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H onor wiped her palms on her jeans and stood back, surveying the tables she and Gray set up under the wide awning of the ranch’s meeting space. Behind her, the sun cast a golden glow over the enormous field behind her. The tang of the mountain air mixed with hay and the scent of freshly tilled earth rode the air currents.

She eyed the tools she placed down the center of the tables. “I don’t have enough supplies for such a big workshop.”

Gray stood next to her, arms crossed, surveying the setup with the same intensity she imagined he used in the military. “If this activity is a hit—and I think it will be—the ranch will invest in the supplies you require.”

She stared at his profile. Sharp features and the angles of a Greek statue melded together to create a rugged beauty more breathtaking than the smoky blue mountains silhouetting him. And the way he assessed the tables made her think it was a life-or-death situation.

For all she knew, it was. Her nerves kicked in suddenly. These veterans were here to get help so they could lead peaceful lives after serving their country. Some might even be injured or maimed from war. She didn’t quite know what to expect.

She would figure it out. She was good at winging things on the fly.

She drew a deep breath, filling her lungs with smells of pine and earth—and man. Gray’s masculine scent, unique to him, teased at her senses and woke up her body in the same ways he’d awakened it the previous night when he kissed her.

Kissed was a tame word for what had taken place in the parking lot of Prairie Ember. The man had ravished her.

She had no doubt in her mind that if he wanted to, he could claim her.

And she would let him.

Her nerves still tingled from his kisses. When she woke up this morning and looked at her reflection in the mirror, she saw that light pink streaks graced her throat where he had brushed his lips and his beard singed her skin.

To break the tension thrumming inside her, she nudged him with her elbow. “You don’t have to look so serious. It’s just beads and wire, not live ammo.”

The corner of his mouth turned up, but he still looked wary. “Still, it’s a lot of sharp objects for these guys. We all have histories.”

She jolted at the way he lumped himself in with the vets. Studying him closer, she tried to root out any signs of scars on Gray—either on the surface or hidden deep down inside him. After only a moment, she gave up. If she had to make a guess, the man was good at masking them.

With a smirk, she attempted to lighten the mood. “Then you better behave.”

His gray gaze slid to her. “Or what?”

“Or I’ll make you do all the delicate work.”

He huffed a quiet laugh and took a step closer. Her breath caught. Every nerve in her body pulsed with excitement and anticipation of another kiss from Gray.

Just then, a couple guys ducked under the awning keeping the hot summer sun off their necks.

Gray stepped back and nodded to the men. One had visible scars on his forearms. When she followed the twisted skin down to his burned hands, her heart sank. He was coming to a jewelry- making workshop, and it was quite possible he wouldn’t be able to use his hands.

Her mind tumbled over ways to adapt to his special needs when five more men entered the space. Many of the first walked in under their own power, but they continued to arrive on crutches, in wheelchairs. One man had the leg of his Wrangler jeans pinned up over his missing limb.

Honor greeted each of them with a welcoming smile and nod. This was a far cry from what she did on a day-to-day basis in her business. She designed and created jewelry to sell at festivals and in her online shop. She only gave workshops once in a while, and never to a group of people like these men.

Some shuffled their feet and paused as they neared the table as if unsure whether or not they should sit. Gray threw Honor a look and surged forward to assist.

She did the same and pulled out several folding chairs for them to use while continuing to give them encouraging smiles.

Gray wheeled one man up to the end of the table. Catching her eye, he gave her another one of those intense looks that made her feel like he was scanning her soul.

Or waiting for her reaction to the vets?

With a breezy wave, she moved to the middle of the tables and held out her arms. The gauzy top she wore fluttered in the wind. “Welcome, everyone! My name is Honor.”

She gained nods and smiles, some more sure than others. A few didn’t look up from the table. Her heart went out to every single one of these brave men who had served their country.

She swept her attention to Gray, including him in her thoughts.

“Glad you’re all here. We’re going to keep things easy today. No pressure. Just keeping our hands busy.”

Gray’s presence grounded her in ways she never saw coming. Watching him talk to the guys gave her a feel for the link they had. Gray was softer here. Less guarded.

And she…

She was feeling a strong pull to put down roots, to be a steady presence in the lives of these veterans…and Gray too. Though she shook off the thought, it continued to surface.

As she explained what they’d be doing, Gray walked over to one man. He didn’t touch his shoulder but leaned close to speak. Whatever he said made the man chuckle and look straight at her.

To distract herself from thinking about what he said about her, Honor began handing out supplies. Wire for wrapping, pliers for bending the wire and beads for those with steadier hands.

As she gave a small demonstration of ways to work the wire into shapes, she noticed one man frowning at the beads like they were his mortal enemy. Seeing the two missing fingers on his right hand, she could see why.

She moved toward him and hovered near. “Hi. Not feeling the beadwork, huh?”

He shook his head and held up both of his hands, each missing a number of fingers that would make life a chore until he grew accustomed to his new situation.

