Page 21 of Stud Ranch

When he reached the field where he’d spotted Sloane in Dylan’s lap, he snapped. Racing to the bench, he let out that roar that had been trapped behind his lips. He swung his boot back and slammed it into the bench seat. The wood plank snapped, the cracking noise bringing only a small measure of release.

He kicked it again and again, snapping several more chunks of the seat and annihilating the bench arm until it hung by a single nail.

He’d been in enough fights on the ice to know that busting property wasn’t going to settle anything. No, this was between him and Sloane…and now Dylan.

Shaw dug his thumb and forefinger into each eye, trying to black out the vision of them making out in the barn.

It couldn’t be erased, though.

Worse? He didn’t know if he wanted to break Dylan’s neck…or join in.

Chapter Five

Sloane angrily kicked off her boots, stalked to the living area and flopped down on a chair, her mind spinning from what just happened in the barn.

She always knew Shaw could be ruthless on the ice…but ruthless with people’s emotions? She never knew him to pull out a dagger and cut into someone just to make himself feel better.

Yet he’d done just that.

She stared into space, seeing nothing until Dylan stepped into her line of vision. He perched on the edge of the sofa across from her.

Raking her fingers through her hair, she let out a puff of air. “I should leave.”

He shook his head. “No. You shouldn’t.”

“I don’t belong here. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You came to the ranch to find help for an issue you don’t want to live with for the rest of your life. I don’t know the whole story, but I have a pretty good idea what happened to you.”

Her gaze cut to his. For a pulsing heartbeat, they locked gazes until it became too much for her and she looked away.

“I left my child so I could have sex and get away from my problems. What kind of mom does that?”

“A good one. One who realizes that she can’t be her best without taking care of herself first.” He pulled off his cowboy hat and set it on the coffee table created from a rustic barrel between them.

His hair was mussed, giving him the boyish appearance that captivated her. But the strain around his eyes revealed a greater depth to this man.

“Dylan, you’re a good man.”

Taken aback, he jerked. “I’m not fishing for compliments here, love. I’m just keeping it real.”

“Your job is to keep me here.”

Again, he wagged his head in denial. “Forget about the job. I care about what you’re feeling right now, Sloane. Can’t you see that?” His brown eyes blazed with truth she couldn’t ignore.

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to point fingers or shift blame. This is on me—”

“And Shaw.” His tone hardened. The line of his jaw bulged as he firmed it. “He was out of line. He’s been out of line since you landed.”

A gasp ripped up her throat. “What do you mean?”

“He fought for you on that stage. I didn’t know why at the time. It’s his week off, and I just figured you’re beautiful and he wanted a chance with you.”

Stunned, she gaped at him, her mouth hanging open with nothing to say in response.

He spread his hands. “Look. I know he retired from hockey and ended up at the ranch. That was over a year ago. Which means you’ve been a single mom, with no break, for a year.”

She gulped at the knot of emotion lodged inside her throat.

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