Page 20 of Hunted Hearts (Black Heart Security #6)

She tilted her face up to his, and his lips met hers in a kiss that was soft but steady, carrying a weight of unspoken promises.

“When I’m here with you,” she whispered against his mouth, “I forget why I’m here at all. I forget it’s because someone wants me gone.”

He studied her beautiful eyes, diving into the depths until he forgot how to surface. “I hoped you’d feel safe here.”

“I do. With you.”

Heat looped through his veins, his brain…his groin. In three steps they could be inside an empty stall in a soft cushion of straw.

But he needed to return to his brothers. They had plenty left to figure out concerning Juliette’s safety…and who was really behind the charity that trafficked children.

He slid his fingers beneath her hair, cradling her head lightly in his fingertips like she was the most precious spun glass. To him…she was starting to feel like it.

“I’m going to take care of you, Juliette.” His tone was gruff.

A low cough barked from behind them. Juliette stepped out of his arms and they both swung from the stall to see Willow standing there.

He inwardly groaned. Of course his nosy sister had seen him holding the woman he was getting far too close to.

Under her breath, Willow quoted, “‘My bounty is as boundless as the sea. My love as deep; the more I give to thee.’”

“Willow,” he said with a warning.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Willow sounded anything but sorry.

“Sure you are.” He shot a look at the loops of rope hanging on the wall. “I wonder,” he drawled, “if my speed at hog-tying is still as fast as I remember. Might have to test it out. On you.”

Unfazed by his threat, Willow walked over to the stall and peered in at the new mare.

“Ohhh. She’s beautiful. Great choice, Theo.”

He grunted.

She turned to Juliette. “Does she have a name?”

“Serenity.”

“It suits her, doesn’t it? She’s so calm for being the new kid on the block.”

The ladies chatted about the horse for a minute.

Theo touched her arm. “Juliette, I need to head back to the conference room.”

She stared up at him, and he saw something in her eyes that wasn’t fear at all. It was something that made his gut grip hard.

For once, he was thankful when Willow broke in.

“Gray’s fiancée Honor is our resident art therapy director.

She’s giving a class in a few minutes.” She nudged Juliette’s shoulder gently.

“Come on. Let’s make a sign for Serenity’s stall.

A horse like this deserves her name in big, bold letters, just like her owner. ”

Juliette’s attention shifted, her gaze drifting toward the mare in her new stall. Serenity stood calm, head lowered as she chewed her hay like she’d been here for years.

Theo watched Juliette’s shoulders relax, some of the tightness that had been clinging to her finally sliding away.

Bringing her here had been the right call. His family, Serenity, the quiet of the ranch—it was the first time he’d seen her without that hunted look in her eyes since California.

As Willow led Juliette away, his gaze tracked her until she disappeared into the lodge, knowing beyond a doubt that he’d do whatever it took to keep that light in her eyes.

* * * * *

As Juliette approached the huge, rustic lodge, a muscular man wearing jeans and a thick coat walked out. He caught sight of them and held the door.

Willow lengthened her strides to grab it. “Thanks, Gabe. How’s it going today?”

“Been busy.”

“Getting ready for the big day?”

He offered Willow a smile. “It comes with mixed feelings.”

“I’m sure. We’ll miss you.”

Juliette listened to the exchange but could only assume that Gabe was leaving the program. When his gaze drifted to her, she smiled. “Hi. I’m Juliette.”

“Heard we had a famous musician on the ranch. Didn’t quite believe the rumors.

” The smile he wore—both dangerous and disarming—created pleasing creases around the corners of his eyes.

He carried himself with confidence, as if he didn’t have anyone to impress, but if he walked into a room, all eyes would be on him.

His dark hair was just unruly enough to look effortless—and make any woman’s fingers itch to sink into the thick mass. His strong jawline had a trace of stubble, but his eyes were the most striking part of him, a mix of all the deep greens and browns of the forest.

“Nice to meet you,” she said.

He nodded and looked between her and Willow. “You headed to art therapy?”

“Yes. Join us?” Willow breezed out with that casual air that seemed to draw everyone in.

He contemplated it a moment. “Nah. Thought I’d go for a ride along the trail.”

“Enjoy it. Be careful on the bridge. It will probably be slippery.”

He ducked his head in a nod, and they parted ways. The lodge itself was spacious and modern with windows letting plenty of sun stream into the spaces. Juliette followed Theo’s sister through several common areas to a room set up with long tables. She hung Theo’s coat on the back of a chair.

A woman that Juliette met during her whirlwind arrival was pulling items out of a crate and spreading them on the table. She was striking with an earthy, natural beauty, and loose waves framed her pretty face.

Several men already sat in small groups. None of them met Juliette’s eyes directly, giving her a sense of many wounded souls here.

Heart surging with affection for them and the Malones for providing a program like this, she moved to one of the tables and sat.

Willow made a beeline to the lovely woman in charge of the art therapy to help her pass out the art supplies.

But after only a minute, a beautiful blonde entered, toting a baby in her arms. The wide-eyed child squealed with glee and flapped her arms as one of the men pushed back his chair and went to take the child from her.

Juliette was still getting her bearings, and all at once, she wished she knew so much more about the family and all the dynamics between them. She watched as the gruff man turned into a softie when he spoke to the baby. The baby got passed from man to man.

Willow plopped into a seat beside her. “That’s Navy, Denver and Rhae’s daughter.”

“She’s adorable .”

“She’s kind of the therapy baby. The men love her.” She leaned in to say in a quieter voice, “She helps them open up. Talk about things they wouldn’t ordinarily talk about.”

Emotion filled her as she absorbed the interactions taking place around her.

