5. Booker

Chapter 5

Booker

O nyx walked ahead of Henley and Austin where they rode behind me. We'd gone out to double check the fence this evening, doing a better patch job than the other night. While we were out there, Henley and Austin had checked on the cows. I was right there with them, but all I kept seeing was that frightened look on Brynne's face, and how she'd looked so different than the fear that enveloped her in the alley that first day I saw her. She hadn't truly been scared of me. Not as the lower half of her body inched toward mine, her breasts perked up and distracting. She'd done it on purpose, but it was the things her body did that she didn't see that only drew me in more. That button nose turned up with flared nostrils as her chest rose from her rapid breathing. How a blush bloomed on her chest, and her lips parted ever so slightly.

No, she hadn't been scared.

She'd been intrigued.

As we approached the gate, tires crunched over the gravel driveway, pulling our attention that way. Henley and Austin rode up on either side of me.

"What's she doing here?" Henley asked, adjusting his ball cap as he squinted that way. Fucker recognized her right away. Probably stared at her picture all fucking night.

"She's moving in." At least, that's what I assumed with her being here. I was glad to know she found my note I left in her gas pump with directions on how to get here. I hadn't had time to catch the guys up to speed. A ranch didn't run itself, and we all had our fair share of chores.

Austin's head swung my way. "You convinced her?"

Well, I'd mentioned it to Austin in passing in the barn earlier. Though, I'd only said we may have a guest for a while. He'd understood who I meant immediately.

I honestly hadn't thought she'd show up, but I guessed I was right about her. Her interest was piqued.

"Why didn't I know anything about this?" Henley questioned.

I sucked on my teeth. "You don't get information when you're the one who put us in this fucking mess in the first place. She wouldn't even be moving in if it wasn't for you."

"For me?" he asked, voice rising in pitch. "I didn't suggest you have the bitch move in with us."

"Watch your mouth, Henley," I warned, keeping my gaze on her car as she rolled to a stop. It was an old sedan. Easy to break into the trunk to fix the slashed tire. Chase clearly wasn't above petty games.

Austin held the gate open for us and we passed through, leaving him to close it behind us. We approached her car as she got out, immediately holding up a hand to shield her eyes from the sun as she looked up at us.

"So, you're cowboys," she said, tone flat.

"Ranchers," I corrected. "Henley here is the cowboy."

"Hey," he defended. "I do just as much as you two on that side of things."

Austin snorted.

"Where do I put my bags?" she asked, ignoring him and, stubbornly, me.

I turned Onyx around and said, "Henley, help her with her things."

I headed toward the barn and overheard Austin say, "My name's Austin, ma'am. Nice to meet you."

Boots landed in the dirt as Henley hopped off his horse, and a car door opened. To my surprise, Brynne's little footsteps followed me.

"I know their names," she said, catching up. "What's yours?"

I didn't respond as I eased Onyx to a stop outside the barn and dismounted.

"Seriously?" She propped a hand on her hip. The woman had an attitude, and it only made me want to mess with her more. See that little hip pop, those cheeks redden. "You break into my motel room, threaten me in an alley, and convince me to move in here, and I don't even get your name?"

"What'd I say the other night?"

She laughed, the sound dry, yet it pulled at me all the same. "I am not calling you Nightmare."

I shrugged. I didn't want her to, but it did me well seeing her irritated. "Then call me nothin'."

I looped the reins over Onyx's head, leading him into the barn, but she apparently wasn't done .

"Why'd you fix my tire?" she called behind me.

"Don't know what you're talking about," I said over my shoulder. I didn't need to admit that it was me who took the time to swap the tire. She could consider it a good deed from a bystander, for all I cared. I only did it so she had a way to get here, should she choose that route. If she hadn't, I probably would have just gone straight to the source to get the deed back. But now that she was here, I supposed I could have some fun.

"Sorry about him," Austin said from outside the barn door, his voice echoing down the aisle.

Ever the gentleman, that Austin. The girls fell for him left and right, and I wouldn't be surprised if Brynne landed in his trap. I couldn't care less if she did, but she wouldn't be staying on this ranch once we got the deed back. That was my only goal, and then all distractions would be gone.

Because I had a feeling if she stayed, she'd be nothing but trouble.