Rebecca Zanetti: Against the Wall

He cocked his head to the side, those dark eyes softening. “I did, but you didn’t move fast enough. One second the trail was clear, the next you were about to get trampled. I turned my horse and grabbed you before one of my brothers could run you over.”

So he had actually saved her. Sure, he’d had some fun at her expense, but at least if she needed to kick him later for it, she still had legs. She lifted her chin. “Thanks for the rescue.”

His cheek creased with a dimple before he turned and remounted his horse. “Any time, Sunshine.”

“What were you doing in our forest, anyway?” Dawn asked.

Sophie’s heart dropped to her stomach. This was where the niceties stopped. “I’m Sophie Smith from Green Par Designs.”

“Oh, the golf course lady.” Dawn nodded.

That was an easy, accepting tone. Sophie frowned. “Yes. I’m here to design the golf course next to the lake, so I was checking out the land.” Now the pretty woman would get angry, considering the Kooskia Tribe opposed the project. The pine-filled canopy blocked the sun’s warmth, and Sophie shivered.

“Oh. Well, that explains it, then.” Dawn tossed ebony hair out of her face.

Sophie gaped and quickly closed her mouth. “Aren’t you opposed to the golf course?”

“Of course. For one thing, it’s bad placement because the fertilizers will pollute the lake.” Dawn softened her rebuke with a smile.

“And the other thing?” Sophie asked.

Dawn shrugged. “The land doesn’t want the golf course there.”

“The land?”

“Yep.” Dawn tugged her toward the clearing. “Come on, I’ll show you my shot before Jake takes you back to your car. Thanks again for the picture—it was perfect.”

“You’re welcome.” Sophie shook her head and let the woman lead her from the forest while three muscled cowboys followed tamely behind them.

Jake drew in air, his gut tightening as if Guardian had kicked him. Sophie’s vanilla scent still wrapped around him. His hands itched with the desire to haul her back on the horse, but he contented himself with studying her head to toe. Sunlight turned her mass of shoulder-length curls to shiny wheat, the color both sweet and sassy. God, she was beautiful. Maybe not in the conventional movie-star way, more like a fierce “I’m going to knock you on your ass” way. He’d fought in combat, and he’d seen courage. The woman had shown bravery and brains when she’d faced him and settled her stance to fight. An irresistible combination.

At only an inch taller than Dawnie, Sophie was small. Faded jean capris cradled her sweet heart-shaped ass. An ass he’d love to dig his hands into. Her waist was tiny enough his arm had easily wrapped around it, and he couldn’t forget the feeling of the full breasts resting just out of reach.

But those eyes.

They were the color of the deep blue irises his mama carefully tended each spring. And Sophie was a scrapper. She had been more than willing to try and knock him on his butt.

Quinn caught his eye, amusement lifting his lips.

Jake half shrugged. Yeah, he was checking out the city lady. The fierce look in Sophie’s pretty eyes had contrasted nicely with her pale skin and classic features when she had prepared to take him down. As a lawyer, he enjoyed a good contrast. His gut heated as he steered Guardian through the meadow. He’d love to wrestle with her.

She made the appropriate noises while looking through the viewfinder of Dawn’s digital camera before his sister removed it and folded the tripod.

“I guess Jake will take you back to your car,” Dawn said absently, handing the equipment up to Colton. Then she reached an arm to Quinn, who tugged her to sit behind him on his pawing horse.

Jake fought a grin at the panic that rushed across Sophie’s face.

“No, er, I’ll just walk.” She peered uncertainly around the clearing into the nearby trees, her pretty pink lips pursing.

“We came a lot farther than you think.” Jake tried to sound reassuring. “I promise I’ll go slow.”

Sophie shook her head, sending blond curls flying. “Not a chance, sport. I’m walking.” She turned and headed toward a trail barely visible between two bulky bull pines.

Quinn shrugged. “You’re on your own. I have to get to work.” His brother clicked his mount into a gallop, and he and Dawn took off, leaving him with Colton.

Sophie escaped between two trees.

“Do you think you can handle the pint-sized city girl, or do you need help?” Colton grinned as his horse danced impatiently to the side.

“The day I need help from you, shoot me, little brother.” Jake tightened his knees on Guardian, who was ready to run again.

“With pleasure.” Colton nodded toward the tree line. “You’d better get going. She just turned the wrong way.”

Jake grinned before pressing in with one thigh, turning the mount. Guardian plodded impatiently into the forest. Sophie came into view, picking her way carefully along scattered pinecones and exposed tree roots. Her spine straightened, and her shoulders firmed as he narrowed the gap between them, but she didn’t acknowledge him otherwise.

Why did he like that about her? The woman was lost as a person could be, yet she marched forward into darkness. The trees soon thickened along with prickly brushes and slash piles.

“You’re going the wrong way, Sunshine.”

She came to an abrupt stop at his soft words. Jake reined in Guardian, waiting for Sophie to turn around and face him. It took longer than he would have thought—stubborn was an understatement with the woman.

As she slowly turned, he could have kicked himself at the intelligent wariness in her gaze. She was alone in the middle of the forest with a strange man. He had a daughter, a little sister…he should’ve known better. They stared at each other, forest sounds surrounding them. Jake searched for the right words. “I won’t hurt you. I just want to get you to your car.”

Sophie lifted her chin but otherwise didn’t move.

“I’ll let you drive,” Jake cajoled.

The smile that lit her pretty face warmed him. “There’s no way I can drive that beast.” She took a small step toward him.

“Sure you can.” Jake reached down to offer an arm. He didn’t question why it mattered that she trust him. It just did.

Vulnerability glimmered in her eyes. “Maybe we should walk instead.”

He forced himself to relax, to appear as unthreatening as a guy twice her size could look.

Thunder rolled in the distance. Damn it. Storm season had definitely arrived early.

He slid his most earnest, trust-me, closing-argument grin into place. If the storm brought lightning, they’d need to dive for a ditch. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. “Believe me, this is faster, and there’s a heck of a storm coming.”

Sophie eyed the darkening sky. With a deep breath, she stepped up to the quiet horse. “Okay, but we go slow. I mean, unless lightning starts to strike. Then we go fast. How do I get back on?”

The woman’s bravery tempted him to haul her close. So he gave them both a moment as he shifted his weight. The thunder bellowed louder.

They only had minutes until the rain hit. He balanced himself with his thighs, reached down, and lifted her by the waist to perch in front of him. She fit nicely into his hold, and something clicked into place. “Relax,” he whispered in her ear, placing her hands securely on the silky black mane. “If you’re relaxed, the horse will relax.”

“Right.” Sophie coughed, and her muscles eased into something slightly less than rigor mortis.

“Okay, now grip the horse with your thighs, and tug him the way you want to go.” Jake forced his libido into submission. The act was difficult, considering how tight his jeans had just become.