AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Exactly. Just like I need to let go of Jacob.”
“You’ve gotten seriously attached after one night. He must be quite talented.”
I snarled at my brother. “Don’t talk about him like that.”
“Wow. I’ve really never seen you like this. You totally misinterpreted what I’m saying. What you need to let go of is the idea that you’re like our father.”
“I know I’m not like him.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“A few months ago, I would’ve said yes, but look at me now. Helping out the same kind of people he worked for.”
“They’re not the same. The people who come here may be criminals, but they have lines they won’t cross. You wouldn’t have taken the job otherwise.”
I wish I knew that for sure.
9
JACOB
I’d been staring out my new bedroom window ever since I’d unpacked the meager belongings I’d collected from the bunkhouse. Rhys had made sure to point out that the room he was putting me in was next door to Grant. I almost asked to be moved, but I loved the room. It was the most soothing place I’d ever stayed. I had a view of the pasture where a few horses were frolicking. The walls were painted sky blue, and the huge four-poster bed had a dark green comforter. The color scheme almost made me feel like I was right outside with the horses. The room—together with the adjacent bathroom—was far larger than the studio apartment I’d been renting in Houston.
As I watched the horses, I pondered my situation. I wasn’t really trapped there, was I? As far as I could tell, I was the only person in the house. Who would know if I snuck out the back door? Sure, there were probably security cameras—I hoped there were, considering the situation—but before anyone reviewed the footage, I’d be long gone.
The real problem was where would I go? I didn’t even know precisely where I was. I’d have to steal a vehicle to get very far—or a horse, but even if I were a better rider, I would never take a horse away from the good home they had here. The ranch might be run by and for criminals, but it was obvious Grant and his brothers cared about the animals.
I’d wanted to ask Rhys more questions about Grant, but I hadn’t gotten up the nerve. He seemed nice enough, and despite his and Grant’s annoyance with each other, I could tell they were close. If I remembered right, Rogue had told me they’d been in the marines together.
I walked downstairs and headed for the back door. Was I seriously considering running? I walked out onto the deck and looked out over the fields. How far would I really get, and where would I be better off than I was at the ranch? I thought about the way Grant had looked at me when he’d first realized who I was. He’d been shocked but also glad to see me. I thought about the way he’d gently touched the horse and how watching him pet her made me jealous. I wanted his hands on me.
No way was I leaving.
I stepped inside and began exploring the kitchen. If I was staying, I needed to find out what food was in the house and come up with something to make for supper. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to start cooking right away, but I figured I might as well. From what Rhys had said, Grant wasn’t going to make anything decent for himself. I wondered how many people I’d be feeding. I’d never cooked for a large group, but I was sure I could learn.
The pantry was much better stocked than I expected. Someone had apparently been optimistic when shopping or not known how little Grant and his brothers knew about cooking. I found what I needed to make two pans of lasagna. If that was more than we needed, we could certainly freeze the rest, though I imagined anyone working out in this heat all day would have quite an appetite.
I was sitting at the counter, scrolling through the new phone Rogue had gotten for me, when I heard steps on the deck. I looked up as Grant opened the door and stepped into the kitchen.
He looked toward the stove and back at me. “You’re making dinner?”
“I am.”
“It smells amazing.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, fuck.” He stared down at his mud-caked boots. “I meant to take these off, but I was… distracted.” He walked back to the door, making more muddy footprints.
After he pulled off his boots, he went straight for the oven, cracked the door, and looked in. I hovered behind him, hoping he wouldn’t be disappointed at what he saw. I wanted to please him as much as I had the day we’d met.
The smile on his face was like a little kid in a candy store. “I was hoping it was lasagna I smelled.”
“I was hoping you’d like it.”
He turned, and suddenly, he was right there right in front of me, easily close enough to reach out and touch.
I hadn’t gotten enough chances to explore his body that night in his truck. With a jolt, I realized I’d been staring down the long length of him. I took a stumbling step back and looked up at his face. He was watching me, and he looked… hungry.
