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I followed, then gasped when I was suddenly snatched by the wrist, spun around, and pinned to the side of the barn.
My jaw dropped.
What the hell?
“I don’t appreciate you manhandling me, Mr. Greyson.” I jerked against his hold, refusing to evaluate exactly why my heart was thundering in my chest.
Why heat spread and my stomach twisted.
“And I don’t appreciate you waltzing in here without care or concern or respect for other people’s time or safety.”
Safety?
He was concerned about safety when he looked like a fucking hazard?
Air puffed from my nose. “You think I don’t care about your daughter’s safety? You don’t know the first thing about me.”
For a fleeting second, he looked like he’d been punched in the gut before a grim darkness clouded his features, and his voice filled with spite. “I know you’re reckless.”
Offense shook my head. “If this is about our little fender bender this morning, you can get off your high horse because you were just as much at fault as I was. There was no neglect or disregard. I thought it was clear when I pulled out. But you know, if you need someone to blame it on, fine. I’ll admit there was a glare from the sun in my rearview mirror. So maybe you were in a blind spot, or maybe I was blinded. Or maybe it was just a freaking accident. Whatever the case, it doesn’t give you a pass to be a total jerk about it. So, I think I’ll do us both a favor and leave.”
I jerked my wrist out of his big mitt and wound myself out from under his ridiculously tall frame.
I wasn’t about to put myself through this misery to earn a few bucks. My boots kicked up a dust storm as I beelined toward my truck.
From behind, he snatched my wrist again, stopping me in my tracks, voice so dark when he murmured, “Don’t leave.”
I’d do best to get out of there before it was too late, but I couldn’t help but slowly turn around.
Something like regret and a plea spun through his expression.
What the hell was up with this guy? Talk about whiplash.
“Please.”
“Let go of me.”
I was surprised he complied.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Tell me, why should I stay? Ten minutes ago, you were telling me this wasn’t going to work out. I hate to agree with you, but I think you’re right.”
“Whatever you charge, I’ll pay double.” He was back to grinding out the words.
“What do you even care? Or do you just need someone else to pawn that little girl off to for a few hours of the day?”
Uh-oh.
Wrong thing to say.
He went from fallen angel to dark demon in a flash, flying in my face so fast I lost my breath. Blue flames burned hot in the depths of his eyes, those too full lips twisting in animosity as he angled in close to my face. “That little girl is the only fucking thing in this world I care about. Don’t ever imply otherwise. Do you understand?”
My pulse thudded at a wild beat. Instinct told me to run, so why the hell was I still standing there? More concerning was why I was whispering, “I understand.”
He edged back, his voice going smooth, pure business. “Do you wish to teach Evelyn to ride?”
After everything, I should tell him to shove it.
But I really wanted to work with horses.
“I do.”
“You have one more chance. Don’t mess it up. You’ve already disappointed me twice.”
Unbelievable. I felt like a ping-pong ball with this guy.
“Well, Mr. Greyson, I will do my best not to fail you again,” I bit out, my words holding just as much vitriol as his. Riddled with a challenge and firing with the same heat that was radiating from him.
He inhaled, his jaw rigid, before he shifted just to the side, as if he were gathering his thoughts.
He roughed those hands through his hair, and for the first time, a bit of vulnerability seeped into his tone.
“She is obsessed with that horse,” he said, “but she doesn’t have the first clue how to interact with it or take care of it. She remains timid, instinctively aware that horses can be dangerous, which I consider a plus. Her safety is my main priority. Introduce her to it today because she’s been dying to pet it. After that, you can advance her as you see fit.”
He gestured like he was giving me permission to return to the north side of the building, his voice cut in a warning when he said, “You will be careful with her, Ms. Dae.”
A lump clogged my throat. “Of course.”
Though apparently, I had no clue how to be careful with myself.
“Come with me.”
FOUR
CALEB
I wasn’t sure I’d ever been so backed into a corner as I was right then.
In a standoff with this riot of a girl, one who made me want to rage and rant and haul her impertinent ass off my ranch and dump her back in town where she belonged. It was up against the child who’d come out here with so much broken hope that it wouldn’t allow me to take that action.
