4. Hailey

FOUR

What the hell was he doing here?

I tried not to choke on my tongue as I stared at the man who'd stumbled to a stop ten feet away, standing there in all his muscled-up glory, though this time I thought he might be suffering the same kind of shock I'd felt when I'd first seen him last night.

He wore a trucker's hat with brown curls peeking out at the bottom, a tight white tee, and jeans that hugged his massive thighs in the most indecent of ways.

Only this morning, there were no shadows on his face, and he was lit up like he was a magnet for the rays of sun.

Each accentuating the rugged angles of his face, his strong brow and severe cheekbones. A squared jaw that was covered in a short, trimmed beard.

I tried to tamp the reaction I had at seeing him, how my traitor stomach twisted, and I forced a smile when Tyrek kept ambling my direction. He gifted me with the same welcome in his demeanor as he'd had when I'd met him yesterday.

"Good morning, Hailey."

I gulped around the skittering of emotion and turned the rest of the way around. "Good morning, Tyrek. How are you today?"

I tried not to let my gaze slant to Cody as they came closer.

"Great. The big exterior renovations begin today, so we were making another round of the grounds before the landscape team starts doing their thing." He waved a hand at the man whose presence battered relentlessly. "This is Cody Cooper. He owns Cooper Landscaping, so you'll be seeing a lot of him around. And this is his project manager, Matthew."

I couldn't even look at Matthew since I was gaping at the grin that spread across Cody's face.

I bet that grin alone could make all kinds of horrible choices seem like the best ideas you'd ever had.

But it was those gold-colored eyes dabbled in flecks of rusts and earthy browns that took me in as if he were trying to peer into the deepest parts of me that made my pulse skitter and my knees wobble.

Lolly might have thought he looked like sex on a stick, but what he really looked like was a giant dose of heartache. I'd seen it in action myself.

He hadn't even remembered me at first. Why that bothered me, I didn't know. Or maybe what really bothered me was that he was still smiling after everything.

"This is Hailey Wagner," Tyrek introduced.

Cody stepped forward, and the ground trembled beneath his massive frame.

Those lips quirked up farther on the left side as he stretched out a massive palm, acting like he'd never seen me before. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hailey Wagner."

I stared at his hand like it was a viper and I was about to get bit. With the way my chin had tingled for hours last night in the spot where he'd touched me, I figured it was a valid concern.

Still, it was my first day of work, and I didn't want to appear rude, so I gulped around the reservations and stepped forward, trying not to shake.

I reached out, and he curled his hand around mine, swallowing it in his enormous grip.

The burn of him raced up my arm like a shock of electricity.

I swore, his temperature must have been a thousand degrees.

"It's nice to meet you, too." I lifted my chin, pretending like I'd never seen him, either. Silly, since who cared if we were acquaintances? But something about it felt like a secret. Or maybe like something that should be swept under the rug.

At my response, arrogant mischief twinkled in his gaze. The man was nothing but a tease and a player.

"And you work here?" he asked. His interest drifted over my shoulder to the enormous stables behind me.

I started to respond, only Tyrek beat me to it. "It's Hailey's first week, too. She was hired on as the new stable manager. I hear we were lucky to snatch her up. She came all the way from Boston."

Lolly had let me know about the opening for the stable manager position at Cambrey Pines and encouraged me to apply. I'd been a riot of nerves when I'd sent in my resume, and I'd nearly fallen on my ass when they'd called for an interview.

I'd been so nervous during the Zoom call that I'd worried I was going to word vomit and make myself come across as incompetent rather than highly qualified, but the resort director and the outgoing stable manager had talked to me for all of five minutes before they'd offered me the position.

They'd basically begged me to get here as quickly as I could.

I didn't doubt that my last name had helped. The resort had purchased their trail horses from my father for years.

But that didn't make me any less experienced.

I'd given my entire life to horses, even when the last six years of it had been tainted. Still, I was proud that I'd been offered the position.

"That's kind of you to say," I told Tyrek.

He smiled slow. "I don't think it's any secret that you're an asset to the resort. I'm not sure if you've had the chance to review the plans yet, but there are some landscape elements that are included in the project around the stables."

He glanced at Cody. "Hailey will be your point of contact anytime you're working near the stables. Extra caution is always taken around the horses as their welfare is our first concern."

I swiveled my gaze back to Cody. He was still grinning. Still holding onto me with that giant mitt. "Of course. We've already been instructed we'll be working closely with the stable manager."

Suggestion filled his words.

I refused to let it get to me, and I cleared the roughness from my throat and somehow managed to wrangle my hand out of his so I could pull out the business cards I'd had expedited that were tucked into my back pocket.

I handed one to him.

"Here's my card. Don't hesitate to use it."

Please hesitate to use it.

