I urged my horse into a gallop. There were plenty of dangers on the ranch, and I worried my mate would get hurt. My lips tightened, and I slowed as I neared the pen where we kept Havoc, the meanest bull alive. If he weren’t such a good stud, we would have sold him off to the rodeo long ago. My alert gaze scoured the fence line, relaxing when there was no sign of Chloe. Havoc would pick a fight with anyone who came near his territory, as evidenced by him rattling his gate as I passed.
The trail veered away from the pen, heading out farther into the pasture. The sun was still low in the sky, and I wondered if Chloe had traveled this path in the dark, my worry deepening. I squeezed my legs around Thunder and he picked up speed again. The ATVs we used on the ranch were large, suited for the size of shifters, not my mate. And the terrain got rougher farther from the ranch house.
I reined in Thunder when I caught sight of the ATV at the base of a tall rock formation. I didn’t see Chloe anywhere. I slid off my horse, dropping the reins and looking for her trail. The keys were in the ATV’s ignition, but the engine was cold, suggesting she’d stopped a while ago. But where could she be?
I followed her footprints in the dirt to the base of the formation, and my stomach twisted. She wouldn’t have climbed the rocks, would she? I stepped back, tilting my head to peer up. “Chloe?”
Her face, surrounded by that riot of red curls, peered over the edge. “Declan? What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you that. How’d you get up there?”
She raised a brow. “I climbed.”
I cursed under my breath. “It’s not safe. I’m coming up to get you.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll be right down.”
Before I could move, she was over the edge, her camera swinging from her back. She climbed her way down the rock, searching for foot and hand holds as she went. I shadowed her from the ground, ready to catch her if she slipped, but she moved with confidence, and soon she stood next to me, wiping her dusty hands against her pants.
“I got some great shots. The view up there is amazing.” She walked toward the ATV, stopping when she spotted Thunder. Her camera came up, clicking as she moved around my horse. He preened, almost as if he knew he was being immortalized on film. After several minutes, she straightened and turned to me. “Can I get some shots of you on him?”
Chloe
Declan looked even more stern than usual as his arms crossed, causing the muscles there to bunch. His eyes were shadowed beneath the brim of his hat, but I imagined them focused intently on me. He made no move to mount his horse.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone. It’s not safe.”
His deep voice distracted me. The sound sent pleasant shivers down my spine as my insides turned liquid. Then the words pierced the haze of attraction that was always present around him.
My eyes narrowed and my shoulders straightened. “I often work alone. It’s easier.”
“You could get hurt.” His tone was brusque, leaving no room for argument. Or so he probably thought. I wouldn’t fold just because I’d been told not to do something.
“I spent the last month alone, hiking in the backcountry on a mountain. I think I can handle your ranch.” I stalked over to the ATV and put my camera away, figuring I wasn’t getting my shot of him on the back of his horse. Probably for the best. I didn’t need a picture to moon over when I was in my bedroom tonight. “I’m here to take pictures.”
“If you’d waited, I was going to show you around.”
The growl in his words affected me way too much. He was not my type. I repeated it to myself a few times, but it didn’t seem to work. It was part of why I’d taken off so early. I’d spent the night tossing and turning, thinking of him. Men never affected me like this. All my relationships had been light and easy. Temporary flirtations that never really impacted me. But Declan was different.
I’d thought if I was alone, away from him, I could get my traitorous body back in line. It clearly hadn’t worked, because as soon as I’d heard his voice calling out to me from over the cliff, my skin had flushed and my breath had quickened.
“There’s no need,” I said. “I can explore on my own.”
He yanked his hat off his head, and his dark gaze settled firmly on me. “Not a chance.”
Now I was mad. I didn’t like restrictions. I chafed under them. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”
“I’m—”
“Oh, never mind. It doesn’t matter. Just because you hired me doesn’t mean I’ll obey everything you say. I’m not your horse.” I got on the ATV and turned on the engine. The vibrating beneath me did nothing to soothe the fire he lit inside me.
“Chloe—”
I gunned the engine, cutting off his words before releasing the brake and turning the ATV back toward the ranch. The vehicle was larger than the ones I’d driven before, but I felt comfortable enough to push the speed. I flew across the pasture, the wind tangling my curls, and didn’t stop until I’d neared the main yard, by the bullpen I’d seen earlier. Grabbing my camera, I hopped off the ATV and headed over to the fence to take pictures of the animal.
With my hand shading my eyes, I looked for the bull, but couldn’t see him. My brows furrowed as I walked along the fence line, then I came to a stop when I saw the gate hanging open. A loud snort behind me had me freezing in place. I pivoted slowly, careful to make no sudden movements, and saw the bull standing a short distance away. It was between me and the ATV, blocking my obvious escape route.
The bull pawed at the ground, his head lowered and shoulders hunched. He kept his protruding eyes trained on me. I knew little about bulls, but I was sure he was preparing to charge. I shuffled toward the opening in the fence. If I could move closer, I could try to get inside the pen and close the gate after me, leaving the bull on the outside.
