Page 9

CHAPTER NINE

A FTER G LORY AND Sutter drove off, a very bad mood descended on Tanner. He hid it, knowing Liam needed his positive influence, not his distraction with one very beautiful, determined and fascinating woman. Seeing what Callie was up against though… It had taken greater restraint than he knew he had to keep from flattening Sutter.

After the summons given to Glory, more pressure would be on the way.

Would Callie give in and resign herself to a life with that prick? God, Tanner hoped not.

Yes, he still needed her to go. Being with Liam today reinforced that, but he didn’t want her to be unhappy.

He didn’t really want her to go.

It was for the best, he reminded himself over and over again. Back when he’d been lost and alone, when he’d about given up on the world, he’d received what he needed most: encouragement, someone who cared. A purpose.

Now he knew a dozen kids facing the same turmoil he’d once faced. How could he let them down?

“Day-yum,” Liam murmured, once he’d uncovered the car.

The awe on his face should have been reserved for a Rolls Royce, not a twenty-year-old, two-tone Buick Rendezvous. Granted, Reggie had kept it in good shape, but still…

With the way Liam ran his hand over the old Buick, his handsome young face split with a smile, he already loved it in a way nearly exclusive to nineteen-year-old boys.

“She’s in sweet shape, isn’t she?”

She? Yup, definitely a young dude thing. “From what I remember, she runs great, too.”

From outside the garage, her caution evident as she looked all around, Callie asked, “Would you like to take it for a drive? I brought the keys.” In her hand, she held up a goofy peace sign keychain that used to be Reggie’s. The car key, and several others, dangled noisily.

Round eyed, Liam asked, “For real?”

Callie actually laughed. “Fingers crossed it runs!” She tossed the keys to him, then backed up. “Forgive me, but I’ve had enough snakes today.”

Did that include the kind that stood on two legs? For Tanner, it did. Her ex was far, far worse than any rat snake, or even a copperhead.

Quickly, Liam cleared the way to ensure he could pull straight out. Tanner helped, then waited until Liam got inside and started it up. The car purred as Liam caressed the steering wheel.

Making a split-second decision, Tanner opted to let him go on his own. He stepped back. “How much gas does she have?”

“Quarter tank.”

Nodding, he said, “Don’t go too far, maybe just around the block a few times.”

Like a kid on Christmas morning, Liam put it in Drive. “I’ll be extra careful.”

“I know.” Tanner had taken him to get his license a few years back. Whenever possible, he let Liam drive the truck. He was a good, hardworking, independent young man, largely because he hadn’t had other options, at least on the hard work and independence. The good…that came straight from Liam’s heart. “Let me open the gate.” He jogged across the yard and pulled the gate wide open.

Wearing a tempered smile, Liam slowly pulled through.

Callie came to stand beside Tanner while Liam went down the driveway, passed alongside her car, paused before turning on the road, and then drove out of sight.

“That was pretty awesome,” she said. “Thank you for letting me share it.”

Always with her, it was the unexpected. “It’s your car.”

“No, it was Reggie’s. Mine is that cute red Escape in the driveway.” She grinned. “Seriously, I have no need of another car. As far as I’m concerned, that’s just another place for snakes to hide. If he still wants it, you can consider it Liam’s.”

“Just like that.”

“I mean…yes? I’ll have to find the title and sign it over to him, but it made me happy to see him so happy.”

Not crushing her to him for a long, deep kiss proved difficult. Every single time Tanner saw her, she said or did something that made him want her more. Sharing in Liam’s happiness was a biggie, one that hit him right in the heart.

Locking his hands at his sides, Tanner stepped away from enticement. “We can discuss it with Liam when he gets back.” Time to put a little more distance between them. “The title should be in a box with Reggie’s other important papers, stored in the spare bedroom.”

“You know that, how?”

“He told me. Since he didn’t have any close family—and no, that’s not a dig at you—he said he needed someone to know where to find things in case anything happened to him.”

Callie still looked wounded with guilt.

