“Too close.” His thumb dusted my cheek and he stepped back. “City, I’m full of mud?—”
I shook my head. “I’m fine. What do you mean‘too close’?”
“The fence was cut, not torn or broken because of the storm, but cut less than five hundred feet from the cabin.” Then Winston had to put out a small fire next to the barn.”
My head tilted to the side and my fists pushed into my hips as I stepped back. “Which barn?”
“The one with the animals.” He couldn’t meet my eyes. “I don’t even want to think if it was you feeding the animals instead of Winston.”
I was so concerned about what would’ve happened if the fire had reached the animals that it took me a moment to catch whathe said. My frown deepened. “Why was Winston feeding the animals, anyway?”
He rolled his lips and I could tell he was stifling a smile. “Uhm, well your clothes are in the washer. And as much as I love you in my shirt, I don’t need the rest of the men seeing what an adorably sexy woman I have.”
“I don’t think adorably sexy is a thing. And I had every intention of finding a pair of your sweats before I went outside.”
“And now you don’t need to.” He pulled me back into his arms. “City, please don’t argue. I’m not sure I could handle a second argument with you today.”
It made absolutely no sense. “What? This would be our first argument.”
“Wait for it.” His chin rested on my head and he let out a sigh.
“What?”
“I was thinking, maybe you need to move in here.” He moved us to face each other. His grey eyes filled with determination as he dragged his hand down his face. “I mean I wasn’t too thrilled about you leaving anyway. Then with the fence breach so close to your cabin and the fire at the barn. I would prefer you closer.” His hands cupped my cheeks, but no smile. “It would make morning sex a hell of a lot easier, too.”
“So, one night together and you want us to shack up already?” My lips lifted into the smallest smile. I understood the fear, and I appreciated the offer but I didn’t think it was a solution. “Mr. Vierra, what makes you think I wasn’t looking for one night of fun.”
He pulled me against his chest, cupping my scalp. “Don’t toy with me, City. Not about this. Your safety is my top priority after...”
“After what?”
His heart beat faster against my ear and both arms held me closer. “After your happiness. You, safe and happy is all I want right now.”
It was my turn to squeeze harder. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Will you accept it’s all I want for you, too?”
“You in my bed…”
“Rafe, I’m serious.” I moved my head to look up at him. “If we’re going to give this thing a try then it needs to work both ways.”
He nodded. “It’s just… I don’t think they were after you. If someone was going around town asking questions, it would draw attention. But the fact they were so close to your cabin and your barn, had me worried. But I do think it was a message to me. I cannot prove Vance had anything to do with it. The storm last night was brutal. He had to have cut it before, or maybe early this morning. And the clearing next to the barn would've been damp. So, he’d have to have used an accelerant."
“Trying to find proof is only going to have us spinning in circles.” I walked down the hallway toward the office, indicating for him to follow me. “But I do have an idea.”
His footsteps sounded behind me. “Does this idea have you safe and sound in this house? Because I mean it, City. I am not too thrilled about you being out there on your own.”
I chose to ignore his concern. Practically, I could understand it and I even appreciated it. But there was also the little matter of the two of us starting something new. Something real. I didn’t want to jeopardise it because we were forced to move faster than either of us were comfortable with.
“I’m not going anywhere today. As for tomorrow? I’ll think about it.” I went straight to the top drawer of the huge desk and pulled out the drive I had left there. “I want to check if there is anything on here that can help you.”
Rafe’s eyebrows raised to his hairline. “I will not have you expose yourself for this. We will find another way.”
Stubborn man. But that was not my plan. “I heard you the first time, Grouchy. But there is a lot of information on here.” I pushed the drive into the socket on the laptop and navigated to the list of payments. My dad kept the records, and he had a pattern. He was as pedantic as I was about making sure he knew what each line was for. “I’m guessing that if Argent bribed and blackmailed officials in Kentucky, then they likely did it everywhere else.”
Rafe raised a brow. “You from Kentucky, City?”
I nodded. It was the first time I had told anyone where I came from, but I knew without a doubt Rafe would not tell anyone. Not even Calvin “We own a breeding farm outside of Hollow Creek. Just south of Lexington.”
“Now I understand why you got upset about my City Girl comment on day one.”
