by T. J. Kline
Leah watched the four boys push and shove at one another playfully as they entered their cabin. To an outsider, they looked like any other group of friends enjoying one another’s company. Looking at them offered no clue to the physical abuse they’d endured—two from their father, and one from his grandmother. But Jude was different, he was simply ignored by his family, until he’d hacked into the school computer system and sent a threat to his teacher. All four of these boys shared a common dysfunctional thread, which had brought them together in a foster home and bound them for life.
Leah felt an instant connection to the boys and a surge of inspiration. These boys were at a precipice in their lives. Not boys but not quite men, at least not in anyone else’s eyes. She knew exactly what they could talk about tonight at the campfire, provided she could get them to open up and trust her in the next few hours.
She had to. There was no other option. If she couldn’t do this, she might as well pack up her belongings and head out with her tail between her legs. This was her chance to either prove herself or fail miserably.
GAGE WATCHED LEAH and Jessie trying to give the four boys a riding lesson. Neither of those women had any idea that those kids had absolutely no desire to learn how to groom horses. They were far more interested with watching the curves of the two women trying to instruct them. They might be troubled teens, but they were still teen boys, and like all sixteen-year-old males, they were walking, talking, raging hormones in semihuman bodies.
“She has no clue, does she?”
Gage turned to see Nathan walking to the small porch of his cabin, and he laughed with Jessie’s husband. “I’m not sure who’s going to get the more painful wake-up call, those women when they realize those boys aren’t listening at all or those boys when either of those two figure out what the boys have been paying attention to this whole time.”
“Yeah, what those boys are paying attention to.” Nathan laughed, leaning over the railing. “What do you say we go save those poor kids before they get caught staring, too?”
“I don’t know.” Gage didn’t really have any excuse to offer, especially since Nathan had just caught him ogling Leah. “I’m sure Leah and Jessie have some kind of agenda. I wouldn’t want to mess anything up.”
“Come on,” Nathan coaxed. “Jessie said I’m supposed to lead them on a ride up to The Ridge. The more the merrier.”
“She doesn’t have enough horses saddled.”
“I’ll grab Grady for you to ride. Besides, I think those four boys need to see an example of how men should treat women. With respect instead of like pieces of meat.”
Maybe, if he got to know the boys, it might make things go more smoothly later. Gage had already promised Jessie he’d keep an eye out for any trouble tonight, since he was sure to be up late with the kittens, although he wasn’t really sure what she expected him to do other than report if they left the cabin. He didn’t need any more trouble while he was here.
Gage stood up. “Okay, but only because those four need to learn a lesson.”
“Yeah,” Nathan said with a chuckle, as he eyed the group in the corral. “I’m sure it has nothing at all to do with the new, very single, therapist you rescued on the side of the road.”
Gage let his gaze slide over Leah, from her high ponytail and flushed cheeks to her long legs, encased in denim and what appeared to be a pair of Jessie’s cowboy boots. As much as he craved spending time with her, it was a dangerous proposition.
Leah was already winding her way around his heart, and he wasn’t in a position to commit anything to anyone, especially someone who needed the kind of patient tenderness she would. It was already taking every bit of fortitude he had to hold himself together long enough to focus on the decision he had to make about his business. That didn’t even take into account that now he had to prepare a rebuttal to the accusations Cooper would make to the shareholders.
“Hey, I was just kidding.”
Gage realized he was frowning and smoothed his brow. “Sorry, just thinking about a project for work. I’ll change while you get the horses, then I’ll meet you in the corral in a few.”
Gage hurried into the cabin, wondering why he was giving in to Nathan’s request. He might not really have any work to do, but he should make a call to Cooper. He needed to find out what Cooper’s intentions were and whether he was actually going to force Gage out of his own company. The scuttlebutt George had passed along wasn’t looking promising. The quick email he’d shot off to his assistant hadn’t done anything to make him feel any better, especially when his return email informed Gage he’d been reassigned to Cooper. Gage got the feeling that there was a coup in the works and being on the wrong coast wasn’t helping him mount a defense.
He slid the boots Julia and Dylan had bought him last Christmas over his stocking feet and hurried back out the door toward the corral, cursing his stupid desire. Leah didn’t want him on this ride, and Jessie wanted him there even less.
Then why are you going?
Because, regardless of his professional troubles and her request to keep things platonic between them—not to mention his assurance he would—Gage wanted more from Leah. He wanted to see her eyes darken again, the way they had when she’d kissed him this morning. He wanted to feel her melt against his body again, to have that warm desire slowly trickle through his veins when her hand pressed against his chest. He wanted to let his fingers run through her long waves again, to smell the sweet scent of her shampoo, and to hear her make that agonizingly sexy sigh while she slid her hand around the back of his neck and dragged him back down to her mouth.
Unfortunately, Leah had made it perfectly clear, she had no interest in any sort of relationship.
“WHAT THE HELL?” Leah didn’t miss the aggravation in Jessie’s voice when she looked up and saw Nathan heading into the corral with two saddled mounts instead of one. “Why is Grady saddled?”
“Gage is coming.”
“Why?”
