Chapter 3

Zoe

Friday 1.13pm.

I glance at the horse he called Gypsy, and hope the answer will be no. “Are we riding?”

Tyler looks vaguely amused but I’m relieved when he shakes his head. “We’ll take the UTV.”

He looks upward and frowns at the sky. “Looks like we aren’t over the bad weather.”

With that vague statement hanging in the air, Tyler leaves me to go fetch the vehicle.

I peer at the blue sky and can’t see any sign of the bad weather he’s predicting.

Since I’ve now got a chance to check my messages, I slide my hand into my pocket and make sure my cell is charged.

At least I won’t have to worry about being stuck with Liam Cooper today.

It’s obvious there is bad blood between the two brothers, and I have no intention of getting in the middle of them.

By the time Tyler drives up in a sturdy looking vehicle with thick tires, I’m almost bouncing on my toes in my desire to leave before Liam returns.

I slide in the front seat, and Tyler waits for me to buckle my seat belt before spinning the wheel.

He doesn’t say anything as he drives out the entrance and heads along the highway.

I settle back in my seat, watching the scenery go by as Tyler turns off a dirt road.

Fat drops of rain start to appear on the dirty windshield as we start to drive.

I grip the handhold and glance at Tyler as he grips the wheel tighter.

It’s admirable the level of dedication he shows to the animals here. And even if he doesn’t really want me along for the ride, the mountain track is stunning.

Lush trees, snow-capped mountains surround us. Just when I think it can’t get any more picture-perfect, Tyler turns onto a narrow track, and to my left, a large expanse of blue water appears.

I suck in a breath and smile at the way the light is hitting the water. “It’s spectacular,” I gush.

I chance a look at Tyler and find him gazing at me with an odd look on his face. The sun flickers through the trees, and before I can blink, he’s back to looking straight ahead. “That’s Lake Bowman.”

I stare out the window watching the lake through the trees, not asking any questions, just bouncing about as the UTV slowly makes its way over the bumpy terrain.

I grip the handhold a little tighter as we start to descend down a treelined path. The lake grows closer as we carry on down towards the waterfront.

The track suddenly dips and instead of a flattened roadway, he drives through a rocky stream.

By the time Tyler pulls to a stop outside a rustic cabin situated right beside the water, rain has started pelting so heavy Tyler switches the windshield wipers on.

He peers through the rain and shakes his head. “His truck isn’t here.”

I squint through the rain. “Maybe he’s late arriving?”

Tyler’s jaw works as stares at the cabin. “Maybe. But if he was coming, he’d be here by now.”

He sounds so concerned a small amount of anxiety grows. “Where is he then?”

Tyler’s eyes meet mine. Silence grows between us and he looks increasingly concerned. “Stay here.”

I nod, and he climbs out and jogs across the grass to the cabin. I chew on my lip, watching him, wondering why he doesn’t wear a cowboy hat the way his brother does.

He drops to his knees and peers at the ground. I squint at him, trying to make out what he’s doing when he gets up and walks to the front door.

After a few seconds of knocking, he gives up and circles the cabin, while the rain beats down on the roof to a steady drum.

While I wait for him to appear, I check my phone and frown at the lack of signal.

I place my phone on my thigh and watch as he runs back to the truck. He yanks open the door, bringing cold air and rain inside with him.

He shakes his head, sending water droplets flying into the space between us. “He’s not there. And there aren’t any tire tracks either.”

I nod, fingers curled around the phone. “Do you think he’s had an accident?”

Tyler frowns. “I don’t know…”

His voice trails off, leaving me to wonder if he does know, but rather than finish his sentence; he runs a hand over his face. “We’ll head back.”

I clear my throat and lift my hand up, showing him my phone. “What about the cell coverage?”

Irritation spreads on his face and he near growls the words. “The weather’s getting worse.”

Heat brushes my cheeks as he buckles his seat belt and sets his face. I gape at him, irritation surging through me. “So, we can’t drive further up? Because of a little rain?”

He narrows his eyes. “A little rain is all it will take to flood that creek in minutes.”

