by K. C. Crowne
“Ready!”
I watched as they sat down at the kitchen table, Ellie totally focused on her studies as Sam guided her. She was patient with her, calm when Ellie didn’t seem to understand something and would get frustrated. It was a hell of a sight. And all I could hope was that what we’d done hadn’t screwed it up.
Chapter 10
SAMANTHA
We needed to talk about what had happened. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
The sex had been quick and heated and almost primal. We hadn’t even bothered to undress completely. Even days later, it was fresh in my mind.
And part of me wanted it again.
But it was a mistake. He was my boss, and it was really as simple as that. The loop it’d throw El for was only another reason to make sure it stayed in the past.
Chance and I had been giving one another space. However, I was beginning to think he was avoiding me altogether. I figured that a strong-and-silent cowboy would think that ignoring the subject was the best way to handle it. Imagining Chance talking about sex, seeing his full lips pull together as he said the word…God, it was enough to get me hot and bothered just thinking about it.
“Are you okay?” El’s voice snapped me out of my daydreaming.
“Huh?”
“You looked funny.” She stared up at me with those big, golden eyes, the English work spread out on the table in front of us. We were alone in the cabin, Chance having gone out to see to some business in town.
I had no idea what to say to El. Oh, just thinking about when me and your dad…I mean, shit – that’d be a hell of a way to have the birds and bees talk. She was too young for any of that, to say nothing of how confusing it’d be for her to hear about her teacher and her dad being more than just friends.
“Just…thinking about what we need to get done for the rest of the day.”
“Oh. How much more time?”
“Someone’s ready to be done,” I said with a smile.
“It’s so nice outside. I kinda wanna go out and play.” Her voice held a pleading note.
“Is that right? What do you want to play?”
She cocked her head to the side, giving the matter serious thought. “Maybe chase the ducks around?”
“You sure about that? Ducks can be mean.”
“They’re cute. I want one for a pet.”
I laughed. “You run that by your dad?”
“He’d probably say no. But I still want to play with them.”
“Hmm. How about instead of finishing English, we do a little PE?”
“Like gym?”
“Yeah! Go outside, enjoy the nice weather.”
El’s face lit up as if I’d taken her to a candy store and told her she could get anything she wanted. “Let’s do it!”
We finished the little bit of English work left before packing up and heading outside. The day was perfect, sunny, warm, and clear, with just enough breeze not to be hot. I thought about Portland; every other day there was cloudy and drab. Not Texas, though. I knew it was a cliché, but the state was really a whole other country. I’d had some doubts about moving, but with each passing day, it began to feel more and more like home.
“Come on!” El called, taking off in a run. “Let’s go!”
I hurried to keep up with her, but the kid was fast as hell. We reached the big pond in front of the main cabin quickly, the ducks quacking as El approached, laughing. We spent the next hour there, feeding the ducks, walking around, enjoying the beautiful weather.
And then, Chance showed up. He was dressed in his usual jeans and checkered shirt, a cowboy hat on his head. His shirt was unbuttoned enough to show off the top lines of his pecs, and the sight brought me right back to our night in the library, how fucking sexy his body looked, the muscles of his torso flexing and tensing as he pounded me hard from behind.
“Howdy, ladies,” he said, sauntering closer.
“Hey, Daddy,” El said, her attention focused on the ducks.
“Hey,” I said, my voice soft, almost shy.
“You two have a good day?”
“Yeah!” El exclaimed, glancing at him quickly before returning her attention to the ducks. “We did science, and then we made sandwiches, and now we’re hanging out with the ducks.”
“I see that,” Chance said, glancing at the quacking animals. “Say, El – why don’t you come back to the cabin with me? We need to get you cleaned up for dinner. And I bet Sam’s ready for a little time to relax.”
“Aw, do we have to?”
“Come on now, kiddo.”
“I’ll see you in a little bit, El. We’ll have dinner, and I bet Mama G’s made some good stuff for dessert.”
That brightened her mood. El threw her arms around my legs, giving me a quick, tight hug before heading off with her dad. “Okay! See you later!”
“One of us has to be the bad cop,” Chance teased over his shoulder as they left. “Better me than you.”
I grinned, waving to him. It was nice – the first normal-ish exchange we’d had in a while. But it convinced me even more that he and I needed to talk, that the awkward tension between us wasn’t going to just go away.
I’d have to be strong. We’d be alone, and being alone meant temptation. Sleeping together again was a bad idea – of that I was certain.
As much fun as I’d been having with El, a little time to myself sounded nice. I headed into the main house, saying hello to the members of the Walker family I passed on the way up to my room. I loved being there. The family had been so warm and accommodating that it hardly felt like I’d only been a member of the household for a week.
In my room, I plopped down onto the bed, folding my hands behind my bed. A nap sounded kind of nice. Maybe I’d catch an hour or so before dinnertime. But I didn’t get the chance. As soon as I got comfortable, my phone went off in my pocket. A quick check of the screen revealed that it was a voicemail – I must’ve missed the call when I was playing with El.
