FIVE

Eden

“Hey, sweet boy, did you miss Mama?” a woman crooned just as I turned the corner into the barn.

I stopped dead in my tracks when a gorgeous woman decked out in riding gear turned and smiled at me. “You must be Eden.” She thrust out a hand. “Hi, I’m Raven.”

“Hi.” I smiled politely, unsure what to think about the stunning curtain of dark hair that framed her striking face. She looked more like a goddess than a mortal. My stomach instantly churned with jealousy to think that she and Nash had spent time together, maybe more time than I’d like to think.

“I’ve been boarding Jet here for a few months now. I don’t get out as much as I’d like, though. Nash told me he was having a guest stay with him for a while. I’m assuming that’s you?” She smiled warmly.

“Yeah, for a while. I’m hoping I can get my own place soon.”

“Over my dead body.” Nash came around the corner, a bale of straw on each shoulder. His soft plaid shirt rode high on his waist, creamy golden skin and deep V muscles exposed. A rivulet of sweat dripped down toward his pelvis and melted into the waistband of his low-slung jeans.

What I wouldn’t give to lick the path that little bead had followed.

“Can’t keep a woman down, Nash.” Raven turned back to her horse and started cooing.

“No plans to keep her down, only want to protect her.”

“He’s got some deluded sense of obligation to my brother—” I explained.

“Maybe it was the fact that he actually said, ‘Nash, will you take care of my sister while I'm gone?”

I frowned as he approached, tossing the bales onto the ground and wiping at his forehead with the back of his gloved hand.

It was torture hating a man that beautiful. I narrowed my eyes at him just for good measure. Could not have him thinking he had one up on me just because he was walking around looking all sweaty and mouthwatering.

“Got news for you, Eden.” He pulled me into a hug, more brotherly in nature, except for the zing of heat that sprinted between my thighs. “You’re gonna have to get used to me, at least until your bro is back.”

I grunted when he pushed a hand into my hair and ruffled it just like he’d done when we were kids. “I don’t know if I’m going to survive the next few months.”

Nash winked at me, then bent to pick up the bales of straw and carry on to the pickup truck he was loading.

Raven and I both turned, watching him walk away, whistling softly as he went.

I shook my head, frustrated and yet still unable to pull my eyes from his retreating form.

“He looks at you like he wants to eat you, you know.”

“What?” I nearly choked on my own tongue.

Raven turned, eyes sparkling down at me before she rolled them. “Never seen him act like that with anyone. It’s like he lights up when you’re around.”

“Oh,” I breathed, directing my gaze back to Nash as he tossed the bales into the bed of the pickup and turned to stalk back to us.

“Don’t be talkin’ about me, ladies.” He winked as he walked past me.

“See?” Raven said under her breath after he’d passed.

“For as long as I’ve known Nash, he’s always been…complicated.”

“Complicated or not, girl, that guy is in deep.” Raven opened the swing door, leading her horse out of the stall and down the long hallway.

“Have a good ride,” I called after her.

“You too!” Raven turned and blew me a kiss right before she mounted and trotted off out of the yard.

“You gonna stand here and watch me work, or you game for a ride?”

I shook my head, chuckling. “What’d you have in mind?”

“Gotta deliver this load to the feed store. Thought we could stop by a few places and get you a couple things. Hate to say it, but you kinda stick out like a sore thumb around here.”

“Me?” I laughed, following him.

“Gonna need some shit-kickers on those feet if you’re gonna spend any time around here.”

“Listen, I’ve avoided cowboy boots since the time I was thirteen. I don’t think I need to try that trend now.”

“Not a trend, Eden, it’s a necessity on the ranch.” He opened the door for me, hand grazing my waist as I slid into the passenger seat.

My stomach swam with butterflies the entire way to town.

It was only a few miles before we were pulling into the feed store, Nash cutting the engine and heading to the front office to talk with the guy behind the desk. They both returned to unload the pickup truck a minute later, and then Nash was back, sucking all the air out of the cab of his truck and making the secret spot between my thighs damp all over again.