I swallow hard and make sure I sound more in control of myself than I am. “But surely—”

“Nope. We’re leaving while we can.”

There’s no point arguing if he’s made up his mind. And from his point of view, I must seem ridiculous.

I try for an imploring tone. “Could you please let me explain why—”

He cuts me off with a glare. My ire rises even further as he makes it plain he’s not even prepared to listen.

He’s made up his mind about me. Nothing I can say or do will change it so I stare out the window at the lake and mutter to myself.

There’s the slightest hint of amusement in his voice. “What did you just call me?”

I shrug and keep looking out the window. “I didn’t say anything.”

He snorts. “Could have sworn you called me a jerk.”

I have nothing to say to him, so I stay silent as he guns the engine and turns the wheel.

The sky is almost grey when we reach the now swollen creek. He was right about the weather, and the water rising quickly.

Since he obviously knows what he’s talking about, I say nothing as he leans forward as we drive through the water and drive up the incline. “Looks like the track is washing out already.”

I squint into the rain and try to follow where he’s looking. But the rain is coming in so heavy, even with the wipers going full tilt, I can barely see.

The wheels lose traction and for a minute I think we’ll slide back down again, but Tyler just lowers the gears and we carry on painfully slowly up the track.

We’re almost at the summit when the vehicle starts to slip backward. Tyler’s fingers grip the wheel tighter, and I tense every muscle in my body as the tires start to spin uselessly.

We start to creep upward again when a large crack of thunder and a brilliant light makes me jump in my seat.

“Fuck,” Tyler spits.

An enormous crash comes from right in front of us, and with it, a large tree falls up ahead.

With another curse, Tyler reaches for the radio on the dash. “Laughing Cat come in.”

Over the rain, I hear static come back through the speaker. Tyler presses the button again and repeats his message.

He tries two more times, each time getting nothing in reply. Finally, he looks at me and shakes his head. “Looks like you’re going to get your phone call. I’ll need to call Burt to come shift that tree.”

I take no pleasure in knowing I can. But when he releases the brake, the truck doesn’t move an inch, just whines as the engine strains.

Tyler grimaces and works his jaw as he tries another gear. My heart is in my throat as we don’t move either up or down. Finally, he looks at me and winces. “We’re not going anywhere.”

He unbuckles his seatbelt and stares at me. “We can’t stay in here. If that tree shifts, it’ll bring a whole lotta water towards us.”

I nod, hands starting to tremble as I realize the predicament we’re in. With nothing else to do, I open my door, and when Tyler jumps out his, and yanks my door open, the rain pouring down his face, his hand extended, I grasp it.

He tugs me along the track as flashes of lightning highlight the dark clouds above us.

Water drips down my face as my feet almost slide down the muddy track. Tyler doesn’t loosen his grip until we’re almost at the cabin.

As if he knew where to find it, he runs his hand over the edge of the door and produces a key.

I have just enough time to see water rushing down around the UTV before he pulls me inside the cabin.

Breathing heavy, I lean against the wall to catch my breath as Tyler starts searching the cabin.

Where I hear him muttering and see him shaking his head, I know things aren’t going to get better any time soon.

To confirm it, he pulls out a chair and slumps into it, blowing out a breath loud enough to compete with the rain hitting the tin roof.

I swallow and join him at the table. Luxury it isn’t. After the ranch, the single-roomed cabin is primitive and basic.

There are no amenities to speak of. Just an old coal range, a large pile of firewood, a cupboard, fishing rods, and a few odd assortments of tattered furniture, and a messy double bed.

Tyler clears his throat, distracting me from my inspection. “He used to have a landline in here. Must have got rid of it. Don’t suppose your cell works?”

I doubt it will, but I oblige him and pull it out, even though I know there won’t be coverage.

When I shake my head, he curses under his breath. “Okay. Well, don’t panic. Burt knew we were coming here. I’m sure he’ll come looking.”

I swallow hard and try to keep my voice level. “I wasn’t panicking.”

