Page 145 of Love Me Dangerous

“You remember how that is,” Zach says.

“So you do,” I reply.

There was a time not too long ago that both Zach and I had a reason to keep our fears locked down. He’s managed to untangle from his secrets, while I’m still outrunning mine.

“We still going riding tomorrow?” I ask while William fires off another textbook throw.

Zach leans sideways against the railing and squints at me through the bright sunshine. “Of course.”

“Your old boss gave us a day pass for the ranch.”

From across the crowded deck, Zach looks to Stu Valentine, head of security at Finn River Ranch. He’s also a big dude and though he’s been friendly, I wouldn’t want to meet up with him in a dark alley.

Stu gives Zach a subtle lift of his chin, like the two of them are sharing some secret.

Like I don’t know their plan. Stu already offered to put in a good word for me as a diesel mechanic, working on the ski lifts. I’m sure Zach gave him the idea.

“Is that so?” Zach sips from his lemonade.

“I told him I’d never seen a chair lift before, let alone ridden on one with a freaking mountain bike.”

“The trails up there are sweet,” Zach says.

I set my glass down on the railing and whip out my phone, pulling up a map of the exclusive and meticulously maintained trail system located inside the members-only Finn River Ranch. “We should start here,” I say, and zoom in. “Then work our way to the backside. We can probably fit in Sidewinder, then Snowberry, then loop around the back of Glory Basin.”

Zach gives me a fist bump. “I’ve never been on any of those. I’ll go wherever you want.”

I shoot him a look. “You worked at this fancy ranch and never went mountain biking?”

“Nope.” He shrugs, and it’s easy to read between the lines. Zach didn’t have the luxury of riding a bike for fun when he was starting his life over here almost a year ago now. “Stu must like you. Those guest passes are like gold.”

“He’s trying to woo me.” I puff out my chest.

Zach grins. “Told you.”

The young woman I saw laughing in the bar steps through the back door with Zach’s girl, Sofie.

“Who’s that?” I ask Zach in a low tone. Her hair looks red the sunlight, and the loose sundress she’s wearing reveals her bare shoulders, which are dotted with dainty freckles.

“Kirilee St. Claire,” Zach says. “One of Sofie’s best friends. Her dad owns Finn River Ranch.”

I choke on my lemonade. “Seriously?”

Zach grins. “You want me to introduce you? She’s probably the nicest person I’ve ever met. And really talented. It’s too bad…”

“And who’s that?” I ask.

The guy in a pale gray suit followed Kirilee outside, and he puts his hand on her lower back. Her long eyelashes flutter and she straightens her spine, like she’s fighting her reaction to this guy. Then he continues past her.

I don’t have any right to not like him, but I don’t.

“Uh, that’s her dad’s latest attempt to marry her off to someone richer than him so their two families can combine forces and rule the universe.”

“For real?” I try to make sense of this while the guy pulls out his phone and continues to an empty corner of the deck, his back to the party. “Does she want to get married?”

Zach’s mouth twists, like he’s conflicted. “I don’t think she’s being given a choice.”

I shake my head. “That’s wrong.”

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