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My anger dissipates in a long exhale. I crank on the steering wheel and resume driving to the stalls. Gemma’s upset is burning into my profile.

“That was very naughty,” she scolds.

“I’ll accept the punishment.” Gladly.

“It’s not going to be pleasurable.”

Lust teases me regardless. “That’s relative.”

Just being near her is a pleasure. We haven’t done anything sexual aside from kissing. These initial lessons are about behaving myself and allowing her to release the hostility she’s harboring. If I cross a line, I’ll deal with the consequences.

After pulling up to the portion of the stable where Gemma’s horses are stalled, I kill the engine and leap from my seat. “Don’t move.”

Her quirked eyebrow wants to argue, but she stays put. She clings onto me with her arms around my neck as I carry her to a chair in front of Hank and Moe. The two geldings pop their heads out, dropping flecks of hay on their owner.

“He’s stealing your jobs, boys,” she coos at them. “My feet barely touch the ground these days.”

“Damn straight. I’m your personal escort.” It might be over the top, but it gives me an excuse to touch her.

Paisley chooses that moment to exit her mare’s stall. “When did you get into the sex work business?”

“Not that kind of escort,” Gemma replies. But then her beautiful blue gaze roams down my body and back up again. “Although…”

“Just say the word,” I croak.

She shakes her head. “You were bad.”

“If that’s what you want to call me after I defend you, I’m very bad.”

“I’m missing something,” Paisley mumbles.

“Chance told another guy off just for looking at me. I’ve lost track of how many that is this week.” Gemma stares at me as if I’m keeping track of the men who try to steal what’s mine.

Paisley’s gaze slides to where her husband is stacking blocks with their daughter on a blanket in the grass. “That sounds familiar.”

“How do I make it stop?”

“You don’t. It’s their overly protective instincts.” She bends to whisper more into Gemma’s ear.

I can barely hear her, but it’s something about crazy hot and using that to her advantage. My brow furrows as the sisters continue talking in private. To make myself useful while they chat, I unload the shavings and lay out a fresh layer in the stalls for the night ahead.

“Oh, look. It’s Wyatt.” Gemma’s tone is a sugary dessert like she’s excited to see him again.

I stumble out of Moe’s enclosure faster than if my ass were on fire. “The fuck?”

“Over there.” She waves at him with her middle finger.

My rival catches sight of her, offering a smirk that makes my blood boil all over again.

A menacing noise rumbles from the depths of my jealousy. “Don’t interact with that jackass.”

Her expression softens when she glances at me. “I thought you’d want to know he’s nearby.”

“Do you want me to do something about him?”

Her voice drops into a sultry temptation. “Like what?”

“I won’t stand aside while that sorry excuse for a human eye-fucks you. I’ll kill him before that happens.”