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“Hi,” she said cheerfully, refusing to be deterred. “I’m Allie, here to see Brett.”
There was a slight pause before he replied in a tone laced with amusement. “Really? Does he know that?”
Aware of the camera, hedging wouldn’t get her anywhere or win her brownie points, so she answered honestly. “Nope. It’s a surprise. I have a pie to give him—”
“What kind?” he interrupted her, his tone sharp with interest.
“Ina’s blueberry crumble.”
“Come on in. Follow the road until you reach the first barn.” He clicked off, and the massive wrought iron gates creaked open.
Mom was right. Food is always a good way to get a guy’s attention.
Allie wondered who was waiting for her. Rounding a curve, an enormous red stable with white trim came into view, and she recognized the youngest Kincaid brother, Slade, straightening from fiddling with a motorcycle. This time, the leap in her pulse was due to pure female appreciation for a shirtless, broad chest and shoulders and bulging muscles glistening with sweat. Coming to a stop next to a pickup with the ranch logo, she could make out the wide wingspread eagle tattoo covering his right biceps that shifted as he wiped his grease-stained hands on a rag. With his long, dark brown hair tied back and scruffy bearded face, he had bad boy written all over him, yet she still glanced around for a sign of Brett.
It worried her, how bad she had it for the oldest Kincaid.
Slade didn’t do anything to hide his blatant, head-to-toe perusal as Allie settled her purple baseball cap on her head and slid out of the car. The earthy scents of hay, horse, and manure wafted from the open doors of the stable; the soft whinny andthunkof a hoof hitting wood echoed from inside.
“Someone isn’t happy?” she guessed, cocking her head to look up at Slade when he walked over.
“Blaze is confined with an infected hoof. You’re the one who has big brother tied up in knots.”
Allie liked his blunt speaking. “I do?” That pleased her. “Is he around?”
“You do, and he will be. I’m Slade, by the way, and I sent him a message. He’s on his way in from the field.” She winced, thinking Brett might not like his work interrupted. Slade noticed, making him as astute as his brother. “Yeah, he didn’t sound happy. He’ll get over it.” He pointed toward a towering, full oak tree she would bet looked gorgeous in the fall when the cooler weather turned the leaves a vibrant red and burnt orange. A picnic table sat on the green grass, shaded under the canopy the tree’s limbs provided. “You can wait for him at the table. We have a stash of plastic utensils near the coffeepot in the stable. I’ll grab some. You owe me some of that.” He nodded to the pie she held in her hands.
“I’m Allie, and I’ll be sure Brett shares. Thanks, Slade.”
Allied strolled across the well-kept lawn, quite pleased to have an ally, at least for now. She sat on the bench with her back against the table, resting on her arms braced behind her, head tilted up to the sun filtering through the overhead branches until she heard the pounding hooves of an approaching rider. Opening her eyes, she squinted, bringing into focus Brett astride a chocolate Appaloosa with white haunches covered in brown spots. It wasn’t the stunning stallion that snared her interest but Brett’s superb horsemanship as he reined in his mount at the corral. He swung down in one smooth move, his denim-covered quads bunching, the bulge emphasizing his strength.
Sitting up, she took in the black T-shirt’s snug fit over his wide shoulders, broad chest, and lean abdomen where it disappeared into his waistband. Butterflies tickled her stomach as he spoke with Slade, his black Stetson shielding almost half of his face, preventing her from reading his expression.
But Allie didn’t need to get a closer look, hear his voice, or be near him to burn for his attention.
****
Brett could see Allie’sbright clothing as he rode into the stable yard and was as annoyed by the interruption to his day as he was by the adrenaline rush he experienced hearing she’d come to see him. Getting involved with another woman while still fighting Gina for a divorce held as much appeal for him as his ex’s constant wiles to mend the torn-down fences of their relationship. He’d just refused to cut his ride short to talk to Gina when she’d arrived without notice, so why did he do so for Allie and dismount at the corral with anticipation drumming through his veins?
“What does she want?” he asked Slade as his youngest bother joined him at the rail.
Leaning his arms on the fence, Slade’s lips curled upward as he drawled, “She brought you a thank-you token, one of Ina’s pies. What did you do?”
Brett shrugged, making a note not to give Allie another opening to seek him out. “Her car was vandalized in Casey’s lot last night. It was only right to get it cleaned up for her.”
Slade frowned. “Reed didn’t mention that. Did the cameras pick up who did it?”
“The person knew enough to keep his face hidden, so we’re guessing a regular club visitor. We’ll hire Eric to help, something we should have done before now.” Brett just wished the culprit had given them something to go on. The cryptic message read as a personal warning to Allie, but why someone would warn her to stay away from Casey’s baffled him and Reed, and pissed Brett off when he recalled her stricken face.
“I can get on that this week.” Slade nodded toward Allie. “Right now, you’d better join your guest.”
He blew out a breath and straightened his shoulders. “I’ll send her on her way.”
“Make sure you keep the pie, and save me some before you eat it all,” Slade insisted.
“I have other concerns besides your sweet tooth.” Like how to send Allie away without hurting her feelings.
Brett strode toward the tree-shaded table before Slade could say anything else. Allie turned her pink-cheeked pixie face up to him as he approached, her blue eyes sparkling as bright as her flowered top. His gaze slid down to the gaping part in her shirt, doubting the top three buttons had slipped free on their own to reveal a hint of cleavage. He found the glimpse of soft, creamy flesh tempting but wasn’t an adolescent who lost all common sense over a pair of nice breasts.
