Page 13 of Possessive Rancher

“Hudson, I run into people like that everywhere. One of theperksof being a woman. You can’t beat them all up and make them apologize for disturbing me.”

“He wasn’t disturbing you. That’s harassment. I got a baby sister. Don’t nobody talk to or touch any woman without her permission around me or my brothers. Our father raised us that way and for good reason. It’s too many assholes like that and not enough men to put them in their place. He may not stop, but I bet you he won’t try that shit in here for the rest of the night.”

“I didn’t know you have a little sister.” I imagine a young version of Hudson giving people hell all over Conklin.

“Well, she ain’t exactly little, just the youngest of the Haven brood. Harper’s a vet in the next county over. She took her love of animals to the highest level and runs a rescue and hospital.”

“Hudson?”

“Yeah, Heather.”

“I think we should head back home.”

“Home?” he grins, acknowledging that I’m calling his place home like it belongs to the both of us. Hopefully, it will one day.

“Yeah, home. If you’re going to be the one to take my virginity, I think it’s only right I start calling Heaven’s Haven home.”

7

HUDSON

Heather and I decide to leave the place before I have to rearrange someone else’s face.

I don’t like behaving like that in front of her, but there’s no room for disrespecting any woman while I’m around.

“Thank you, Hudson,” Heather’s voice is quiet as we pull out of the parking lot. “No one’s ever stood up for me like that.”

“You’re welcome, but you should be able to move from one side of a restaurant to another without being pushed and pulled around by some guy who can’t take no for an answer. I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner.”

“It’s okay. I’m just happy you were there at all.” She turns to look out of the window. The rain’s still coming down pretty hard. I can see a lot of places that still don’t have power, which doesn’t give me hope for the main house.

“We can crash in the lake house tonight if you want. We don’t have to stay in the main. No electricity means no hot water.”

“That’s a great idea. It will give me the chance to get a feel for how guests can enjoy the space in this kind of weather. Have you ever thought about putting like attractions or something on the property?”

“What do you mean? Like a Ferris wheel or something?” I ask her, thinking about how something that tall and clunky would mess up the view of the mountains. “I don’t think I’d want that. I’m not exactly advertising this place for kids. Too much of a liability.”

She chuckles and turns to me. “Children would be a liability for you?”

“Notourchildren, but other peoples’ would. I’m sure my brother’s working on giving me a niece or nephew any day now, but when they get here, they’ll have the run of the place like we did growing up. Guests, on the other hand, we’ll have to keep it worded so while children aren’t necessarily banned, I don’t want that to be the main draw. It takes a lot.”

She nods. “I get that. They eat a lot too, don’t they?”

“Yes. Children eat like they haven’t had meals in six days and seven nights. We’d have to keep extra stock of food, and cleaning supplies, and my insurance premiums would likely triple just to be sure if one of them gets hurt on the property, we can cover that expense.”

“Okay, well that’s good to know as it gives me a target age group to focus on. So we’re looking for post-college graduate types. We can take on the occasional college coeds, but I’ve partied with them out in Baltimore. You don’t want them at the lake house without supervision.”

I smile, taking a quick glance at her, studying her features. Heather gets this intense look in her eyes, staring into the distance like she’s jotting down notes in a book only she can see.

“You must have learned a lot at that last job of yours.”

She comes out of her trance after I mention her job. There’s an uncomfortable energy shift, and she simply laughs it off. “Yeah, I learned more than enough about running specials and targeting specific guests. I was going to be a great manager, until-”

Her voice trails off and she sulks a bit.

“Until what?” I ask her.

“Remember that weird customer I told you about?” She asks.

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