9. Kat

NINE

Kat

Gabe…Gabe's hands on my hips, his cock buried inside me, his lips on mine. "More…" I gasped. "More…"

I jerked awake, breaths coming in short gasps. That dream had been graphic . My cheeks flushed as I looked around like someone might have seen me.

Nope. I was all alone in my bedroom.

Still, I had this horrible sense of shame. Gabe was here in the house last night…and I had some absolutely filthy fantasies about him. I touched myself thinking about him, came with his name on my lips…

I was a monster.

A horny, traitorous monster.

It took me a few minutes to recover, pulling my fluffy plaid robe on over my thin tank top and shorts, trying to put a face on like I wasn't thinking dirty thoughts. It was only once I'd cleaned up my thoughts that I trudged into the kitchen, blinking at the morning light. Livy was at the table, a plate covered in syrup in front of her.

I frowned. "Did you cook?"

"Uh-uh, Gabe did," Livy said. "He made us both pancakes."

"Where is he now?" My voice came out sharper than I intended.

"Outside. Barn duty," Livy shrugged.

No way.

Without another word, I moved toward the door, then slid into my flip-flops. I pushed the screen door open and stepped out onto the porch, the cool morning air brushing against my skin.

The sun had barely risen, but I was sure of it—Gabe was in my barn, working on my property, with my horses.

What the hell?

I saw him as I walked toward the barn, stepping out to toss some stuff in the trash. He paused at the dumpster, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He was wearing another set of Ben's old clothes that hugged his muscles in all the right places, and damn it, he looked good—too good.

The past ten years had been real good to him.

For a second, I was entranced, caught off guard by the sight of him looking like he belonged…and like a damn snack. But then my mind kicked back into gear, and my fists clenched at my sides.

I could see it now…he was going to muck out all the stalls, then ask for money. Just another person out to play nice guy only to cash in on my desperation.

No way was I letting that happen.

I picked up my pace, rounding the corner of the barn with the intention of giving him a piece of my mind.

But as fate would have it, just as I stormed around the corner, I bumped smack into his solid chest.

There was a flustered pause, and I became hyper-aware of his scent—sweat mixed with fresh hay. It was earthy and real, a stark contrast to the cologne-drenched men I'd left behind in California.

I tried to ignore the tingling sensation his smell induced, but it was like trying to ignore a wildfire.

And damn if it didn't make me feel alive in ways I'd been missing.

"Whoa there, Kat," he grunted, steadying me with his hands on my shoulders.

"Sorry," I muttered, stepping back and trying to ignore the heat spreading through me where he touched. "Didn't see you there."

"Clearly," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "You always charge around blind corners at full speed?"

"Only when I think someone's about to con me," I replied, hands finding their way to my hips.

"Con you?" He frowned. "Uh…I don't know how cleaning out the barn counts as conning you?—"

"Let's cut to the chase, Gabe. What do you want? Money?" My voice was hard, my gaze fixed on his. "You know I can't pay you."

He shook his head, a small chuckle breaking through his stern exterior. "No need."

I gaped at him. "What do you mean, no need?"

"Exactly what I said," Gabe replied, wiping his hands on the sides of his jeans. "You don't have to pay me. I've got this one."

I scoffed. "Why would you do that?"

"Because…" He paused. "My dad is loaded, remember? I can afford to help out a neighbor in need, and you need help. Your ranch is struggling. It's logical."

"I…are you being serious?"

"Yup. You need help, I can give help. Simple as that."

I wanted to protest, to argue that there had to be some catch. But the hard truth was staring me in the face—I needed the help. The ranch was hanging by a thread, and my pride wasn't going to save it.

"Fine," I said finally, though my voice sounded like it belonged to someone else. "But I'm not just going to stand around watching you play cowboy. Give me ten minutes to change."

"Take your time," he answered.

Damn him.

He was really starting to get to me. But I couldn't afford to let my guard down around Gabe, despite the unexpected kindness—or whatever it was—he was offering.

The day passed in a blur of activity. With an extra pair of hands, we managed to finish chores that would've taken me all day by noon. Gabe didn't complain, didn't slack off. He worked like he was born to it, and the begrudging respect that started to simmer inside me was annoyingly hard to ignore.

He really had changed. Back when we were kids, he would have been petulant, rude, even aggressive.

Something had happened to him…or maybe we'd both just grown up.

"Looks like we have some extra time now," he said, leaning against the fence, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. The past few days had been cool, but the sun was blazing hot overhead today—fickle Montana weather.

"Seems so," I replied.

It left me with a pocket of time I hadn't expected, time I could spend working with Shadow.

Ben's horse had been skittish ever since the shooting, and I knew he needed some TLC if he was going to get back to normal. He'd been a rescue horse in the first place, and losing Ben had done a number on him.

With Gabe's help, I could actually help this horse in need.

I headed toward the stable, my boots scuffing up dust with each determined step. Shadow's dark coat gleamed in the slant of light as I approached his stall. He nickered softly, ears pricked forward, sensing the intent in my movements.

"Hey there, boy," I murmured, reaching out to stroke his muzzle. But at the last moment, I hesitated. In the back of my mind, a thought nagged at me—Gabe had been good with Shadow last night.

