Free Loving Mondays by K.R. Wilburn Page B

of her again, my arms twitching with the need to wrap around her slender form and pull her into my chest.   Four years away from here, convincing myself I was over her, and the first sight of her told me that I still loved her, that I would probably always love her.   My heart was broken and scarred, and each time it beat out the rhythm of her name it throbbed angrily, but still it couldn't heal. Not while she still held all the pieces in her delicate hands.
    Unable to trust my voice, I nodded and opened the car door and climbed out.   My fingers tingled with the need to touch her, to comfort her for the pain that I knew she felt as keenly as I did at Gran's loss.   If anybody loved my Gran as much as I did, it was her.
    "Monday," I whispered, the taste of her name in my mouth familiar and alien at the same time. "I—"
    "I know," she interrupted me, stepping into me and draping her arms around my neck.   Before I could stop myself, my arms encircled her waist and crushed her to me, hoping that she couldn't feel my body trembling beneath her touch.   I buried my face in her hair and inhaled deeply, amazed at how much my body remembered the feel of this, of her softness against my chest.   Even though I knew she was nothing but trouble, my body cried out for her.   This was what home felt like, and no matter how I tried, I couldn't deny her.   I hated her for that.   Why couldn't I let her go?
    "There you are." A familiar gravelly voice interrupted my thoughts and I stiffened, icy anger sliding down my spine.   I released Monday and stepped back, putting distance between us. I clenched my hands into fists at my side to keep from pushing her behind me and shielding her from Luke.   She wasn't mine anymore. I had to remember that, and standing before me with a broad grin like nothing had ever changed between us, like he hadn't buried a knife so deep in my back it was still lodged there, was the reason why.   "I was wondering when you were going to get in.   I wish you would have just let me pick you up at the airport."
    "I needed the time to think."   I focused my gaze over his shoulder, unable to meet Luke's steely gray eyes.   Once he was my best friend, and the only person in the world besides Gran and Monday that I trusted.   In a small town in Texas, being the high school quarterback meant everyone wanted to be your friend.   You couldn't know who had your best interests at heart and who was out to ride your coattails.   Being an all-state quarterback committed to a division I college with every major sports network calling you the one to watch meant that everyone wanted a piece of you, everyone but the three of them.
    But as it turned out, Luke had wanted something from me after all—my girl.   And now Gran was gone and the girl I loved was his, and I truly was all alone in the world.   I felt a dark anger building in me at the sight of him and I flexed my hands to keep from plunging them into his face.
    I needed to get the hell out of this town first chance I got, and never come back.   I thought I had put all this behind me, but seeing her here, seeing them here together, just drug it all back up.   I wasn't there to rekindle old flames, or make nice with long lost friends.   I would spread my Gran's ashes over the ranch like she wanted me too, and lay to rest all the hurt and anger alongside her.   I was here to free myself from this town and the people who still had an inexorable hold on me, and then get back to Florida as fast as humanly possible.
    Unable to meet Monday's questioning gaze I busied myself pulling my suitcase from the trunk.
    "I'll take this to the bunkhouse for you," Luke insisted, taking the handle from me and gazing meaningfully from Monday to me.   "Give you two a chance to talk."  
    "There's nothing to talk about," I insisted gruffly, but he was already walking off along the edge of the property.   Looking back at Monday, whose lips turned up sheepishly, I pointed at