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Cole
He rubbed the kink in his neck and stepped to the window in the stables to see the sun just barely making its way over the horizon.
“Were you here all night?”
Cole whipped around and found Willow standing in the doorway. She wore a plaid shirt buttoned tight over the swell of her breasts and tucked into snug jeans that squeezed her ass. And there they were. Cowboy boots.
He shrugged. “I had to make sure she was okay, that the bleeding stopped and there wasn’t an infection.”
Willow walked over to the horse, keeping her voice down. “So she’s doing okay?”
“Better than I expected. I’ll get in touch with the vet later and let your dad know what’s going on.”
“I can do that.”
He frowned. “So can I.”
Willow sighed. “You probably didn’t get much sleep last night. Why don’t you rest and I’ll take care of it?”
“Because I have things that need to get done. Work doesn’t vanish just because I slept like shit last night.”
He knew exactly what she was doing. Trying to find a way to get him fired. He could see it in her eyes—she still didn’t trust him.
“I’ll go wake both my parents right now and tell them what’s going on,” she threatened. “Or, you could get a few hours of sleep, I can keep things quiet for a bit, and then we can all get back to work.”
“Hell,” he huffed. “You’re more stubborn than your father.”
She grinned, the first sincere smile she’d given him since he’d seen her yesterday. “Good.”
Cole walked back to the guesthouse and collapsed on the bed. One hour, that’s all he’d give himself. And then he’d shower and get to work.
But when he felt someone shaking his shoulder, he jerked to a sitting position. Willow stood over him, concern on her face.
“What the hell?” he asked. “I just fell asleep.”
She crossed her arms. “You’ve been asleep for three hours. I just—”
“Three? Damn it.” He jumped out of bed, glanced around like he might find the reason why he’d slept so long somewhere. “Why didn’t you wake me before?”
“Because you needed the rest.”
He shoved a hand through his hair, then narrowed his eyes at her. “Why are you in my house?”
“I brought you breakfast.”
That knocked his anger back some. She’d brought him breakfast, covered for him, and let him sleep. Maybe she wasn’t all that bad.
“I’m just going to grab a quick shower,” he said.
That’d wake him up more than anything right now. And give him a chance to clear his brain.
When he came out, he only heard silence. Had she left? If so, he deserved it. Cole hadn’t treated her well and all she’d been trying to do was be nice. To make sure he took care of himself.
But when he walked to the kitchen and found her there, leaning over something on the counter, he lost it. “What the hell? Those are private!”
She gasped, then straightened, her cheeks flushing. “I’m sorry—they were just laying here. I didn’t mean—”
He scooped the letters together and shoved them behind the microwave. They were the letters from his little sister, the ones she’d sent while he was in prison. The ones she’d apologized in over and over again.
“It’s none of your business,” he growled.
Willow lifted her chin. “I’m sorry. But…”
“What?” he snapped.
“You went to jail because you were trying to protect her?”
How the hell did she think she had the right to question him about this? But more, why was she looking at him like that? Like he was a normal human being. Hardly anyone looked at him like that. Most just dismissed him because he was a criminal. But the Morgan’s…they believed in him.
“Prison,” he told her. “And yes. Her ex was beating her, so I stopped him. With my fists. But she said he’d hurt her again if I got in the way, so I didn’t fight the charges and I had to do a short amount of time.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone? If they knew the whole story, then—”
“Fuck them. If they’re too ignorant to see any other side, why should I care?”
Willow’s chest heaved up and down, looking angry at the injustice of it all. He’d never had anyone stand up for him before. Never cared to. Until now.
“I’m sorry,” Willow said. “I judged you, too, and I was wrong.”
He jerked his shoulder in a shrug. He was used to it. But something in her eyes had him hesitating. Had him giving her another look when he would have dismissed her like the rest. She was being sincere.
To his surprise, she stepped up to him and set her hand on his chest. “Will you forgive me?”
Her fingers were like fire even though his shirt. He hadn’t been touched by a woman in months. And being touched by a woman who knew his history…that had never happened.
“I’m not as innocent as you believe,” he warned her.
“Trying to scare me away?”
Maybe a little. She had to be sure what she was getting herself into. He could be possessive, and he certainly had a temper. But unlike his sister’s ex, he didn’t resort to using violence to show it.
“You sure you want to be standing that close?” he asked.
“Do you always answer every question you’re asked with another question?”
Damn it. He was a master at deflection and now she’d caught on. “Not always.”
Her lips curved. She leaned in, her breasts brushing his chest. “Then answer this question. Do you want me?”
His pulse spiked and his dick hardened. Hell yeah he wanted her. In his bed, straddling him and riding him until all his frustrations melted away. He gripped her around the waist and only said one word.
“Yes.”