Chapter 19 #2
Once we’re all strapped in, Greer pulls out and heads down a narrow stretch of road that winds through the property, the scenery shifting from open pasture to carefully kept grounds that look like they belong in a magazine.
It must be nice to live like this and know nothing about hunger or desperation.
We drive for maybe a mile before the trees thin and a large white cottage-style house comes into view, wide and welcoming with a wraparound porch.
To one side, fenced off but still close enough to feel like part of the same world, is a small petting zoo where sheep and goats graze lazily, their wool thick and cream-colored against the green grass.
Greer parks and hops out, and we catch up, noticing a woman inside the pen with the sheep, crouched slightly as she checks one of them.
“That’s Thora,” she says as we get closer. “She deals with most of the hands-on animal stuff.”
Thora looks up and straightens when she hears us coming, stepping out of the pen and brushing her hands off on her jeans as she comes toward us.
She’s about the same height as her sister, but where Greer is tougher, Thora is softer, her brown eyes kind, long auburn hair falling in loose waves down her back.
“Hey.” Her gaze moves between us.
“I brought on Mandy’s friend Sloane.” Greer nods toward me. “She’s gonna be helping out on Fridays.”
Thora’s eyes bounce to me. “Good to have you.”
She holds out her hand, and I shake it.
“Thanks. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I hope my sister didn’t give you a rough time.” Her lips tilt at one corner.
“Not at all.”
“You must have caught her on a good day.” She laughs, causing Greer to roll her eyes.
“Please, I’m a peach.”
“Sweet as they come.” Thora elbows Greer, and just as I’m about to laugh, the faint sound of voices carries across the field.
When I look over, I find a little girl with long brown curls running toward us.
“Rue, slow down!” Jace calls, running after her, but she’s like a typhoon.
“I’m not done yet, Daddy!” the little girl yells back. “I wanna pet the sheep first!”
Greer smirks, arms folded. “Here comes Miss Trouble.”
Rue’s blue eyes are bright and mischievous as she skids to a stop right in front of us, Jace shaking his head as he finally reaches her.
“Hi, Auntie Greer, Aunt Thora, Mandy…” She pauses when she spots me, hands on her hips, eyes thinning with curious sass. “And who are you?”
Though I’ve seen Jace’s daughter around, I’ve never actually met her. Clearly she’s all personality and confidence. It’ll do her good in the world we live in.
“I’m Sloane. And you are?”
Her chest puffs just a little. “I’m Rue. Are you staying here?”
“Manners, Rue,” Jace says. “She doesn’t owe you any explanations.”
Rue rolls her eyes dramatically, then flashes me a toothy grin that says she’s not even a little bit sorry while her aunts laugh softly behind me.
“You’d better figure out how to unroll those eyes real quick, young lady,” Jace warns.
“Sorry, Daddy.” She lifts one shoulder, innocently resting her head against it in this sweet way that has him melting into a puddle of goo at her feet.
Nicely played, kid.
She’s got him wrapped, and she knows it.
He glances back at me. “I hope everything worked out with the job.”
“Yeah. Greer was great. I’m starting this Friday.”
He snorts. “Greer and great in the same sentence. That’s a first.”
She snickers. “Don’t make me show you how great I can be.”
He raises his palms in the air with a small chuckle. “My apologies.”
“Ignore my brother. He seems to have lost his manners too.”
“So, how do you know my daddy?” Rue eyes me speculatively, and I suddenly feel as though I’m being interrogated.
“I…uh…I don’t, really. I just met him the other day.” I’m unsure how honest I’m supposed to be.
She squints like she doesn’t believe me, arms folding across her chest. “My daddy has a girlfriend.”
My brows lift. “Oh. I wasn’t—”
“Yeah. Her name is Savannah. And she’s reallllly pretty. Right, Daddy?” She gazes up with a sparkle in her irises.
Jace’s mouth opens, but only a grunt comes out. “I don’t—she’s not my girlfriend.”
Rue throws her hand in the air, a dramatic sweep that reminds me of a miniature soap opera star. “He’s just being shy. He has a big crush on her and they’re gonna get married.”
“Oh. Wow. Congratulations.” I try hard not to laugh and fail miserably at keeping a straight face.
Jace groans, dragging a hand down his face. “We’re not.”
Greer breaks first, a chuckle spilling out, and when I glance back, Thora is failing to hide her smile behind her hand, while Mandy bites the inside of her cheek like she’s one breath away from losing it completely.
“My daughter has a big imagination,” Jace adds. “I’m definitely not getting married. Especially not to Savannah.”
“You are so silly, Daddy.” Rue laughs like she didn’t just toss a live grenade into the conversation. “Of course you’re gonna marry Savannah.”
His eyes close and he runs a hand down his face while Greer snorts.