His eyebrows rise. “Is that so? Could have fooled me.”

I stare at him and slowly fold my arms across my now wet clothing. “He’ll come looking in this weather?”

His eyes meet mine and something too close to doubt flickers in his eyes. “No. He’d wait till it eases off a bit.”

I narrow my eyes, unsettled by his apparent unease. “But he will come looking for us?”

He nods slowly, and my anxiety only increases. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Tyler looks down at a knot in the wood table and exhales slow. “It could take a while. And to be honest, I’d rather he stayed with Star than come look for me.”

It’s such an odd thing to admit to considering I’m a guest, and my safety should be paramount, not a horse’s.

But there’s something in the way he’s drumming his fingers on the table that makes me wonder if he’s worried for a good reason. “Liam wouldn’t, you know, put her down?”

His neck snaps up, and I already know I have my answer. “Just because she’s hurt?”

He runs a hand over his face. “Not with Burt there. But Star is an old horse, and Joel doesn’t come cheap at the best of times.”

He looks so downcast; it’s impossible to miss how much he cares about the animals on the ranch. He’s so unlike his brother; I’m dying to ask him how they turned out so differently.

But instead of asking him, I study his face, the line of his jaw, the stubble just visible in the fading light.

He catches me staring, and I hastily look away before he can catch my blush. “So, what do we do while we wait?”

It’s such a ridiculous thing to say aloud, I expect him to chastise me, but he just shrugs. “Not much we can do.”

He meets my gaze, and for a split second, I start to imagine all manner of things I shouldn’t.

I hold my breath, feeling my heart crash against my ribs as I wait for him to speak.

Under the gruffness, the rudeness, I’m sure I just glimpsed someone completely likable.

He pushes away from the table. “I’ll keep trying the radio in the UTV.”

And with that, he almost runs out the front door, making it plain as day, he’d rather face torrential rain and possible injury than spend a moment alone with me.

***

Saturday 2.01 pm

Tyler

The track is so slippery; it takes me a couple of attempts before I reach the UTV.

The rain is pouring relentlessly, thunder cracking overhead reminding me this is a stupid thing to do.

But I can’t stay sitting on my ass trying not to gawk at Zoe while I wait for the rain to stop.

I make it inside, and hear Liam’s irritated voice come through the radio before I have a chance to pick it up.

I grasp the radio and have to yell into it. “Say again, Laughing Cat?”

Liam never bothered to learn the correct CB language, so it’s no surprise he’s not bothering now. “Tyler, where the fuck are you?”

I grimace. Everyone on this channel just heard that. “Joel’s cabin. The track is washed out and a tree’s in the way. We’re going to need some help, over.”

The rain pelts down overhead, making my heart jump around in my chest. “Goddamn it, Tyler. I’m pretty sure Burt’s had a heart attack, the ambulance just arrived. I’m on my own here. Is the guest safe?”

Shit, shit, shit. I take a second before I can even think about formulating a reply, the UTV starts to groan, and I know I’m running out of time. “She’s safe. Is Burt okay? Over.”

He curses into the radio. “I don’t know, do I? This is the worst possible time. I have four other guests to take care of. What were you thinking taking her?”

I nearly growl back at him. “I was thinking Star isn’t fit for riding and that this was the only way she didn’t leave a bad review.”

He doesn’t even acknowledge I just saved him from a potentially disgruntled guest. “Just keep her happy and wait for someone to come get you.”

I frown at the rain pouring down the windshield. “Roger. You have an ETA?”

The answer comes back instantly. “The weather report says this rain should pass tonight. Soon as it does, I’ll send someone. And take good care of her. Joel should have some food, tell her I’ll make it up to her. Bull shit her if you have to.”

I should have known he won’t come himself. He’ll wait for one of the other hands to come back to the ranch.

I can feel the ground moving under the UTV, so I don’t waste any time signing off. I jump out the door, feet sinking into the mud as I grab the emergency pack off the back of the UTV.

I stand, gripping the bag, getting saturated as I stare at Joel’s fishing cabin. Keep her happy?