The number wasn’t one in my phone. And that wasn’t the only weird part. After all, who the hell still left voice mails? Wasn’t that what text messages were for?
I dialed my voice box and listened.
“Hey, Sunshine.”
My blood ran cold as soon as I heard the first two words. I recognized the voice: Kyle’s sneering voice was one I’d pick out anywhere.
“I was pretty bummed when I found out you skipped town on me. That any way to treat someone you love? Just wanted to call to let you know that you can run, you can change your number, you can do whatever the hell you’re doing. But I’ll find you. You’re mine. You’ll always be mine. See you soon, Sunshine.”
Without thinking, I hit the delete button and tossed the phone aside.
I wanted to be strong. I’d left the fucker in Portland with no plans to ever seen him again. I’d been strong enough to do that – why couldn’t I be strong enough to ignore some likely empty threats? No way he knew where he was, even if he had managed to get my new number.
In spite of all the reassurances in my head, frustrated tears formed in my eyes. I hated how Kyle could make me feel. I knew how vindictive he could be, how he couldn’t let things go when he felt insulted. And what bigger insult could there be than me leaving him without a word?
I shot a suspicious glance at my phone as if Kyle having my number meant it was somehow plotting against me. Silly, I knew, but the voicemail had left me ten different kinds of frazzled.
Staying cooped up in my room felt like the worst idea in the world. I kicked off my flats and put on some running shoes. Fresh air seemed like a necessity. Once I was ready, I left the bedroom and started down the hall.
Chance was down in the entryway. He appeared to be on the verge of leaving as if he’d had the same idea I did.
“Howdy,” he said. He flashed me an easy smile. But it faded quickly. He could sense something was wrong.
Shit. I hated how easy I could be to read at times. So much for keeping my situati
on to myself.
“Somethin’ up?”
“Just…going for a walk. Getting some fresh air.”
“I was thinkin’ the same thing. Mind if I join you?”
It was a strange request, considering we’d been keeping our distance since the incident in the library. But he could tell something was amiss with me, which was strange since we’d known each other such a short time. Part of me wanted to be alone. But Chance was calming to be around, his quiet strength a comfort. Despite everything, his serenity was what I needed.
“Sure.”
He put his hat on his head and tugged it down by the front of the brim, following this up with another slight smile. “Let’s mosey, then.”
He opened the front door, and we left. As I stepped out, he placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me. It might’ve been nothing more than a polite gesture, but it still felt good, reassuring, as if he was telling me without words that he was there for me.
Once we were out front, Chance and I walked in silence for a time. The sun was beginning to set over the trees, the wild oranges of its light fading into a white-ish blue.
“Great night out,” I said. “Kinda warm, too.”
“That’s Texas. Sometimes it gets hot and just don’t quit.” He nodded toward the house. “There’s a pool out back if you hadn’t noticed.”
“Is that right? Damn – house is so big there’s all kinds of stuff I haven’t found out about.”
“Nice and secluded, too. If you’re feelin’ it later, go for a swim. Sometimes a dip is all you need to set your mind right.”
I noted the information and tucked it away. But his words made it clear he knew that something was going on with me.
“Is it that obvious?” I asked. No sense in trying to hide it.
“I mean, I’m not one to pry in personal business. But it was painted all over your face when you came down the stairs. You wanna keep it to yourself, that’s fine. You wanna talk about it…” He looked up for a moment as if something had occurred to him. “Then again, if it’s something I got a right to know about it, I expect you to be open with me.”
He had a point. Regardless of whether Kyle might actually find me or not, those were his intentions. That made it absolutely Chance’s business. I took a deep breath, trying to figure out where to begin.
“I got a phone call from my ex.”
“Your ex?”
I nodded. Even though I was planning to tell Chance, I still wanted to keep some of the details to myself. I’d been stuck in a shitty relationship with a terrible man – he really didn’t need to know the grit.
“Kyle. When I left Portland, I left him behind too.”
“I see.”
“My plans were to leave my old life behind like I said – to start fresh.”
“And ending your relationship was part of that.”
“A big part, yeah.”
Chance regarded me for a long moment, and he could tell there was something more to what I was saying. But he didn’t pry.
“Anyway, I changed my number when I left. Part of the whole starting fresh thing. But when I went up to my room just now, I had a voicemail from him.”
“You serious?” His eyes flashed.
“Yeah.”
“And what’d he say?”
“He said he wasn’t going to just let me walk on out him like that. He said that he’d find me, whatever it took. That I was his, and I always would be.”
As I spoke the words, I realized they were more severe than I realized – what if Chance decided this was too much to take, that my being there might put Ellie in danger? A cold spike of fear jabbed into my stomach and spread out through my limbs.
Anger formed on Chance’s face, but it wasn’t at me. “Are you fuckin’ kidding?”
“I’m not. I know I should’ve told you, but I honestly thought I’d gotten away from him.”
