Page 21 of Some Cowboys Fight for Love

With that, she slipped out of the small cabin. Bolting, her legs moved faster than she had the strength for. She needed to get back to the house. She needed to clear her head.

The connections they’d made tonight were probably a huge mistake. She should have kept her distance. Now everything was going to be strained and difficult.

Aria slowed her pace and laced her fingers behind her back. Her breathing was charged and heavy. She’d been through worse. She could continue to smile and be the same Aria he was used to. No matter what it took, she’d be sure to make him forget what she’d said.

They might understand each other a little better, but not fully. That was more than enough.

She made it to the house, and the front door opened before she could reach it. Roman exited with his phone to his ear.

“Yeah, she’s back.”

Aria froze, her hand on the railing before she climbed the first step.

“Uh-huh. Yeah. No problem, Daniel.” He hung up, then tossed one more look in Aria’s direction. “Hey,” he said before he turned to head back inside.

She charged after him. “Did Daniel seriously call you to check that I made it back?” Aria followed Roman’s retreating form.

He glanced over his shoulder toward her. “Yeah. So?”

She could have said a million different things as to why Daniel had no right or reason to check in on her. But she kept those things to herself. Instead, she muttered, “He’s so weird.” Then she headed up to her room.

9

Daniel

She was everywhere.

Not only did she seem to enjoy hovering while he worked, but she was in his thoughts too.

Daniel couldn’t have been more aware of Aria if he’d tried. It was as if discovering the traumas of her past opened the door to understanding her better. He was practically going through the motions as his mind worked through the revelations from the night before.

More than once, he found himself clenching his fists so hard his muscles ached. His parents weren’t winning any awards for how they chose to raise a family, but abuse? Aria’s father deserved worse than being thrown in prison. And to have the chance to get out? What was the world coming to when physically violent men were allowed to walk free?

He could feel Aria’s eyes on him while he worked. She hadn’t been there a moment ago. It’s like the second she was within a few yards of him, he could sense her. Daniel didn’t need to turnaway from the horse he was working with. More saddle training. He’d utilized Aria’s suggestion, and it was working.

The saddle had been placed on the fence and now they were standing beside it. He reached for the saddle and picked it up, then set it back on the fence. There was no telling if this particular horse would be capable of being ridden with how skittish she was around saddles. It might be a lost cause, but from what he could gather, Sophia couldn’t help but take on poor creatures like this one.

“She’s doing better,” Aria called out to him.

He didn’t turn in her direction right away. The sound of her voice brought back the mistakes of last night. He’d touched her after he’d promised himself he wouldn’t. Her reaction was expected. She wasn’t comfortable with him.

Did he remind her of someone who hurt her?

His gut roiled.

Daniel was big—definitely intimidating—why wouldn’t she be nervous around him? Brett had been closer to her height. If she’d needed to defend herself, he didn’t think she’d have any issues doing so.

But against him? If he’d wanted to, he could have hurt her. She must be thinking that.

Daniel cocked a head in her direction. “Yeah. Your tips seem to be helping.”

She smiled. It wasn’t the sort of smile he’d seen time and time again—the ones that looked like she wanted to do anythingbutsmile. This one was genuine. It did things to him that he wasn’t prepared for, and he found himself smiling back against his own better judgment.

Aria swung her legs back and forth as she continued watching him. He should have been unnerved that she’d found an interest in what he was doing. He could have asked her if she had anything better to do than to hover.

But the truth was, he didn’t mind the company so much.

His thoughts shifted back to the previous night. It made sense that she didn’t want anyone to see the side of her that had been hurt. She’d erected a shield to protect herself, and it had worked. She’d been smart.

---