“Hey. Phones work both ways. He could have called as easily as you could have.” To keep from consoling her—with a hug, or a kiss…maybe more—Tanner headed back to the garage.

“Who taught him to drive?” she asked, hustling to keep up with his long-legged stride.

“I did.”

As if she’d already known the answer, she looped her arm through his in an awkward still-walking hug. “That’s what I figured.”

Scrubbing a hand over his mouth didn’t lessen the need to kiss that smile off of her beautiful face. He stopped outside the garage. “Do you think it’s a good idea for you to stay here alone?”

“Yes,” she replied immediately. “It’s a great idea.” Almost daring him to disagree, she stated, “It’s my home, after all.”

For now , he reminded himself. “Sounded to me like your folks are expecting something different.”

“When it comes to me, they usually do.” Her sigh held not a hint of real regret. “In one way or another, I’ve been a disappointment to them my entire life.”

“No way.”

“Sadly true—not that I’m all that broke up about it, really. They have expectations but most of them are based on me being someone I’m not.”

Tanner crossed his arms. “I remember you as a straight-A student.”

“That was me. I’m still an overachiever.” Holding out her arms, she encompassed the property. “Now I choose to overachieve here, with my goats and chickens.”

“And a horse you haven’t met yet.”

She tucked back a loose wisp of hair. “Yeah, I need to do that, I guess.” Tapping her head, she said, “Adding it to my ever-growing list.”

Whether she was trying or not, she charmed him. Always had. Back then it had been her looks, her smile, and her overall upbeat attitude. Now it was more about what she physically took on and her iron resolve that affected him.

Plus, yes, she was still gorgeous. “I remember you being a cheerleader, too.”

“Now I’m cheering you. And Liam. Probably Nell too, if I ever get to meet her.” She tilted her head back, eyes closed, and drew in a deep breath. “Me, too, I guess.” Opening her eyes again, she met his gaze and grinned. “I’m cheering myself on because I’m going to make this work.”

His huff of exasperation sounded more like a laugh. Made sense, because her happiness was contagious. “So good grades, cheerleading, always polite—how are you not meeting mommy and daddy’s expectations?”

“That was high school. Wasn’t really different in college though. If I do something, I want to do it right. Except I don’t want to marry Sutter. I don’t care about uniting the businesses. I don’t really care about the pampered life I had. I mean, wait, I sort of do. Like I still want my leisurely soaks in a jetted tub every so often.”

He did not need to hear that. Or imagine it.

“And I love the occasional salon trip. Facial, pedi, maybe a massage.”

Nope. He propped his tingling hands on his hips and pretended impatience.

“I love good food. Well, all food, I guess.” Wrinkling her nose, she patted her hips with both hands. “I often have a big appetite.”

Insinuating it showed? He could tell her that her ass was perfect, but he wouldn’t. “So the big conflict is…what? You don’t want to work for them? You didn’t like your job?”

“Correct on both counts. Plus I’m sick of bossy men who see me as arm candy because my dad is important, but they don’t really see me .”

Scoffing, Tanner said, “There’s not a hetero man alive who doesn’t see you.”

“I doubt that’s true, but if it was, then maybe it’s in how they see me. Clearly, Sutter sees me as a connection. That’s all.”

He couldn’t argue that one. It was downright bizarre how Sutter had plowed right past her objections as if she hadn’t spoken. “He’s a rare breed of fool, that’s all.”

“You heard him, Tanner. You saw how he is. Do you have any idea how humiliating that is? I swore after college that I’d never again let a guy take advantage of me, and then Sutter came along and my parents liked him, and—”

“Whoa, wait.” He touched her lips to interrupt her. They were soft, like the rest of her. He got so involved in tracing her lips that he almost forgot what he wanted to say. Dropping his hand and putting the space of a big backstep between them, he said, “Back up. To college.”

“It’s not a great story and I’m kind of on a roll here.” Moving in, she ran her hands up his chest.

