Page 48 of Branded Betrayal

I take a few cautious steps toward him after refilling the last trough. “Can I help?”

He slowly turns, his gaze heavy under the brim of his hat. The toothpick moves from one side of his mouth to the other as his gaze burns hotter. “No.”

I throw my hands into the air. “Well, how am I supposed to handle things in the future if you won’t even explain what I need to look for?”

Blaze raises an eyebrow. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“What happens if you’re not here the next time?” I pace in front of the trough. “Actually, no. You won’t be here next time because I need to figure this shit out for myself. Maybe this was a bad idea. I’m just going to find another repair service.”

Blaze snorts. “They’ll charge you out the ass and take their sweet time getting here. Those city outfits don’t understand real ranch emergencies.”

“I’ll take my chances,” I say through clenched teeth.

He lets out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine, come on over here and I’ll explain.”

I close the distance between us and crouch down in the dirt next to him where the pump is located.

“I can hear the pump motor running,” I say. “So where’s the water?”

“Just listen,” he says.

Seconds later, the pump motor dies out. My brows furrow. “What just happened?”

“The pump’s cycling every few minutes, trying to maintain pressure. But it’s failing.”

“Okay, but why?”

“The system is losing pressure somewhere in the line. That means you’ve got a leak in the underground connection.”

“The pipe that connects both wells,” I mutter.

“Bingo.”

I cover my face with my hands, groaning. “Dammit, so we have to dig it all up? That’s going to take forever. And do you even know how to do it?”

“Yes. Jesus, Savvie. Isn’t that why you called me?” He takes off his hat, swipes his forehead with the back of his hand, and puts it back on.

“I’m really trying here, Blaze.” My voice is soft as I raise my eyes to meet his. “I want to learn. I want to do everything I can to save this place.”

“Yeah, well, this won’t be the last thing that breaks.” He straightens up and offers me a hand. I take it, and the surge of electricity that flows between us is enough to power the whole town. His eyes glitter with something bordering on hunger as he stares me down, that same pent-up hunger swirling through my insides. I step closer, prickling with lust and completely entranced as if he just cast a very carnal spell over me.

Heat coils in my core, goose bumps shooting up my arms and down my legs as I move toward him, toward the man I once knew. Because he’s here. I can feel him.

Then he takes the toothpick out of his mouth and clears his throat, and the moment dissipates, almost like it never existed.

“You could learn this stuff, but it takes years. And you don’t have that kind of time,” he says gruffly, turning away from me.

His dismissal stings. I can’t lie. But I was the one who said we need to keep things professional.

“I’m sorry for snooping around in your room,” I blurt. The shock in his expression makes me wish I could swallow the words, but it’s too late. They’re already out.

But at least this topic will help avoid the big-ass elephant in the barn.

That kiss.

He takes a few steps over to the fence and leans his tall, muscular frame over it, his thick arms folded along the top. “I shouldn’t have reacted that way. It wasn’t right.”

I shrug. “It’s okay. I didn’t think it would upset you so much.”