I folded my arms over my chest, and I couldn’t help glaring at him. “How come I’m just now hearing about this?”
“I didn’t think it mattered to you,” Reed accused, his eyes narrowing.
I humphed, shaking my head. “You don’t think me knowing he was out of jail mattered to me? The man who terrorized Romy and endangered our horses? Of course it fucking matters. Not to mention, that asshole is now around your daughter. And who’s to say he’s not behind the fence cutting?”
“He just got out, Lina.” Dad shook his head. “I don’t think it’s him. Coming near our land would be a violation of his parole.”
“Like that’s stopped him before,” I snarked. “He had a restraining order, and he still held Romy at gunpoint.”
Reed’s brow furrowed, and he looked murderous at that reminder. He turned to my dad. “I can’t take Penn with me on the circuit. I won’t risk her. She needs stability and safety right now.”
Dad nodded in agreement. “I know it’s late, and you need to get that little girl into bed. We’ll figure this all out in the morning. She has a place here. You both do. We’ll talk to Jude and Romy, too. Come on, let’s get you set up in the spare room.”
Dad led them out of the living room and down the hall. I walked back to the sofa, picking up the whisky from the coffee table and draining it. Resting the cool glass on my heated cheek, I sighed. Reed and I were going to be sleeping under the same roof, and pretty soon, we’d be sleeping only feet from each other in a fifth-wheel trailer. I raised my eyes to heaven. I was fucked.
I pulled my cell out of my back pocket, tapping on my messages.
Me
I’ll be home one more night. I think I’ll take you up on that drink after all.
The sky was still darkwhen I tiptoed down the hall to the kitchen. The scent of fresh-brewed coffee calling my name. Most mornings, Dad was up well before dawn, cooking breakfast before he headed out to check on the herd. Mornings were my favorite—quiet and dark, slow and peaceful. It was only once thesun came up that I felt as though my brain were on speed and I was standing on a live wire.
Braiding my hair as I padded into the kitchen, I startled at the sight of the bare, broad back in front of me. Reed stood, unaware of my presence as he poured himself a cup of coffee. His shoulder muscles flexed as he lifted the cup to his lips, his back still turned to me. I stood frozen in the doorway as he slowly turned around, his eyes growing big as he spewed coffee from his mouth.
“Fucking hell!” I yelled, suddenly realizing I was only wearing panties and a tank top.
“Shit!” Reed said, brushing the scalding coffee off his shirtless chest.
A kitchen towel rested on the counter, and I moved over to grab it, covering myself.
Reed looked up then, his lips tipping when he saw I held the towel to my waist.
“Please, like I haven’t seen you in less,” he said with a teasing smirk.
I narrowed my eyes on him. “This”—I gestured with a flourish of my fingers over my curves—“isn’t foryouto seeanymore.”
His eyebrow quirked. “You sure about that?” He stepped toward me.
I took a step back, but my back hit the counter.Shit. Shit. Shit.
He took another step forward until he was mere inches from me. God, he smelled incredible. Like fresh linen and cedar, leather and cherry. His hair was still damp from his shower. My fingers itched to run through his dark locks. I pulled back, letting the cold tile cut into my back where my skin was exposed. Reed leaned forward, setting his coffee mug on the counter before bracing his palms on either side of me.
My breath caught. My heart pounded. He ducked his head, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered. Each word dancing across my heated skin, scattering tingles down my spine. “You didn’t leave much to the imagination when you came out to the fields in that tiny swimsuit wedged in that hot little ass of yours. Were you begging for my attention?”
I scoffed, but it came out weak. “You think that was for you?”
He pulled away slightly, his nose dragging across my cheek until he could stare me in the eyes. I shivered. He was so close, all I could see was the dark depths of his eyes.
“It better not have fucking been for Marshall or Jace.” His words came out deep and rumbling. I could almost feel them echo in my core.
“Jace is fucking hot,” I confessed, but my words came out flimsy.
One side of his mouth tipped while his eyes smoldered. “You think that fucking idiot can handle you? Give you what you need?”
I shrugged. “He could try.”
“Nah. He wouldn’t even come close, killer.”