Rue turns that bright, beaming smile on me. “Have you ever ridden a horse?”
“I haven’t.”
Her mouth pops open. “You have to try. It’s so fun. Wanna see mine?”
“You have a horse?”
She nods like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, curls bouncing as she takes off toward the stables at the far side of the bed and breakfast. We fall in behind her.
This kid is going to run the country one day.
“I have two.” She peers over. “One here and one at home. The one here is Snickers and the one at home is Skittles.”
My lips quirk. “Let me guess, your favorite candies?”
“Yep!” She giggles, grabbing my hand. “Come on. I’ll show you Snickers. Can I, Daddy. Please?”
Jace sighs, but there’s the barest curve tugging at his mouth, like he’s trying not to let her win too easy. “Sure, baby bear.”
Rue squeals and hurries down the path, pulling me along with her while the others follow behind at a slower pace.
Mandy catches up beside me and loops her arm through mine as we head toward the stables.
“I can be his Savannah if he wants.” She dons a mischievous smile.
“Cut it out,” I mumble under my breath. “He’s gonna hear you.”
She just shrugs. “Good. Maybe he needs the push.”
Of course she’d say that. She has this kind of confidence I don’t even know how to fake.
When I glance back, Jace is a few steps behind us with Greer and Thora, his attention locked on Rue in that protective way. That hard, unreadable face of his softens a bit as he watches her, and in that instant, it’s easy to forget how intimidating he is.
When we reach the stables, Rue lets go, marches straight to the last stall, and points proudly at a white horse with a shiny black tail.
“That’s Snickers. Isn’t he beautiful?”
“He’s gorgeous.” I step closer just as Jace opens the stall.
The horse lifts his head and lets me stroke his nose.
“Daddy, look, he likes her. Can we let Sloane ride him?”
“Only if she wants to.” He rests his hand on the top of the gate.
“Oh, I don’t know.” I chuckle nervously. “I’d probably fall and hurt myself.”
“Don’t worry. My daddy will help.” She shimmies up to him and wraps her arms around his legs. “He’s very strong,” she throws in proudly like it’s a proven fact, not even slightly up for debate.
And the way Jace stands just a little taller, eyes warm… Yeah, she just made her daddy feel like a damn superhero, and she knows it too.
He steps toward the horse and starts getting him ready, calm and unhurried, like he’s giving me time to change my mind. I watch him work and try not to overthink it, but my nerves are already building.
When he finishes, he looks back at me. “You wanna try?”
My stomach flips.
“That depends….” I grimace playfully. “Are you absolutely sure he’s not going to throw me off?”
“I’m sure. You’ll be fine.” A miniscule smile pulls at his face, and there’s something calming in his voice that makes it easier to believe him. “Snickers will take care of you.”
His palm feathers down the horse’s head right before he offers his hand. I take it, trying not to show how badly I’m scared. The second I lift my boot and his other hand slides to my hip, a low rumble cuts through the air, the sound of tires crunching in fast.
“What the hell?” He lowers me back down, and we all turn at the same time.
I recognize the SUV immediately.
Kirill.
My heart kicks hard against my ribs. I can’t imagine why he’s here, but seeing him again sends a rush through me I don’t even try to fight.
Greer’s body stiffens beside me, her tone sharpening. “Who the hell is that?”
“A Marinov.” He places his hand around the outline of a pistol at his waist that I missed.
She lets out a low laugh. “Which one?”
The SUV comes to a sharp stop, and before the dust can settle, the driver’s door flies open, then the passenger side. He steps out with Lev, whose headphones are hanging around his neck.
Kirill storms in, his eyes locked on Jace’s hand still hovering near my hip, his mouth set in a flat line. His gaze sparks pure fire, burning across my skin. I feel it before he even reaches us.
Jace straightens, his hand dropping, but neither of them dares to look away. Kirill stops just short of him, close enough that it’s a challenge.
I step back, putting space between us, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference at all.
Well, this is fun…
“Oh, man. Here they go being all sexy and angry again,” Mandy whispers.
I give her a hush it stare.
When Lev sees me, his face brightens.
“Hi,” he calls out low, and my chest spreads with warmth.
“Hey, buddy.” I drop into a crouch and open my arms, and he comes right into them like I’m safe.
His wrap around me, and the world narrows down to the feeling of him against my chest. I’ve never loved a child who wasn’t mine, didn’t think I could, but I love this little guy more than words can say.
“What are you guys doing here?” I straighten to my full height, my gaze flicking warily to Kirill.
“We were driving by. Lev wanted to see you again.” His words come out low and rough.
I hug Lev tighter. “I’m glad you came.”
When I look back at Kirill, his eyes are still on me—dark, possessive.
And I wonder…was that jealousy, or did I just see what I wanted to see?