Page 24 of Wild and Unruly (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #3)

bonnie

It was inevitable, this conversation.

When Stetson finally finds a place with privacy, we stop, and he turns to me, his face creased in worry. I hate that he just got bombarded like that, but I didn’t know how to warn him without giving away all the facts.

“Well? Want to tell me how you know the biggest douchebag on the planet?” Stetson stands tall and strong, his hands hung loosely at his sides as if this doesn’t affect him at all.

I know that’s a lie. I can tell he’s trying to remain calm so that I can tell him what’s going on.

“Tommy Smith has been around forever.” I shrug, nodding at the surrounding stalls. “He’s been in the Colorado training world since you guys were kids, right? So, when we were looking for someone to train us, Tommy’s dad, Richard, was the one we went to. And Tommy was there too.”

“So, they were your trainers?” Stetson asks, absorbing this new information .

“And coaches. They came to us with such a strong vision for what we could do. They knew Mason was talented and talked about him coming on as a trainer with them before…” I trail off, the memory hitting me like a ton of bricks. Even still, it hurts to think about.

“Before your brother’s accident.”

Even though it was six years ago, it was still like it happened yesterday when I talk about it so plainly.

“After the accident, we left Tommy’s facility and never went back to anyone.

Mom was wrapped up in Mason—obviously. Dad was mad about how we were acting and sold the horses. You already know what I did.”

Stetson is quiet for a minute, processing what he’s learned. It’s on the tip of my tongue to spit out that I’ve been working on something with Tommy, that I’ve been basically stalking his facility to find what I need to take him down.

But I can’t do that. Stetson would freak, especially knowing what he knows now. I don’t know the exact history between Tommy and Dani and CT, but I could tell, even from that very brief interaction, that it wasn’t anything good.

“Bonnie, this isn’t something I would normally say to a woman,” he starts, and I lift a brow in surprise, wondering where this could be going. “But I need you to stay away from him.”

“Stetson,” I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest.

“No, I’m sorry.” Stetson shakes his head.

There’s this glint in his eye, worry and concern, and I know that what he’s saying right now is not his normal stance.

“I know what that piece of shit can do to people, to his animals. He’s not only dangerous, but he’s a fucking idiot who thinks he can get away with what he’s been doing. ”

I’m not sure how much Stetson knows, but it’s obviously enough to know that Tommy is a snake in the grass.

“I’ll be careful,” I start, shrugging my shoulders. “I’m around a lot of different people for my job, Stetson. You have to trust that I can take care of myself.”

He eyes me for a minute before his shoulders slump, possibly in relief but more than likely in defeat. He comes closer, resting his hands on my hips, and I move my camera out of the way, reaching up and around his shoulders.

“I know you can.” He nods, pulling me as close as he can get. “I know my request may seem selfish, but I need you to keep yourself safe, for me.”

I hear what he’s not saying, and it puts a lump in my throat. This isn’t the first time that I’ve realized my feelings are far more than just infatuation, but I feel it all over again as I stare at him, my heart pounding loudly in my ears as I look between his eyes and see the concern there.

So, I swallow past the thickness and nod, saying words that I hope aren’t a lie. “I will.”

I’d never been to The Gin Mill before, but I’ve heard about it. It was the one place that everyone went to when they were down here for horse shows. The place they went to blow off steam before the show and after they finished competing for the day.

And apparently, it was the place where you drank as much as you danced.

I honestly don’t know how Dani and her friends, Amy and Joanna, whom I just met today, are still dancing around the floor, but I watch them dance like fools, laughing at how much fun they’re having.

They seem like that girl group you see in the movies, the ones that are ride or die and love every minute of being together. I have to admit I’m a little jealous.

I’ve never been a part of something like that. Never had close girlfriends who were there for me no matter what, who cheered me on, who supported me. Watching this group puts a little pebble of sadness in my gut.

I shove that aside and wrap my hand around my beer. Since I’m not working, I’m enjoying the night out with this great group of people. Stetson sits right next to me, his arm around the back of my shoulders, relaxing together like there is no worry in the world.

