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“Why did he fire you?” he asked coolly, his eyes never leaving hers.
“I refused to sell,” I said, my voice low.
“And you worked for him because of the outstanding medical bills,” he returned to Valerie.
She flinched. “That is none of your god damn business,” she snapped.
Slowly, he unfolded his legs and leaned against the table. “Babe, I’m the best for reason,” he implied. “You want to know why that is? I do my homework. Your mom has lung cancer, you work to pay the bills. There is no shame in that, but if you want me to find Mason, then don’t keep shit from me.”
“Call her that again, and your ashes will be on my mountain,” I threatened, standing up slowly.
His smile grew. “I think I’m going to like you.”
“The feeling isn’t mutual.”
Valerie was still staring at the man, tears shining in her eyes. I swear to fuck, if he makes her cry—
“Can you do it or not, Mr. Grayson?” she asked, keeping her sweet voice level.
“Yes.”
“Then get it done,” I ordered.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Valerie
Iwokewithastart, sitting up and gasping for air.
“It was just a dream. Just a dream,” I whispered, running my hands through my hair. My body was slick with sweat, but I was shivering. I took a moment, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.
You are fine.
Mom is fine.
You are at Hallow Ranch with Denver.
Everything is fine.
Breathe, Val.
When I opened my eyes, I looked to my side, expecting to find my cowboy. The bed was empty, the sheets thrown back, the light in the bathroom off. Had he already gone for the day? My eyes drifted to the clock on his table.
It was only one in the morning; he shouldn’t be up this early. Swinging my legs over, I made my way to the window. The bunkhouse was dark, but there was a light on coming from the loft in the barn. Denver’s truck was still here, too. The cowboys had their own trucks, of course, but they parked on the other side of the bunkhouse.
Without a second thought, I slipped on the slippers Den brought home from the store the other day. I’d mentioned to him that his floors were cold, and he showed up with those. His thoughtfulness gave me whiplash sometimes. I headed downstairs, pausing by Caleb’s rooms first. I could hear his light snoring on the other side, and I smiled to myself.
Once I was out of the house, I shut the front door quietly behind me and headed towards the barn. The night sky was bright with stars, and the moon was high, the earie light shining down on the barn. The air was warm, a lot warmer than it had been the night I witnessed Denver’s dark side. I felt comfortable in the nightie I chose for the night. I was hoping he would touch me again tonight. He hadn’t touched me or initiated anything in days. He would kiss me until I was dizzy and then pull away. It worried me.
Once I made it to the barn, I slipped inside quietly, not wanting to disturb the horses. The light was still on in the loft. There was a small staircase to my left that led up, and I swallowed my fear and moved.
I was halfway up when I heard the low rumble. “Enchantress.”
My skin prickled and my nipples hardened at the sound. I climbed up the rest of the way, and my body froze at the sight before me. The breath in my lungs stuck, and my heart pounded quicker in my chest. It was borderline erratic.
In the corner of the loft was my dark cowboy, his smoke eyes pinning me in my spot. He was sitting in a wooden chair, his boots crossed at the ankles resting on top of the horse saddle, which was perched on a stool in front of him. Wranglers covered his thick, long legs, a dark Henley stretched across his abdomen and chest. His black hat was pulled down low, only his mouth and bearded jaw visible to me. There was a bottle of whiskey in his right hand, his long fingers wrapped around the neck.
I wasn’t scared coming in here, but there was something making its slow climb up my spine, something that teetered the line between fear and excitement.