It’d be so easy to cave, to get wrapped up in wanting her that he forgot everything else. Except Liam would return soon, and for now Liam was the priority. Whenever Tanner was with one of the kids, he made sure that they had his entire focus.

But until Liam got back… “We’ll have a teenager showing up any minute now, super psyched about the prospect of a car, so let’s put this”—he pressed a firm smooch to her mouth—“on hold for a bit.”

The corners of those irresistible lips tipped up in pleasure. “Right. On hold. This is me.” She laced her fingers together. “Being patient.”

It was her being pure temptation, but at least she wasn’t sliding those small, soft hands all over him now. He could resist a lot, but not that.

“What happened in college?” He’d heard mentions of it twice, once when she’d first arrived in the woods with her cousin, and then again just now. He sensed it had been a game-changer for her, something that had affected her deeply.

Tension firmed her jaw and she looked away.

So maybe he shouldn’t press her. If it was difficult for her to talk about, he didn’t want to put her through it with his nosiness.

“Sorry,” he said, meaning it. “I shouldn’t pry.”

“No, it’s my fault for bringing it up.” She squared her shoulders and met his gaze. “Plus, I’ve dug into your life plenty, right?”

“A little here and there.” She often made him feel comfortable enough to share. That, too, must be one of Callie’s unique qualities.

“I’m going to condense it because if I start going into the nitty-gritty, well, I still get worked up over it.”

His curiosity expanded. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“In college I started dating a guy—his name was Warren, but everyone called him War. It wasn’t until later that I realized how apt that was. At first he seemed like a nice guy. Attentive, available despite playing sports and a decent class load.” Her voice faded off. Seconds ticked by, and she shook her head. “One night we were supposed to go to a party but I wasn’t feeling it. I wanted to stay in, just watch a movie and relax, maybe order in pizza. Warren was disappointed. Then insistent. His attitude irked me because I figured I deserved a down evening if I wanted one. I told him to go without me.”

“Did he?”

She shook her head. “At first he was all about it, saying he would, like it was a threat. I was tired enough that I snapped back.” Her lips pressed together, her brows pinching. “He hit me,” she whispered. “Out of the blue, he went from the guy I knew to someone else.”

Every muscle in Tanner’s body snapped tight with unreasonable rage, a rage that he felt clear through to his soul. He hit me . As that statement echoed like a gong in his head, not a single word could edge out past his clenched jaw, probably a good thing because he knew he couldn’t speak gently. Not about some asshole putting hands on her.

“It went out of control fast,” she whispered. “I had my own apartment, we were there alone, and I knew there was no way I’d make it to the door.” Her eyes flinched away, as if she were reliving it all.

That was too much for Tanner. Carefully, he gathered her close, finding some gentleness in his touch at least. He pressed a kiss to her temple, words still beyond him.

With her face tucked to his throat, she said, “Sorry. I hate talking about it.”

“Shh.” He smoothed his hand over her hair, then along her back, half-afraid to find out how it had ended, but also desperate to know.

Her hands knotted in his T-shirt. “Thank God I’ve always been close with Glory, because I’d already told her I was staying in. She showed up to check on me in case I was sick, but she found Warren trashing my apartment and me scuttling behind the couch.” Easing back from him, Callie found a smile. “Glory has quite the set of lungs on her. No one can scream as long and high as she can.”

He remembered that from the night he’d first met her, when he’d started the chain saw.

“I think half the apartment building showed up. It took three guys to hold Warren down while someone else called the police.”

It didn’t surprise him to see that his hand was slightly shaking when he cupped her cheek. “Your cousin just got elevated. She’s now among my favorite people.”

Genuine amusement turned up her lips. “Mine too. Always.”

And that was why she didn’t mind Glory’s ways, even though they were different from her own. He got that. You loved certain people for reasons that others might not immediately understand. “Did he hurt you?” Tanner frowned at his own inane question. “Of course he did, but I mean…”

This time she touched her fingertips to his mouth. “I know what you mean, and no. Other than that first hit, which put me on the floor—”

Christ, he hoped someone had demolished the guy.

