Page 61 of Lucky Haven

“Property crimes aren’t as important as your life.”

“What if I stay at the garage with you?”

“It’s still safer at the ranch. Zane and Ridge are both there all the time. I’d rather have back up.”

“Back up! For what, a gunfight?” When I don’t answer that, she gasps. “You’re serious.”

“A madman just tracked Hope across two provinces. And he did have a gun, yeah. So when someone targets you, I’m going to assume they might be armed and dangerous.”

“That’s not what this is.” But her voice has gone small. “Cash, tell me that you don’t think this is like that.”

“I don’t know what to think.” I hate doing that to her. I wish I could lie and tell her that it’s probably nothing. But I don’t think that for a second, and I won’t minimize the risk just to make her feel better.

When I park outside the library, I turn the truck off and hop out, going out to her side.

I pull her into my arms and bury my face in her hair. “If it’s not Jeb, then there’s a wildcard factor we don’t know about. If you’ve got some free time, make a list of literally everyone who has scowled at you in the last six months, all right?”

“Yep.” She lifts her mouth and kisses my jaw. “Thank you for being clear-eyed about this.”

“I’ve got you. And now I need to head out to the ranch so I can figure out where we’re going to sleep tonight.” I chuck her lightly under the chin. “Looking forward to that, I’m gonna be honest. Hate the reason it was necessary, but I liked holding you last night.”

She smiles, all the way to her eyes, and nods, blowing me another kiss before she skips inside.

God damn it, I’m falling hard and fast for this woman.

I’m in serious trouble, but I like it, so I’m not looking to get myself out of this problem of my own making.

And the sex lessons are a nice lighthearted balance to the fear that could squeeze the joy out of her.

It doesn’t have to mean anything more than that.

By the time summer ends, she’ll be more knowledgeable about what she wants, what she deserves in a relationship, and everyone in town will forever know that she has a fearsome ex who still has her back.

She’ll be safe. Then I’ll walk away clean.

Nobody will ever fuck with her, ever again.

The rest of how I’m feeling some way about her—protective, possessive, primal—just needs to stay locked tight, for her own good.

Chapter Eighteen

Haven

Under Cash’s watchful eye, I let my landlady know that I’m going to be staying at the ranch for a while.

We decide not to keep it a secret where I am. After Cash asked me, I made a list of everyone who has been critical of me, quietly or not so quietly. Everyone at the town meeting, everyone who’s given me a cold shoulder. They’re mostly New Harvest faithful, and I’m truly not scared of any of them.

From twenty years of observation, I don’t think any of them are particularly brave, and anonymous threats track with a cowardly, critical world view.

I doubt any of them would tell Cash to his face that they think he’s making a mistake. So making it known that I’m staying with Cash and his family feels like a good move.

But saying I’m going to stay with his family is one thing. Driving under the gate that says Kincaid’s Refuge and pulling up to the ranch house is a whole other thing.

“They all know I’m coming?”

“Are you kidding me? They’re thrilled to have you here. Brace yourself for wedding preparation talk.”

“You didn’t say that earlier!”