Page 2 of Saddled in Secrets (Cloverleaf Meadows #2)

Before I can pick my jaw up off the ground, she’s trotting off.

My stare latches onto the graceful sway of her hips in the Western saddle.

That’s why I don’t notice Brody is standing next to me until it’s too late.

I freeze at his unexpected presence. The air turns thick, heavy with uncertainty.

Guilt sweeps in next and reprimands me for being sloppy.

Dammit, he’s probably gonna send me packing.

It’s what I deserve for allowing myself to get distracted.

“I see you met Bianca,” Brody muses.

My gulp is thick and can be heard over the pounding in my chest. I’d like to consider us friends, not that I have any others for comparison. Brody has never treated me as anything other than an equal. We respect each other even though he’s seen me at my worst. This might finally change his mind.

“Not really,” I say after a long pause. “Just stopped to watch her run the barrels.”

His glare burns into the side of my face. “Don’t make me regret this, Colton.”

Resolve washes over me, along with an unavoidable sense of duty. “I’ll never give you a reason to doubt me, boss.”

“C’mon then.” Brody tips his head toward the part of the estate that houses the business offices. “We’ve got work to do.”

And with that, I turn away from the temptation that is Bianca Benson.

Two months ago…

I rip off my baseball hat to rake a hand through my hair. Brody’s most recent request hangs between us like a tipping point. Unease slithers into my stomach while I consider the options, but there’s only one choice.

“You want me to guard Bianca?” My voice is gritty, as if I just walked into a cloud of dust. I just can’t believe he asked me .

Brody nods. “But for the sake of her feelings, let’s refer to your position as a travel companion. Just for this trip.”

“Why do you want me to go?” It seems too convenient seeing as I’d find a way to join her regardless.

His flat stare calls me an idiot. “I’m not letting her fly off to Europe on her own. Usual safety precautions aside, Bianca is upset about our mother’s death and wants to escape. She’s more reckless than usual.”

“Can you blame her?”

He scowls. “She can act like an adult and not abandon her family.”

“I don’t think that’s what she’s doing,” I mutter.

Bianca is hurting and has every right to grieve in her own way.

From what I’ve seen, her typical outlet would be to hit the road for a rodeo.

Those trips were something she did with her mom.

It’s not my place to express too much of my opinion, but she hasn’t left town since Marion passed.

This escape overseas might be exactly what she needs.

While her brother’s intentions might be decent, he’s asking me to intrude.

She’s going to buck this idea harder than a wild filly.

If I were to go about it on my own, she wouldn’t be aware of my presence.

As if hearing my resistance, Brody grunts. “That’s not your problem to worry about. Just watch out for her. You’re the only one I trust.”

“As her companion,” I repeat. Clarification is key.

“Think you can handle it?”

Fuck, talk about a loaded question. Brody warned me to keep my distance and I’ve listened.

Mostly. That first glance haunted me. I had to get another, which quickly spiraled into an addiction.

Her comments about my truck stuck with me too, even after all these years.

I’ve made sure to be a reliable presence if she ever needed me.

The urge to protect her kicked off from there.

Whenever Bianca was in town, I wasn’t far from her side. She doesn’t know about my obsession since I’ve always kept to the shadows, and I plan to keep it that way.

If asked, she would say we’re practically strangers. Meanwhile, I probably know her better than myself. Five years of stolen moments add up to an unrequited love worthy of some Shakespearian shit.

I’ve tried to fight this infatuation, but Bianca is some sort of a magnet.

She makes the days brighter and the lonely nights shorter.

Her smile cures the darkness I still harbor.

Whenever I’m near her, my troubles fade into a muted hum.

I no longer care about where I came from or smothering my demons.

The past doesn’t feel so heavy and there’s a future worth striving for.

That doesn’t mean I deserve her. Nobody does, which is why she’s still single.

Bianca doesn’t date, at least not seriously.

The only guy I’ve overheard her mention is Scout.

He’s just a faceless name, but I’ll admit to picturing his demise.

Such a waste of effort. I’m better off trying to convince myself that Bianca is secretly crazy about me and can’t get attached to anyone else.

A smirk almost makes an appearance. Just fantasizing about it is delusional enough.

