire situation, and not trusting herself to speak to him without completely falling apart, Charleigh put the key in the ignition and gunned the engine, leaving no question about her emotional state.

*~STA~*

She was pissed at him, she hated him.

Those were the only thoughts that continuously ran through Declan's mind after Charleigh peeled out, leaving him in the dust. He honestly was just trying to protect her, but apparently he hadn't thought it through and she'd suffered from it. Granted, she'd most likely have suffered much worse had he done nothing and let it continue. Most of their friends in attendance had cut out after he and Clayton returned and he couldn't say he minded. The whole incident had pretty much signaled that the party was over. He was now in the pool house, attempting to rinse Cullen's blood from his hands.

"You must be real proud of yourself, huh?" His wife's voice mocked him from behind, as he looked back at her in the reflection of the mirror. "Did that make you feel like a man? Beating the shit out of a man so drunk he could hardly function?"

Hearing her attempt to defend Cullen set him off. "Hardly function? Are you fucking kidding me with that horse shit, Lee? He was about to fucking punch Charleigh! I wasn't going to just sit there and watch it happen!"

"Of course, you weren't. Not your precious, Charleigh. What's so special about her, anyway, huh? You spend all of your damn time at the ranch rather than here at home," she questioned him, chuckling darkly. "You fucking her?"

Declan grew hot. He wasn't going to listen to this, wasn't going to let her start yet another fight. And to know that she'd actually just accused him of infidelity, with Charleigh, hurt him. It hurt deep. Yes, he spent most of his time on the ranch and at the fight club, but it certainly wasn't because he had something going on with Charleigh. They hadn't been together for more than a decade, before he ever even met Lisa, before Charleigh had the twins, hell, before he'd begun working on the Lazy E. And he'd only once ever been unfaithful and it had been many years ago and surrounded a situation he regretted to this very day.

Furious with her accusations, he rounded on her and threw the hand towel to the ground in anger. "Don't even fucking start that shit with me, Lisa. Not tonight. I work my damn ass off to provide you with everything you could possibly want and more. I've never stepped out on you, that's not me. I've been faithful to you no matter what we've gone through and for you to throw that bullshit at me for defending her, for stopping an asshole from hitting her is fucking low. I've spent more time with Charleigh in those twenty minutes tonight than I have in the past six months. Yeah, I may work at the ranch, but I never fucking see her and even if it was regular, what difference does it make? Anytime I'm home, you're gone, and when you are here, you can't stomach the though of me touching you, so I could ask you the same fucking thing. You sleeping with someone?"

Declan watched as Lisa stared back at him, unable to speak. With a shake of the head, willing his emotional turmoil away, he turned to walk out but the clearing of her throat stopped him. "Declan..."

He stopped on his way out the door, bracing a hand against the door frame, keeping his back to her.

"Yes, I've been sleeping with someone, and the problem is, you just very possibly killed him," she spat viciously.

Not able to handle any more, Declan felt his eyes well up as he turned to look at her, not an inkling of remorse in her face. In fact, she gazed at him in despise. "Well then, Lisa, I guess you got what you wanted. We're done," he told her, his voice nothing more than a weak whisper as he pushed off the door frame and walked out, not able to bear looking back.