“No worries.” She didn’t need to put the brightness in her tone—it just came out with her excitement about working with these men. She slid a spool of wire toward him. “I want you to try wrapping this instead. No tiny pieces, just strong movements. Less about finesse and more about control.”

He looked up at her, his gaze steady on her face. The intense way he studied her made her wonder if all military men had that same direct stare, as if they could see into her deepest self.

“What’s your name?” she asked him quietly.

“Bryce.”

“Nice to meet you, Bryce.” She picked up the wire and demonstrated how a simple curl could be formed into a flower petal.

To her delight, he reached for the spool, and she passed it to him. As she drifted away, Bryce got to work on the flower she started.

She wove through the group, watching and helping. Showing some how to string beads, helping others select designs. At the far table, Gray was busy at work too, all of his focus on the item he was making.

When she reached the man with the burned arms, she found he had adapted to his restrictions by using the heels of his hands to fold the wire into a unique shape. He’d even managed to feed half of it with a variety of beads and a few silver charms.

Honor paused next to him. “Is that a dreamcatcher?”

He gave her a nod, the ghost of a smile playing around his firm lips.

She started to reach out to touch his shoulder but pulled her hand back, respectful that some people might not welcome a touch. Instead, she offered murmured encouragement before lifting her eyes.

One man would welcome her hands on him, she knew firsthand.

Gradually, she made her way to Gray. When she first arrived at the ranch, he had walked out to greet her wearing a tan Stetson. The cowboy hat on Gray took her breath away and made her lower belly grip with desire.

It did the same to her now. She drank in his appearance and continued down the row of men diligently working, engrossed in their task. She paused at each to assist the men or offer encouragement.

When she reached Gray, her stomach gave a small flutter. “How’s it going, cowboy?”

He glanced up at her, lips quirked. “That was smooth,” he murmured with a nod toward the guy making a dreamcatcher.

“Was it?” She tilted her head toward him, her long hair swinging forward.

He stilled, looking at the wave of hair dangling so close to him that he could reach out and thread his fingers through the mass the way he had done during that kiss. When he’d pulled her in, deepening the caress, she thought her body would combust.

“You adapt fast,” he commented.

She answered with a shrug. “It’s not about the craft. It’s about what makes them feel like they can actually do it. No one wants to struggle through something just to feel like they failed at it.”

Something flickered in Gray’s eyes. “You really get people, don’t you?”

She opened her mouth to deflect the praise, but the man sitting next to Gray spoke. “This quiets my mind more than the horses do.”

She beamed at him. “I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying it. My name’s Honor.”

“Crew.”

She leaned in to see he had chosen to make a bracelet just like Gray was.

Crew threw a look back and forth between her and Gray, before he got to work, turning the pliers methodically. “I have more control over this wire than I do a horse.”

A sudden tightness of emotion clamped Honor’s throat. She hadn’t realized how much these men needed this—but Gray had.

He shifted beside her, and his fingers brushed the back of her hand as he reached for a brass bead. The touch sent a warm shiver through her skin.

She watched him slip the bead onto the wire and crimp it using a tool. He wrapped the wire once, twice, his hands oh so steady.

“That’s going to be beautiful.”

He looked up into her eyes. “I hope I can do it justice.”

Her stomach dipped, and heat crept into her cheeks. Why did it feel like Gray wasn’t talking about the bracelet?

* * * * *

Gray wasn’t a man who was easily impressed, but watching Honor work with the vets shifted something inside him. She was natural. Effortless.

Like she belonged here.

When the guys began to trickle in, Gray watched her closely for signs of discomfort. Some of their injuries were difficult to see, even for someone like him who’d seen…

Well, things.

But she hadn’t batted an eye, only circled through the group, chatting with each man and encouraging them as needed. She never made anyone feel awkward for having missing body parts or scars. She gave them all a project they could excel at.

Bryce had missing fingers? Here’s a thicker wire to try out. Marco’s hands tremored too much for intricate beadwork? Try this larger wire-wrapping project.

The woman really had thought of everything and adapted in ways that surprised the hell out of Gray.

She also didn’t treat anyone like they were fragile. Though if she knew the truth behind some of their stoic expressions, she might think twice about their states of mind.

The guys would pick up on any pity too, but Honor didn’t treat them any differently from the ladies who attended her workshop at the bookstore.

And damn if that didn’t do something to him.

Rolling his shoulders, he forced himself to focus on the wire and beads in his hand. He wasn’t here to get caught up in her. And the fact that Crew—someone who didn’t know Gray well—picked up some tension between him and Honor straightaway told Gray that he was a little too transparent.

He concentrated on working the wire into place and the feel of the cool, smooth beads in his fingers.

When Honor shifted in his direction again, he was far too aware of it. Everything about the way she moved set him on edge yet settled him at the same time. She wandered over to him and leaned in.

That long lock of hair swung forward, the urge to touch it making him clamp his fingers. To ball it in his fist and draw her mouth to his.

Fuck. Now he was getting hard, and any man—military or not—knew that being around his brothers-in-arms was neither the time nor place.

