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Willow
Her mom had gone all out with the party. She’d had it catered, brought in a band, and went overboard with the alcohol.
Willow didn’t mind. It was nice to see all her old friends and hear the gossip and simply be back home. What she hadn’t expected was all the gossip about Cole. She’d heard the words “prison” and “assault” more than once and it just confirmed her suspicions. Cole was up to no good.
When her dad grabbed her around the waist for a dance, she launched right into her worries. “Why’d you hire him?”
“Who, sweetheart?”
“Cole. He’s…” She glanced around, trying to find him in the crowd. He stood in one corner, nursing a beer and looking dangerous. “It sounds like he’s got a history.”
“Don’t we all?” Mr. Morgan joked.
“I’m serious. Did he really go to prison?”
Mr. Morgan nodded. “But that was almost five years ago—and besides, don’t we all deserve a second chance?”
“Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful.”
“When have you known me to not be careful?”
“I just don’t want someone to take advantage of you.”
“Don’t worry about me, darlin’,” Mr. Morgan said. “I can take care of myself.”
She sighed. She wasn’t getting through to him, but what could she do? She’d just have to keep an eye on Cole herself. Just as she thought those words, she watched as one of the ranch hands walked up to Cole and whispered something low, urgent.
Cole nodded, set aside his beer, and walked from the barn. Where was he going? And so secretly?
“Thanks for the dance, Dad. You should find Mom and dance with her next.”
She watched while he did just that, and then hurried from the barn to figure out where Cole was going. Outside, she glanced around, searching the darkness for something suspicious. She spotted flashlights past the barn and over by the fence.
Willow had worn her cowboy boots this time, and that made it easier for her to dash through the brush and follow the lights. When she reached the fence, her mouth dropped open at what she saw.
A horse, lying on its side, with blood pouring from its front leg. Cole crouched over it, murmuring soothing words.
She gasped. “What happened?”
“Got caught in some barbed wire,” the ranch hand answered.
“I should get my dad,” she said.
“No,” Cole snapped. He kept his hand on the horse’s neck, still soothing it, but met her eyes. “This is your dad’s favorite horse. No need to worry him tonight unless it’s serious.”
Damn it, he was right. Her dad was attached to his animals.
“Grab bandages, another light, and some warm water,” Cole told the ranch hand. “Meet me in the stables.”
He ran off and she ventured closer. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Help me get her to the stables so we can see what we’re working with.”
She helped coax the horse to a standing position and they both walked it back to the stables. Cole stayed calm and in control as he checked the wound, cleaned it, and determined it probably didn’t need stitches.
“Should we send for the vet?” Willow asked.
“He’s out of town until tomorrow, but I think it’ll be okay.” Cole waved in the direction of the barn. “You can go back to the party.”
“I’d rather stay here.”
He stepped closer to her, eyes darkening. “I don’t need your help.”
The words hurt Willow more than she let on—especially when part of her was thinking she might have misjudged Cole. Someone who was that gentle with an animal, who put her father’s feelings first, couldn’t be all that bad, could they?
“I’m here whether you like it or not,” Willow told him, holding her ground.
“You’re just like all the rest.”
She blinked. “What?”
He nodded, invading her space. Like he was purposefully trying to intimidate her. “You heard the gossip, didn’t you? I’m dangerous.”
A thrill of excitement raced through her body. Dangerously sexy, maybe. Again, in the shadows of the stables, she couldn’t tell the color of his eyes. But they didn’t look dangerous. They looked wounded. Like he’d gone through more than a person should have to go through in their life.
“Are you dangerous?”
He reached out, fingertips skimming her bare arms, trailing them all the way down. Then, suddenly, he gripped her hip and pulled her close. Her clit throbbed immediately, the attraction she had for him shooting fireworks through her body. “Are you prepared to find out?”
Her throat dried. Part of her wanted to. Wanted to throw away caution and lose herself in what she was sure would be an amazing encounter. His rough hands all over her body, taking what he wanted. But the other part, the part that knew better, was screaming at her to run away.
“I know this is just a show,” Willow whispered. “You’re trying to scare me.”
“It usually works. Why aren’t you scared?”
She tried to still her beating heat, tried to ignore the twitch of his cock against her. He was just as turned on as she was. “Maybe I’m more like my father than I thought. I believe in second chances.”
The horse whimpered and immediately Cole stepped away, taking the warmth of his hands as well. “You should get back to the party.”
“What about you?” she asked, feeling strangely empty.
“I’m going to take care of her. It’s more important.”
Willow didn’t want to, but she was afraid her body would betray her. Afraid she’d make a mistake and do something reckless—and that’s one thing Willow Morgan wasn’t. Reckless.
Without a word, she left the stables to return to the party.