February’s Bad Boy: Aiden (Bad Boys of Mustang Mountain #2)

5. Aiden

CHAPTER 5

AIDEN

Even with mud caked on her face, she was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen. I’d been fighting my attraction since the first day she bumped into me at the café. Tonight, watching her coax the horses back to the safety of the trailer, it was too much. I wanted to touch her, to taste her soft, full lips, to let myself think I might someday be worthy of a woman like her.

Her arms snaked up to wrap around my neck. I took the kiss deeper, pressing her back against Cinnamon’s stall. The mare snickered and nudged us with her nose.

“Looks like someone’s jealous,” Paisley said as she pulled back.

My pulse hammered, sending blood racing through my veins as I realized what I’d done. Shit. I shoved my fingers into my hair, dislodging the baseball cap and sending it tumbling over the railing into Cinnamon’s stall.

“Dammit.”

“It’s not a big deal. I’ll get it for you.” Paisley unlatched the gate, prepared to slip inside and retrieve my hat.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get it later.” I needed space. The scent of horses and hay mixed with Paisley’s shampoo. Suffocating me. Making it impossible to take in enough air. I headed toward the door of the barn, desperate to get away from her.

“Aiden, wait.” She called after me, but I didn’t stop.

The cold stung my cheeks as soon as I stepped outside. What the fuck had I been thinking? I didn’t have any right to kiss her. She should have pushed me away, told me to leave her the hell alone. I didn’t know what the fuck had come over me, but one thing was crystal clear. I couldn’t stay in the bunkhouse, not with her tucked into bed barely twenty feet away. I didn’t trust myself to not kiss her again, especially with the way she’d pressed into me, pulling me closer.

I stalked into the bunkhouse and grabbed my pillow and quilt. I’d spend the night in the truck if necessary, but I had to get away from her. She had more goodness in her little finger than I’d ever possess. I didn’t want to corrupt her with the darkness that stormed inside me.

“What are you doing?” Paisley stood by the door, her face still half covered in her mud mask.

“I can’t stay here.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Don’t be silly. It’s freezing outside.”

My entire body tensed as she stepped closer. “I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

Her shoulders sagged a little while her chest rose and fell with a deep breath. “If you didn’t mean it, then maybe I shouldn’t have kissed you back.”

“I can’t do this.” Stepping around her, I focused on just getting to the door.

“We’re going to have to talk about it at some point.” Her words followed me outside, then were swallowed up by the howling wind. If she said something after that, I didn’t hear it.

I glanced at the truck, already covered in a thick layer of snow, and turned toward the barn. At least it would be warm inside. Shadow stomped his feet as I passed his stall. There was an old couch in the office space next to the tack room. I spread out the quilt and kicked off my boots, though there was no way I’d be able to fall asleep.

Coming to the ranch was supposed to give me a chance at a fresh start, but it seemed like I’d never be able to escape my past. The horses getting out couldn’t be a coincidence. People didn’t want me here. Shane might have served time, but he wasn’t guilty of the crimes he’d been accused of. As for me, I’d been young, dumb, and na?ve, but couldn’t argue that I was innocent.

Samson jumped up on the couch and climbed over the quilt, looking for a place to settle. He reminded me of the orange tabby I’d had as a kid before everything went to shit. I reached out and buried my fingers in his thick fur. His purrs grew louder as he turned in circles, finally curling up next to me.

People might not believe in second chances, but I’d always thought animals were excellent judges of character. If Samson thought I was okay, maybe I wasn’t completely doomed after all.

I must have finally fallen asleep at some point during the night, because I woke to the sound of someone scooping feed out of the big bucket in the tack room. Samson still tucked against my side. I checked my watch to see what time it was and breathed a little easier when I saw it was only just after six.

“Brought you coffee.” Paisley stood in the entrance to the office, a huge thermal mug in her hand. “Consider it a peace offering.”

Sitting up, I scrubbed my hand over my beard. “You don’t owe me a peace offering. I’m the one who owes you an apology. I overstepped last night, and I’m sorry.”

She handed me the mug and picked up the cat. “You don’t owe me anything, but I’d gladly take an explanation.”

“About what?” Scowling, I lifted the mug to my lips, willing to burn the roof of my mouth for a taste of the strong, dark brew.

“Why won’t you talk to me?” Hurt shone in her eyes.

Fuck. I hated being the cause of that look, but after last night, it was even more important that I keep my distance. “We talk.”

“Barely. I’ve exchanged more words with strangers on the street than I have with you, and we’ve spent the past week and a half living with each other.” She scratched Samson under the chin, and the cat gave me a smug look.

“I think I’ll stay in the barn for now.” Tossing the quilt aside, I took another sip of coffee.

Paisley shook her head. “What are you so afraid of?”

“We’re not doing this.” I shoved my feet into my boots and stood. There was no way in hell I’d let her psychoanalyze me. Grateful for the never-ending items on my to-do list, I shoved my arms through my coat and lifted the mug in her direction. “Thanks for the coffee.”

That was the one good thing about staying at the ranch: there was always something to do. Shane had big plans for the place and a tight timeline for making them happen. That suited me just fine. If I filled my days with hard manual labor, maybe I’d sleep at night and not lie around thinking about how Paisley’s lips had felt on mine or the way her body melted against me.

I exited the barn and headed to the big house. Shane stood on the front porch, looking off into the distance like a king surveying his domain.

He saw me coming and offered a tired smile. “Rough night last night, huh?”

In more ways than one. I wasn’t about to tell him what happened between me and Paisley, so I just nodded.

“Thanks for getting the horses.”

“No problem. Paisley said she was sure she closed up the barn.” I stepped onto the porch and stood next to him. Acres of snow-covered pastures and fields stretched as far as I could see. Once this place was fixed up, it could be a real sanctuary. Unless Shane got run out of town before he could make his vision a reality. “I don’t think it was an accident they got loose.”

Shane sighed. “I know. Someone went to town on our fences. There are quite a few breaks that need to be fixed. You up for handling that today?”

“Yeah, man.” Fixing fences sounded like the perfect way to spend my day. I’d be out in the fields, far away from Paisley, though I’d never be able to get her out of my head. “Any idea who might be responsible?”

“Not yet, though plenty of folks around town aren’t thrilled with the plans I have for this place.”

I considered telling him about the asshole I’d run into at the Merc the other day and the proposition he made me. Before I could say anything, Paisley came out of the barn and headed our way. That was enough incentive to get me moving.

“I’m going to get started on those fences.” I kept my head down as I stepped off the porch and passed her. It had been a mistake to come to the ranch. I’d been so eager for the safe space Shane offered, especially after the way I’d been treated at home, that I didn’t think about what my presence might mean for him.

He’d been a good friend, and I trusted him with my life. Hell, he was more like family to me than my own blood. I couldn’t live with being the reason for the ranch to be targeted. He had the opportunity to create a new life for himself, and I didn’t want to hold him back. Fuck, he was engaged. Soon he’d have a wife and probably a half dozen kids running around the ranch.

Just like everywhere I tried to settle down, Mustang Mountain would be better off without me.

The problem was, I didn’t have anywhere else to go.