Chapter 8 Lina
lina
“Iwish you could go with me,” I told Dad as we sat in front of the stone fireplace in the big house.
“I know, darlin’. I’ll try to come out in a couple weeks, but Reed will keep you safe.”
“Why do you trust him so much?” I shook my head before taking a drink. Letting the heat of the Scottish whisky hit the back of my tongue and then go down smooth.
“He’s a good man. He’s been through a lot. But he works hard, and he’s proven to me, more than once, that he can handle the job.”
“Handle me, you mean?”
Dad’s mustache curved up with a grin, and he kicked his feet up on the leather ottoman. “It’s no secret you don’t like the guy, and you’ve done everything possible to run him off the ranch, yet he’s still here.”
“Un-fucking-fortunately.”
He didn’t know the half of it, and I wasn’t about to tell Dad what went down with Reed and me.
I slouched into the couch, wrapping my fingers around my glass, letting it rest on my belly.
I already had a feeling this was going to end in a dumpster fire.
We hated each other despite the overwhelming sexual tension.
We would either end up fighting or fucking, and either option could end in disaster.
My intuition was telling me he was going to destroy me.
I may be strong, but I didn’t think I could handle that—not after what he did.
Not after I believed love at first sight was more than just a fairy tale.
Not after my heart was shattered for the first time.
“Plus,” Dad said, taking a swig of his drink. “Your old man has been around a long time, and the way he looks at you tells me I don’t think there is anything you could do to get him to leave you … I mean, this ranch,” he said, chuckling.
I flipped Dad off with a glare, but it only made him laugh harder.
“Some Dad you are. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Dad may trust him, but I certainly didn’t. Granted, I hadn’t really given him a chance to prove himself, either.
He quickly sobered, his smile turning serious. “Darlin’, I’m always on your side.”
Boots stomped up the front steps, interrupting our conversation. We sat up, looking toward the door, before a fist knocked on the solid, hand-carved wood.
“What the fuck?” Dad’s brow furrowed.
It was getting late, and it could only mean one thing.
I eyed the ranch walkie-talkie lying on the end table beside Dad’s chair. “No one radioed you?”
He shook his head, heaving himself off his seat and heading to the door. “I wonder if they caught someone.”
Answering it, I sat up straighter when I saw Reed darkening the doorway, his arms full with a sleeping child and a kid’s backpack slung over his shoulder.
“Reed?” Dad asked, the surprise and concern in his voice evident.
“I had to get her out of there. She said he wouldn’t be around her, but he was,” Reed said in a quiet voice, not wanting to wake his daughter on his shoulder.
“Who?” I asked, setting down my drink and stepping up beside Dad.
“Here, come in.” Reed stepped in, and Dad quietly closed the door behind him.
I could almost feel the anger vibrating off him. He was wired, his body tense and ready to spring. The flames from the fire flickered off the hard edges of his handsome face, shadows darkening in his eyes as they jumped from Dad to me.
“I just couldn’t let her stay there anymore,” he repeated.
“Okay.” Dad nodded, his tone calm. “We’ll make up a bed in the spare room. Stay here tonight, and we’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
My head spun to my dad and then back to Reed. “What happened? Who was there?”
Reed’s eyes pleaded with Dad to remain quiet, and I didn’t like that.
I didn’t like being left in the dark about what was happening on our ranch or with the ranch hands.
Even if it was about Reed, I felt that I should know.
A little voice in my head told me, I needed to know, especially since it was Reed.
When no one answered, I pressed, “Who the fuck was there?”
“Lina,” Dad scolded.
“She’s asleep, Dad. She can’t hear me.”
“It’s Reed’s business, not ours.”
“It’s about to become my business since he’s coming with me.” I zeroed in on Reed, forcing myself to hold his eye contact. I didn’t know it was possible, but his dark-brown eyes grew darker. It made my heart rate kick up a notch. “So you might as well tell me.”
Reed swallowed, his jaw muscles twitching. “Junior,” he said with a growl.
My eyes widened. “Wait … what? Junior’s out of jail? Why was he at your wife’s place?”
“Ex-wife,” Reed corrected, his voice low and irritated.
I rolled my eyes.
“Junior got three years of parole,” Dad informed me.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Dad shook his head, not bothering to get after me for my language. “Not kidding, unfortunately.”
“He’s engaged to Penn’s mom,” Reed whispered.
My mouth fell open in shock. “What?”
“Yeah.” Reed pressed his lips together as if attempting to keep himself from raging, his large hand protectively encompassing his daughter’s back. “They’ve been together for over a year,” he said pointedly, his eyes drilling into mine in a silent explanation.
Realization dawned on me. They were together when I met him in Joseph.
I folded my arms over my chest, and I couldn’t help glaring at him. “How come I’m just now hearing about this?”
“I didn’t think it mattered to you,” Reed accused, his eyes narrowing.
I humphed, shaking my head. “You don’t think me knowing he was out of jail mattered to me? The man who terrorized Romy and endangered our horses? Of course it fucking matters. Not to mention, that asshole is now around your daughter. And who’s to say he’s not behind the fence cutting?”
