Page 20 of SEAL of Valor

I hang up a rake, then step out into the breezeway, only to find a large, long-haired black German Shepherd sitting at the entrance to the barn, watching me with its ears perked.

“Hey there, bud. Lost?” I question.

His tail begins to wag, and he races over toward me, tongue hanging out. He does a dance at my feet, spinning in circles and rubbing up against me like we’re old friends. It brings a slight smile to my face, easing some of the darkness blanketing me.

“Who do you belong to?”

“Aragorn!” a woman calls.

Aragorn. I almost smirk. The Lord of the Rings reference is fantastic, but then recognition hits.

Seconds after I hear her voice, the world collapses on top of me all over again as Reese steps into the breezeway. She freezes in place, and I straighten, removing my hands from her dog.

That gorgeous jaw I’ve traced with my finger more times than I can count tightens, and she narrows her gaze on my face. “What in the world are you doing here?” she demands. All earlier shock is gone from her expression, leaving her furious instead.

Good. Anger is a whole lot easier to deal with than disgust.

“I work here,” I snap. She doesn’t need to know it’s a whole lot more than that. Because if Vivian didn’t tell her I own half of this ranch now, then I’m certainly not going to be the one to bring it up.

She crosses her arms. Aragorn drops down at her side, looking between us, clearly confused about the tension. “You work here,” she repeats.

“That’s what I said.”

Something flickers over her expression, though I can’t quite discern what it could mean. “I don’t believe you. My mom would have told me.”

“If she didn’t, that’s between the two of you.” I move toward her, but Reese stands her ground. She was always good at that. I’ve watched her go toe-to-toe with bullies her entire life. Most of the time, she was sticking up for someone else.

It’s actually how we first met.

She stood up to a boy who had no problem beating up on her instead of the kid he’d been picking on, and I refused to let him. I stepped in and knocked out two of his teeth after he’d shoved her to the ground.

We were inseparable after that moment. Or, so I’d thought.

Seems like some things change, even if others never do. “I have stuff to do,” I say, leaning in just enough to see the flecks of gold in her blue eyes. It’s dangerous for me to stand this close to her, but I can’t help it.

I breathe deeply, inhaling the delicate scent of her perfume.

When I’m on my deathbed, having forgotten chunks of my life, I know that I will still remember the scents of jasmine and fresh linen because it is so exclusively her. Reese Faye. The only storm I’d willingly walk right back into, even knowing the outcome.

Reese’s lips part, and her pupils dilate slightly. It thrills me even as aggravation runs through me at lightning speed. “This is my home,” she replies, tone sharp as a blade.

“You moved away a long time ago, Princess,” I growl. “Now, I’m busy.” I move past her, my hands flexing at my sides because, even as angry as I still am, I want nothing more than to reach for her.

And that hits me harder than any fist I’ve ever taken.

Chapter 7

Reese

Ten minutes after seeing Weston in that barn, I’m still struggling to breathe. To make sense of it all. He’d been so close. I could have reached out and touched him. A single press of my finger against his strong chest, just to assure myself that he really was right there.

Standing in front of me.

“I work here.”

Is he serious? I glance over toward where my mom is napping on the couch. She’s been asleep ever since I got back from the coffee shop, and the latte I bought her is sitting untouched on the coffee table.

My mind races back over the conversation with Pastor Reeves. He’d been adamant that I talk to my mom, and this is why. Because he knew that Weston was still working here. Everyone probably does.