Honor’s sweet voice lilted over him. She brushed her fingertips over his knuckles. “Is the bracelet for your sister?”

He hesitated, fingers still on the wire. The truth pushed at the back of his throat, but he swallowed it down. “No.” He left it at that.

Honor arched a brow. But before she could push him for more information, a newcomer joined them. The tall and beautiful kind that got all the vets interested—except Gray.

“Hey, guys!” Willow didn’t have a subtle bone in her body and possessed absolutely no reservations about making Gray uncomfortable.

The way she looked between him and Honor had him girding his loins for an inquisition, and not just little sister style—Malone style.

He bit back a groan. This was about to get real awkward real fast.

Willow tossed smiles to the men like candy from a parade float. They scooped up her grins and some returned it with one of their own. His sister’s long legs crossed the space to Gray far faster than he wanted.

She stepped forward, tucking her hair behind her ear and revealing the earrings he made her.

Honor straightened, eyes sparking with recognition. “Oh! I see you’re wearing the earrings Gray made you.”

Willow beamed. “Of course. I had to come meet the woman behind the whole thing.”

Honor’s lips twitched. “So, you were talking about me?” Her teasing tone made him want to grab her and pull her down on his lap, hold her there and kiss her until she moaned his name the way she had last night.

Willow stopped. “Wait—Gray told you he made me these earrings?” She stroked a finger over the beads, sending them swaying.

“Yes. We talked for hours last night.”

Willow’s eyelids fluttered as if she were having an episode. “Hold up now.” She raised one hand. “You talked for hours? With this guy? I get ten words a day out of him.”

Honor’s laugh floated on the air and wrapped around him. “I guess he was feeling chatty.”

In true Willow fashion, she pulled out a chair and plopped into it, resting her chin on her hand and diving right in. “Sounds like you two really bonded last night.”

A light pink flush spread across Honor’s cheeks, highlighting those damn freckles that had been driving him crazy since the day in the post office. Hell, if he was honest with himself, he noticed them back in the coffee shop.

His sister’s gaze dropped to the bracelet he was making. Her teasing smile shifted into something more certain.

Gray gave her a warning look that would have been a warning growl if Honor weren’t standing so near. Thankfully, Willow only gave him a shrug and continued chatting with Honor.

“I should thank you.”

Honor laughed again. “For what?”

“I haven’t seen this one so relaxed in years.” She elbowed Gray. “And the rest of the guys seem real chill too. Especially Crew. He doesn’t like working with horses but he seems to be getting on fine with that wire.”

Crew looked up at Willow, a half-smile on his face at her gentle ribbing. Willow was kind of the sweetheart among the guys on the therapy ranch. Her easy manner made people let down their guard. Go figure—what worked on horses also worked on some of the vets.

She touched her earring again, making it swing. “It was really nice of Gray to make these earrings to cheer me up.”

Honor remained silent, too tactful to question Willow what she needed cheered up from, even though he already told her.

“My ex is getting married.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

Willow waved a hand. “We broke up ages ago, but…”

“I get it. Still stings a little?”

“Exactly!” Willow bobbed her head in agreement.

Gray gave her the side-eye.

Willow nudged him. “What? Are you saying I dodged a bullet?”

“Didn’t you?”

She gave him a classic little sister eye roll and turned back to Willow. “You know how it is. Breakups can be hard.”

“Actually, I recently broke up with my longtime boyfriend before I came to Willowbrook.”

He went still, listening. On their date, he and Honor hadn’t delved into that territory, and she didn’t bring up her possible sighting of her ex either. Now that shadow slanted over his day, making him grip the pliers in his hand harder.

“You look really good for someone going through a breakup.”

He didn’t look directly at Honor but caught her gliding her fingers through her hair. “We were growing apart for a long time. I have standards. He didn’t meet them.”

“That’s why he’s the ex,” Willow commented sagely.

“Exactly!”

Gray relaxed bit by bit. Being the rebound make-out-by-the-truck guy was outside of his personal standards.

He listened to his sister and Honor chat a while longer. When the guys began to grow restless, Honor made a final round through the group, helping them finish their projects so they could take it with them to their rooms. Gray stole peeks at her, watching her touch some of the guys but not others. As if she was aware of who accepted physical contact and who didn’t.

He’d never met anyone like her. He noticed things about her that he never noticed about anybody, and he wasn’t a guy who got involved with a woman long enough to know more than the shape of her underneath him.

And that scared the hell out of him.

Suddenly, Honor was back at his side, the fragrance of lemon and cake washing over his senses.

He pushed away from the table, the bracelet in his fingers. Her wrist was inches away, and goddamn if he didn’t want to fasten the beads around it.

“Thanks for doing this, Honor. We all really enjoyed it.”

Her face was tilted up to his, her eyes fixed on his mouth. Was she thinking about kissing him?

He almost let out a growl.

He needed a minute to get himself under control. “I’ve got some things to do. Willow can help you pack up.”

Was it his imagination or did her eyes dim with disappointment?

He walked away before he could find out.