“He just got out, Lina.” Dad shook his head. “I don’t think it’s him. Coming near our land would be a violation of his parole.”
“Like that’s stopped him before,” I snarked. “He had a restraining order, and he still held Romy at gunpoint.”
Reed’s brow furrowed, and he looked murderous at that reminder. He turned to my dad. “I can’t take Penn with me on the circuit. I won’t risk her. She needs stability and safety right now.”
Dad nodded in agreement. “I know it’s late, and you need to get that little girl into bed. We’ll figure this all out in the morning. She has a place here. You both do. We’ll talk to Jude and Romy, too. Come on, let’s get you set up in the spare room.”
Dad led them out of the living room and down the hall.
I walked back to the sofa, picking up the whisky from the coffee table and draining it.
Resting the cool glass on my heated cheek, I sighed.
Reed and I were going to be sleeping under the same roof, and pretty soon, we’d be sleeping only feet from each other in a fifth-wheel trailer.
I raised my eyes to heaven. I was fucked.
I pulled my cell out of my back pocket, tapping on my messages.
Me
I’ll be home one more night. I think I’ll take you up on that drink after all.
The sky was still dark when I tiptoed down the hall to the kitchen.
The scent of fresh-brewed coffee calling my name.
Most mornings, Dad was up well before dawn, cooking breakfast before he headed out to check on the herd.
Mornings were my favorite—quiet and dark, slow and peaceful.
It was only once the sun came up that I felt as though my brain were on speed and I was standing on a live wire.
Braiding my hair as I padded into the kitchen, I startled at the sight of the bare, broad back in front of me.
Reed stood, unaware of my presence as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
His shoulder muscles flexed as he lifted the cup to his lips, his back still turned to me.
I stood frozen in the doorway as he slowly turned around, his eyes growing big as he spewed coffee from his mouth.
“Fucking hell!” I yelled, suddenly realizing I was only wearing panties and a tank top.
“Shit!” Reed said, brushing the scalding coffee off his shirtless chest.
A kitchen towel rested on the counter, and I moved over to grab it, covering myself.
Reed looked up then, his lips tipping when he saw I held the towel to my waist.
“Please, like I haven’t seen you in less,” he said with a teasing smirk.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “This”—I gestured with a flourish of my fingers over my curves—“isn’t for you to see anymore.”
His eyebrow quirked. “You sure about that?” He stepped toward me.
I took a step back, but my back hit the counter. Shit. Shit. Shit.
He took another step forward until he was mere inches from me.
God, he smelled incredible. Like fresh linen and cedar, leather and cherry.
His hair was still damp from his shower.
My fingers itched to run through his dark locks.
I pulled back, letting the cold tile cut into my back where my skin was exposed.
Reed leaned forward, setting his coffee mug on the counter before bracing his palms on either side of me.
My breath caught. My heart pounded. He ducked his head, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered.
Each word dancing across my heated skin, scattering tingles down my spine.
“You didn’t leave much to the imagination when you came out to the fields in that tiny swimsuit wedged in that hot little ass of yours. Were you begging for my attention?”
I scoffed, but it came out weak. “You think that was for you?”
He pulled away slightly, his nose dragging across my cheek until he could stare me in the eyes. I shivered. He was so close, all I could see was the dark depths of his eyes.
“It better not have fucking been for Marshall or Jace.” His words came out deep and rumbling. I could almost feel them echo in my core.
“Jace is fucking hot,” I confessed, but my words came out flimsy.
One side of his mouth tipped while his eyes smoldered. “You think that fucking idiot can handle you? Give you what you need?”
I shrugged. “He could try.”
“Nah. He wouldn’t even come close, killer.”
“Killer?” My brows rose.
He bit his lip, dragging his eyes down my chest. Fuck. I wasn’t wearing a bra, either, and my stiff nipples were visible through my white tank top.
He scraped his teeth across his full lip, making my breath hitch. “You’re a cowboy killer, Lina Larsen.”
I laughed softly at his ridiculousness. “Oh, and you think you’re immune?” I nodded at him, my nose almost brushing his. I could feel heat rushing to my center, making my clit throb.
“No. I know you’d kill me—maybe even break me—if I let you in. But … maybe, just maybe, I could rope you and take that ass for a ride while the others are already six feet under. The difference is, killer, I don’t want to tame you.”
He reached for his coffee, his thumb gently tracing over my skin at my waist, as if he were branding it, burning it, where he touched me so faintly.
He brought the mug to his mouth, and I couldn’t help watching his lips mold around the rim as he sipped.
He moaned as the hot liquid hit his tongue, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.
My heart was pounding out of my chest. I may be a cowboy killer, but he may very well be the only one who could kill me. And I might just let him.
He pushed off the counter with a smirk as he took his coffee with him. I watched him leave, all hulking muscles and man. His jeans hung low, revealing the waistband of his boxer briefs. Fuck me.
Frozen, I let the towel fall to my feet. My knees wobbled, and I gripped the ceramic tile to keep myself from sliding to the floor. I released a long breath I hadn’t realized I was holding in as goose bumps pimpled my flesh where the heat of his body had emanated from him.
I wished it wasn’t five in the morning so I could pour something stronger than black coffee.