Page 61 of Claiming Ours
Though with the way things were going, I had a feeling the best days were just beginning.
20
LIAM
“I’m glad you two enjoyed the ride. Thank you for booking through Uplift.”
I took the reins from the woman’s outstretched hand, careful not to touch her, though she apparently had different plans. It was minuscule but clearly deliberate when her pinkie finger stroked against the side of my hand in a teasing touch. Her batting thick black lashes and high-pitched giggle when I said nothing remotely funny also signaled that the unwanted touch was intentional.
Throat working, I swallowed down the string of curses that sat on the tip of my tongue. But like a good Uplift employee, I kept my mouth shut to not offend the paying client. Instead of offering her the forced smile I usually gave clients, I settled my features into a blank mask, not inviting any hope that her blatant flirting would work and turned to lead the last horse to the trailer. Today’s ride was on a trail far from town but easy, which was why I chose it for inexperienced riders like the woman’s ten-year-old son.
“I’ve heard rumors about the company you work for and the unique community,” the woman said, following me to the trailer. With my back to her, I rolled my eyes to the blue sky, knowing she couldn’t catch me. “I’m intrigued and….” She paused, making me look back at her, hoping she’d passed out or bitten her tongue off, but she was just checking over her shoulder where her son played in a small stream, throwing rocks and cheering at the big splashes. Her smile widened, thinking I was actually interested in what she had to say. “A lot turned on at the idea of multiple partners. Is that something all of you participate in? Even you?”
Well, fuck.
Grumbling under my breath, I turned my back to her again and started walking. “It’s good to see your son enjoying the outdoors,” I said, blatantly ignoring her questions. “Most kids these days only want to play on their devices.”
Catching up, she walked beside me, her wide, pearly white smile still in place. “Yes, well, my husband loves to take him camping and all that.” She waved her hand dismissively, the huge rock on her hand glinting in the sun. “I never found it interesting. I much prefer activities in the bedroom with men who can keep up with my needs.” She licked her lips as she gave me a slow once-over. “I’m sure you could, cowboy.”
After loading the horse, I backed out of the trailer and closed the doors. Lock secured, I turned only to curse, back slamming against the metal with a bang at her being right in front of me with a hopeful expression.
Annoyance and resentment churned in my gut. The woman reminded me too much of my late wife. Perfect makeup, though thick and unattractive to me, uncaring about upholding her marriage vows, and only fucking thinking about herself. She didn’t even notice that her son had wandered farther down the stream, almost out of sight.
When her hand hovered over my chest, I sidestepped like I was dodging a viper to avoid the contact.
“Do not touch me,” I snarled. “And back the hell up. We appreciate your business, but we are done here. You can follow me back to The Nest in your car, where I will leave you to head home to my amazing girlfriend.”
As I spoke, her sultry smile fell until her lips were pressed into a thin line.
“You’re missing out on a good time,” she snapped. “I could be so much better than your girlfriend.”
“No, what I’m missing out on is time with her because you’re delaying me getting home to her. Please grab your son and load up. I have somewhere I want to be, and it’s not fucking here.”
Turning, I stormed to the truck and yanked the driver’s door open, slamming it shut after I folded into the seat. Hands curled into tight fists on my thighs, I watched as the woman helped her son into the back seat, then stomped around the back of her rental and climbed inside.
Chest heaving from the ball of anger and rage filling my chest, I did the only thing I knew would help. After tapping Baylee’s contact, I put the phone on speaker and tossed it into the cupholder. She picked up right as I cranked the engine, the roar almost drowning out her sweet voice.
“Hey, you.” The tension in my shoulders instantly eased a fraction. “You on your way home?”
“Yeah,” I breathed. Putting the truck into Drive, I eased off the brake. “Should be back soon.”
“Everything okay?” Her tone was tight with concern. “You sound like something’s wrong or you’re about to snap someone’s neck.”
I huffed a laugh at that last part, knowing the joke was her attempt to ease my tension. “Just a difficult client after a long ride,” I responded, not wanting her to worry. After whathappened with Miles and Aiden, I didn’t need her thinking this woman would turn into a stalker.
I shifted my gaze to the side mirror to make sure the rental SUV was still following me.
“I’m sorry. Anything I can do to help?”
“You already did,” I answered honestly. “Be home in a little while.”
I ended the call and focused on the road. Hauling a trailer full of horses down the narrow and winding road wasn’t anything new or difficult, but keeping my head in the game kept me from making mistakes, which could easily be life-threatening out here.
Two hours later, I had the trailer unloaded, tack removed and cleaned, and horses taken care of with fresh oats in their feed buckets. Closing the barn door, I lifted my cowboy hat and swiped a forearm over my sweaty forehead. The sun shone high overhead, a nice reprieve from the storms. The trail was muddy because of all the rain, but the horses didn’t mind, happy to be out of the barn.
Irritation still simmered just under the surface from the woman’s advances, distracting me to the point that I didn’t notice the small crowd hanging around Baylee’s cabin until their muffled conversation reached my ears.
Shifting to a jog, I rushed to the group. My heart dropped into my gut, finding Langston’s arms wrapped around Memphis. With a curse, I shoved the others aside, bounded up the stairs, and forced myself between the two men. Lang stumbled back with a grunt, falling against the railing with a confused expression, while Memphis sailed backward, slamming against the front door.