And right now, I truly feel like there isn’t.

He and CT talk, CT sitting just on the other side of Stetson where I can’t really hear anything, but I lean back against his arm and just let myself have this moment of solitude.

I try to remember a time when I felt this content with people and can’t seem to come up with anything.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so comfortable and at ease. Something this group does effortlessly is make you feel like you’re a part of their family.

Randomly, that teen girl who I met, Aesha, pops into my head. I think about how she was being treated over at the Smith ranch and wonder if she convinced her mom to leave their ranch. I hope she reaches out to Dani, or somewhere she can be appreciated and learn from someone who wants to teach.

I’ve seen Tommy ride. He has the talent to be in the arena. The issue is attitude. He acts like he owns everything, like nothing in the world must be earned .

It’s confusing how he seems to have a barn full of staff. They must think it’s their best bet to get where they want to be. Tommy has built a reputation, one that’s led to many first-place trophies and championships.

I feel Stetson’s hand rub my shoulder in a comforting way, telling me he’s happy I’m there, and I take another sip of my beer to wash down the feeling of guilt that seems to follow me. At least for the last week or so.

I had no intention of ever falling for someone when I was assigned this story. I thought I’d come like I always do, write the story, and move on.

But this…this one kept me here, and not just because I think they have some information on Tommy, but because Stetson has given me a sense of belonging that I’ve not felt since I was a young girl.

Before the serious days of competing, before my parents hated each other, before Mason lost his ability to ride.

“Bonnie!” Dani yells from the dance floor, her long blonde hair flying behind her under her hat as she twirls.

Amy does a shoulder shimmy when the next song comes on, and all three girls wave me onto the dance floor.

It’s impossible to resist.

I jump to my feet, not looking back to Stetson, and throw one leg over the barrier that separates the dining room from the dance floor and land on my boots right as the girls form their line and start dancing.

Falling into formation, I follow the girls’ movements, laughing when we screw up but keep going, not having a care in the world. People are watching us from every corner of the room, but I don’t care because I am having a blast.

They form a fake do-si-do, and Dani links her arm through mine, spinning around in our little circle. Our hair flies wildly around us, making our movements seem even more chaotic.

We’re laughing so hard that by the end of the song, none of us can properly breathe.

“You”—Amy points at me, nearly fall over herself in the process—“are a good time.”

I laugh with her and throw my arm over her shoulder. “Right back ’atcha.”

Another arm snakes around my waist, and I breathe in Stetson’s familiar scent. I turn into him, reaching for his hand as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, and smile up at the man who continuously makes my heart pound in my chest.

“You’re beautiful, did you know that?” He tilts his head down so his eyes can gaze into mine, and I smile with a blush.

“Again with the getting into my pants compliments.” I shake my head. “You’re gonna have to knock that off.”

Stetson grins, leaning down to place his lips against my ear. I feel his hat rest on my head slightly and lean against him. “Never.”

I chuckle, running my hands over his shoulders and resting them behind his neck. For a moment, he just watches me, moving our bodies around the dance floor like it’s nothing to him.

I feel heat gathering between us and wish we were anywhere else but this bar.

“You remember that first night in Acton?”

Flashing back to that night, I nod my head.

The scruff of his jaw grazes over my ear as he speaks. His voice is rough with lust, and I know he’s thinking of that same dark alleyway. “I remember wanting you so badly that stopping myself from taking you that night was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, Bo.”

I swallow, sweat gathering at my brow. It could be from the bar lights, from the other bodies pushing in around us and creating extra warmth, or it could be all from this man who held me in his arms.

“Why didn’t you?” My voice comes out barely above a whisper.

He leans back, and I look up at him, my eyes catching his. “Because even though I haven’t known you very long, I feel something real here, Bonnie Helix.” He licks his bottom lip, and I note the nervous gesture, the way his eyes are watching mine as if he’s trying to decide what he wants to say.

“I do, too,” I say, latching a hand into his hair. Suddenly, the room is too public, too full of people, and before I lose my nerve, I run my hand down to his and interlock our fingers, dragging him behind me.

He follows without question.