15. Kat

FIFTEEN

Kat

I didn't want to stop kissing him—in fact, I wanted him to fuck me for hours—but there was work to do.

We disentangled ourselves and dressed in silence, the only sounds our rustling clothes and the whinny of horses in the barn outside the door. I snuck glances at him, trying to read his expression, but Gabe had averted his eyes and I couldn't see his face.

I fumbled with getting my shirt over my head and tidying my messy hair, stealing nervous glimpses as he slid his belt through the loops of his jeans with mechanical precision. I didn't know if he was trying to give me privacy to get dressed—which felt odd, given the circumstances—or if he regretted this already.

I was about to ask when voices—unexpected, unwelcome—filtered through the wooden slats of the storage room. My heart kicked against my ribs. Owen? Livy? Anyone's guess. Panic lanced through me, sharp and sobering. I met Gabe's eyes, and saw my own alarm mirrored there.

"Shit," I muttered. We couldn't be found like this—not now, not ever. Like we were teenagers sneaking around rather than adults who knew better. I scrambled for my boots, shoving my feet into them as I stood. Gabe's movements were just as rushed, his fingers working the buttons of his flannel shirt with quiet efficiency.

We didn't speak; we didn't need to. The urgency was clear. We were a mess, but at least we looked like a regular kind of mess now—hay in our hair and the scent of sweat on our skin.

I edged toward the door, pressing an ear against the rough wood, trying to make out the voices. Livy's pitch—a touch too high, laced with nerves. And another voice…a man's, deep and unfamiliar, twisting my stomach into knots.

What the hell?

"Stay close," I said over my shoulder to Gabe, though I knew it was unnecessary. He was already there, a reassuring presence at my back.

With a shared look, I pushed the door open and darted out, Gabe matching my pace as we moved down the aisle. Shadow snorted and stamped his hooves, eyes rolling with unease. The other horses shuffled, their agitation fueling mine.

"Easy, easy," I whispered to them as I passed, though it did little to calm any of us.

We burst through the barn doors and rounded the corner, and I felt rage inching up my throat when I recognized the man talking to my niece. Livy stood facing Everett Jones—that snake of a developer who I'd met at Ben's funeral.

"Aunt Kat!" Livy gasped, relief and worry mingling in her eyes.

"Mr. Jones." My tone was ice, even as my heart pounded fire in my chest. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Kat, always a pleasure." Everett's voice slithered out as he shot me a plastered-on smile. He extended a hand toward me, but it wavered for a fraction of a second when his gaze flickered over my shoulder and locked onto Gabe looming behind me

I ignored the offered handshake and moved closer to Livy instead, taking her arm with a firm but gentle grip to guide her back, positioning myself between them. "What do you want?"

He cleared his throat, regaining some of his composure. "It's simple, really. I want you to reconsider my offer to buy this ranch. It's worth a fortune, Kat. Think of the life you and Olivia could have."

The fact he used Livy's name sparked a flare of anger inside me. "You leave her out of this."

"Kat, I'm just saying?—"

Gabe, who'd been a silent giant up until now, stepped around Livy and stood by her other side. His voice was low and even, but it carried a threat that was all too clear. "The land isn't for sale."

Everett's face shifted from that smarmy grin to something harder, colder. "You might want to be careful," he says. "Or?—"

He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. Driven by instinct, my hand shot through the air and slapped him hard in the face.

I wasn't going to let this guy threaten me.

I wasn't going to let anyone threaten me.

A sharp sting bloomed across my palm, proof of how hard I'd hit him. Everett stumbled slightly, taking a moment to right himself—and I could see the red mark on his cheekbone.

Got him .

"Damn it!" Everett spat, one hand going to his reddened face as he straightened up. He glared daggers at me, his composure fractured.

"Next time, keep your threats to yourself," I snapped.

"Threats?" Everett forced a smirk, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease. "Oh no, that wasn't a threat. I'm simply stating facts. I have connections in this town who could make things very difficult for you. And let's face it, Kat, your little operation here is on its last legs, isn't it? Financial difficulties, poor yields…it's only a matter of time before you have to sell."