He stopped, putting his hand on my shoulder. Like always, his touch comforted me. “I’ll tell you this right now – he’d have to be a damn fool to try anything with us Walker boys lookin’ out for you.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’re looking out for me?”
“Of course I am. You’re part of this little clan of ours. And we watch out for our own. That sorry little shit steps one foot on this property, and he’s gonna find my size thirteens so far up his ass he’ll be tastin’ boot leather for a month.”
Relief washed over me, a small smile forming at Chance’s colorful words. “Thank you,” I said. “I really appreciate it.”
“It’s only right. No way in hell any of us will let him try anything. Hell, he won’t just have to worry about us boys – Mama G hears about this, and he might find himself dealing with a steel ladle to the side of the head.” He flashed me a grin, and a little chuckle left my mouth.
“Alright,” I said nodding. “That makes me feel a hell of a lot better.”
“Of course. Put your mind at ease. Ain’t nothin’ gonna happen to you here, Sam.”
We continued the rest of the walk in comfortable silence. Life at Rainbow Canyons was going to be different than anything I’d known, but his words made me realize how I’d never felt like a part of a family, a member of a community.
It felt good.
But my thoughts returned to Kyle. I had no idea what he was planning. The man was capable of anything. I only hoped I hadn’t just put Chance and his whole family in the middle of my personal shit show.
Chapter 11
CHANCE
We didn’t walk for all that long – just a quick circle around the ranch. Our small talk was light, easy banter, but throughout I couldn’t get what Sam had told me out of my mind.
The idea of her ex threatening her was enough to get my blood boiling. I didn’t know this little prick, but I wanted to wring his neck, maybe sock him across the jaw for good measure. You don’t threaten women – simple as that. And you sure as shit don’t stalk them from across the country.
“You alright?” Sam asked when we reached the front doors.
I was wearing my anger on my face, and I made a conscious effort to push it out of my system. “Fine. I’m fine.”
A white lie, but she was stressed enough about the situation. No sense letting my feelings put her more on edge.
“Thanks again,” she said as I led her into the house. “I’ll try to keep my personal business to myself from here on out. Just, you know, this was kind of a shock.”
“Don’t think nothin’ of it,” I assured her. “Happy you told me what was goin’ on with you.”
I removed my hand from the small of her back when I’d led her into the house. It was damn hard to resist touching her, scooping her off her feet, and carrying her up to the bedroom to do with her what I really wanted.
“Anyway,” she said. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
“See you then.”
Sam went up the stairs and was gone, a smile over her shoulder as she stepped out of sight.
Telling the rest of the clan seemed like the right thing to do, but I had to balance that against respecting her wishes to not go blabbing her personal business all over the ranch. A check of my watch revealed it was a little before dinner – enough time to grab a cup of coffee before the dinner bell rang.
I stepped into the kitchen, the smell of something good in the air. Mama G always had a fresh pot going during the day, and I poured myself a cup before stepping out onto the back deck. Wyatt was there, a mug of his own resting on the railing.
“Great minds think alike,” I said as I joined him, setting my steaming mug next to his.
Wyatt, like the rest of us Walker boys, wasn’t much for aimless jawing, but at that moment, I had plenty on my mind.
“All right,” he said. “Spill it.”
I chuckled. That was a problem living with your family – no sense pretending you had nothing on your mind. They could see right through you.
“Sam told me somethin’ – somethin’ I
don’t want to spread too far around.”
He turned his eyes from the vista head, wrapping his big hand around his mug. “That right?”
“Turns out she’s got this ex – some asshole from Portland. She got a voicemail from him sayin’ he was comin’ for her.”
“Holy hell,” Wyatt said. “Is this girl more trouble than you were thinkin’?”
“No idea. But I didn’t want to pry.”
“I don’t know if that was such a good idea, man.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Whadya mean?”
“Things like this, they’re tricky. I’m bettin’ you didn’t want to get too into it, thinkin’ she’s like us, not wantin’ to spill her guts about her personal life.”
“Exactly.”
“But somethin’ like that…I don’t know – might be somethin’ you have a right to know about.” He shook his head. “But I’m glad you told me. Goes without sayin’ that we’ll keep an eye on her, make sure no trouble comes knockin’.”
“Thanks. Just keep your eyes peeled for anyone who looks like they don’t have a damn good reason to be here.”
“No one gets past those gates without us knowin’ about it. I’ll let the rest of the family know we might have an unexpected guest tryin’ to find his way in.”
“Appreciate it.”
I wanted to say more, to talk to Wyatt about the confusion I felt about the whole thing. And like the issue I’d just raised with him, I could sense that he knew there was more than I was letting on. But he let it drop. That was a nice-as-hell thing about my family – we all knew when to talk and when to just enjoy one another’s company. Having a cup of coffee with my brother, taking in the majestic sight of the sun setting over the forest – that was all I needed.
“All right,” he interrupted the silence with a quiet voice. “Juniper’s been actin’ ornery. Better go check on the old girl before it gets too dark. Let Mama G know not to wait for me when that dinner bell rings.”
“Will do. See you around.”