“—I was fine. Rattled, for sure. Jumpy for a few weeks. I think he backhanded me, though I didn’t see it coming. I just know if he’d used his fist, he probably would have broken my jaw.”

Or killed her, and knowing that destroyed Tanner. There wasn’t enough air in the sky to relieve the constriction in his chest.

Callie touched her cheek now, as if remembering the pain. “I stayed with Glory for a month. Then I got rid of my apartment and moved.”

“Tell me there were severe consequences for him.”

“I guess it comes down to perspective. He spent a few days in jail, lost his scholarship for using steroids—as if the coaches hadn’t known—and got fired from his job. He tried to apologize but I wanted nothing more to do with him.”

Tanner told himself to release her, to step away again, and instead he drew her closer. “How can you stay here alone now after going through that?”

She replied, “How can you be so good and caring after what your father put you through?”

Damn it, this wasn’t about him. “Not the same thing, honey, and you know it.”

“I do. What you lived with for years is a million times worse, but overall you’ve conquered it to be the person you want to be. What happened to me was a one-off, and it was years ago. Sutter is oblivious to me but he’s not abusive.”

Tanner was of a different opinion. The bastard had abused her feelings.

“I’m wary with unknown guys, now,” she admitted. “But I refuse to let Warren’s drug-fueled lapse affect me long-term.”

What rang loud and clear in Tanner’s head was that she’d never been wary with him. What that meant, he didn’t know for sure—but he liked it.

Just then, they heard Liam returning, the tires rolling slowly up her gravel driveway. Together, they went out front to greet him, with Callie saying, “No reason for him to park back here when he’ll be taking it with him, right?”

Tanner suppressed the grin, saying instead, “Ask him—and then find the title.” He already knew what Liam would say, but he felt like this should be Callie’s doing since the gift was coming from her.

She took up the challenge, greeting Liam the second he stepped out by saying, “So what do you think? You want to keep it?”

Liam contained himself, just barely. “It runs nice, no problems that I could see.” He looked to Tanner for guidance.

Feeling about ten feet tall—thanks to Callie’s generosity—Tanner said, “I know Reggie took care of it, until he couldn’t anymore. There shouldn’t be anything major but if something does come up, Kam or I could help you with it. It’d just be the cost for used parts.”

Liam cleared his throat.

He looked so damned young that Tanner wanted to mess up his hair, but he remembered himself at nineteen, how serious he’d been about everything, especially his independence, so he afforded Liam the respect he deserved.

“I’d love to have it,” Liam said. “If I can afford it.”

Callie clapped her hands. “Awesome! Consider it yours. No charge. I’ll just have to locate the title.”

Eyes going wide, Liam said, “Wait…what?” with a touch of panic. He wasn’t used to getting gifts, or consideration. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “Ms. McCallahan—”

“Callie, please.” She held out her hand. “The snakes kept us from a proper introduction.”

Liam immediately took her hand, held it a split second, and then withdrew. “Thank you, but I can’t just take it from you.”

“You’ll be doing me a favor, getting it out of my way. Plus…” She crossed her fingers. “I’m still hoping you’ll help me with getting the locks changed and dead bolts added.”

“I… I mean…” Liam’s mouth snapped shut so he could grin. “Yes, ma’am. I’m happy to do that for you. Tanner already picked up what we’d need.”

“Oh.” Callie gave him a level look. “He did, did he?”

With a shrug, Tanner said, “Liam starts work early tomorrow. I figured I’d save him some time.”

“Well.” She looked at each of them. “I guess we should go inside.” Callie led the way around the house to the back door.

Deliriously happy, Liam followed her.

For a moment, Tanner merely stood there, watching the two of them as they chatted, probably about the car or the chores Callie wanted done. Liam was a hard worker, always ready to pitch in, but right now he was floating over the amazing generosity of a woman he’d only just met.

The car would make Liam’s life so much easier. Getting to and from work, grocery shopping, hell, everyday life would now be simpler because of Callie. That realization worked against Tanner, making him want to reach for more.