I can count on one hand how many times we’ve spoken. And now her older brother is hiring me to follow her. I have his permission to finally step out of the shadows.

Bianca is going to hate me for this.

The elastic hair tie around my wrist snags my focus. I snap the worn band against my skin, my head bobbing along before I realize it. “It won’t be a problem, boss.”

The next day…

The plane reaches cruising altitude, but leveling out does little to untangle the knots in my stomach.

I haven’t been able to relax since the behemoth of a man plopped his sculpted ass on the leather sofa across from mine.

Colton’s presence spreads across the private jet’s cabin like a virus.

It’s suffocating and reminds me why I wanted to do this alone.

A disgruntled huff escapes me while I slump lower in my seat. “I still can’t believe you’re crashing my vacation. This was meant to be a solo excursion.”

Colton just grunts. That’s it. No actual words to engage in a respectful conversation.

Good thing I can talk for both of us.

“Once we land, feel free to go your own way. I don’t need you following me around.”

The flat look he shoots at me disagrees.

“Brody wouldn’t know, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I try. “It can be our secret.”

The mention of my older brother doesn’t make an impact on his stony features.

I would’ve been surprised if it did, but it was worth a shot.

Colton is extremely loyal to his best friend.

When Brody hired him to escort me, there was zero resistance.

He owes him much more than babysitting duty.

Whatever insane amount he’s getting paid doesn’t help my case either.

Defeat rests on my chest like a sack of bricks.

It adds to the grief and stress and exhaustion already piled on me.

My breathing kicks up. I count to three, slowly exhaling the pressure from my lungs.

I miss my mom. What I wouldn’t give for just one more hug.

The harsh truth that I’ll never get one is devastating.

All I have pushing me forward is the determination to fly free for once. But the ginormous dream killer across from me wants to clip my wings—just like Brody and Dad.

“Please, Colton. The entire point is to go off on my own. It’s really important to me.”

He doesn’t so much as blink. His lack of compassion is concerning. It troubles me more than it should. I suddenly feel too exposed and avert my gaze to the nearest window. It’s dark beyond the glass, which offers zero comfort. Maybe this is a mistake.

I hang my head, allowing the pain to wash over me. Mom’s death is still fresh like a festering wound. She left us so suddenly. My emotions have been rubbed raw over the past two months. Sorrow sunk its claws deep and I desperately needed a reprieve.

As if the agony of losing my mother wasn’t enough, the entire town has placed bets for when I’ll crumble. Odds were sooner than later if I’d stuck around.

I told my brother I needed to do some soul searching and find myself.

It might seem strange and probably selfish, but I couldn’t stay at the manor for another minute.

The walls started closing in on me, regardless of the mansion’s size.

Our family estate is too empty without Mom.

Her absence is a gaping hole at every turn.

I had to get out of there, just for a reset. No matter how brief.

This trip was my mom’s idea. She’d dreamed of touring Europe when she was younger.

Since she never got the chance, I decided to do it for both of us.

Once the idea formed, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I didn’t make plans beyond getting to Germany.

That’s where she mentioned wanting to start once.

My uninvited guest doesn’t fit into the itinerary.

Colton continues to stare straight ahead as I pull myself from those thoughts. His expression is stoic and impassive, revealing just how happy he is to be here. We have that in common, which might make it easier to get rid of him.

With nothing else to look at, my gaze takes a leisurely stroll across his face.

Tan skin emphasizes rugged features. That stubbled jaw could cut steel.

Muscles are stacked on muscles underneath his snug shirt.

I’d appreciate it if he didn’t look so damn hot on the clock.

The grumpy attitude really does it for me too.

A long-winded sigh breezes from my pursed lips. At least I have decent scenery for the duration of the flight. Once we land, I’ll find someone more personable to scratch this itch he’s inflicted with his broody bossiness. Either that or I’ll sleep for an entire day. The latter is more likely.

Weariness settles in my bones and I sigh. I’m just so fucking tired of pretending. I wanted to go somewhere to escape the reputation of our last name for a while. Where nobody knows me. It’s not too much to ask.

But now, I’m trapped on a plane with my brother’s best friend and he won’t even speak to me.