Chapter 13
Punch today in the face.
“Wow, Sarah, this is incredible, thank you.” Sitting at her kitchen countertop, Scout watched as Sarah touched a few tabs on Scout’s tablet, showing her how to use her new security system. “And I don’t have to worry about a monthly fee or anything?”
“Nope. If you want to upgrade later, you can. But this is the free version and more than good enough for what you need. And I’ve labeled each one so you know what pasture or part of your property they’re on.”
“Very efficient.” She nodded approvingly then tapped on the one named main llama shelter.
“This is the one closest to the house,” Sarah said as the video feed popped up. “Lucy followed me around all day,” she added, grinning. “I seriously love your girls. They’re so sweet.”
“Thank you. People really don’t understand how loving they are.”
“If by people, you mean Hudson… I hear you.” Sarah grinned.
Scout snickered slightly, then paused as Hudson himself came into view, slowly approaching her girls. He had something in his hand, but she couldn’t see what it was.
“I told him that they like carrots and apple slices. Figured it would help him win Lucy over.”
“Wish I’d thought of that,” Scout murmured, trying not to stare like a weirdo at the screen.
But come on, she was just human, and he had the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows, showing off gorgeous forearms. Not that his forearms were the only thing she was fantasizing about—though they made the list.
After that short, random kiss from earlier in the day, it was all she could think about. He’d barely kissed her either. It had just been a hard claiming. Or that was what it felt like anyway. Clearly he’d wanted her to shut up and listen to him and had been trying to distract her.
It had worked. Sort of.
She was already distracted by the man, and now… She kept thinking about what a real kiss would be like. Soft and teasing? Hard and demanding? Would he kiss between her legs? Was he good with his mouth?
Gah! She had to stop that train of thought.
He worked for her. Though it almost seemed like he didn’t need the money—the man had arrived with a bag full of cash after all. Or maybe his friends just really owed him a lot of favors. If she had to guess, they’d all been in the military like him.
Because yeah, she hadn’t forgotten his little “black ops” comment.
Her grandfather had been in the army long ago, had barely talked about it.
But she’d found the medals and awards and knew that he’d been extraordinary.
Not to mention people in town had told her often enough that she’d figured out the kind of man he’d been.
She knew who he’d been as a grandfather—incredible.
But he’d been a lot more, and something told her that Hudson had the same type of history.
He carried himself like a weapon. It was really the only way she could think to describe him.
A very sexy, very fit weapon.
With a gorgeous mouth she wanted to kiss again, but for real this time.
As she watched Hudson on-screen feeding apple slices to Patricia and Clover—Lucy was still holding out—Lucy suddenly straightened and raced past him, hop-running away from Hudson way too fast.
Llamas could run up to almost forty miles per hour, but that was when they were trying to escape a predator. Normally they had a fast clip, but this—
Scout slid off her stool and hurried toward the front door, aware that Sarah was right behind her.
As she stepped onto the front porch, she heard the approaching engine.
That must be what Lucy had heard.
As she and Sarah made their way down the steps, she inwardly groaned when she realized who was here.
Her dumbass ex, Oliver.
Ugh.
“I’ve got this,” she murmured before breaking away from Sarah. But then she turned back. “Make sure Hudson doesn’t interfere, please,” she whispered.
Because he’d looked a little…murdery before.
Lucy hop-trotted over to Oliver’s truck, bleating loudly by the driver’s side door.
Scout suppressed a grin, but come on, that was awesome. She sorta loved how much Lucy hated him. In the beginning she’d assumed that Lucy would get over it, but nope. Her girl had more sense than her apparently.
Lucy spit at the door a few times before stalking off. Not before kicking it once, hard, then bleating her clear annoyance in Scout’s direction.
“Good girl, go get some treats!” she called out as she pointed at Sarah.
Patricia and Clover arrived not long afterward, with Hudson jogging behind them.
“I’ve got this. Keep my girls occupied,” she called out again as she hurried over to Oliver’s truck. He’d parked a ways from the house, likely not sure about his reception.
Or maybe he was exactly sure what his reception would be.
Unwelcome.
Hudson’s expression was hard, and she couldn’t see his eyes because of his sunglasses, but he nodded.
She stopped in front of the driver’s side door and Oliver rolled down the window.
“I’m not sure if I should get out. Will that maniac come back?” His tone was light, his expression charming.
She just stared at him. “What are you doing here? Uninvited?” She’d told him hours ago to get off her property and now here he was. Because of course he was. The rules didn’t apply to him.
He looked away from her out the window, eyeing Hudson, Sarah and her llamas. “You’ve got a full farm.”
She didn’t respond, just tucked her hands into her pockets.
Clearing his throat, he turned back to her. “I wanted to apologize about earlier. It was shitty of me to be on your land.”