More than he should.

He had an agenda and whatever it took, he’d stick to it.

That meant for the foreseeable future, he’d have to keep his distance from Callie, unless the two of them had company. Alone with her, no way could he keep his hands to himself, especially when she didn’t. Knowing she was interested and willing made it hard enough. When she touched him his resistance melted like ice on a griddle.

He’d still check on her—with Kam. Or Liam.

Somehow, he had to avoid falling in love with her…all over again.

* * *

G LORY’S “FEW DAYS” turned into a few weeks.

At first it hadn’t been too bad—especially since they talked often. Glory was a genius, her execution of the final edited videos both amusingly entertaining and, Callie hoped, educational. With each new video added, her audience grew. More and more questions were popping up in the comment section, so once a week she tried to set aside time to answer a few. Glory claimed that keeping the content personal was what would ensure its success.

Overall, Callie would have felt encouraged with her new life, except that her fear of more snakes had expanded. Liam, who was a remarkably wonderful young man, went above and beyond to ensure her property was kept clear. Refusing to simply accept the car for free, no matter how she’d tried to insist, he’d instead bartered for work, and work he had. Such a proud young man and so determined to be better than his own father.

At one point, Liam had confided that his big goal was to be more like Tanner. Mission accomplished, as far as Callie could tell.

First he would finish his day job, then he’d come over early evening and do odds and ends for her. She’d added a routine sweep of the area for snakes or bugs.

Liam would puff up like a hero-in-training—very much like Tanner—and meticulously search everywhere, which included her basement, the garage, the porches, and the animal shelters.

He taught her more efficient ways to complete her chores. Anything she didn’t know how to do, Liam was willing to teach her. He’d spent a lot of time on an actual farm with his grandfather, whenever his own father got to be too much, so he knew all the best methods.

Now she truly did feel empowered. More capable, more independent.

Except that missing Glory wasn’t her biggest issue. It was that she saw Tanner only in company. Never alone.

He came by to visit with Liam on occasion, or with Kam to assist her with something heavy. She saw him a few times at dinner with Addie.

But it was never just the two of them and Callie knew it was because of a choice he’d made. She’d come on too strong, been too up-front, and while he might have been interested in a casual hookup, the proximity, no doubt, would make it awkward for him. He didn’t want her as a neighbor, so he definitely didn’t want the added pressure of a romantic relationship.

She’d acted like a fool, but it didn’t change her feelings. Tanner interested her more than any man she’d ever met. And now he was dodging her.

“You’d think, just once, I’d get it right,” she mumbled.

“What’s that?” Liam asked.

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.” It was a Friday night but Liam had spent it with her. Together, they’d cleaned out her gutters, trimmed several long tree branches, and weeded the garden. It was another reason for her to feel guilty. “How come you don’t have a date?”

He flashed her a grin. Little by little, he’d gotten more comfortable with her. “I do, about an hour from now.”

“Liam! You should have said something.” She’d kept him over without realizing.

“It’s fine. I just need to get home in time to shower and change.”

Being tall with broad shoulders and an air of calm confidence beyond his years, Liam was a good-looking young man. She imagined he could do plenty of dating if he wanted, and instead he worked overtime.

“Anyone special?” With a glance at the darkening sky, she began gathering up their tools. The forecast had predicted heavy thunderstorms and already the air smelled of rain. Hopefully her roof would hold up.

“Nah. I have no interest in getting involved. Too much I still want to get done.”

“Like?” she asked, as she quickly led the way to the garage. It was now clutter free, with everything neatly organized. Without the car taking up space, and most items stored on shelves, it didn’t seem nearly so much like a snake haven.

Liam dropped a bag of debris into the largest can, then hung the saw on the wall. “I’d like my own set of tools like the ones I use with the contractor. He’s great, but someday I’ll want to branch out on my own. People around here are getting used to me being with him. They’re trusting me. When it’s time, I want my own contracting business.”

That was the most he’d ever divulged to her and it made her feel special that he had shared. “It’s a great goal. Have you gotten anything yet?”

