AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She shoots me a wide-eyed stare, probably worried I figured out what’s going on.
I’m quick to assure her otherwise. “I’m sure the Bug to Sub technology is valuable. I’d hate to have it fall into the wrong hands.”
We push until the sun is long gone, but to no avail. The Bug won’t budge.
“My buddy actually collects these. I know he has a winch. I’ll call him tomorrow and see if he can get it out.” I give the hood a final pat and start back for my antsy horse. “He’ll probably make an offer on it. Guy can’t help it. Nick fixes them up and resells them.”
“He’s welcome to it, no cash needed. If he can get it gone, without a trace, I’ll let him have it.”
I start for my horse, but she stops back at the hood. Using a rock, she hammers at the license plate until the housing breaks off, and it falls into her hands. She unlatches the trunk, not explaining a single action, tucks the plate into the darkness and latches it shut.
“You think this will be safe out here?”
It takes a second to close my mouth in a failing attempt to hide my shock. “Yeah, we own this stretch, so it’s safe until morning. You need to take a grenade to the vin number?”
“Nope. Scratched it off yesterday.” She dives through the open window, long, bare legs kicking in the air until she rights herself and re-emerges holding a small gym bag. “Point the way, cowboy.”
I snag the reins from the tree, backing my horse a couple steps. “It’s over a mile back. You can ride, I’ll walk.”
She eyes the saddle. “Looks like a big saddle. We can go double. I’ll ride behind the cantle.”
I might have doubted she knew horses before but knowing a proper term like cantle caught my attention. “You sure?”
She stretches her hand out to touch Chance’s muzzle. No hesitation, no fear like I’ve seen in girls I’ve brought back to the ranch in the past. She waits for his acceptance before she rubs her hand over his cheek. “He’s sweet, isn’t he?”
I don’t know what to say to it. I’ve never thought of my horse as sweet, but he’s staring at her like she’s hung the moon in the sky. If I didn’t know better, I’d assume some supernatural connection.
I swing up into the saddle, stretching my arm down to her. She grasps my arm with more strength than I expect from someone so dainty. One foot in the stirrup, she swings up behind me. Chance dances for a second, but she keeps her balance, adjusting like an experienced rider to his sidestepping movement.
“I don’t think he likes double.” She leans forward, obviously trying to offset her weight. “If I lean into you, I think I’ll take the weight off his kidneys, making this a whole lot more comfortable for him.”
Without waiting for permission, her hands weave between my arms like she’s threading a needle. Wrapping tight, her body pressed against my back, she leans heavy on me, face between my shoulder blades. Chance relaxes, and I pull taut. Easier for him, sure, but a beautiful stranger clinging to me for the next mile, I’m not sure comfortable is how I’d describe this situation.
I urge Chance back up the trail beyond the dunes. Her grip tightens on me up the hill, but she anticipates the horse’s movement, sometimes better than I do. The ground levels out, and she relaxes into the rocking motion of Chance’s gait. Her legs dangle behind mine, bumping from time to time while we ride in silence.
“I’ll need to pass this all off with my dad when we get back to the ranch.” I clear my throat to keep my nerves from showing. “I’m sure it’ll be fine though.”
She adjusts her head, rolling it against my back. I draw in a deep breath, keeping my mind on everything but her.
“You live with your parents?”
I chuckle a bit. She’s not the first female to raise a red flag. “I know, twenty-five, should be out on my own, right?” I don’t wait for her to backpedal. “The ranch is a family affair. My parents own it, but I’m ranch manager. I do the hiring, but dad gets final approval. Since you’re—” I don’t know how to explain it without sounding like a chauvinist. “The rest of the staff is male.”
“No sisters?”
“One younger brother.” My relationship with Carl is complicated. I’d rather not get into it yet. “But it’s obvious you know your way around a horse, and we could use an extra pair of hands around the place.”
“I could wash my face, put on a ball cap, and pretend to be one of the guys.” I swear I feel her smile against my back.
“I doubt you could hide your face well enough.” I stop myself before I tell her she’s too beautiful to pull it off. “It’s better to be honest.”
“Are you sure? I find honesty backfires.”
Just what I need, a gorgeous woman who admits she’s good at lying.
“Here’s the thing though. I’m gonna need a name. A social security card for the paperwork would be even better.”
“Not possible.” For the first time since swinging up behind me, she goes stiff. “I told you. I’m nameless.”