After Honor announced they’d be painting today, the woman drifted from table to table, passing out brushes and paint.

They could select their choice of materials to paint on—small stretched canvases, wood plaques or squares of metal.

She selected a piece of metal and took up a paintbrush. It felt both foreign to her and familiar at once, and it made her long to hold her bow.

“And the art therapist?” she asked Willow.

“That’s Honor. My brother Gray’s wife.”

Juliette pieced together the big family tree in her head while soaking it all in. Rarely did she take breaks from playing violin. But so much had happened…and much of that was Theo.

A small splinter of heat slipped into her lower belly just thinking of her bodyguard. Her lover.

Falling into his arms was unexpected…but as natural as playing her favorite concerto. The music filled her, and her fingers moved from muscle memory.

But being with Theo felt exactly the same way. Like she was born to step into his arms.

And the art therapy healed people the same way her great-grandmother’s music healed those orphans.

She looked around at the group of men, wondering what kind of energy she could bring to them with her music. Perhaps the Black Heart Ranch needed her just as much as those children needed her great-grandmother. And maybe, just maybe Juliette belonged here among them all.

She dipped the brush in the paint and let it hover over the metal, thoughts swirling through her head, unsure how to begin.

The scent of herbs and lavender surrounded her, and she looked up to see Honor leaning over her.

Juliette pulled back the brush. “Hello.”

“I’m so happy to see you here, Juliette. I was part of the group that met you when you and Theo arrived, but I don’t blame you if you don’t remember me.”

“It was a little overwhelming.”

She chuckled, a soft, lilting tone. The sound drew smiles from some of the men who were busy at work with their own brushes as if they had been training in art instead of war.

“What are you making today?”

“A sign for my new horse’s stall.”

Willow looked up from the patchwork of color she was busy applying to her wood plaque. “Theo bought her a horse,” she told Honor.

Honor’s lips formed a distinct O that made heat creep into Juliette’s cheeks.

She hoped the women didn’t ask questions about the status of her and Theo’s relationship because she wouldn’t have the foggiest idea how to respond.

All she knew was that some…pull…lived between them.

She picked up the brush again and dipped it into the aqua blue paint again. When she let it hover over the metal, paint plopped on the surface in a place where she didn’t intend it to go.

But she was a musician. If you made a mistake, you played on, and sometimes nobody noticed.

She spread the paint in small increments in a line to create the first letter of her horse’s name. The S was slightly off-kilter, but she could fill that portion with decorative beads she saw in bowls on the table.

Soon, she had the name painted on the sign. She was feeling pretty pleased with herself until she looked up to see that Willow had painted a patchwork quilt on her plaque that looked straight out of a shop.

Willow glanced around. “Where’s Navy? I need her.” A pair of long arms shot into the air, and the baby held high, legs kicking in delight.

Without waiting for whoever had Navy to bring her to her, Willow jumped up and rushed over to get her. When she brought the baby back, Juliette watched in awe as she applied paint to Navy’s chubby palm.

“Ready, squirt?” Willow took her hand and pressed it flat over the patchwork painting, creating a white imprint of her hand.

Navy looked around like a queen waiting for the peasants to cheer. Juliette was the first to drop her brush and clap. Soon the whole room was applauding for the baby.

While Willow took the child to wash her hands, Honor moved through the group of men, offering encouragement for their progress.

A guy with visible scars down his arms from what appeared to be burns nudged a container of beads toward Juliette, followed by a bottle of glue.

“You apply the glue then just dump the beads on. Simple,” he said.

“Thank you.” She couldn’t help but feel like she was part of it all. She squirted the glue on the empty portion to fill in her mistake, but when she tried to open the lid of the bead container, it popped off suddenly, shooting beads in all directions.

Laughter rippled through the group, and she realized they were laughing at the mess she made. Even them laughing at her made that feeling of belonging roll through her once again.

Honor came over and began collecting the beads in her palm to dump back into the container.

“Sorry. I’m not very good at arts and crafts,” she admitted, biting down on her lip.

“No one is good at everything they try.” Honor’s words sank into her, and she found that even though she was embarrassed by the mishap, and her sign looked like the horse had drawn it herself…it was okay not to be perfect all the time.

No wonder the veterans all left the room bearing peaceful expressions. It was very apparent that the Malones provided everyone a place to do their best.

When Willow returned, she didn’t have Navy with her. “She was starting to get hungry, so I passed her off to her momma.” She eyed her art. “I think the plaque is a success. I’m going to give it to Rhae for her birthday. It’s next month.”

“What a sweet idea,” Juliette said.

After the session was over, she hung behind to help Honor clean up. The simple task and the light conversation soothed Juliette in ways she didn’t realize she needed.

When the supplies were all stowed away and the art remained on the tables to finish drying, she turned to Honor.

“I can’t help but feel like I made new friends here today.”

Honor’s eyes sparkled. “You did.”

“I have people I talk to. I consider my team friends of mine. My publicist, assistant and others. But I never really had friends. ”

“You have more than friends. You have family now.”

Her throat closed off with the emotions surging inside her.

“There’s a going-away party later. You and Theo have to come.”

She blinked, remembering the gentleman they crossed paths with coming into the lodge. The conversation between Willow and Gabe made much more sense now.

Honor leaned against the table, watching her closely. “It’s a bonfire—something that we all enjoy on Friday nights. Make sure you get Theo to lend you one of his warm coats.”

She glanced across the room to Theo’s coat draped over the back of the chair. She could almost feel the weight of it around her shoulders.

But she really longed to feel his strong arms wrapped around her…and his lips on hers.

She was falling for her bodyguard, and there was no taking back her heart once she gave it.