Shadow (Addington Ranch #1)

Prologue

Lindsey

My eighteenth birthday was finally here.

High school was over and I had just a few more weeks left before I headed for the West Coast and college.

Gramps and Granny planned a huge 18th birthday party for me and my big brother was home on a short leave from the Army. Family and friends had been milling around the ranch all day long but there was one person in particular I was currently looking for.

Garrett Everleigh.

Oh the man was so damn swoonworthy.

Tall.

Rugged.

Handsome.

And he knew a thing or two about horses, and a million other things.

I’d been watching and silently ogling the man since I caught him rinsing off outside the barn a few years ago. The man stripped down to his boxer briefs and must have thought no one was watching. But I was. And, lawdy what a sight to behold.

My face flushed just thinking about his gorgeously tanned skin and the droplets of water rolling over his six pack and dripping down his thighs.

“You know, now would be the perfect time to sneak down to the creek bank. I saw a certain cowboy disappear in that direction a few minutes ago,” my sister in law, Fallon, whispered in my ear. “I’ll cover for you and make sure nobody comes your way.”

Fallon and I became close over the years. Kind of hard not to when the woman was madly in love with my big brother, Kevin. Kevin was one of my favorite people on the planet and the fact that Fallon made him so happy, made her a close runner up. Plus, she never judged me for liking a man five years older than me.

“I…I don’t know…” I nervously bit my lip.

“Listen, don’t tell Kevin I said this, but you’re eighteen now. I’m not saying you should go have sex with the man, but I am saying that you should go tell him how you’re feeling before you run off to college,” she winks and gives me a gentle shove. “Now, go.”

I took one last look over my shoulder and headed for the path that I knew would lead me to Garrett. It didn’t take long for me to find him. He was sitting on a log along the creek bank with his head in his hands. I sat down beside him and looped one of my arms under his, pulling myself against him.

Garrett tensed but didn’t turn to look at me. “I can’t get away from you, can I?”

I leaned in a little closer. “Why would you want to?”

I watched his jaw tighten and the way his neck moved as he swallowed hard. “What are you doing out here, Linds?”

“Came to see you, of course.”

“You should get back to your party.”

“Maybe later,” I turned up the dial on what little bit of sex appeal I thought I had. “Right now, I came out here because I wanted to tell you something.”

“Don’t,” he untwined our arms and tried to put space between us.

“Garrett, will you at least look at me. Please?”

“I can’t Linds. I can’t look at you because if I do, all of my resolve will break.”

“Then let it,” I beg. I want to see his resolve break. I want him to give in to whatever it is that he is fighting and give in to me.

This time he does turn and face me. He puts his hands on my shoulders and stares me in the eyes. “Is that really what you want, Linds? Do you really want me to give in to temptation?”

“Of course,” my words come out in a whisper.

“Tell me what you want, Linds,” Garrett brushes a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

“Kiss me,” I plead.

“I shouldn't,” he argues.

“But you will,” I bat my eyes. “Won’t you?”

“Damnit,” he curses under his breath but then, he’s on me.

His lips press to mine and he kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before.

With the experience of a man and not the nervousness of my former high school boyfriend.

Everything about Garrett’s kiss is better than I could have ever dreamed of. He consumes all of me with this one simple kiss. And for a split second, I let myself believe that we could have it all. That we could be so much more.

But then, Garrett jumps back like he’s been burned and curses again. “Damnit, Lindsey. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”

He stands and begins pacing.

I should let him go. I should walk away from him and move on. Except I can’t. There’s no way I can resist him. Not without another taste.

“Garrett,” I step towards him. With each step he backs up further and further, trying to keep space between us.

“Linds, I…I shouldn’t. You’re getting ready to leave for college. You don’t need a man like me holding you back.” Garrett bumps into the tree behind him.

I use that as my chance to wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his chest. I can’t explain the level of comfort I have around this man but it’s real and I’ll never be able to get enough of him.

“Garrett, I…” I look up into his eyes. “I need you to kiss me again. Let me have this. Let me have just one more moment with you.”

He gives in and spins me around. This time I’m the one pinned against the tree as his lips find mine and he drives me to the brink of insanity with nothing more than his kiss.