Page 65 of Guarded Hearts
“My brothers and sister. Listen, you’ve had a long day. You can sleep here in my bed.”
She shook her head. “I’m coming with you.”
Sweeping his gaze over her face, his brows met in a frown. “You don’t have to be frightened here. There’s no place safer than my home.”
“That’s not it. I deserve to know what’s going on. It’s my life you’re discussing.”
He studied her. The small freckles across her nose seemed emphasized by her pallor. If he didn’t know how fragile she was before, the strain she bore on her beautiful face reminded him now.
“You don’t have to join us, doll. I can fill you in about everything later.”
“I’m joining you. But I’m cold and the only sweater I brought is drenched. Do you have a sweatshirt I can borrow?”
Keeping her warm after the shock she’d endured, he could do. He released her and entered his walk-in closet. He didn’town much in the way of a wardrobe. In fact, there was plenty of room for Layne’s stuff if she wanted to share the space for the duration of her stay.
Or forever.
He grabbed a black hooded sweatshirt with the Black Heart Ranch logo across the front. The running horse streaked beneath the words and a rope curled out above them, crossing the T on the wordheart.
When he walked out and handed it to her, she studied the logo for a long beat before slipping it on.
The garment was enormous on her, hanging to her knees.
He let out a low growl. “I’d like to force you into bed and keep you there for the rest of the month.”
Her brows shot up.
“I’d pamper you with home-cookin’ and all the naps you can handle.” He cupped her ass in his hands, hitching her against his swelling cock. “Between feeding you…I’d fuck you.”
She slipped her arms around his neck and rocked against him. “That sounds like a perfect month. Only problem I see with it is someone wants me dead.”
His chest blazed. “I will find him and kill him,” he said evenly through clenched teeth. “Nobody will lay a hand on you, Layne. Iswearit.”
Her eyes softened as she searched his eyes. “I trust you, Carson. I know you’ll keep me safe. Now let’s go talk to your family and figure out what’s going to happen next.”
He didn’t want her involved in the discussion. He could control himself fine. Oaks, Colt and Willow were wild cards. The last thing he wanted was them to say something to frighten Layne more than she already was.
But she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“I guess I chose a woman who’s just as strong-willed as I am.”
A soft smile wisped at the corners of her lips. “Don’t forget it either.” She pulled free of his arms and moved toward the door, obviously more eager to get this party started than he was.
When he led her out of his bedroom and to the kitchen, Willow had more coffee on and a big pot of something on the range cooking. At their entrance, she looked up from stirring the pot with a long-handled wooden spoon.
“Is that Faye’s stew I smell?” Layne hurried to the range and peered into the pot. “It is!”
Willow grinned. “And there’s a loaf of her fresh, homemade bread too. I’m sorry, Carson. I know you told me to keep Faye off her feet and to give her the vacation she deserves, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”
Layne bobbed her head. “I’ve seen it firsthand. Cooking is her passion.”
“And we’ll be very thankful while we eat it.” Willow grabbed a bowl and began ladling stew into it.
She passed Layne the first bowl of steaming food, and she carried it to the big table. When she set the bowl on the surface, she caught sight of a name carved in the wood. Leaning close, she made out the letters.
She straightened with a smile. “Does that say Colt?”
Carson’s brother walked into the kitchen just in time to respond to her question. “It does. I got a spanking for carving it there too.”