"Get off my land," I growled, feeling the burn of his words even as I refused to show any sign of defeat.

"Make me," he taunted.

That was when Gabe stepped up, a living wall of muscle. He snarled, a sound so feral it sent shivers down my spine—good shivers, the kind that reminded me he was on my side.

"Listen to the lady," Gabe said, his voice low and dangerous. "Get the hell out of here before I forget my manners."

Everett looked up at Gabe, a laugh escaping him, but it was hollow, lacking any real amusement. With a final sneer, he shoved his hands into his pockets and turned away, sauntering back to his polished car that looked entirely out of place against the backdrop of our dusty ranch.

"Fine," Everett called over his shoulder, "but this isn't over. You'll see sense soon enough."

I watched, fists clenched, as he slipped into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life, a sound far too loud against the tranquil sounds of the ranch, and in moments, he was kicking up a cloud of dust as he sped down the driveway and out of sight.

"Aunt Kat…" Livy's voice was a quiet tremor, slicing through the haze of anger that clouded my mind. I turned to see her standing there, small and shaken, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

"Hey, hey, it's alright," I said.

She looked up at me, eyes swimming with remorse. "I'm sorry. That man…Everett. He wouldn't leave and I couldn't find you or Gabe. He was just so pushy."

Guilt knotted in my gut, tight and heavy. While I'd been tangled up with Gabe behind closed doors, Livy had been out here dealing with that snake all by herself. "It's not your fault. You did good, Livy. You're safe, that's what matters."

Her lips quivered as she nodded…but I could tell she was holding back. I tried to sooth her, keeping my face calm. "Livy," I asked. "Have you met him before today?"

She hesitated, biting her lip, then gave a small nod. "Yeah. A few times, actually. He's been hanging around the ranch, and I saw him talking to Dad and Uncle Owen once."

My head whipped around to catch Gabe's reaction. His face was stone, but his eyes flickered—an almost imperceptible nod confirming that this was important, a lead we couldn't ignore.

I could've sworn Owen said he didn't know the guy…but maybe I was misremembering.

"Alright," I said, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. "I need you to go inside and get Bandit. I bet he's desperate to check on you."

"Okay," she agreed, her voice small but determined. "Are we going to call the cops?"

"Absolutely. And after that, we'll fix dinner. How does chicken soup sound?" I tried to offer a reassuring smile, hoping to inject a sliver of normalcy into the chaos.

"Chicken soup sounds good," Livy mumbled. Then she turned toward the house, casting one more hesitant glance back at us. "I'm sorry, Aunt Kat."

"It's not your fault, kiddo," I said. "We'll get this figured out."

I watched her go, a protective instinct roaring to life within me. I met Gabe's eyes, finding the same guilt there that I felt. "We can't let our guard down like that again," I said.

He nodded. "I know."

"So…no more of that for a while, okay?" I said. "At least until we get this figured out. Livy needs to be my priority."

"Agreed," he said.

I turned to head back into the house, my boots crunching on the gravel. But before I got far, Gabe's hand closed around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. I swung around to face him, raising an eyebrow in question.

"Kat," he started, "even if we're not…you know…together-together, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here for you and Livy, no matter what."

His eyes searched mine, and I saw the commitment there. What was between us was more than physical—this was all the proof I needed.

"Thank you, Gabe," I said. "That means a lot, especially now."

"Good." He released my wrist, but his fingers brushed against my palm in a silent message that sent a clear signal through the tension still lingering in the air.

We stood there, the barn behind us, our breath visible in the chill, understanding that the lines between enemy and protector, between convenience and something deeper, were blurring. We'd figure out the details later, but right now, the priority was clear—Livy and the ranch.

"Let's go make some chicken soup," I said, breaking the moment.

"Lead the way," Gabe replied, and together we walked toward the house—not as a couple, but as…well, something.