"Need a hand with him?" Gabe's voice cut through my deliberation.

I turned, my pride warring with practicality. "Yeah, maybe," I conceded, my voice cool but my cheeks betraying me with a flush. "If you're up for it."

He just nodded, not a hint of mockery in his eyes. To my relief, he walked over without another word, clearly understanding this wasn't easy for me.

Together, we led Shadow out to the round pen, the horse's hooves thudding softly on the packed earth. "Alright, Shadow, let's see what you've got today, huh?" I said, trying to keep my tone light and encouraging, despite the tightness in my chest.

Gabe slipped the lunge line onto Shadow's halter with practiced ease. "You've got this, buddy."

"Okay," I started, taking a deep breath as I looked into Shadow's intelligent eyes. "Let's work out those nerves."

With a flick of the wrist, we set Shadow into motion, circling around us, tension easing from his frame with every powerful stride.

"Easy," Gabe murmured each time Shadow passed by, his voice a steady drumbeat of reassurance. "I know."

I watched them, a frown tugging at my brows. Gabe's words were more than just encouragement; they sounded personal, intimate even—as if he shared a kindred spirit with the troubled horse. It struck me then how little I knew about the man he'd become since those sweltering summer days after high school, when he'd put Ben in the hospital.

"Doing good, boy," I called out, but my eyes lingered on Gabe, wondering about the scars he might be hiding.

"Nice work with him," Gabe said suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. "Heard you've been working with horses all this time?"

"Uh, yeah." I was caught off guard, realizing Gabe had just opened the door for me to talk—something I wanted but didn't know how to initiate. "Been doing training for films and TV. Mostly in California, but some work in Texas and Georgia, too."

"Wow," Gabe said, a note of genuine admiration in his voice. "Always figured you'd do something great. Queen of 4-H and all."

I snorted, unable to help the surge of defensiveness that shot through me. "Sure didn't seem like you thought anything good about me back then."

He went quiet, and I immediately regretted my sharp tongue. It was just like me—quick with my claws. But Gabe wasn't the same cocky guy who would have snapped back. He seemed different now, more inclined to swallow his retort than let it fly.

"Sorry," I muttered, raking a hand through my hair. "Forget I said that. Let's give Shadow a break, huh? The guy deserves a couple of carrots for putting up with us."

Gabe ambled over to the bucket where I had the carrots stashed, Shadow at his heels like he'd found himself a new best friend. I watched them for a moment, the way Gabe moved with an easy familiarity around the horse, and something about it made my chest tighten. I hadn't seen that kind of gentle assurance in anyone since?—

"Kat?" Gabe's voice pulled me back.

"Sorry," I blurted out, looking anywhere but at him. "What I said earlier…I shouldn't have."

He picked up a carrot, pausing to look at me. "No, you were right. I was an asshole to you…to your family." He glanced down, his hand brushing Shadow's mane. "I don't deserve kindness. Not from anyone."

I hated how much that confession tugged at me. I wanted to tell him he was wrong, to argue that everyone deserved a chance at redemption…

…but before I could get the words out, something nudged me hard from behind.

"Whoa!" I stumbled forward, off-balance.

Straight into Gabe's waiting arms.

"Easy," he said, his voice a gravelly catch that rumbled through me. I steadied myself against the solid wall of his chest, inhaling a scent that was all earth and sweat and something indefinably him. My mind raced back to last night's fantasy—his hands, his mouth, his body pressed to mine. I tried to shake it off, but my breath hitched, betraying me.

Looking up at him, I saw it. That same heat from my fantasy mirrored in his eyes, burning just for me. His gaze held mine, insistent, telling me without words what he wanted.

"Kat, you okay?" His voice was hoarse—the kind of tone you'd have in bed, when you're…

Stop it, Kat .

I nodded, more reflex than anything conscious. "Yeah, yeah, I'm good."

But I didn't step back.

Neither did he.

Tilting my head slightly, I watched him lean in closer, his breath warm against my cheek. The world narrowed down to this moment, charged with something wild and reckless. His eyes darted from my eyes to my lips, his tongue flicked out in anticipation, we?—

Another shove, this time on the elbow—making Gabe release the carrot in his hand.

That's when the spell shattered.

But on the upside, it seemed Shadow was finally getting better…and that he'd just saved me from disaster.

Gabe and I jerked back from each other, an awkward laugh bubbling up from my throat as I bent to retrieve the fallen treat. "Guess he got jealous," I joked weakly, trying to ignore the heat that flushed my cheeks.

"Or maybe he's just hungry," Gabe added with a chuckle, his voice regaining some of its usual nonchalance.

I stood up, smoothing my hair back from my face, my hands slightly shaky. "Yeah, probably that."

"Right," he said, glancing away for a moment before meeting my gaze again. "We should get back to it."

"Sure." I nodded, my heart still racing from the almost-kiss. Or maybe from Shadow's interruption—I wasn't sure which was more jarring.

I handed Shadow his carrot, but even as I did, I couldn't help wondering if keeping Gabe around was such a good idea. My life, already complicated by loss and the daily grind of ranching, didn't need the additional drama…or the distraction.

But damn if I didn't want both.