Page 13 of Love Me Dangerous

As soon as I stop the car, Linnie bursts from the car and through the gate, her long hair whipping in the afternoon breeze. Fergie, our Shepherd-Setter mix, jumps up from her sunny spot on the porch to greet her.

I sling Linnie’s backpack over one shoulder and scoop the bag of groceries from the back. Jesse appears, with Linnie riding piggyback. Itlooks awkward with his shoulder still in a sling, but Linnie knows to be gentle.

I squat down to give Fergie some love. She rewards me by snarfing my ear before dashing off with the others.

“Need help?” Jesse asks while Linnie clings to him like a koala bear. It’s a sight that warms me all the way down to my toes. After the accident, I thought maybe we were broken for good. Dad was furious with Jesse and so worried about me. But Jesse hasn’t let it keep him away, like in the past.

“Can you fix Linn a snack?”

“On it.” Jesse spins around so fast that Linnie yelps. He holds the gate open for me, and when I slip by him, he mutters, “Tox screen came back negative.”

I pause to give him a side-eye, but he’s not bullshitting me. “Okay.”

He huffs a breath. “Yeah. So you have nothing to worry about.”

If only this were true. “Good.”

I continue to the porch and slip off my shoes before stepping inside, nearly colliding with Neve, who is on her way out.

“Sorry, forgot about my shoes.” We do an awkward do-si-do in the cramped entryway.

I continue into the kitchen and slide the bag of groceries onto the counter, then set Linnie’s backpack on one of the dining room chairs.

Apparently, I intimidate Neve, even though I try to be welcoming. If Jesse wants to be with her, I’m not about to do anything that could push him further away.

“I brought fresh rosemary bread,” Neve says, brushing her silky black hair from her face.

“Thank you.” I give her a kind smile.

While Jesse tends to Linnea’s snack needs, I change clothes and grab my barn coat from the hook in the mudroom, and slip outside. Fergie joins me, her nose tipped to the air like my own personal sentry. The breeze carries the bite of early fall, making the aspen leaves rustle in a way that melts the tension in my shoulders. I inhale the earthy mineral scent of the land.

Home.

Jesse’s tox screen came back clean. How? He was high. I know thesigns. Did whatever he took clear his system before they administered the test in the hospital? Or maybe it was contaminated by the medications they gave him?

There’s another possibility, and it’s not good. My stomach muscles tense. I try to ignore the dread creeping up my spine, but by the time I finish my barn chores, I’m trembling like I’m going to be sick.

Because I told Gabe I was done with being jerked around. But if I owe him a favor this big, he and I are far from done.

Chapter Five

SOFIE

I loadup Julep’s saddle bags with my tools, extra work gloves, sunscreen, and lunch. After Linnie mounts Cocoa, I check his cinch strap.

“Why can’t Jesse come too?” Linnie asks.

“Kind of hard to ride with an arm in a sling.” Though Jesse usually does more filming than helping, I miss him too.

“Your hand’s broke and you’re doing it,” she says.

“It’s not broken,” I reply, correcting her country twang. “Plus, we only have two horses.”

“Maybe Neve will buy him one,” Linn replies, her tone sour.

I shoot her a warning look.

She fiddles with the reins, her mouth scrunching.

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