“Yeah, me too.”
Her fingers brushed mine again, lingering longer this time. Heat pooled low in my stomach. She gave me a look that was part challenge, part plea, part acknowledgment of the pull between us.
The miles ticked by. Every glance, every brush of skin, every quiet word was a countdown to the explosion waiting at the ranch.
The driveway to the ranch stretched under the headlights, long and familiar, ruts packed hard by years of weather and work. The smell of pine drifted in through the cracked window. Kristin stiffened beside me, her hip still throbbing with every bump. I slid a hand subtly to her waist, letting her lean in fractionally. Her body trembled, exhaustion settling in, but she didn’t pull away.
The main house came into view, warm lights spilling across the yard. The glow of the porch lamps reached across the gravel like a welcome sign, though I knew it would feel more like a spotlight. Eight figures stood on the porch, shadows waiting, and this was not the subtle arrival I was hoping for.
Kristin’s fingers brushed mine. A pleading touch. I squeezed back, silent reassurance as I pulled to a stop. The truck idled, engine ticking.
“Welcome home,” Ryder said as I climbed out of the truck. I didn’t stop to talk to him. I just nodded and rounded the front of the truck.
“Let me help you,” I said as I helped Kristin out of the truck. We hadn’t stopped for a while, so not only was she sore, she was stiff too. She moved carefully, her face pinched tight against the pain, and I caught her elbow before she could stumble.
“Thanks.” Her unsure, small voice wasn’t something I was used to hearing. She clung to me as she found her footing. All eyes were on her.
Nora’s happy smile faltered and softened into sympathy for her friend. Lexie looked like she was ready to launch herself at me for hurting her, and I’d probably let her. Elle’s brain was working overtime, assessing Kristin and her injuries before her gaze landed on my face. Her brow furrowed, and her eyes locked on my split lip. Fallon clung to Nash, and I suspected she knew exactly what a fall like Kristin’s would take to heal, both physically and mentally.
“Come on, boys, let’s get these horses settled in,” Kipp said, his voice cutting through the tension like a butter knife.
“Need me to help you into the house?” I asked quietly.
“I’ve got her, Linc. See to the horses,” Elle said as she moved to stand on the other side of my wife. I nodded and watched her walk gingerly into the house.
Before I had a chance to turn around, the trailer door swung open, and I saw Griff disappear into the trailer. His soft words to the horses in the back were indistinguishable, but they unloaded with ease, hooves thudding against the packed dirt. We all headed to the barn.
“So, married?” Nash asked, tasting the word as if it were something bitter. “What happened?”
“It’s private,” I said smoothly. “We handled things our way.”
Griff was silent until now, finally speaking as he led Lady into her stall. “You didn’t tell anyone?”
“It wasn’t exactly planned,” I said as I brushed Lady down. Her coat shone under the soft barn light, and the simple act of caring for her brought me a sense of grounding. The smell of hay and dust, the sound of steady breathing, the routine of it all, it helped quiet the chaos that still lived under my skin.
“I don’t even know what to say right now. But congratulations, I suppose.”
Kipp finally smirked, a subtle shake of the head. “You’re going to have to answer questions. Soon.” He stood at the end ofthe stall, his arms crossed. I waited for more. He’d always been the unofficial leader of the Five, mostly because he could keep control of his rage and temper. The rest of us weren’t that in control.
“When she’s ready, I will.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ryder straighten and clench his jaw. It wasn’t hard to see the bruising on her arms, the marks that couldn’t be explained away by her fall. All the guys noticed. They didn’t speak, but they knew.
We went back to making sure the horses were good after the trip we’d just survived. The air was cool in the barn, heavy with quiet understanding.
Silently, we all headed for the house. The porch light glared bright against the dark, and through the open kitchen window, I could already hear raised voices. Lexie’s sharp tone made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
“Seriously, Krissy, what would possess you to marry Linc? I mean, you’ve been gone for three years. And as far as I know, you haven’t even spoken to him. Do you have any idea how much of a mess he was when you left? What are you even thinking?”
I pulled open the screen door and walked into the kitchen without taking off my boots. All eyes turned to me, and I stared into Kristin’s pained face. White-hot anger coursed through my veins.
“Lexie, when you showed back up here, I seem to remember I was the only one who didn’t question you. Welcomed you with open arms and stood beside you when the rest of them had things to say. I’d appreciate the same courtesy, if not for me, then maybe for my wife?”
My words came out as harsh as I’d intended. I didn’t care, but I didn’t miss the shift of Kristin’s eyes toward me when I called her my wife. That right there was worth this tension with mybest friends and their wives. Nobody needed to worry about this. This was my fight, and I wasn’t about to lose.
CHAPTER SEVEN
KRISTIN
Ishould’ve known Lexie wouldn’t let it slide. She and the girls cornered me as soon as we walked into the house. The air still smelled faintly of wood smoke and coffee, and before I could even shrug off my jacket, I was surrounded. Lexie’s arms folded tight across her chest, Fallon’s sharp eyes narrowing like she was gearing up for interrogation, and Nora hovered close, her soft smile the only thing keeping the room from catching fire. Thankfully, Elle intervened. She didn’t even glance at the gold band on my hand. Instead, she focused on the bruises, asking questions about the fall and my ribs. None of it had to do with marriage. That alone made me want to hug her.
