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Thomas Wolfe won’t see me coming.
25
After discovering that Hunter and Landon aren’t going to help my mother, I plan to take matters into my own hands. If his father wants me, that’s what he’s going to get. I’m sure once I show my face in public, Thomas or one of his people will show up. Using myself as bait isn’t the most ideal thing, but I want his attention, so I’m going to put myself out there and hope Thomas takes the bait.
A light knock at my door startles me from my thoughts. I throw my backpack into the closet, hiding the fact that I plan to leave. I’ve spent the week looking up where exactly I am and planning how to get to my mother the fastest.
I’ve pulled back from Hunter and hardly spoken to him. I don’t want to hear his excuses. I wanted his help getting my mother back, and he told me no. I don’t like that word. It’s never stopped me before, and even when a deliciously sexy guy like Hunter says it, it still doesn’t affect me.
May pokes her head inside. She’s been oddly attentive this past week, always asking me to help her cook and care for the horses and other animals. Of course, I wouldn’t say no to my grandmother. But it’s as though she knows something is going on.
“Just popping in to see if you wanted to come and have a ride on one of the horses?”
“I’ve never ridden before. Will I be riding Snowflake?” I’ve been spending some time with her and getting her used to the saddle on her back—breaking her in, as they call it. The first day I put it on her, she reared up and kept going until the saddle fell off. Stubborn girl.
“Hell no, honey, she’s nowhere near ready to be ridden. One of our other horses is saddled up, ready for you.”
I know exactly what she’s doing—keeping me busy.
I shut my closet door, giving May a nervous smile, secretly hoping she can’t see through me. “Sure, sounds good. I’ll be out shortly.”
She nods and backs out the way she came. I release a puff of air. “How am I going to pull this off?” I mutter.
After changing into a pair of jeans, I make my way to the barn. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I turn and am met with Hunter stepping out of the stall. I pause, my stomach twisting, and I hate that he causes my body to react. I was going to help him, and now, when it comes to helping me, he doesn’t want to return the favor.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, chewing my bottom lip.
He’s wearing his work boots, jeans, and a black tee. He could wear a paper bag and still be utterly gorgeous. His well-chiseled jaw with a light stubble only adds to the appeal. I bite my lip much harder than I should and can taste the metallic tang on my tongue.
He steps toward me. “I’ve come to help you with riding. I’m guessing May didn’t tell you I was the one teaching you?”
“Nope, she didn’t. Yeah,thanks, but no thanks. I don’t want you helping me with anything.” I turn back toward the door, but the sound of heavy footfalls follows behind me. Before I can make it out of the barn, arms wrap around me.
“Let me go,” I growl out while struggling against Hunter’s chest.
“Will you stop acting like I’ve tried to kill you or something?”
I stop and narrow my eyes in disbelief. Did he really just say that?
His hold loosens on me, and I use it to my advantage, whipping around, pulling my arm back, and closing my fist. With everything I have, I push it forward. He doesn’t see it coming and is too late to dodge my blow. My fist connects with that beautiful face, and he cries out.
“You may not have killed me, but you’ve left my mother in the hands of those monsters...your family. That’s killing a small part of me. Do you really think I wouldn’t want to know my mother, considering she never had anything to do with me disappearing as a baby? No, that was our grandmothers’ fault. I don’t see them getting raked over the coals for what they did. No, it’s other people in my family suffering.” I swipe away the tear sliding down my cheek.
He’s red-faced, and his breaths are coming hard and fast. His hard stare is unwavering and focused on me. Normally, his intensity would spark something, but not now.
“Didn’t see that coming, did you? You can thank Landon for that.” I stab a finger at him. My hand aches, but Landon has been teaching me hand combat, so I know it is fine.
Hunter moves so quickly that I don’t get a chance to register what he’s doing. His mouth smashes to mine, his tongue pushing through my lips and invading my mouth. I want to push him away, only my body craves his touch. My hands come up to his face as my shirt is pulled over my head. Our mouths separate for a split second, and I’m left panting.
The connection of heat, desire, and Hunter claiming me is something that can’t be ignored. I was already his. Only he doesn’t know how much I want him.
He pushes me against the barn door, lifting me. My legs wrap around his waist, and he pulls back, both of us breathing heavily. He studies me. “You’re so beautiful. I—” He stops, cutting off the rest of his words.
“What?” I insist. My hands cup his face.
Affection glows in his eyes.
A burning need pulses from my body to his.