Nathan turned his back on his wife to loop the reins over the railing, avoiding the death-glare she shot at him. Apparently, Leah wasn’t the only one hesitant to have Gage with them for the ride, although she doubted she and Jessie shared the same reasons for the feeling.
“Why not?” Nathan asked as he turned back toward her and arched an inquisitive brow.
Jessie took a deep breath. Leah could see she was trying to control the desire to spit out a quick rebuttal when Nathan crooked his finger at her, indicating she should come closer, and then he leaned forward to whisper into her ear.
Leah couldn’t hear what he said, but she could tell from the way Jessie narrowed her eyes that she wasn’t happy and someone was in trouble.
“Fine,” she said, glancing at Leah then at the four boys laughing near the horses before she eyed Gage, now walking their direction. “But that better be all there is to it,” Jessie warned her husband, jabbing her finger at his shoulder as she walked past him and to the boys.
Leah watched her walk away and turned back to Nathan. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he answered with a quiet chuckle. “Jessie just doesn’t like it when things don’t go exactly the way she wants them to.” He glanced at Gage. “He’s a good guy, you know.”
Leah felt her stomach drop to her toes. Had Gage told Nathan about their kiss that morning? Or worse, told Jessie? She seemed too concerned with Gage’s presence to not know there was something brewing between her and Gage.
Is there something?
Leah wasn’t sure what to even call it. She could say it was friendship. Gage was a nice guy, someone she could be friends with, but friendship wouldn’t cause this slow burn that traveled over her body, flushing her skin, nor would it cause the flutter in her stomach. But this wasn’t simply sexual attraction either. That would imply that this was just a moment of lust, that there weren’t tender moments or a shared emotional connection. Gage was far more than just a hit-it-and-quit-it kind of guy. Neither of them was interested in a one-nig
ht stand or meaningless sex. But as far as she was concerned, all of this was something she didn’t have time be distracted by.
She opened her mouth to respond to Nathan, but his grin let her know he was assuming plenty from her silence.
“Hey, Leah, looking forward to a ride?” Gage asked as he walked past her.
Leah’s eyes widened at his suggestive comment and was sure the blush that flamed her cheeks could have been seen from outer space.
Nice. That probably looks guilty as hell.
Either he enjoyed making her uncomfortable or he was the king of unintended innuendoes. She opted for the latter.
Nathan laughed. “She’s riding a pregnant mare who barely moves out of a walk. Between her riding Pumpkin and you on Grady, the two of you are going to be eating a crap-ton of dust at the back of the pack.”
Gage shot her a broad grin. “I’m sure we’ll be fine bringing up the rear, right?”
She was on this ride to spend some time getting to know the four boys before the bonfire tonight or they’d have little to discuss while there. In fact, that might be the only thing that saved her from riding next to Gage the entire way. If not, then it was going to be nothing more than an exercise in raising her heart rate and making her feel like an idiot for lusting after some rich playboy who was out of her league. Leah wasn’t about to be stuck at the end of a line of horses kicking up dust with no possible way out of the humiliation that she’d sentenced herself to.
“Sorry, I have to hang with the boys. Looks like you’re stuck bringing up the rear on your own.”
It came out more severe than she’d intended, and she bit her lip, as if that could draw back hastily spoken words. Gage lifted a daring brow and grinned at her boldness, looking amused by her comment rather than offended. Nathan clapped him on one of those bulging biceps.
“A strike out for the ladies’ man? I thought I’d never see the day you got shot down.”
Gage’s gaze never left her face. “We’ll see.”
Both of her brows arched high in surprise before Leah bristled at his braggadocio. “I doubt it.”
She didn’t want to continue the tête-à-tête when she was sure it would only end in frustration, especially when she wasn’t sure what she wanted, only what she thought she wanted. And that was something completely different from what she needed. That was what she was finding so confusing.
She’d come here to do a job, a great job, and instead was finding herself distracted by the one thing she had never wanted and had avoided at all costs for the last ten years. She was not about to fall for some rich playboy just because he was nice to her and made her feel a few tingles. Okay, maybe it was more than a few. Maybe it was more like an electric current charged from the top of her head to the soles of her feet.
“Leah,” Jessie called. “You ready to mount up?”
Leah hurried toward her boss and the mare she held, grateful for the interruption. Reminding Leah to check the cinch before mounting up, Jessie held the reins as Leah slipped her foot into the stirrup the way Jessie had shown her. She reached for the saddle horn and swung her leg over the saddle, settling into the barely padded seat and mentally preparing herself for the ride ahead.
Jessie reached out a hand and patted her calf. “You’ve got this. Just relax and let Pumpkin have her head. She’s as calm as they come. You focus on getting to know these four on the way up to The Ridge.”
Leah slid her hands around the reins as she nodded, and Jessie reached up to loosen them and press her hand onto the mare’s neck. “This will be a piece of cake. I promise.”
While waiting for everyone else to mount up, Leah couldn’t help the way her eyes strayed to Gage, watching him lift himself into the saddle effortlessly, the muscles in his arms and thighs rippling with the movement. She licked her lower lip, remembering how those arms had felt around her just this morning. When he looked her way, his gaze locking on hers, Gage smiled at her knowingly, and Leah quickly looked away, turning her attention to Cody, the clown of the group as he rode up beside her.