Wishful thinking. I was going to be stuck working and living next to this guy.

Cody Cooper eyed the information on the card like he was reading about the discovery of a new lifesaving drug.

"I won't," he said in that grumbly voice, that grin still plastered on his stupid, gorgeous face.

God, I kind of hated him.

"Right. Good. Well, I need to get back to work."

I looked at his project manager who seemed to be trying to make sense of the awkward conversation, his attention jumping between the two of us.

"It's nice to meet you, as well," I added.

"Same to you," Matthew said.

I tipped a forced smile toward all three of them. "Good luck, gentlemen."

Golden eyes gleamed. "No luck required."

My teeth ground.

Cocky Cowboy.

Turning on my heel, I pulled open the door situated at the end of the stables and stepped inside.

My heart squeezed at the sight.

The Cambrey Pines stables were a bit on the extravagant side, in keeping with the resort.

Long rows of stalls ran both sides. The ceiling was pitched and soaring, the dark-stained wood robust and maintained, the metal gates engraved and ornate. There were always at least ten hands on staff, keeping the floors and stalls immaculate and ensuring the horses were well cared for.

There were a bunch of different guides and instructors for the different trail rides and experiences offered for the guests, plus a full-time vet on site.

Pride welled in my chest.

I oversaw them all.

Smiling at a guide who passed, I moved to the stall three down on the right where I'd left off. I'd spent my morning familiarizing myself with each horse, its name and health and age.

My job might be to manage every aspect of the stables, but the horses were my main concern.

I unlatched the gate of a four-year-old foal named Giselle and stepped into her stall. Her coat was black and shiny, her eyes the color of pitch and brimming with soul.

I swore, horses saw everything. Felt everything.

Knew.

My stomach tightened in a fit of nostalgia, the tiniest bit of grief, but I sucked it down and stepped forward so I could softly run my hand down her neck. I whispered, "Hey, there, beautiful girl. You are gorgeous. Just perfect, aren't you?"

I let my hand sweep down her neck a couple times in hopes of winning her trust.

She snorted and sighed before she shifted her weight into me, and I edged around to her front so I could stroke my thumb between her eyes.

Softly.

Slowly.

"That's right," I murmured.

She chuffed and nuzzled her nose into my cheek. A quick giggle got free, and I leaned in even closer, wrapping my arm around her neck in an embrace.

She was as gentle as could be. Most all the horses here were since we needed them to carry guests of varying experiences, sizes, and demeanor.

I stayed like that with her for the longest time. Getting to know her and letting her get to know me. Each of us giving our trust. Our love. Our devotion.

I froze when I felt the frisson of energy cover me from behind, and a swath of irritation blazed over my flesh when I finally pulled away to peer back at the source.

Cody Cooper was leaned on the inside of the gate, big hands stuffed in his pockets, one boot crossed at the ankle.

Looking like the epitome of a self-loving cowboy.

Arrogant.

Brash.

Too big for his own britches, like my father used to say about the hands I'd been instructed to stay away from. God, should I have listened.

He wore that smirk that forever seemed to light on his face.

There was something different about him, though, the way those golden eyes seemed to glow as they watched me from three feet away.

"Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Cooper?" I asked, going all business.

That grin twitched, and something sly and flirty drifted into his tenor. "So, we're just going to pretend we don't know each other? Don't you remember me?"

There was almost a tease tacked onto the last.

Was he serious? As if I could ever forget.

"I think it's you who didn't remember me." It came out far too snippy. Like I cared, when I didn't. Guys like him didn't deserve the extra attention.

His gaze raked over my body, dragging from my head to my toes and back up again. Far too languid for it to be considered polite.

"I'll admit it was dark last night and…"

He trailed off, leaving the obvious unsaid.

I looked different.

Back when I'd met him when I was eighteen, I used to be rail thin, bare faced, covered in dirt and grime and running around the ranch like I was the same as the hands.

Now I was all curves and had decided I loved a good haul from Sephora.

"…I thought you'd moved away," he added, his voice dropping in caution.

My spirit clutched.

Maybe he did remember after all.

I turned back to Giselle, petting her again, needing something to do with my hands. "I did."

"And now you're back." It rang with some kind of implication before I heard the tease weave its way back in. "And living right next door to me."

An unfortunate complication.

"Apparently so."

"You didn't move back to work on your father's ranch?"

My head shook. "It was time I did something for myself."

I cringed, hating that it revealed too much, that I was opening up to this guy who I knew better than to trust.

"Because you're not weak." He took me back to what I'd done my best to claim last night.

Disbelief punched from my lungs. He didn't know anything about me, and I didn't need him standing there insinuating that he did.

"Fuckin' gorgeous, too."

Desire twisted my stomach. Do not fall for his bullshit, Hailey.

