Page 9 of Revelry
“You and me both,” she sighed, tugging me into the stables. I greeted the horses and got to work, enjoying the physical labor. It allowed me to get out of my head because I was not ready to face my mother just yet.
And just then another person I really didn’t want to face entered the stables.
“Morning Katarina,” he said, his voice echoing. I stiffened, the deep resonance of it slithering down my spine in an excruciatingly delightful way. His voice had always affected me.
A lot of things about him had.
Then he spotted me, his gray eyes, pale like lavender smoke, running over me and assessing me in seconds. Inspecting me before giving me a swift nod of acknowledgment.
“Gertrude.”
“Hey, Tatey,” I waved at him, trying to act casual and like I wasn’t terrified of him seeing me like this again, so battered and broken.
Then he was storming towards me and before I could react, my chin was gripped in his big palm and he was lifting my face towards the light.
A quick exhalation left me at the sudden movement, but I maintained eye contact with him. Although I could feel how tightly coiled his rage was, I wasn’t scared. I knew it wasn’t directed at me. Despite my history with men, I’d never been scared of Tate.
His nostrils flared as he assessed my face. “Was it him?” he murmured softly, for my ears only.
I gave the slightest shake of my head.
“Then who did this?” His voice was low with a lethal edge to it that surprisingly warmed me. His body heat along with that leather and sandalwood scent had my eyes drooping. God, he smelled good. I loved a man who smelled good.
I couldn’t stop the slow smile that I released. “No one, sugar,” I replied.
His mouth dipped slightly as I saw memories play behind those smokey lavender eyes, memories of the last time he found me bruised. His thumb stroked my chin, the rough rasp of his skin, calloused from hard work, felt like heaven. I don’t think he realized what he was doing but I would never forget this moment of gentle care from him.
He released his grip, his hand returning to his side and fisting, knuckles turning white. His lush mouth pulled into a tight line. “Are you…well?”
I dipped my head. “I am, are you?” I knew Tate hated liars, but I liked to push his buttons. Always had, always will.
His gaze swept over me again. “Excuse me,” he said. He left the stables as quickly as he’d entered.
“What the hell was that?” Kat said, looking at me as I stared after him. “He’s never acted like that before!”
“He always was a little intense. He’s just concerned, Kitty Kat. Is he still living in the same house?”
She nodded. “Yep, he’s still there.”
I sighed. “Great.”Just what I needed.
Chapter Two
Tate
“One, two, three, four, five…shit how many was that?”
I growled in frustration at having to start again. I took a deep breath and tried to have patience with myself.
Just leave,my brain tempted me.
No, you don’t know what could happen if you leave without completing.
Growling again, I gripped the doorknob and twisted it, counting out loud. When I got to ten, I let go. Satisfaction filled me.
I headed to my black Ford truck and placed my bag on the passenger seat, clicking the window up and down once then adjusting my mirrors to the perfect position even though they never moved. It was another littleritualthat I hadn’t been able to shake. Eventually I was ready to start my day.
I drove through Reverence, nodding hello at the local business owners on Main Street as they opened shutters and put out signs. Some signs were crooked, but I couldn’t stop and straighten them today like I had done in the past, I was already running late. I headed out from the main strip into the winding mountain roads, traveling to Redemption Ranch to check up on an infected horse hoof before heading to my veterinary practice for the day.
