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I should tell Quinn and Clay that he’s here. But one look at him and it’s like the last ten years have never passed and I’m back at the bonfire, the awkward high schooler uncomfortable in her own skin. Marching away from him in the woods. It was the last time I saw him. How is it possible that he can affect me this much after all this time?
He hasn’t noticed me, not with his head bowed, so I quickly turn around and focus on Pastor John as he finishes up his prayer. Him being here means nothing. I should be happy that I remember the pain from that night so well, it will make keeping my walls up around him so much easier.
“On behalf of the Davis family, I want to thank everyone for coming today. At this time, the family has asked for some time alone as they say their good-byes. They wanted me to remind everyone that the PieHole will be opening up for a few hours tonight starting at five for anyone that wishes to join them.”
I keep my arm around Quinn, not looking back to where I saw Maverick. I can hear the church slowly emptying and I feel a frown pull at my lips. I had hoped that when everyone started to leave that he would have come up front to be with his family, but so far, the pew we’re in is still empty save for the three of us. We sit and wait for everyone to leave, something that Clay had asked Pastor John to make arrangements for in place of the customary recessional, knowing that no one in this town would really mean a word of it anyway. Plus, I know Quinn is having a hard time. Regardless of the fact that she wasn’t the closest with her father, she was really counting on this—Maverick home. She’s still shaking in my arms, but when I look over at Clay I realize his silence isn’t because of the heaviness of Buford’s death, but instead anger over his brother’s absence that has started to build to a boil. I fear that he’s seconds away from tipping over the edge.
I stand when Clay and Quinn do, but hang back at the edge of the row we had been sitting in as they meet Pastor John and gather their father’s ashes. I can’t wait to get out of these heels. If it would have been acceptable to wear my boots, I would have, but Quinn would have killed me. As it is, I feel like I can’t take a deep breath with how tight my dress is against my chest. I never wear tight shirts. I haven’t since my boobs became beasts of their own right. I’m too busy fiddling with the straps of my dress, trying desperately to get some of the pressure against my chest to ease up so I could take a deep breath, when I heard Quinn gasp.
“Mav!” Next thing I know she’s running past where I’m standing, her black hair streaming in the air behind her as she speeds forward right into her brother’s arms. Clay moves to stand next to me and I look up to meet his green eyes, the questions he isn’t vocalizing dancing in their emerald depths. He’s not stupid and I’m doing a crappy job at hiding the memories haunting me right now. He gives me a small smile, shifting his hold on the urn to wrap his free arm around me and pulls me into a strong hold.
“You’re shakin’,” he says against my temple and I just nod.
“I’m good, Clay. Go see your brother.”
“I’m fine right where I am, sugar.”
I keep my eyes to the ground, focusing on his worn boots instead of looking up, hating myself for making this moment about me when I should be focused on them. Like it or not, I can’t fight the feelings that being near him bring me. I’m that stupid, naive sixteen-year-old all over again. “Let’s get out of here,” he says after a few silent seconds. I look up and give him a smile, hoping that it looks a hell of a lot braver than I feel. Inside I feel like I might puke.
“You think I could have a second with my family?”
My head shoots up at the coldness I hadn’t anticipated in Maverick’s voice. He’s not focused on me, though, instead looking at his brother with a hard expression and one brow raised upward.
“Mav!” Quinn gasps and he moves his attention from his brother to her.
“Sorry, Quinn, but I’m thinkin’ that Clay’s lady friend would understand that this should be a moment for our family and give us time alone.”
“I’ll just—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, sugar,” Clay all but spits through clenched teeth and drops his arm to take a step forward. “You’ve got something to say, Mav, then say it.”
“Nothing to say, Clayton, I just think it would be nice for your girlfriend to give us some space.”
“My girlfriend,” he parrots sarcastically, his deep voice vibrating in anger.
“Mav.” Quinn attempts to butt in, but stops when Maverick leaves her side and turns to stalk out of the church. I should find it comical that he obviously didn’t recognize me, or hell, maybe he did and he’s just picking up where he left off ten years ago in the middle of the dark woods. I take a deep breath. “It’s okay. He’s right. Y’all need some time as a family. I’ll head over to the PieHole and start settin’ up for tonight.”