“Yep, it was.”
He sighed. “I also…want to apologize for how everything went down before. I’m sorry. I should have said something sooner, but then your grandfather died and… I’m just sorry. What I did was shitty. I was in love and should have just broken up with you first, but—”
“Oh my god, Oliver. This is the worst apology ever.” She took a step away from the truck. “And if this is all, you can be on your way.”
He jumped out of the truck, held his palms up. “It’s not all. Sorry, I should have just left it at that. I screwed up and I’m sorry. I suck. End of story.”
“Why the hell were you on my property?” she demanded.
He sighed, looked over at Hudson, who was staring him down as if he was about to take his head off right then and there.
“Honestly, I was hoping to see you. I’ve been riding the border areas for the last month, hoping we could talk.”
“You couldn’t call me?”
“I figured you’d blocked me.”
She lifted a shoulder because he wasn’t wrong. “You could have emailed, then. Or just not been a shitty person in the first place.”
He winced. “I’m trying to be a better person…
and that’s part of the reason I’m here. I’ve been doing contract work for Willman the last month and…
I don’t know, I’ve heard some things. Some weird conversations.
I think some of his guys might have been causing vandalism over here.
I wanted to give you a heads-up in case.
I heard about someone shooting at you last night and it’s got me worried. ”
“You heard about that?”
He nodded and took off his cowboy hat, held it in front of his chest. “Everyone has. People are pissed too, want to know what’s going on.”
That made her feel a little better. She might hate Oliver, but she appreciated the information. “I have had a few issues but nothing I can’t handle. What’s it like working for Willman?”
He shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Steady enough work and he treats his horses right. That part is nice, working for someone who actually takes care of his animals. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay though. Maybe through the winter. I think he might be into…other stuff. And I don’t want any part of it.”
She figured he meant drugs. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that some farmers or ranchers used their places to run drugs.
Or allowed people to use their land and took a cut to look the other way.
Especially in a place relatively close to Miami and main highways.
“Thank you for the heads-up,” she managed to get out without sounding surly.
He nodded. “Figured it was the least I could tell you after…the way things went down. Just look out for yourself, okay?”
“Will do.” She stalked away from him then, not interested in prolonging the conversation.
She heard his door open and shut and didn’t bother turning around as she heard his truck start. She’d given that man too much head space once upon a time and he wasn’t getting any more.
“What did he want?” Hudson asked as she reached him and the girls, who were all standing in a line like sentries.
To her surprise, Lucy was standing next to Hudson all regal and ready to defend her property. “You guys are friends now?”
Hudson placed a hand on the back of her neck and Lucy sniffed imperiously at Scout as if to say Yep! “I would say we’re allies at least. We have a common enemy.”
Nope, they were friends now, even if Hudson didn’t realize it. Lucy didn’t let just anyone get that close to her, much less actually touch her, but Scout kept that thought to herself. She also wondered what it would be like if Hudson touched her.
“I don’t like that guy’s face,” Sarah grumbled as she approached them.
Scout turned to the other woman in surprise. Usually women fell all over themselves to get Oliver to pay attention to them. Scout knew better now though. Sure, he was a pretty face and he was good with horses, but the man had no depth. He was just another lying asshole.
“Yeah, his face is definitely punchable,” Scout said.
Hudson let out a startled laugh, making Lucy bleat.
Then her girls raced off as Oliver finally pulled down the driveway and out of sight.
“Probably going to make sure he actually leaves.” Scout shook her head at her protectors.
“Good girls.” Hudson nodded once approvingly.
And Scout had the most ridiculous thought as she wondered what it would sound like if Hudson called her a good girl, but under very, very different circumstances. Unexpected heat curled through her.
She mentally shook herself, trying to banish the thought, then recapped what Oliver had said about the Willman Ranch.
“Well that’s interesting. Maybe that shitbird can be useful after all,” Sarah said.
Scout snickered at the word shitbird. It was colorful and fitting. Maybe she’d start calling Oliver that too. “We’ll see.”
Though she sort of doubted it. He’d only come over here to allay whatever guilt he felt. She knew what he was like and he absolutely hated the thought of anyone viewing him as a bad guy. She hadn’t talked to him or Andrea since she’d walked in on them.
Ugh, if only she could actually erase that image from her brain. She certainly didn’t need it, but sometimes it popped up and made her want to punch him right in the throat. “Anyway, I’ve got to start on dinner.” And get some distance from Hudson and all that raw energy rolling off him.
“I need to feed more of the animals,” Hudson said.
“And I’m going to check two of my cameras, make sure their connections are good.”
“I’ll see you guys back at the house in an hour?” The sun would be down by then and maybe she could sneak in a cold shower.
Lord knew she needed a little distance and to get her head in the right space before she was alone with Hudson again.