Indigo Ridge Quotes

I don't think I could quit you if I tried." "Even if we fight?" "Especially when we fight.

In the absence of a clear ambition, serving others is a mighty purpose.

I don’t know who you are or what you’re doing, but I’m having a conversation with Winnie,” Skyler said, standing taller. “And I’m here to give her an orgasm before dinner. Let’s find out which one of us she’d rather have stick around.” 

It had happened so naturally, this fall into Winn. Like I was out for a short drive, and when I looked back to where I’d started, instead of traveling yards, I’d gone miles. Deeper and deeper, until there was no turning back. I was in it with this woman. So fucking in it.

She’d told me that one day, she hoped I’d find a man who’d fight with me. Who’d love me even when he wanted to strangle me. Who’d never quit fighting because what we had was worth a few angry words.

And for the first time in a long time, I knew the man holding me tight wouldn’t let me fall.

Don’t take your mind for granted, Griffin. Or your heart. They are your gifts. And they are not guaranteed from one day to the next.

You lost her.” Griffin’s voice had an edge unlike anything I’d heard before. An edge that made me glad I was standing on his side, not the opposing. “You fucked up and lost her. She’s mine. And I won’t fuck it up.

Casual was becoming a craving. We’d sailed past uncomplicated weeks ago. Whatever boundaries we’d erected had been destroyed.

An inch, maybe two, separated our bodies. That tiny gap crackled, the electricity between us just as strong as it had been at Willie’s. She was more beautiful than I’d realized sitting in that dark, musty bar. Winn’s blue eyes broke from mine, and the moment her gaze dropped to my mouth, I was done for. I leaned closer. “What are you doing?” she whispered. “I have no fucking clue.” Then my lips were on hers.

Though he was missing the hat and the horse, this guy was every cowboy fantasy come to life.

In a sea of people, above the noise and below the lights, one look from him and the world had melted away.

Maybe the others doubted me but I wasn’t about to doubt myself. Much.

Why’d you kiss me at your house?” “Why’d you kiss me back?” The corner of her mouth turned up. “Who are the condoms for?” “You.” There was no point in lying. She was stuck in my head.

But if there was a woman to steal for the future, it was her. I’d thought there wouldn’t be time to add another person, another commitment, to my life. But being with her wasn’t work. She fit. Seamlessly.

She fit me. Perfectly. In more ways than just riding on a four-wheeler.

Hey.” His thumbs caught the two tears that escaped. “You can’t cry, Winn. It destroys me. Don’t cry, baby.

You have me twisted up, woman. So fucking twisted up.” “Want to unwind? Call it quits?” He leaned away and his hands moved to my face, his fingers threading through the hair at my temples. “I don’t think I could quit you if I tried.” “Even if we fight?” “Especially when we fight.

Deeper and deeper. She pulled. I followed. It had happened so naturally, this fall into Winn. Like I was out for a short drive, and when I looked back to where I’d started, instead of traveling yards, I’d gone miles. Deeper and deeper, until there was no turning back. I was in it with this woman. So fucking in it.

One morning spent in a rocking chair, and the world had shifted. Like going for a ride and veering off the main path to get a look from a different angle, and then discovering that the trail you’d been on was lacking in every way imaginable.

The Quincy rodeo was a standing tradition, much like Christmas or Thanksgiving. It was one of the few events we always made sure to attend together, even if that meant closing shop. Except that evening, surrounded by my family, a piece was missing. I hadn’t realized until late in the evening, when I’d glanced across the arena and found Winn at the fence, that the missing piece was her. Another shift. She belonged by my side, not standing alone.

The rocks at the base of this sable cliff glowed silver as they caught the moonlight.

My heart lurched. The girls. There was no question who he was referring to. I knew, deep in my soul, exactly which girls he meant. Lily Green. Harmony Hardt.

Living was precious. Every moment.

No one in Quincy needed to know I’d given the chief of police three orgasms.

Winn was here to talk about a dead girl, and I was thinking of sex.

I twisted, taking her face in my hands. Those indigo eyes seared into mine. They saw the fears. The doubts. The frustration. They gave me a place to put it all. A place to just . . . be real.

Except that evening, surrounded by my family, a piece was missing. I hadn’t realized until late in the evening, when I’d glanced across the arena and found Winn at the fence, that the missing piece was her.

He seemed like a gentle man. A person who lived alone because he was content with his own company. A brother and a proud uncle—most of the stories he’d told had included one or more of his nieces or nephews.

The ranch was all I'd ever wanted. From the time I was a kid, I'd known that I'd live and die on this place. My heart belonged to the land. My soul was tethered to the earth. A day of honest work gave me peace.

