Page 137 of Shadows of Obsession

My curiosity piqued, I tilted my head, studying her with what I hoped was a friendly, nonthreatening gaze. "You're one of the guests in the cabin, right? Are you Mrs. Lewis or Ms. Patel?"

I'd memorized the names from my bookings, tried to keep track of who was staying where. The Lewis family was in Meadowlark with their daughter. This woman had to be from the couple in Stargazer.

"Patel," the woman answered, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture. "Kim. I'm here with my boyfriend. He's still inside sleeping, but I wanted to stretch my legs after the drive here yesterday."

Jaxon, his own interest apparently growing, chimed in. "Did you come from very far away?"

"Nevada," Kim replied briefly, her attention once again drawn to the horses. A wistful expression settled over her features as she watched Choco roll enthusiastically in the dirt. "It's beautiful here."

My heart swelled with pride at the compliment to our beloved ranch. "Thank you," I said, sincerity ringing in my voice. "Let me know if you need anything while you're here. I'll be around theproperty most of the day. Trail rides, lessons, anything you want to try."

"Thank you," Kim murmured, her gaze still fixed on the horses, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. There was something sad about her, something that tugged at my instincts.

Sensing that our guest might appreciate some solitude, and not wanting to overwhelm her with too much friendliness, Jaxon and I exchanged a brief glance. His slight nod told me he'd noticed the same thing I had: this woman wanted space.

We turned to continue our journey toward the barn, and as we walked, our conversation shifted to the day's plans for grooming the horses and the upcoming reservations that would keep us busy through the Labor Day weekend.

"She seemed nice," I commented quietly as we approached the barn door. "A little jumpy, though."

"Probably just tired from the drive," Jaxon said, pulling open the barn door and gesturing for me to enter first. "Nevada's what, ten hours? Twelve?"

"Something like that." I stepped into the familiar dimness of the barn, breathing in the comforting scent of hay, horses, and leather. "I hope she enjoys her stay. She looked like she needed a break from something."

"Most people who come here do," Jaxon said quietly, his arm sliding around my shoulders. "Need a break from something."

Like I did. Like we both did.

I leaned into him, letting the peace of the barn wash over me. "Yeah. I guess that's true."

And as we set about our day, gathering grooming supplies, filling water buckets, preparing to lavish attention on the horses, I let myself sink into the routine of it all. The simple, honest work. The life we'd built. The life we were building together.

CHAPTER 37

Anna

"Hey, you coming?" Jaxon's voice carried through the barn aisle, a hint of impatience threading through his tone that made me smile.

I looked up from the saddle I was meticulously cleaning, my hands moving with the practiced precision that came from months of doing this work. The leather was supple beneath my fingers, the scent of saddle soap and oil familiar and grounding. "Why don't you head back and start dinner?" I suggested, glancing at him briefly before returning my focus to buffing out a stubborn spot. "I'll take my truck from Connor's. I already have the keys in my pocket."

The sun had dipped below the horizon while I'd been working, casting long shadows across the barn floor that stretched like dark fingers toward the tack room. It was later than usual for me to stay, but I had a big group coming tomorrow, eight people for a trail ride, plus two lessons in the afternoon, and I wanted to be prepared. Better to put in the extra time now than rush through everything at dawn.

Jaxon stood in the doorway for a moment, his broad frame backlit by the security lights outside. I could feel his eyes on me, could sense the internal debate playing out in his mind. He shifted his weight, and I knew without looking that his brow was furrowed the way it always was when he was worried about something. He still felt intensely protective of me.

"Okay... if you're sure," he said finally, though the slight hesitation in his voice betrayed his reluctance to leave me here alone.

Jaxon walked over, his boots heavy on the concrete, and gently cupped my face, tilting it up toward his. Our lips met in a soft kiss that tasted like the iced tea we'd shared earlier, and something that was just him. Cedar, horses, summer evening. All of it.

When he pulled back, he looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "Anna..." he started, his gaze lingering on my face as I tried to return my attention to the saddle.

"Hmm?" I murmured, half-listening as I scraped away a stubborn piece of dried mud with my thumbnail.

I felt rather than saw him clench his jaw, could sense the internal struggle behind his eyes as he tried to decide whether to finish his thought. The silence stretched: one heartbeat, two, three.

"I'll tell you later," he said finally, his voice a mix of affection and something else. Concern, maybe, or uncertainty. "Hurry back."

I wondered about his unfinished sentence as I waved, offering a reassuring smile. "I will. Promise."

As the sound of his Jeep's engine faded into the distance, I refocused on my work, determined to have everything in perfect order for tomorrow. The barn settled into its evening rhythms around me, the soft nickering of horses, the rustle of hay, the creak of old wood adjusting to the cooling temperature. I decided to give myself another forty-five minutes, maybe less.