“Get out.”
“J, I’m sorry, I just want you to be careful.”
“Get out!”
Walker stuttered back a step. “I’m sorry.”
I clapped a hand on Walker’s shoulder and ushered him towards the door. “Give her a bit to cool down.” I followed him outside.
Walker scrubbed a hand over his face. “Shit, man. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know you didn’t. And neither does Jensen. You just need to give her some time to see that.”
Walker nodded. “I’ll come back tomorrow morning. Apologize.”
I slapped him on the back. “Good plan.”
His gaze met mine. “Look out for her, will you?”
“Always.” If he knew the thoughts that were traveling through my head about his little sister, I’d be thelastperson he would ask to look after Jensen.Fuck.I needed to get myself in check. I took a deep breath of cold, pine-scented air, and headed back inside.
Jensen was at the stove, stirring something that smelled amazing. “What are you still doing here? You think I’m an idiot who doesn’t know what I’m doing, too.”
I leaned against the counter. “Hey, now, don’t lump me in with Mr. Open Mouth Insert Foot.” I paused. “But you know he didn’t mean it.”
Jensen tightened her grip on the wooden spoon. “I needed some time alone. And I wanted that in my favorite place.”
“I get it. I do.” I reached up and wiped a splash of sauce from her cheek. “Just let someone know where you’re going next time. Then your bases are covered.”
“Mom knew where I was. I told her my exact path, and she knew when I’d be back, too. If my know-it-all brother would have reined in his temper for two minutes, I could’ve told him that.”
I chuckled. “Walker doesn’t always think before he speaks. And he loves you. But you’ll always be the little sister he feels he needs to protect.”
She scowled at the bubbling sauce. “Between the two of you, it’s a miracle you haven’t implanted me with a tracking device and wrapped me in bubble wrap.”
I gave a strand of hair that had escaped her bun a couple of light tugs. “Hey, now, that’s a good idea. We can inject you with one of those trackers that vets put in dogs.”
Jensen reached out and pinched my side. “You come near me with any needles, and I’ll knee you in the balls.”
I chuckled. “If I promise not to inject you with any trackers, will you let me stay for dinner?” I gave an exaggerated sniff of the sauce.
“If you keep Noah entertained while I clean up, you can come for dinner anytime.”
I wrapped an arm around Jensen, pulling her into my side and kissing the top of her head. “You’ve got a deal.” At the feel of her against me, at the familiar jasmine scent, my body came alive. I released her immediately. “I’ll go see what the little monster’s up to now.” Anything to get some distance from those curves and that smell. Being around Jensen was the most beautiful form of torture. And even though I knew I shouldn’t, I’d always sign up for more.
10
Jensen
I easedout of my SUV, flipping my sunglasses down off the top of my head to fight the glare and hide the things my eyes would betray. I hated this place. I knew they were doing their best, but there was something so incredibly wrong about it.
Pens with metal fencing over my head. Not a blade of grass in sight. Just an endless sea of dirt and dust, scattered with piles of hay.
A group of horses in one pen ran from one end to the other, but the area was so small that by the time they picked up speed, they were forced to come to a screeching halt. My chest burned. It was all so very wrong.
“Jensen.” Lee’s voice cut in above the sounds of hooves and whinnies.
I gave the lean man walking towards me a wave. I was grateful that there was someone here who cared about these horses living their lives in limbo, caught between the wild and finding new homes. But it wasn’t enough. These amazing creatures deserved so much more. “Hey, Lee.”