“Hey, Doc. Jessie said we’re supposed to pair up for a bit.” His wide grin was playful and he winked at her. “Does this mean you like me best already?”
“Sure, Cody.” She rolled her eyes at him. “What it means is that you get to be my guinea pig.”
“Really?” He picked at the leather reins with his thumbnail, looking slightly nervous. “What if I don’t want to?”
She laughed quietly, relaxing into her therapist mode, that comfort zone where she wasn’t the one on the defensive. Right now, she needed to focus on putting these boys at ease.
“Cody, I’m kidding. I’m not going to make you talk about anything you don’t want to, okay?”
The young man beside her suddenly looked like a boy again as relief softened the worry in his face. “Really?” he repeated.
“I promise.” She glanced up as Jessie opened the gate, and Nathan led the other three boys out of the corral with Gage behind them. “Looks like they’re waiting on us,” she said as Jessie waved to her.
Cody urged his horse through the gate and Leah followed, praying she could stay in her seat the entire way. Jessie left the corral gate open behind them, and Leah saw her leap into the saddle from the corner of her eye, wishing she had even a quarter of Jessie’s skill with horses.
“So, Doc, what d’ya want to know?” The boy slowed his horse to walk beside her. “I don’t have a lot to tell.”
“No?” She glanced over at him. “If that were true, you wouldn’t be at Heart Fire, would you?” she asked bluntly. “But we don’t have to talk about any of that. Why don’t you tell me about the last prank you pulled on one of the other guys?”
Cody ducked his head, trying to hide his guilty grin. “What makes you think I pranked anyone?”
She cocked her head to one side. “Cody, you’ve been joking around since you guys got here this morning. Of course you prank them.” She jerked her chin upward, directing his attention toward Jude. “Especially Mr. Serious there.”
“Jude?” Cody’s lips twisted to one side as he looked at his friend. “He’s a good guy. He’s just way too smart for his own good. It’s kind of bull how he ended up here.”
“Hacking into the high school computer and changing grades is illegal. So is threatening a teacher.”
“Yeah, but that was only because Mr. Greene got mad and gave him an F because Jude proved his test question wasn’t even solvable.” He shook his head. “And he didn’t threaten him, he just sent him a message that said he could get to him anytime he wanted. He meant he could aggravate him because he was smarter and could get into Mr. Greene’s head.”
Leah made a mental note to ask Jude about the incident with the teacher. “So, pranks?”
Cody laughed. “Okay, the other day, Melody had picked Jude and me up from school while Miguel and Hector were at track practice, and I knew he had a date with some chick from his AP chem class.” That guilty grin tugged at the corner of his lips as Cody ran a hand through his shaggy sandy-blond hair. “He’s really particular about how he looks. His clothes need to look just right, his hair . . . you know, really metro.”
“I could see that,” Leah said, glancing at Jude who, even now, was brushing horse hair from his jeans.
“So, he always uses this one particular hair gel and the container was half-empty.”
He snickered and Leah couldn’t help but laugh with him, guessing where this story was heading. “What did you put in it?”
“Hector’s muscle ointment!”
Leah covered her mouth with her free hand, but her laughter bubbled past. “Cody, that had to sting.”
“Probably, but the look on his face was priceless. He must have washed his hair at least ten times before his date. The best part was that when she saw him, she asked why he smelled like peppermint.”
Cody fell forward on the saddle laughing at his own antics, and Leah smiled at him, silently congratulating herself on connecting with t
he kid. He was a nice boy with a wicked sense of humor. She looked toward where Jude slowed in the line so that he was closer to Gage, whose eyes were fixed on her. She felt the blush rising on her cheeks as he tipped his head toward her and smiled slightly.
“So, he’s got a thing for you, huh?”
“What?” Leah’s head snapped back to meet the boy’s inquisitive look. “Who?”
“Body-builder guy.” Cody pointed at Gage, not caring who might see him.
“No, we barely even know each other.”
That’s it, Leah. Deny, deny, deny.
“Uh-huh.” Cody scoffed, circling a finger in the air at her face. “Those rosy cheeks of yours say something different.”
Leah would’ve argued his point if she hadn’t felt the blush burning her skin. What had happened to her ability to con people when it served her? She’d always been able to believably lie her way out of unbelievable situations but her attraction to Gage had her tripping over her own words and her body reacting in ridiculously stupid ways.
“Don’t worry about it, Doc. Your secret is safe with me.” He pressed his lips together and pretended to lock them.
She frowned at the kid. It was a bad idea for him to believe he had any personal information to hold over her. “There’s no secret and nothing between me and Gage. Like I said, we’ve only just met and . . . ”
“Ah, so you want him to notice.” Cody winked at her. “Jude will be disappointed, but I can help with that.”
Before she could argue, Cody bumped his heels against his horse’s sides, and the animal took off at a jog. She watched as he hurried to where Jude and Gage walked ahead.
“Crap,” she muttered, wondering what this kid with a very big mouth was going to say to Gage.