I don’t think I could quit you if I tried.” “Even if we fight?” “Especially when we fight.” It wasn’t a declaration of love. It wasn’t a lifelong commitment. But that statement moved me so much that tears flooded my eyes.

Lean on me.” He kissed my forehead, then hugged me again, squeezing so tight that if my knees buckled, I wouldn’t drop an inch. I leaned on him. And for the first time in a long time, I knew the man holding me tight wouldn’t let me fall.

One morning spent in a rocking chair, and the world had shifted. Like going for a ride and veering off the main path to get a look from a different angle, and then discovering that the trail you’d been on was lacking in every way imaginable. I was in it with this woman. So fucking in it.

was with them in this strange place? “Well, we’ll just have to keep going.” Brambleclaw padded out from the trees. A grassy bank sloped down in front of him to a narrow valley. Beyond, a ridge rose into the indigo sky, its curving side shadowed by forest. As the cats began to pad out of the copse, still blinking and stretching, Leafpaw glanced up at the sky. Clouds obscured the stars. “Don’t worry about the sign.” Her father’s voice surprised her, and she turned to find him standing beside her. “You are still an apprentice medicine cat,” he murmured. “You shouldn’t feel responsible if StarClan wishes to remain silent.” She gazed gratefully into his emerald eyes as he went on. “I’m proud of you. And Squirrelpaw too—even though Cinderpelt’s prophecy frightened me for a while.” “Cinderpelt’s prophecy?” Leafpaw echoed. “StarClan’s sign that fire and tiger would destroy the Clan.” Leafpaw blinked. Cinderpelt’s ominous warning seemed a lifetime away now. “Now I think I understand what it meant.” Firestar gazed

What people said about time healing wounds was bullshit. No amount of time had made it easier to relive that night. Not an hour. Not a day. Not five years. Because each day that passed was a day we had missed together.

I’ll hold you. If you have a nightmare, I won’t let go.

I was in it with this woman. So fucking in it.

I leaned on him. And for the first time in a long time, I knew the man holding me tight wouldn't let me fall.

Early retirement. We were definitely going to discuss an early retirement if he didn’t change his attitude.

Winn’s blue eyes broke from mine, and the moment her gaze dropped to my mouth, I was done for. I leaned closer. “What are you doing?” she whispered. “I have no fucking clue.” Then my lips were on hers.

I know you will. I don’t like thinking of you dealing with this. It’s heavy and hard. But someone has to carry it, and I trust you above anyone else to do the right thing.

What if it’s not Lily?” “It’s her, Winslow. We know our own people.” As in, I wasn’t one of them. Ouch.

Griffin Eden was a one-time mistake, and with any luck, not a soul in Quincy would find out I’d screwed him my first night in town.

This man was better than any fantasy. Better than any romance novel hero or movie star. Better than any lover who’d ever taken me to bed. Not that I’d had many.

I spent the next fifteen minutes telling him about Lily Green and the other suicides. I’d told him how Lily’s mother had collapsed into my arms when I’d gone to her home and told her the horrific news. Her scream had been so full of agony that I’d never forget that noise. Heartbreak was an ugly, black sound.

My grandmother had loved chickens, and her collection of rooster and hen statues sat proudly above the kitchen cabinets.

Was I one of them? Because I felt like an outsider, and the niggling in my stomach warned me that it might always be that way.

Why?” I grinned. “So I can help you break in the bed.” “I thought you didn’t want to do that again.” “I can make time for one more night. What do you say, Chief?” She picked up the instructions and handed them over. “One more night.

Maybe this wasn’t how the previous chief would have handled it. Maybe he would have taken one look at that poor girl and known it was suicide. But . . . “I’m the chief now.” And we’d do things my way. Whether Griffin Eden liked it or not.

Drinking seemed necessary around this woman.

Emily had been a one-night mistake last year. A mistake I was still paying for.

You’re new here.” Griffin spoke the word new with such scorn it was like he’d taken those three letters and thrown them in my face.

I don’t know if that’s true when you lose a child. But I hope, for Lily’s mother’s sake, that in time, she finds comfort.

You think someone went up there with her.” “Possibly.” “And what? Killed her?” I shook my head and sighed. “It’s a suicide, Chief. Just like the other girls who jumped off that ridge. I don’t know why they did it. My heart aches for their families. But it’s exactly the same as the other two times. I know because I was there for all three.

At the moment, my dick was ready to say fuck it and carry her to my bedroom.