"I think you should get back to work, Mr. Cooper, and save the inappropriate comments. From my understanding, this is a big project. That's where you should probably put your focus. I saw the contract, and I think you're being more than well-compensated."

He was making a small fortune.

I refused to look back at him, just kept my regard on Giselle as he stood there like he was shocked that I didn't fall into his hands.

So typical of his type.

He was used to women falling all over him. He used them up for one night, then he left them broken in the morning.

And by whatever energy he was exuding, he had some kind of delusion I was going to be one of them.

Like I would ever betray…

My teeth ground as my thoughts threatened to dive into dangerous territory.

"If you'll excuse me, Mr. Cooper. I'm busy." I could hardly force it out.

He wavered for a moment, the heat of his gaze burning into my back, consuming as his presence swelled in the space.

I felt it when he finally gave, and the metal rattled as he straightened and walked out. I could hear the heavy thud of his boots as he retreated, the man taking the suffocating energy with him as he went.

I breathed out in relief, and my forehead dropped to Giselle's neck. I drew in a bunch of steadying breaths, silently encouraging myself to get it together.

It was ridiculous I was letting Cody Cooper affect me at all.

He was nothing but the catalyst for the worst day of my life.

And I bet he was so self-absorbed that he didn't even know.

Easing back from the foal, I swatted at the one tear that got free, lifted my chin, and got back to work.

I made it through the rest of the day without any more run-ins with Cody, other than catching sight of him in my periphery and in the far distance when he'd been standing over his team, giving instructions.

He'd been holding his cap in one hand and running the other through the messy locks of his brown hair, not that I was keeping tabs or anything.

It'd been a super busy day for me, acquainting myself with the horses, plus I'd called a meeting with the members of the staff under me to review the daily processes and to go over a few changes that I wanted to implement.

I felt both energized and zapped by the time I climbed into my Durango at just after five.

Satisfaction brimming because I knew this was exactly where I belonged. I'd worked for this, and I'd never again allow anyone to try to sway me from my path.

Would never allow anyone to use me.

Delude me into thinking I was serving a good purpose when the only thing I'd been was a pawn.

Starting the engine, I pulled out and weaved down the long driveway of the resort with a smile plastered to my face. I was eager to get home to see how Lolly and Madison had faired today.

My grandmother would be watching her during the day until I got her settled into a preschool. I was so grateful that my daughter was going to have the same time with Lolly as I'd had when I was young.

Sure she would be safe and cherished and loved, plus if I knew my Lolly well enough, they'd get up to all kinds of shenanigans and adventures.

Memories that Maddie would forever hold.

When I got to the end of the resort's drive, I made the left onto the winding two-lane road that ran between Time River and Hendrickson.

This area was mostly desolate other than the turnoffs to a few ranches and massive estates that were hidden in the woods.

Here, the forest was dense and deep, and I settled into the comfort as I drove beneath the hedge of trees that tightly hugged the road.

The sunlight was partially shut out by the thick canopy of branches and leaves, and it created a quiet, secluded vibe.

A vibe that could almost pass as creepy if I didn't know better, so I all but rolled my eyes at myself with the way my nerves twisted when I glimpsed a car in the rearview mirror.

It'd seemed to have come out of nowhere but now remained set back, far enough that I couldn't make out any details other than the flashes of metallic black and the glimmer of glass that struck in the rays that broke through the foliage.

Though there was something about it that set me on edge. The way it seemed to be keeping an exact amount of distance between us.

I accelerated just to prove to myself that I was letting my imagination get carried away.

I was still letting fear win, and I didn't come here to sink right back into the same dread that I'd worn for years.

Only the car accelerated, too.

Keeping pace.

I pushed down on the pedal, and my heart climbed into my throat when the car came even closer.

Thoughts whirled, my mind frantic as I searched for a solution.

An escape route. For a way to make this go away forever.

Because I refused to be afraid.

Pruitt didn't get to control me any longer, and I wouldn't stand down, no matter how much pressure he put on me. No matter the threats.

Relief punched like a shock to the chest when the trees fell away and my path opened to the town of Hendrickson, Colorado.

Businesses sat on each side, stores and restaurants and offices. The buildings were mostly two story and situated close to the road with cobblestone sidewalks out front. Each were painted cute colors with abundant flower beds and pots sitting on their stoops.

People meandered.

Activity all around.

An SUV with Sheriff stamped on the side passed me coming the opposite direction, and I glanced into the rearview mirror to gauge what the car would do.

Only it was gone, no longer visible behind me.

I blinked then looked again.

Shaken.

Confused.

Wondering if paranoia had me making the whole thing up.

Conjuring a danger that wasn't there.

But maybe I was nothing but a fool for thinking that danger hadn't followed me here.