I don’t know how to bullshit the way Liam does. This isn’t going to go well.

With a growl at my bad luck, I head back to the cabin, stomach in knots as I think about Burt, about Star, and about the incredibly beautiful woman I now have to keep ‘happy’.

I almost slide down the incline, covering my boots in mud when I make it back inside the cabin.

It’s getting darker by the second, and there’s no evidence he’s been here recently, making me wonder if Joel ever planned on coming here at all.

It isn’t too much of a jump to imagine Joel lied to his wife for a reason. I don’t even want to consider that right now.

I kick off my boots, toss the emergency pack on the wooden floor and avoid Zoe as I go in search of a towel. I mumble to her so low I don’t think she heard me over the rain.

I shouldn’t have brought her here. If I’d brought Gypsy for a ride, I’d be back by now, making sure Liam stays away from Star, doesn’t do anything rash, and I could be checking on Burt.

Instead, I’m stuck here, powerless, useless and completely at the mercy of the weather.

Zoe rises from the chair, forehead knotted in concern as I strip off my shirt. “Is everything okay?”

Nothing is okay. Dad’s oldest friend is in hospital, Star is hurt, and Liam is on his own on the ranch.

Everything is shit.

I shake my head. “I got hold of Liam. Burt’s had a heart attack. And Liam can’t leave the ranch. We’re staying put for the time being.”

Her mouth opens and closes as if she’s trying to think about what to say. “I’m so sorry. You seem very close.”

I can’t answer that. I can’t say anything. Burt’s the only thing that makes Liam’s presence bearable. The only thing that remains of my father.

But with Burt away and the other senior hands gone for the weekend, there’s no telling what damage Liam will do.

I can’t tell Zoe any of that. But for the strangest reason, I find myself telling her something I’ve never said to anyone. “Burt’s the closest thing to family I have left.”

Her eyebrows rise, and she steps closer. “What about your brother?”

I scoff and near growl the words. “He’s my half-brother.”

Her eyes widen, but instead of taking a step away from me, she moves even closer so we’re standing almost toe to toe. “You didn’t grow up here together?”

I shake my head. “I didn’t know he existed until twelve months ago,” I mumble.

She looks around, a knot on her forehead, I assume comes from the condition of the cabin.

But she’s not thinking about the state of where we’ll be spending the next while. She’s thinking about something that’s bugged me ever since Liam showed up.

“And he’s the one who turned the ranch into a tourism venture?”

It’s so perceptive I have to wonder how she knows that. “Yeah. He did. Right after…”

I swallow. Fresh grief welling in my chest. I don’t hold her gaze, but her voice is tender when she finishes my sentence. “Your father died,” she says gently.

I lift my head and find her staring at me so intently; I take a step back. But the next words out of her mouth nearly floor me. “And as eldest son, he inherited the ranch?”

My chest tightens as fresh pain stabs me. “Do you always ask this many questions?”

She pulls a face and manages to look embarrassed and cute at the same time. “Sorry. Occupational hazard.”

I tilt my head at her. “Occupational? What are you, a cop?”

When she takes a few beats to answer, I swear my lungs stop working. “Kind of. I’m a forensic accountant.”

What. The. Fuck?

I’m so surprised I can’t find anything to say in reply. She’s obviously used to people asking what that means because she smiles. “Asking questions is kind of my job.”

She jams her hands into her jean pockets and pulls out her phone. “And that phone call. I needed to call another agent about a case we’re working on. I found a piece of evidence I wanted to make sure they got before they compiled the arrest warrant.”

She checks her phone and slides it back in her pocket while I try to recover enough to say something semi-intelligent. “You’re with the FBI?”

Zoe nods. “It sounds exciting. But I mostly work white-collar cases. Misappropriation of funds, tax evasion, fraud, money laundering that sort of thing. I really don’t do anything dangerous. I do have a badge and on occasion, I get to flash it around.”

She grins at me, and I find myself grinning back at her. “So, you are an agent?”

She shrugs. “I have the same powers. I just don’t do much fieldwork. I spend most of my time on my computer.”

