I let out a growl of frustration.
Willowy girl’s eyes jumped between Jensen and me like our exchange was a ping-pong match.
I didn’t have time for this. I rounded the counter, bent, and threw Jensen over my shoulder.
She slapped at my back. “What the hell, Tuck?”
“Uh, Jensen, should I call the police?”
I shot a narrow-eyed stare at the woman who was now holding a cell phone in her hand. “Lady, I am the police.” Or at least close enough.
I walked through the kitchen and out the back door into the parking lot and alley, Jensen hissing and spitting the whole way. I set her down with a thud, but she was lucky I didn’t toss her into the snow bank. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“What the hell wasIthinking? What about you? Have you lost your mind? This is my place of business.” She shoved at my chest.
I didn’t move an inch. “What the fuck were you thinking talking to those ranchers?”
Jensen blanched but recovered quickly. “I don’t see what business that is of yours. It’s not like we share what we’ve found out about the mustangs with each other.”
I ground my back teeth together. “I didn’t want to ruin a perfectly nice day together.”
“You wanted to shield me.”
I ran a hand through my hair, tugging on the ends of the strands. “And so what if I did? Is it so awful that I want to protect you from horrible things?”
Jensen threw her arms wide. “Life is full of horrible things, Tuck. Are you going to protect me from all of them? Then I’ll barely be living. Newsflash, bucko, you have to experience the bad so you appreciate the good. I don’t want you to shield me. I want you to stand next to me.”
All the wind went right out of my sails. For as long as I could remember, I’d always wanted to protect Jensen. And now that she was grown, standing on her own two feet, this wild warrior, I didn’t know how to let her own that power and keep her safe at the same time.
She sucked in a breath. “God. I need to listen to my own advice.”
My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Jensen looked out at the fields and forest behind the shop. “I’ve been living this half-life. Too afraid to act for fear of screwing up again. I’m not doing it anymore.” Her gaze met mine, the fire in her eyes burning bright. “I need you to help me live life to the fullest, not keep me from it.”
I edged closer to Jensen. “I’m sorry.”
A small smile pulled at her lips. “What was that?”
I grimaced. “I’m sorry. It’s instinct. I want to stop anything that might cause you pain from ever reaching you.”
She stepped forward, hands dipping into my coat pockets. “That’s a sweet thought, but totally and completely unrealistic.”
I grinned down at her. “Are you doubting my manly skills in protecting you against all things that go bump in the night?”
A shadow flickered across her face, but it was gone so fast, I wondered if I’d really seen it. “If anyone can do that, it’d be you.” Her gaze met mine. “But I don’t want you to.”
I sighed, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her to me. “I can’t promise I’ll stop trying to protect you, that’s just an impossibility. But I promise not to hide things from you that you deserve to know.”
A bit of the rigidness went out of Jensen’s muscles, and she burrowed into me. “That seems like a fair compromise for now.” She tipped her head back so her chin rested on my chest. “Now, can we go back inside so you can apologize to my new employee for being so rude?”
I grinned. “Want to make out first?”
Jensen shoved at my chest. “Men! Always a one-track mind.”
But I didn’t think she minded too much because her lips met mine in a kiss that stayed with me for days.
22