“Sure. At my little apartment I pay extra for the garage space so I can store everything. Though to run my own business, I still need a lot.”

Just then, a blinding streak of lightning split the sky. “Wow.” Seconds later, thunder rumbled, sending a tremble along the ground. “I need to get the animals put away.”

“I’ll help you,” Liam said.

“No, it’s fine. I’m sure I have a few minutes yet before the rain starts.” Thanks to her recent practice, she was proficient at handling the animals now. “They’re probably all in their shelters already. I’ll just double-check.” Often they put themselves away and all she had to do was secure the door. “You go on so you’re not running late.”

He stopped, hands on his hips as he studied the sky. “The lightning doesn’t seem close yet.”

“It’s not.” Another thought struck her and she asked, “Would you like me to pay you early?” After his first generous week, she’d insisted on paying him for his continued help. When she’d finally gotten his agreement to take the amount she offered, he’d asked to be paid on Mondays after a full week and weekend.

“I’m still good with Monday, but thanks.”

“You’re sure ?”

His grin went lopsided. “You and Tanner are two of a kind. I’m good though, so no worries.”

The mention of Tanner made her heart sink, but she worked up a smile for Liam. “Off with you then. Have fun and be safe.”

Jokingly, he said, “Yes, Mom,” and then jogged away.

There. That sweet exchange fixed her heart right up. Who needed Tanner? Not her. She was just fine and dandy without him.

A gust of wind whipped her hair into her face, reminding her that she had to hurry. Concentrating on the animals would also help her put Tanner in perspective. Seriously, she didn’t need to get hung up on a guy right now anyway. Her broken engagement wasn’t that long behind her, and her parents were apparently still irate with her. She’d called her mother once, with no answer. Then she’d texted her twice, and still nothing. Whatever her mother thought of Callie’s “cease and desist” requests, she was keeping to herself. Knowing her mom, that meant she wasn’t ready to give up.

Unfortunately, Sutter had called her twice, but both times she’d kept it short and to the point. They had nothing to talk about, period. She wasn’t cruel or hateful, but she left no room for misinterpretation.

Talking with Glory was Callie’s only contact with her family. Yet even that was…cautious.

Knowing how susceptible her cousin was to pressure, and knowing not to trust her parents or Sutter, Callie kept many of her most private feelings to herself.

Her loneliness, her fear, that sense of being adrift—not fully settled anywhere—ate at her, especially at night when she tried to sleep. She didn’t belong at home with her family and old job, she didn’t have a meaningful relationship, and even in her new home she wasn’t quite fitting in.

Stopping at the chicken coop, Callie found all the hens huddled inside, most of them comfy in their nesting boxes, one on a perch, and one getting a drink. She counted twice to be sure. “Good girls,” Callie murmured low, before securing the door.

Farther back, she looked around for the goats but didn’t see them. Usually where there was one she found the others. Feeling the first drop of rain, she hustled to the shelter, peered inside, and found…three goats. Not four.

Her heart dropped like a stone in a pond. “Oh, no.” How did a person misplace a goat? Frantic, Callie secured the door to ensure the other three stayed inside, then jogged from tree to tree, bush to bush, looking for the fourth. Her pulse pounded in her ears, so she stopped to drag in a few deep breaths and tried to calm her panic. She had to think about this logically.

The front gate had remained closed while Liam had helped her work, so she knew the goat hadn’t gone that way. With the size of her property, that still left a lot of room to roam with thick weeds and brush making ideal hiding places for a cantankerous goat.

“I should have named them,” she said aloud, just to break up the sound of the approaching storm. “Then I could call for him, though who knows if goats come when called.” Another thing she would research, she decided. Alone every evening, she had nothing better to do than research absurd things.

At a brisk pace, she scoured the expanse of the entire yard, but stalled when she found the back gate standing open. She had ten acres in all, much of it dark woods, and it butted up to her neighbors—on both sides. Sadly, she’d yet to mark her property so there was a good chance she would blunder beyond what she owned.