I’m equal parts impressed and surprised. I never in a million years would have thought she did that for a living. No wonder she thought coming here would be relaxing.

“You want a drink? We could play cards till someone gets here?”

She nods. “Sure. I’d be up for a game of poker.”

My eyebrows rise as a flickering of uncertainty appears on her face before she answers. “I mean. If you want to.”

When she smiles again, unfamiliar warmth settles in my chest. “I want to,” I say.

And I do want to. But, standing this close, watching her chest rise and fall over her wet clothes, and her tongue flick over her lip, I know that’s not the only thing I want to do with her.

I clear my throat and step away from her before I do something impulsive, reckless and completely idiotic.

***

Zoe

For the briefest of moments, I’m certain he’s thinking the same thing I am. For a second, the way he’s looking at me makes me wonder if he’s thinking about kissing me.

I know his brother wouldn’t hesitate. We’re alone, isolated, and may be here for a while.

I know what Molly would say if she knew. I can almost hear her voice in my head, repeating like a mantra.

You missed your chance with Todd. Don’t miss this chance too.

It’s been months since I’ve even looked at a man, let alone a ruggedly handsome one.

I’m vaguely aware I’m shivering, and since Tyler is busy, I crouch down by the fire and make myself useful.

The grate has a good amount of ash, so I add some rolled-up newspapers and a little kindling before I find the matches.

When I have the flames growing stronger, I turn to find Tyler sitting at the table, a curious look on his face as he sips from a glass.

I slowly rise, feeling his eyes on me as I retake my seat and accept the rum when he pushes another glass towards me. I take a gulp and shudder as the liquor burns my throat. “Liam doesn’t do any manual labor on the ranch?” I ask.

A frown grows on his face. “Is it that obvious?”

I take another sip. “His teeth are too white, his nails are too manicured, and his palms are too smooth.”

Tyler snorts a laugh and downs his drink before refilling his glass. “I thought girls liked smooth.”

I roll my eyes. “Not all of us. Some of us have had more than enough smooth for a lifetime. Some of us like a little rough. If it’s authentic.”

I’m so mortified by making such an outlandish statement that I gulp the rest of my drink and push it towards him to refill.

A smile creeps over his face as he fills my glass. “You’re not what I was expecting.”

My eyebrow arches. “Oh? And what were you expecting?”

His smile disappears, and a serious expression replaces it. “You saw through Liam. Most people don’t. Most women don’t.”

He stares at me so meaningfully, l have to finish my drink just to avoid saying the wrong thing. I stare into my glass as I reply. “I’m not most women.”

I venture a glance at him and find him gazing at me like I’m the seventh wonder of the world. “No. You aren’t.”

My skin starts to heat, and my heart starts to thump unevenly in my chest. He doesn’t say a word; just wraps his fingers around his glass and frowns.

I finish my drink too quickly and reach for the bottle, head swimming a little reminding me I haven’t eaten lunch.

The tension is growing, so I change the subject before the rum and his gaze completely destroys my will. “I don’t suppose Joel has any food?”

A lazy smile spreads over his face, but he nods. “Not exactly the holiday you were hoping for.”

I don’t know what I’m doing but I take a breath and reply without thinking. “Oh, I don’t know. Things could be worse. I could be stuck here with your brother.”

He laughs so hard; I’m sure he’s going to fall off his chair when he recovers he wipes his eyes and shakes his head. “I think I saw some jerky. It’s not the five-star food you were promised, but it’ll have to do.”

When he moves, I find myself moving too. I step around the table, closing the distance between us, legs a little wobbly, as I muster up a smile. “Five-star food is overrated. Give me a cheeseburger and fries any day.”

He doesn’t move a muscle. But he doesn’t step back when I step forward.

My heart starts to crash harder against my ribs, head fuzzy as thoughts of the last man I made love to float to mind as a painful reminder.

But Tyler isn’t like Derek. And he isn’t like Liam. And my body is aching with the desire for him to touch me.

