Page 17 of You're My Person - For Always

He glanced at her and grinned. "Jealous?"

"As if." She rolled her eyes.

His expression shifted, and he caressed the back of her head, pulling her closer and kissing her forehead. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking in that tenderness she'd missed from him.

"You have nothing to worry about. It's club business." He moved, leading her by the hand.

She followed him over the uneven ground, descending the mountain until they stepped into a clearing. Kingsley looked around and then approached the cabin.

"Hello?" he shouted. "Anyone home?"

No one answered. He stepped to the door and knocked against the thick wood. Kenna clung to his free hand. Despite the quaintness of the home and the beautiful array of flowers growing all around her, she couldn't imagine anyone living so far from civilization. There were no power lines to the dwelling, no road, no car. The woman must live off the land—and that was unimaginable to her.

"You're trespassing."

Kingsley turned, sweeping his arm out and putting Kenna behind him. "We're not here to hurt you."

"Then, you better walk out the way you walked in," said a woman.

Kenna peeked out from behind Kingsley, hiding her surprise. The woman, probably fifty years old, pointed a rake at them.

"I'm Ridge Stafford's son," said Kingsley.

"I didn't ask you to come here." The woman's tone never changed. "I only contacted Big John because your dad wanted me to. I don't need anyone coming around. Just leave me in peace."

"You have contact with my dad?" asked Kingsley.

The woman lowered the garden tool. "We write."

From everything she'd heard about Zane's dad, she never pictured him writing a letter. She stepped to the side to get a better view of the woman.

She was beautiful in a down-to-earth way. Her long black hair, sprinkled with gray, hung to her waist. She wore jeans, cowgirl boots, and a white top with short sleeves that moved with the breeze. She was tall and slim. Her confidence was off the chart.

"Dad asked us to secure the cabin." Kingsley paused. "That includes protecting you."

"I don't—"

"If you know my dad, you also know you have no say in what he wants done." Zane reached for Kenna's hand. "There will be someone from Gem Haven Motorcycle Club around. I'll make sure they know not to bother you unless there is trouble. You can speak with anyone from the club. If you need to contact me or Zane, just let a member know, and they'll send us a message." Zane looked around him. "If you'd feel safer, you're welcome to stay—"

"I'm fine here," she said.

Zane dipped his chin. "If you see anyone, let us know."

He stepped away from the woman, leading Kenna away. She hurried to keep up with his longer stride, more confused about what they were doing here after overhearing the conversation. Why would Kingsley's dad want the woman protected? Was it not safe here?

After the recent arsonists setting fire to the mountain, the new hint of danger set her on edge.

Once they reached the UTV, Kenna grabbed onto the rollbar and caught her breath from the hike up the mountain. She wanted to ask Kingsley what was happening, but that would have invited him to talk to her. She wasn't ready to open a line of communication between them yet.

Kingsley peered down at the cabin. She looked for the woman, but there was no sign of her.

She couldn't stop herself. "Is the woman in danger?"

"I don't know." Kingsley hooked her behind the neck and dragged her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her. "Dad wants us to watch her."

"Does that upset you?" Her concern for him kept her from pulling away.

He was tense and quiet, which usually meant he was thinking too much. She'd seen him do it many times before and hated it when he shut himself off from her. He'd always tell her it was grown-up problems and nothing she should bother herself with.

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