Page 53 of Redemption

“You didn’t shut the gate properly, did you?” she accused. I wrap my hand around hers, not moving it, just holding her steady as her eyes threw fire at me.

“Actually no, sweetheart, it wasyouwho didn’t shut the gate properly,” I replied.

She scoffed. “Me? The experienced cattle herder? The one who’s grown up ranching? Can’t shut a simple gate?”

I tugged her closer and her eyes heated. “That’s right, Katarina. The experienced one fucked up, not me,” I teased, loving how fired up she was and wanting more.

“How dare you!” she spat, stepping closer, putting us nearly chest-to-heaving-braless-chest. I was desperate for that touch.Starvingfor that touch. “I don’t believe that for one second. It was you.”

“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

“Stop calling me that!” she snapped.

I was wrapped up in our banter and tugged her closer, dropping my voice. “But you like it.”

The sparks flamed between us and I wanted them to devour us. My eyes dropped to her rosy lips and I was thirsty. Or hungry. Or something. God I just wanted toslam my mouth into hers and take all that anger, all that fire and heat, and swallow it down, replacing it with moans and groans instead.

She wrenched her hand back and I knew I’d fucked up. Again.

“Let me get dressed and then we’ll go and fix it. If you can manage that simple task?”

She threw the challenge at me and I accepted, gladly. “Sure thing,” I smirked and her frown deepened.

She rushed past me and I turned to watch her go and suddenly came up against a wall of sisters and Leo. I’d forgotten we weren’t alone. Daisy looked ready to throttle me but the rest were watching us with interest. Leo chuckled and shook his head. Everyone disbanded and I was still rooted to the spot, watching Kat disappear.

Leo whistled, coming down off the porch. “Man, you like danger, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I replied, not sounding one bit convincing.

He rubbed a hand across his jaw. “Sure you don’t. Look, don’t make me give you one of those big brother speeches about if you hurt her, I’ll kill you, yada yada.” He waved his hand in a bored fashion.

“I thought you were just a friend?”

“I am, but I’m also family. I’m like their surrogate brother.” The humor fell from his face and a seriousness overtook it that actually gave me pause. “So, if you fuck with my family, I fuck with you, you got that?”

“I hear ya, sparky. I don’t have any intentions with anyone,” I replied, holding my hands up.

He laughed. “Again, if you say so.” He glanced behind him. “I shouldn’t say this but Kat needs aman. A strong man because she’s a strong woman. If you can be that man, great. But if not, leaveher alone.”

I shook my head. “You know I can’t be that man. We’ve got history and I’m lucky that she and all the girls are letting me be where I am.”

“Sounds like you’ve been thinking about it. I think any mountain can be climbed,” Leo said cryptically.

“Why areyouhere this morning, anyway? You’re not usually,” I changed the subject. I’d seen the way he watched Maddy at the bar and the way she glared at the buckle bunnies that draped themselves over him. Yeah they were best friends but there was something more there too.

“I fell asleep on the couch last night,” he shrugged. “Happens a lot.”

“I’ll bet it does. Did I see Maddy get back late last night?” I prodded. “Come to think of it, did Maddy have a date? I bet you just wanted to make sure she got home safe…and alone, didn’t you?”

Leo’s face remained still, except for a slight tic under his eye.

I chuckled to myself. “Sounds like you’ve got your own mountain to climb, buddy.” I slapped him on the shoulder and turned, heading back to the cabin to change and wash my face before tackling the cow situation.

Leo’s words rang in my ears as I brushed my teeth. I liked him, he seemed like a decent guy, but he was talking shit. This mountain was unclimbable no matter how much I wanted to.

I met Kat out in front of the house, tearing my gaze from her long legs stuffed into those cute cowgirl boots and an oversized sweatshirt thrown on over her white denim shorts. Her face scrubbed free of makeup as usual and her long hair dragged back into a ponytail. She always looked stunning, kissable, lickable, beddable.Everythingable.

“August ran ahead to saddle the horses for us. It’s gonna be a long day, you good to do this? I know you’re not supposed to help on the weekends.” There was a vulnerability in her voice that raked its claws over my heart.

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