Page 108 of Beautiful Exile

“You’re wise, you know that?”

She leaned in, her lips brushing mine. “Damn straight. And I can’t wait to watch you kick his ass.”

I barked out a laugh. “My vicious girl.”

Arden stood, pulling me with her. Not that it was much of a battle; I’d go anywhere with her. “Come on, Cowboy,” she said, a smile playing on her face. “I’m taking you somewhere.”

38

ARDEN

“You wantme to get on this thing?”

The skepticism in Linc’s voice had me biting back a chuckle. “It’s not a thing. It’s a horse. And her name is Stardust.”

His gaze swept over the mare, lingering on the saddle and pack. “And what about me breaking my neck makes you think it will help me feel better?”

I couldn’t hold back the laugh this time. “Stardust is as steady as they come. She won’t spook, even if we come across a cougar.”

Linc stilled, staring at me like I had two heads. “I don’t think getting mauled by a cougar is going to help either.”

I grinned back at him as I tightened the cinch on Whiskey’s saddle. “Never ridden a horse before? I thought you were a secret cowboy.”

Linc moved toward Stardust’s head, letting her sniff his open palm before he stroked her face. There was an ease about the movement that was at odds with his earlier apprehension, which spoke of being around these animals before.

“My mom used to take me,” he said quietly.

My gut twisted as guilt swept in. This might have been a big misstep. “We don’t have to?—”

“No,” Linc said, cutting me off. “It’ll be good. I think both of us could use a little time away.”

He was right. Just a few days of having deputies trailing me every time I left the property and being perched outside my house and studio made me feel like I was suffocating. I could only imagine how Linc felt. It was as if his father had been tracking his every move for years.

I patted Whiskey and moved into Linc’s space, leaning in and brushing my mouth across his. “A night under the stars will do us both some good.”

One corner of Linc’s mouth kicked up. “I wouldn’t mind sharing a tent with you.”

“What about a sleeping bag?”

“Even better.” Linc lowered his head and took my mouth in a kiss that tipped hotter as his tongue stroked mine.

Stardust bumped Linc’s back, forcing him to break the kiss. He turned, eyeing the mare. “It’s not bad enough that I have one cockblock? Now, I have two?”

Brutus let out a soft bark as if he understood exactly what Linc had accused him of.

I scratched between Stardust’s ears, where she loved it the most. “My girl’s just ready to hit the trail.”

“And now I have to hit it with a hard-on,” Linc muttered.

“Have fun with that,” I singsonged.

We mounted and headed for the trails that would lead us into Forest Service land. It was one of the things I loved about Cope’s property. There was no need to trailer the horses somewhere to ride. I could just take off and go.

But I was still cautious. Emergency provisions. Sat phone. Extra supplies. Rifle, just in case. And Trace would’ve lost his mind if I didn’t give him our exact route and camping spot. It had been hard enough to get him to agree to the trip in the first place. Safety first with him, always. Even before someone had vandalized my property.

But I understood why. When you grew up in situations wheresafety was the last thought, it changed you. And in some ways, law and order had become the crutch Trace held on to. As though he couldn’t be hurt again if he never colored outside the lines.

I guessed we all had things we thought would keep us safe and away from any more pain. But as I looked over at Linc, I knew those things were a lie. Because it only took one person crashing into your life to destroy every last wall you’d put up.

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