Leo rammed against the fenced door, his hands flush with the chicken wire. Eyes full of liquid fury, he snarled in a low, menacing growl. “Kat, let me out.”
She stepped back, a grin spreading across her lips. “Now, why would I do that?”
His eyes darted around and she could sense there were now spectators to their little game. “Kat, this isn’t funny.”
Tapping a finger to her chin before pouting out her lower lip, Kat murmured, “Oh? I think that’s up for debate. You see, I didn’t think it was all that funny when I landed in the mud this morning.”
“Princess…” he warned.
She curled her hand around the key before placing her fist on her hip. The air seemed to still, growing heavy with the anticipation of something sinister. Leo froze and she could tell he was tempted to look over his shoulder to where the chickens were now eyeing him. Kat almost felt bad.
Almost.
“Tit for tat, Leo,” she said, holding out the key to the padlock in her open palm. “Next time you want to mess with me, decide if it’s worth the retaliation.” She took two more steps back and crouched down to put the key on the ground.
“Kat!” he snapped. “Get back here and unlock this door.”
“Whatcha gonna do about it?” Kat sang, turning on her heel and sauntering away.
“Kat!”
She laughed. And it felt good. Like, really good. When was the last time she’d allowed herself to be this carefree? Man, she couldn’t remember. Her life up until this point had been allabout being the best—about showing up and impressing her father.
Sure, dad wasn’t going to be thrilled if this little act of rebellion reached him, but that was a risk she was willing to take.
She could still hear Leo’s furious voice demanding she come back. But she wasn’t weak. Once she made a decision, she stuck with it.
Kat bitback a smile as she sat in Jane’s living room. Noah was beside Jane on the couch. Leo beside him. Based on the fact that no one had brought up what happened earlier today, she had to assume Leo didn’t tattle on her.
Points in his favor, then.
Still, Leo’s scowl burned into her from where he sat as they went over the current details of the equine therapy center and where the contractors were currently at in the process. They’d broken ground. The foundation had been poured. Next, they’d be framing the building.
It was all pretty boring and the meeting couldn’t get over soon enough. Kat ignored Leo’s gaze the entire time. When they broke apart after the meeting’s end, she couldn’t escape fast enough.
Leo had been caged with what he called feathered monsters for nearly thirty minutes before someone took pity on him. Turned out that most of the folks working at Sagebrush were family. And all the ranch’s residents had nothing against harmless pranks.
She made it halfway to the house she currently called home when Leo’s fingers wrapped around her wrist, successfully putting a stop to her escape. He tugged her to him and her back collided with his chest.
His other hand held her hip firmly but not painfully. His hot breath whispered against her neck. “You’re going to be sorry you messed with me,” he seethed.
She scoffed, wondering if there was a chance they’d be interrupted by anyone who’d take pity on her. Then she thought better of it. She’d fight her own battles. “Wereyousorry you let me fall into the mud?”
Leo was quiet for a beat. It was far too long and it made her wonder if she’d actually caught him. But then his nose trailed against the shell of her ear as he hissed, “Does a lion feel guilt when he toys with his prey?”
Her breath caught in her throat. For the briefest of moments, she was stuck in time. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Is that what Leo thought of her? She was a toy to him? His prey? Then all at once reality hit her hard. She wasn’t some weak morsel sent here for his amusement. She was at the top of the food chain.
Kat yanked out of his grasp and turned to face him, eyes flashing with malice. “Like I said. If you think you can toy with me and get away with it, then you don’t know me very well.”
The way his gaze roved over her, sizing her up had the hairs on the back of her neck lifting. Then his lips curled into a smirk. Whatever he was going to say, stalled in his throat when they heard footsteps.
“Kat, so glad I caught you.”
Turning her attention to Jane, Kat smiled. “What can I do for you?”
“Seeing as there isn’t much for you to do tomorrow, I thought it would be nice for you to get the full Sagebrush experience. The property spans over several hundreds of acres. You should saddle a horse and explore.”
Kat let out a laugh. “I prefer my feet to remain firmly planted on the ground, thank you.”
