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What she saw in those black eyes was a safe haven.
That almost scared her more than anything yet. She had to get a grip on reality. She wasn’t staying in Stone Pass. Soon she’d be on the road again.
Maybe sometime, someday, she’d find another group of people like these. People who would welcome her the same way.
And if she were lucky, a man like Jaren…
* * * * *
Laughter boomed from the opposite end of the deck, followed by a boo and then a cheer. Jaren wasn’t following the game of cornhole taking place over there—he was too busy thinking about those police reports. They said far less than he expected, and so did the investigation surrounding her mother’s death. In fact, they weren’t very damn helpful.
He was alsoverybusy watching Trinny.
The woman was cute as hell with her mass of hair hanging in waves mussed by the breeze. And the way her top clung to her breasts, the fullness stretching the buttons, had him half-hard for the entire gathering.
“You can’t take your eyes off her.”
The statement made him glance over. Casey nudged his hat brim down, but the gesture didn’t conceal his friend’s smile.
“It’s kind of my job to keep watch over my ward.”
“Looks like more than a job.”
“Case?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut up.”
Casey’s teeth flashed in a grin. He grabbed a bun off the platter and started fixing himself a burger.
Jaren’s attention shot back to Trinny. Across the deck, their gazes locked. Damn, maybe Casey was right about him not being able to tear his eyes off her.
She tossed the bean bag without even looking at the hole she was aiming at. The bag hit the deck, falling short of the target. With her try over with, she twisted away from the game and started across the deck toward him.
When she reached his side, he picked up on the sag of relief in her shoulders. “Bad round at cornhole?” he drawled.
“I’ve never been very good at team games.”
“You any good at flippin’ burgers?” He held out the long-handled spatula. Before she could answer, he thrust it into her hand.
She gaped at him. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“You’ll figure it out.” Tossing her a grin, he walked away to join his teammates. The guys clustered around the deck. They were discussing the next training in two weeks’ time.
When he joined them, Ross directed his focus to Jaren. “Think you Abel boys can keep from beating the shit out of each other this time?”
“Friendly competition,” Jaren grumbled.
Judd’s brows lowered in a thunderous expression. Even though a couple trainings had passed without the trio getting into a heated debate or throwing a punch, neither of them liked getting called out for fighting.
Fact was, Jaren struggled to keep his cool more than he cared to admit. He didn’t like being known as the hothead, the guy who was watched more than the others on the team because he ran a little too hot.
One of his biggest regrets in life centered around this very struggle. When that ward took off on them, a fight had broken out in the lobby of the event—and of course Jaren felt the need to go break it up.
By the time he got back with a few split knuckles and a bruise or two, his brothers were frantically searching for their ward.
Ever since, he battled with his own demons surrounding that day and how they led back to his lack of control.
