Chapter 2
Aiden
Aiden Skye swallowed the last bite of his burger then washed it down with a swig of a decent local brew, the growing sense of rightness sinking in deep.
Heart Falls was exactly what he’d been looking for.
As the Saturday night crowd flowed across the dance floor in Rough Cut pub, he mentally did one final shift through the list of requirements and could honestly say every box had been checked.
Heart Falls was small enough to stay under the radar, yet close enough to a big city to be able to access everything they’d need and reach the people who needed it.
It would take them a couple of years to be ready to move, but this was the first, all-important step. Finding the perfect spot to locate their rescue ranch.
While Heart Falls already had an animal rescue, they planned to quietly focus on people.
To create a safe place for those who needed a brief getaway en route to a better life and give them a chance to get their feet under them.
A place for ladies to escape bad home situations they didn't deserve to be in.
Right now, it was all one big, glorious dream, but the details would come. Aiden and his brothers, Declan and Jake—especially Jake—would get the details in place. Jake wanted out of his career in law enforcement, and Declan…
Declan insisted that having a new goal to focus on would only help as he mourned his wife. A terrible situation that would lead to something good and powerful.
For now, this was Aiden’s job. They knew they wanted to be somewhere in the area, and he lived the closest. Since the spring, he’d been taking his free days off work to explore all the small towns in southern Alberta. He finally hit Heart Falls, and another shot of this is right slammed into him.
Oh, there was a whole lot more they needed to do, but at least knowing where to aim was a good start.
Aiden turned his attention to the dance floor, preparing to enjoy a couple of hours of pleasurable distraction. His motel room was on the small size, and while it was comfortable and clean, he didn't need to head there until after closing time.
He spotted her the instant she walked into the room. She power-walked as if she’d installed a new set of batteries, bouncing with each step. Eagerness flitted in her eyes as she positioned herself to the side of the room and surveyed the dancers.
Tall and leggy—damn, he liked them leggy. Her dark brown hair was done up fancy-like, with ringlets off her temples and the rest of it in curling swoops that played around her shoulders.
Aiden had a sudden dire need to see that shiny hair laid out on his pillow.
He eased to his feet and headed her direction.
Suddenly, she hustled toward him, gaze still mostly on the dance floor. Halfway between them, an oversized cowboy chatting with his buddies raised his beer high and tipped sideways, backing directly into her path.
Aiden was too far away to stop the collision, but he dashed forward quickly enough to tuck an arm around her waist and spin her aside before anything more than a slight bump and redirection occurred.
He held her close, twisting her to safety before making eye contact with the big bruiser who glared at them even as he caught his balance.
“Hey, buddy,” Aiden offered cheerfully. “You okay?”
The man took a minute to focus then waggled his head from side to side. “Sorry, lady. I need to take a piss.”
He rumbled off at high speed, head down and intent on his destination.
The woman in Aiden's arms snickered, patting a hand on his chest. “And that is the definition of a cowboy. Honest and blunt to the core.”
“And thankfully out of reach of stepping on our toes.” He shuffled them to the side a little farther without loosening his hold completely. She remained leaning toward him, hand on his chest. Her fingertips moved in circles instead of pushing him away. “Don’t want you taking a tumble.”
“Thank you for rescuing me,” she smiled at him prettily. “So, stranger. Do you dance as well as you rescue maidens in distress?”
Hallelujah. He tilted his head toward the crowd, stepping back far enough to offer his hand. “One of my favourite things.”
She slid her fingers into his and they headed onto the floor. For the next three songs they moved together with an ease that defied explanation. The rapid two step didn’t leave him breath to more than exchange their names but spinning her around the room was treat enough.
When the fourth dance song slowed, Aiden kept her in tight, not willing to give her up so easily. “Need a break? Drink?”
She eased even closer, slipping her fingers around the back of his neck and lining them up tight. “I want to keep dancing. I'm being greedy and keeping you all to myself.”
“Ain't being greedy if it's freely offered.” He kept the hand on her lower back where it was, resisting the temptation to go down for a scoop of her soft ass. Maybe if the evening continued to go this well, he'd get a chance for that in private.
Pale-blue eyes met his gaze. “So, cowboy. You live around here?”
“Nope. Just passing through and decided to come looking for some charming company. How about you? You look as if you know the place.”
Something glinted in her eyes. “I come through here every now and then, but I live in Manitoba. Close to the family farm.”
She said it in such a way that made it clear she didn't mind one bit. He liked that.
“You get along good with your family?”
A laugh burst free from her red-tinted lips. “Sometimes too well. You?”
“Love my brothers. We've been off in different directions for a couple years, but we’re planning on relocating in one spot in the future so we can work together again.”
“Good for you,” she said sincerely. Aiden danced her away from a near collision, and she curled into him tighter, accepting the quick adjustment without a fight.
“You want to talk about our jobs?” he asked, desire growing steadily as her body swayed the slightest bit more than necessary, rubbing them together in a sweet yet dirty promise.
“How about we talk about other things? Like, do you want to kiss me?” Petra stared him in the eye.
Challenge accepted. Swaying gently, he lowered his head until their lips brushed. One time, and another, the taste of her flooding his senses. The sweetness of her lip gloss and the bright taste of lust mingled as her tongue teased his for a fleeting second.
He pulled away before it went too far, because while he had no problem with public displays of affection, there was no need to broadcast where this might be going.
Petra, happily, seemed on board with where his thoughts were headed. She took a deep breath and laid her hand on his shoulder, tall enough they were nearly eye to eye. “The man can kiss. Is it too much to hope that means you have other skills?”
He chuckled. “I like a woman who knows enough to do test runs before starting anything.” He tucked his fingers under her chin.
“We moved together pretty good here on the dance floor. If we head somewhere else, like my motel room, my first goal is to make you feel good. What comes after that is just gravy on the biscuit.”