No problem when it came to Tanner, Kam, or Addie.

But Dirk and Lang Garmet? She didn’t want to trespass with them. Unfortunately, the goat wouldn’t hesitate.

Staring out beyond the trees into dark recesses, hanging vines and tangled honeysuckle, it seemed so eerie, made more so by the static of the storm and the time of day. What choice did she have though, with her goat missing?

The urge to call someone made her fingertips tingle, but she’d left her phone in the house as she and Liam had worked. All she had on her was the keys to the back door.

And damn it, she’d left it unlocked.

Decisively, Callie stepped through the gate and secured it behind her. She’d hunt for the goat right now, before the storm started in earnest. Surely, the critter hadn’t gone far. Once she found him, she’d get him put away and then, only then, would she get safely into her own home .

The place where she would stay.

Where eventually she would belong.

It was ridiculous for a grown woman to fear a little storm, the woods, or… Being alone.

“Goat,” she called out, hoping that if he heard her voice, he’d come to her. In the distance, she heard a sound that, to her beleaguered ears, sounded like that of a creepy goat wail. It certainly sent shivers down her spine.

A smattering of raindrops turned into a steady sprinkle. An icy sprinkle. Thankfully the honeysuckle was tall and thick, shielding her from much of it. She wrapped her arms around herself and picked her way forward, doing her best to venture in a straight line without wandering too far toward the Garmet property.

Her unruly neighbors continued to plague her on occasion. Wolf whistles, loud parties—to which she was occasionally invited, but always declined—and casual drop-ins, as if she hadn’t been clear enough already. From an early age, she’d had good manners pressed on her so she dodged the brothers without being rude, finding polite excuses galore. Yet they persisted.

On the other side of her property, Addie wanted to see her more often, Tanner clearly didn’t want to see her at all, and Kam was annoyingly upbeat about it all, as if he found it endlessly amusing.

Oh what she wouldn’t give to have Kam out here with her now. He’d help her look for the goat while also teasing her. Never, not once, did he act as if he was doing her a favor. He treated everything like a lark, not a chore.

She really liked that about him.

The way he’d taught her to collect the chicken eggs would always be a favorite memory. He’d alternately instruct her and then heckle her for her nervousness, until she’d gotten it right. Kam was the type of brother she envied; she wished she’d had him for her own.

When Callie heard a laugh, she froze. It came from somewhere nearby. Then she heard parts of a conversation and knew the Garmet brothers were close. Had she encroached on their property?

Or were they on hers? Honestly, she wasn’t sure.

“Tanner’s away,” one of the brothers said, his voice traveling even through the steady rain. “She can’t call him, and I doubt she wants Addie out here in the rain.”

“Doesn’t mean she’ll come out,” said the other.

Another chuckle. “She will. Feels all responsible for those fucking goats, you know.”

So… They had taken her goat and they assumed she’d come look for it—and she had . Now what? Had they lured her out here? To what end?

She didn’t know and she didn’t want to find out. But if she moved, they’d hear her. If she didn’t move, they’d find her.

Realizing her vulnerable position made her start to tremble. Her heart tried to punch right through her chest, especially when she heard the goat again. The animal didn’t really sound distressed, but then, she had no idea what a distressed goat might sound like. To her, they always sounded weird.

In so many ways, she’d messed up. In even more ways she was out of her element.

Pity party later , she sternly told herself. Now get your butt in gear .

Right ahead of her was an enormous oak tree with branches that stretched far out in different directions. Some of those limbs dipped lower, almost within reach. Not that she’d ever climbed a tree, but surely she’d be safer up there.

Of course, if she could get in the tree, so could the brothers, she reasoned. If she was already up there, though, anyone who tried to follow could be kicked in the face.

Brush moved around her. Footsteps closed in.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Lang said.

Dirk answered, “Playing the hero once won’t kill you. And think what we might gain.”

Knowing they’d run into her any second now, alarm bells began clanging in her head to the tune of do something, do something, do something.