He’d always remind me that even the dark days pass. That we heal from our losses.

Thankfully, he’d bolted first. The moment he’d finished his club sandwich, he’d excused himself from the table. I was still mad at myself for checking out his ass as he’d walked away.

Maybe two Bud Lights would dull my senses enough so I wouldn’t have a raging erection while she was in my house.

If you want to keep that hand attached to your body, you’ll take it off of her right now.

I’m no killer.” He gritted his teeth, not answering my question. “I’m losing my mind. I’m losing myself. That’s a humbling realization for a man. To know that there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop it. I’m facing my own mortality, Ms. Covington.

It was easy to force smiles. It was simple to lie and tell people you were doing great when the truth was that every heartbeat caused you pain.

Find your way back to me. Please. You can’t leave me yet.

I don’t want to quit either,” I whispered. “Hey.” His thumbs caught the two tears that escaped. “You can’t cry, Winn. It destroys me. Don’t cry, baby.” I sniffled away the sting in my nose. “It’s just been a long few days.” “Lean on me.

I hadn’t really talked to her in a while. But every time I bumped into her, she’d smile. Give me a hug. She was sweet like that. Like you were this long-lost friend she hadn’t seen in years. Not someone you saw once a month at the bank. I had no idea she was struggling. No one did.” Because maybe she wasn’t.

And I’m here to give her an orgasm before dinner. Let’s find out which one of us she’d rather have stick around.

Someone found a body at the base of Indigo Ridge.” I gasped. “W-what? Why didn’t you call me?” “Slipped my mind.” Asshole. “Officer Smith, you and I will be having a conversation when I return to the station.

Eight years with Skyler. One month with Griffin. I’d choose Griffin every time. “There’s a reason you cheated,” I told Skyler. “Because we wouldn’t have made it.” “Winnie.” He stepped closer, his hand moving from my elbow to my shoulder. “If you want to keep that hand attached to your body, you’ll take it off of her right now.” The deep rumbling voice behind Skyler sent a shiver racing down my spine. The thud of boots echoed before Griffin stepped onto the porch and came to my side.

He couldn’t have known what a compliment that was. My mother was the most beautiful woman I’d seen in my life, inside and out.

The glare he aimed Skyler’s way brought a smile to my lips. Jealousy on Griffin Eden looked incredibly sexy. “I don’t know who you are or what you’re doing, but I’m having a conversation with Winnie,” Skyler said, standing taller. “And I’m here to give her an orgasm before dinner. Let’s find out which one of us she’d rather have stick around.

You lost her.” Griffin’s voice had an edge unlike anything I’d heard before. An edge that made me glad I was standing on his side, not the opposing. “You fucked up and lost her. She’s mine. And I won’t fuck it up.” Mine. My heart melted into a puddle.

My stomach dropped. “You found them?” “Yeah. Was out shed hunting.” “Where?” “Oh, I don’t know. Some trail not far from here.” A trail on Indigo Ridge most likely. Because there was pink stitching along the brown leather shaft. There were plenty of men’s boots with pink stitching, but the delicate square point of the toe box and the arch of the heel . . . those were women’s boots. Winslow had been looking for Lily Green’s shoes. The sinking feeling in my gut said I’d just found them.

Maybe he was with his reporter tonight. Maybe not. It didn’t matter anymore. He hadn’t shown up for me to end it tonight. I guess that was end enough. So I worked alone to unpack my house. Because that was what I was. Alone.

People handled grief differently. Some welcomed the outpouring of affection and support. Others, like me, held it close to the heart and only let small pieces go when they were ready.

They’d love Griffin.

Was this how Lily Green had died? Forced to make this miserable climb? Was this the path that Harmony Hardt had walked too? What about the others? It hadn’t been suicide. I was right. All this time, my instincts had been pushing me to this conclusion. But those same instincts had failed me too. They’d failed me for not suspecting Frank. For not seeing the monsters who’d lived next door.

sometimes it wasn’t about choosing right from wrong. It was choosing the right wrongs.

I held her in my arms as the rush subsided, my nose buried in her hair. Her scent clung to my skin, and for a moment, I forgot what life had been like before this.

Instead, he’d praised her energy. He’d said twice that she’d outshined the other candidates. She was sharp. She had the tenacity to take the police department into the future.

she had brushed me off or not shown any interest, I would have walked away. But the desire in her gaze had matched my own, and I’d just . . . had to have her. That was the most erotic night I’d had in years. Maybe ever.

Even with time, there were wounds that would never heal.

There was a pair of cowboy boots next to the fence, each filled with dirt and a ruby red flower.