Page 54 of Taming the Wild Cowboy

“Was I born under an unlucky star?” she mumbled against his chest and his arms tightened.

“I think you’ve fended for yourself by yourself for too long.”

“Who else is supposed to fend for me?” She pushed her hair away from her cheeks.

“Well, I might give you a hand.”

Her back muscles went tight. “I—”

He cut her off by touching her lips with his index finger.

“We’ll argue later. It’s getting dark, and we have a job ahead of us.”

Chapter Eleven

Trev drove the old ATV under the equipment roof, towing the damaged machine behind him. As soon as he cut the engine, Mac swung her leg off the seat of the wreck and stood, grimacing as she brushed mud and dirt away from the front of her jacket. It had been a job wrestling the heavy machine out of the gully, even with the help of a winch and a sturdy Ponderosa pine. They’d both gone down a time or two on the slick bank as they struggled for footing, but Trev sensed that it wasn’t mud bringing the ready-for-battle expression to her face. Mac had shit to deal with now that Brooke was back in the picture.

“I’d better let Raisin out.”

“I’ll walk you. I’m going your way.” And there were things he wanted to discuss. Mac was a tough woman, but there were limits and it looked like Brooke might screw her over again.

Unless he did something …

Mac gave him a quick sideways look before starting up the walk. “Don’t even think about it.”

“What?”

“Whatever heroic thing you’re thinking of.”

“You misread me.”

“I don’t think so,” she said as she continued to the door. “I’d hope this job at the arena would pan out because it’s kind of perfect for me. It’s not going to.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yeah. I think I do.” When she opened the door, Raisin darted out, and then she turned to face him. She studied his face briefly, then said, “Coming in?”

The invitation surprised him, given the way she’d been shutting down, but he was glad of it. They needed to talk.

“For a minute.”

Mac had pushed Hayes’s boxes against the far wall of the living room, stacking them neatly to give herself more room. The room was still cramped, but less haphazardly so.

“Love what you’ve done with the place.”

She gave him dry smile. “Thanks. Now promise me you’ll stay out of my business.”

He positioned himself against the kitchen counter, folding his arms over his chest, telling himself that it wasn’t to keep from reaching for her. Comforting her.

“What do you think I’m going to do?”

She lifted her eyebrows. “Talk to Brooke?”

“The thought had crossed my mind.”

“I can’t see how it would help.” Her mouth tightened. “Besides that, I’m going to talk to her.”

His gaze shot up to meet hers. “Like you just said, what would it help?”