His breathing is increasing as we stand staring at each other, neither saying a word, but neither moving.

As if drawn together by an invisible string, I can’t step away from him. I can barely breathe for the need creeping through me.

I start to tremble, more for the anticipation, for the possibility he might not feel this way about me.

With Molly’s voice ringing in my ears and fueled by lust and rum, I lower my voice and hope I’m not misreading him. “We could always play strip poker?”

His eyes widen, then his lip curls as he looks me over. “I don’t play games to get women naked.”

My heart thumps harder in my chest. I take a breath. “What do you do to get them naked?”

He stares at me so long; I forget to draw breath. Everything grows fuzzy as the room blurs until I can’t see anything but his face.

With an animalistic growl, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me so hard the floor shifts underneath me.

I moan softly as his hands travel up my back until he’s gripping the back of my head.

Bliss surges through my body as I slide my hands over his muscled arms, and feel his skin rise at my touch.

He shifts his weight and pulls back, looking flustered as he stares at me. “I shouldn’t have done that. Sorry,” he says.

But I’m not. I’m not sorry at all. When he moves, I grip his shoulders so he can’t back away. “If you hadn’t done it, I would have,” I whisper.

My stomach flutters as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him towards me. “Do it again.”

Any doubt he had seems to dissolve as he kisses me with so much need, all rational thought is lost in desire so strong, I don’t even hesitate in giving in to it.

I don’t care about anything else but Tyler, his arms around me, his tongue caressing mine, his hunger, his need, the feel of his cock growing harder against me.

There may be hell to pay if we get caught, but if he keeps kissing me like I’m his, I really don’t give a damn.

Just for the weekend, I can be someone else. Someone without a care. Someone who lives in the moment and forgets about all the work waiting for me.

Inside this cabin, in this beautiful place, with a man who sets my skin aflame, I can be as raw and as honest as I want.

Before I know what I’m doing, he’s walking me back to the bed like we do this all the time.

I’ve never felt so aroused just from one kiss with a man before. His touch feels familiar like I know him like we’ve had a dozen conversations and spent hours getting to know each other.

And when my body melts into his with the thunder and the lightning above us, every fiber in my being wants Tyler to be worth the consequences.

I strip off his shirt, kissing his stomach, his chest, licking his skin, my hands never stilling as I try to touch every inch of his muscled body.

His touch is exquisite, gentle, and when he pulls my boots off, tosses them away, with such urgency written on his face, I know he wants me as much as I want him.

With no thought to whether this is right or wrong, or who I am outside of this cabin, I let him unhook my bra, and help him to strip off my clothes, and feel myself growing more aroused by his hunger for me.

When he’s as naked as I am and standing beside the bed, I throw my shirt on the floor, drop to my knees and take his hard cock in my mouth and lick and suck him until I’m wet and hornier than I ever thought I could be.

He pushes me back, takes my hands and helps me up and his eyes wander appreciatively over my naked body. “Get on the bed.”

I scramble to do as he says and he joins me. A smile lifts his mouth before he starts to press kisses over my body until he reaches my center.

Nipples stiff and body trembling with need, he pushes my legs apart and uses his tongue until ripples of pleasure build until I’m climaxing with such intensity I sound like a wounded animal.

He moves upward, kissing my thighs, my stomach, and when he reaches my breasts, he stops to lick and gently bite my nipples.

His eyes are heavy with lust when he rolls on top of me and kisses me deeper, his tongue sending waves of delight rippling through my body.

Skin aflame, I spread my legs, and his cock slides inside. He slowly thrusts, kissing me until another orgasm shudders through me.

I don’t have time to recover as he starts to pump faster, harder until his face is contorting in pleasure and he’s whispering my name.

I grip him tighter, pulling him into me, lost in him, his touch, his skill, my body against his, one thought resounds in my mind as he brings me to orgasm again.

Everything about this should feel wrong. A stolen moment in someone else’s cabin should feel cheap, tacky, tawdry.

But it doesn’t.

This. Him. A gruff horse wrangler, I barely know.

Feels right.