And then, they stepped out to her right.

Spotting her, Dirk’s frown turned into a smile. “Ah, Callie. What are you doing out here in the storm?”

Without another single thought, she spun around and took off running, reached the tree, and lunged. By some bizarre miracle, she caught a low-hanging branch. Her work boots slipped on the trunk before she caught enough traction to help lever herself up. It took a lot of absurd fumbling and straining and surely laughable acrobatics, but she finally hooked a leg over and hauled herself up.

Huffing every breath, precariously perched, she dared to look at Dirk and Lang. The two of them wore identical expressions of awed amazement.

After a few dazed seconds, Dirk moved forward. “Darlin’, what the hell are you doing?”

Staying out of reach . But she said, “Looking for my goat.” It infuriated her that they’d put her in this position. Well, not the position in the tree, but a position of feeling like she had to be in a tree.

“Thought I heard a goat,” Lang said with absurdly feigned confusion. “But I wasn’t sure.” He, too, moved closer.

Callie scampered up higher, just in case.

Laughing, Dirk said, “I know you’re a city girl and all, but your goat isn’t up there.”

Feeling ridiculous, she said, “I know goats can’t climb trees.” How absurd. “I can see better up here,” she lied. With all the leaves and twigs, not to mention the rain and the dark, she couldn’t see a thing, not really.

“Actually, goats do climb trees, but if you stopped to listen, you’d know your goat is deeper in the woods.”

Goats climbed trees? No, she refused to believe that. Like many things since moving here, she’d look it up later. For now, she said, “Kam is coming to help me look, so in the meantime I was trying to spot the goat.”

“No,” Dirk said. “Kam isn’t coming.”

“He is,” she insisted, hoping to convince them. “Should be here any minute.”

The brothers exchanged a look. “Sorry, darlin’, but Kam is out on the town. Don’t expect he’ll be home tonight at all.”

Lang added, “They’re twitchy about bringing women around Addie.”

“Respectful,” Callie corrected, assuming that was the reason why Kam and Tanner didn’t bring home casual dates. “They love and respect Addie, as they should.”

Dirk lost a bit of his “good old boy” routine. “Sure, whatever. They’re fucking choirboys.”

She wouldn’t go that far.

“We’re all getting soaked,” Lang pointed out. “Come down from there and we’ll help you find your damn goat.”

Right. Go deeper in the woods with the two of them? Not happening. “I’m fine,” she said inanely, uncaring that her hair stuck to her face in wet clumps, while rivulets of rainwater ran down her nose and dripped off her chin. A combo of cold and fear made her tremble so badly that “fine” sounded like three syllables. Embellishing her lie, she said, “Kam cut his date sh-short once I t-told him a goat was missing.” Damn her chattering teeth.

Warily, Lang glanced around.

The brothers wore rain slickers with the hoods up, so other than wet boots, the weather wasn’t affecting them much, not like it did her. Already it had saturated her shirt and jeans, and chilled her to the bone.

“This is dumb,” Dirk barked, startling her. He came forward with a scowl and a purpose. “You can’t sit in a damned tree during a thunderstorm. You’ll get hit by lightning.”

The goat cried out again, further rattling her, but what could she do? As Dirk advanced, she felt the same fear she’d experienced in college when Warren had nosedived off the deep end of rage. It stole all the breath from her lungs. Back then, Warren had started destroying things and in the process he’d thrown things out of his way—including her. His strength had been terrifying, especially since she’d assumed that once he finished attacking her apartment, he’d turn on her.

“Callie?”

The sound of her name, called out from a slight distance, sent a surge of hope and happiness through her. Tanner . How he was here, she didn’t know, but her relief was enough that she let out a sob.

“Callie?” Kam called next, turning her lie into truth. “Where are you?”

In that moment, she loved both men, and as soon as she was safely back in her home she’d tell them so.

Getting it together, she shouted back, “Here! In a tree.” Looking down at her dumbfounded neighbors, she called with warning, “And the Garmet brothers are here.”