“Ready to buy a few things?” he asked, the way he looked back at me so warm and engaged. Like he really cared what I said, like he wanted to hear the thoughts in my head.

“If you say so.” I dug through my purse and yanked out my bank card. “Can we stop at the ATM first, though?”

“Nope, everything's on me.”

“No way. I have plenty of money in the bank my mom left me, and Colt gave me access to his bank account. I don’t need your money, Nash.”

“Not about you needing it, Eden. It’s about me doing what a man does and providing for you.”

“Providing for me?” I growled, cheeks burning with frustration by the time we pulled up in front of the western store. “I don’t want to be provided for, Nash. I’ve never wanted to be provided for. I don’t want to be protected, babysat… What don’t you and my brother get about that?”

He narrowed his eyes before he pushed out of the cab, stalking around the front to open my door. He reached up, lifting me out of the truck, his arms wrapping around me.

I shrugged out of his embrace, spitting over my shoulder, “I’m paying for my own stuff.”

“Like hell you are,” he muttered as we stepped into the store.

“Nash, afternoon,” the gentleman behind the counter greeted.

“Bill.” Nash nodded to him, steering me to the boot section.

“These are cute.” I paused near a pair that had rhinestones splashed across the toes, polished silver details around the edge.

“If you’re singing at the Grand Ole Opry, maybe,” he quipped, pulling a plain, brown pair from the shelf. “These should do.”

“Those are the same color as horse shit,” I argued, pulling a pink pair off the shelf next to them. “What about these?”

“Oh, for God’s sake. I’m gonna go grab some rope. I’ll leave you to it.” His hand brushed across my waist, a small gesture of possession that made me yearn for more. Damn, I hated that he had the ability to twist me all up inside, make me want him and hate him all at the same time.

I plopped down on the bench, kicking off my shoes and sliding on the first boot.

“Can I measure your foot?” A young guy slid to his knees in front of me, hands on my bare foot as he spoke. I cringed instantly. The only touch I craved was Nash's, and this kid’s felt cold and clammy. Young. He was probably just out of high school.

“I know my size. Thank you, though,” I replied sweetly.

His hands tightened on my foot. “Boots fit a little different from the shoes you’re used to. You may need to size up. Just let me size you.” He slid my foot into the metal tool that measured my foot, his hands hovering at my ankles, fingers sliding across the soft skin and making me resist the urge to recoil.

“Eight and a half. Pegged you for a nine, so I was close.” He smiled up at me just as Nash’s shadow fell over both of us.

“Oh, I guess you're right. I usually go for an eight, so I guess I will have to upgrade. I’ve never had cowgirl boots. This is all pretty new to me.”

“Well, they look good on you.” He slid the pink boots onto my feet, and my dress hitting just above my knees completed the summery ensemble. “We could hire you to be boot ambassador. Just you walking about lookin’ cute in the boots all day would drive customers in.”

“Wait, are you hiring? Because I have been looking for a job—”

“Got her from here, thanks.” Nash placed a heavy hand on my shoulder, speaking softly in a show of affection.

The teenager’s eyes darted from mine to Nash's before he bolted to his feet and sped away, not even bothering to say a word as he did.

“That was a jerk move, Nash,” I seethed under my breath, shoving the shit-brown boots back on the shelf and the pink box under my arm. I stormed all the way up to the counter before I smiled at the man behind it. “Just these.”

“This too.” Nash spoke behind me, tossing a rung of soft rope on the counter

My stomach coiled just at the sight of it, fantasies running unabated in my brain.

I fought Nash to swipe my credit card at the counter. But in the end, I lost, the man putting the purchase on Nash’s account.

I barely contained the groan when Nash pulled me by his side and walked out the door, ushering me into the cab of his truck eagerly, before sliding in on the driver’s side and firing the engine to reverse out of the lot.

“You deserve a punishment for that, Tiger.”