Quinn brushes a tear from her cheek and just shakes her head. I look at Clay to see him staring in the direction that his brother just left.
“You’re family,” he finally says, not looking in my direction.
“Clay, really, it’s okay. It’s been a long time since y’all were back together and I don’t need to be there for that reunion. It sucks that it takes all of this to finally bring him home, but he’s here and y’all need to make up for a lot of time lost.”
“Shut up, Leighton.”
“Don’t, Clay.”
“Don’t what? You’ve got every right to be here. You’re just as much a part of our family as he is. Hell, maybe even more so than he is at this point. So just shut up, come with us, and ignore him.”
I shake my head, the fight instantly leaving my sails, knowing I would be arguing until the end of time if I
pressed this issue.
“I can’t believe he doesn’t even recognize you,” Quinn whispers.
This is the first book in Harper Sloan's new series Coming Home and I have to say she is off to a flying start. This is the story of Maverick Davis,a retired rodeo star who due to one too many injuries is forced to return to the little town and the woman he ran from Leighton James,many years ago.
Ms. Sloan is a writer I have followed for several years and I was excited to learn about this new series. It did not disappoint in any way. Lost Rider is a well written and beautiful story about a second chance at love and in my humble opinion Harper Sloan nailed it.
Bitter that he has been forced to retire, Maverick returns home to attend his father's funeral, not because he cared for him, but because his brother and sister need him. Maverick is angry, withdrawn and obviously fighting demons within; all around him, people are willing to help him but he pushes them away.Trouble comes straight to him when he comes face to face with the woman he hurt bitterly prior to his leaving 10 years ago. He is shocked to realize just how much he still cares for Leigh and how bright the attraction burns.
Has Leigh forgiven him for the hurt he caused her? Does she still have feelings for him?
I will admit that at times I wanted to punch Maverick in the face, he was an arrogant jerk; whilst Leigh was such a feisty heroine that I fell for her immediately. However, it didn't take me long to fall for the gruff cowboy.
It is obvious that there is a great deal of attraction and unresolved feelings between Mav and Leigh, in fact their encounters are filled with passion almost to the point of exploding.
With a great deal of stubbornness and determination, Mav and Leigh work through their past. At times Lost Rider reminded me of a roller-coaster, as the emotional impact of the past keeps coming back to haunt the present, but in the end, love wins out.
The secondary characters were also amazing, I cannot wait for Quinn and Clay to get their stories. Who will be next?
Book one in a new series from Harper Sloan and what a way to start!!
This book is a beautifully written, moving story, it's about second chances, it's about forgiveness but most of all, it's about love. Harper Sloan gives us yet another side to her writing talents.
Maverick Davis left Pine Oak at the first opportunity he got, he never thought he would be going back to the family home he ran as far away as he could get from, but an injury meanns his professional bull riding days are over so he is back to the place he hated the most, the place he left his heart when he left the only girl he has every really loved......
Leighton James is now running her own business, she is the successful owner and baker at the PieHole in Pine Oak, Maverick broke her heart and made her feel worthless all those years ago, how is she going to react to him moving back into town.....
This book is full of drama and at times I found myself not liking Maverick very much but as the story processes and you find out why he behaved the way he did you can't help falling for yet another Harper Sloan leading man, this author has a nack of giving us just what we want in a hot sexy alpha male and this story certainly has it's fair share of them.
Looking forward to the next in the Coming Home Series.
This book is a beautifully written, moving story, it's about second chances, it's about forgiveness but most of all, it's about love. Harper Sloan gives us yet another side to her writing talents.
Maverick Davis left Pine Oak at the first opportunity he got, he never thought he would be going back to the family home he ran as far away as he could get from, but an injury meanns his professional bull riding days are over so he is back to the place he hated the most, the place he left his heart when he left the only girl he has every really loved......
Leighton James is now running her own business, she is the successful owner and baker at the PieHole in Pine Oak, Maverick broke her heart and made her feel worthless all those years ago, how is she going to react to him moving back into town.....
This book is full of drama and at times I found myself not liking Maverick very much but as the story processes and you find out why he behaved the way he did you can't help falling for yet another Harper Sloan leading man, this author has a nack of giving us just what we want in a hot sexy alpha male and this story certainly has it's fair share of them.
Looking forward to the next in the Coming Home Series.
Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand.
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