Page 7 of Claimed By the Cowboy
His heart pounds against my cheek, strong and sure. He smells like hay and leather and something woodsy that makes me want to bury my face in hisneck. His arms tighten around me, and for a moment, I feel safer than I have in years.
“Eashy there,” he murmurs, his voice rough. “Got you.”
I should step back, apologize, and laugh it off.
Instead, I tip my head back to look at him, and the heat in his blue eyes steals what’s left of my breath.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
His gaze drops to my mouth, and for one wild moment, I think he might kiss me right here in front of God and everyone.
“Kitty?” Delaney’s voice cuts through the moment like a bucket of cold water. “Everything okay?”
I spring back from Tom's embrace, my face burning. “Fine! Just being my usual clumsy self.”
But Tom’s hands linger at my waist for a heartbeat longer than necessary, his thumbs brushing along my ribs in a caress that makes me shiver.
The front door opens with a bang, and an older man steps onto theporch. He must be Tom’s father—same tall frame and strong jaw, though his dark hair is silver at the temples. Behind him, two younger men emerge. I immediately see the family resemblance, although one has a scar running along his cheek, and the other has gray eyes rather than the blue eyes of his father and brothers.
“Ladies, this ish my dad, Ben, and my brothers, Henry and Angus,”Tom introduces.
Ben steps forward with a smile that transforms his weathered face. “Welcome to Havenridge. Hope the trip wasn’t too rough.”
Before I can answer, a sharp bark breaks the quiet, and a black-and-white blur skitters down the porch steps.
“Jingle, no!” a woman’s voice calls.
The border collie pup slides across the gravel, tail wagging, and collides with my boots. I crouch instinctively, rubbing Jingle’s ears as her tongue darts out to lick my cheek.
“That’s Jingle,” says the pregnant woman stepping off the porch, one hand on her rounded belly. She’s beautiful, her auburn hair pulled into a loosebraid, her skin glowing. “She's six months old and has more energy than sense. I’m Shay, Henry’s wife.”
“She’s adorable,” I say as Jingle rolls to show me her belly and lets out a happy yip.
“She is,” comes a softer voice from the porch steps.
The second woman hangs back like she might bolt—honey-blonde with gentle curves and brown eyes that won't quite meet mine. Everything about her whispers careful.
“I’m Luna.” Her voice barely carries over the breeze, but when she smiles, it's genuine and hard-won. “I’m Angus’s wife.”
She tucks her hair behind one ear and offers me a shy smile that feels hard-won and genuine. Long sleeves cover most of her skin, but I catch a glimpse of pale scars tracing her collarbone where her shirt gapes slightly. I frown, wonderingwhat caused them.
Henry steps forward—broad and steady, with dark hair and serious gray eyes. He nods politely at Delaney and me, then wraps an arm around Shay’s waist with familiar ease. “Welcome to the circus.”
“Not a circus.” Shay smirks, leaning into him with a sigh. “It’s abarnyardwith benefits.”
Ascreampierces the air.
Not human.
Not canine.
Goat.
“MaaaaAAHHHHH!”
An orange blur rockets from behind the house, hooves thundering across the porch.
“Cheese Puff!” all four Sutton men yell.
