‘Sorry, is that a problem?’
‘Hopefully not. But my kid brother has a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’d better go find him.’
‘He’s probably just walked up to the shops.’
Cole scoffed. ‘Or the pub.’
‘But he’s underage.’
‘He also has an older mate who works behind the bar.’
‘Ah, right.’
Cole’s sigh could not have been deeper. ‘I’ll head up there now.’ There was something mischievous in the way his mouth dimpled. And mesmerising. ‘Sure you’re okay?’
‘Oh, yes. Thank you.’ She straightened, responding to the imaginary string running from her core and up through the centre of her skull. ‘I can come with you to find him. I’m heading into town too.’ The fact the kid was on the loose was actually her doing. The least she could do was help track him down.
He stood bizarrely still, pursing his lips as if assessing the validity of her suggestion. Finally, he waved a hand towards the ute parked by the offending tree, a horseshoe logo semi-circling his name and phone number:Cole Harrison. Farrier.
An alarm went off in her brain like a high-pitched security siren, a warning flashing behind her eyes.
Cole Harrison. Danger.
Settling herself into the passenger seat, she made sure to stay facing forward as Cole edged the car away from the kerb. Sitting beside him as if they were headed out for a midday picnic was already doing strange things to her nether regions. She would not risk looking directly into those eyes.
‘So, you think Owen will be at the hotel?’
‘Good chance.’ He rounded the corner and cruised along the main street. ‘He seems to have made getting himself into trouble his sole objective in life.’
‘Teenage boys often do.’ When they weren’t given boundaries, when they were left to their own devices.
‘I guess you see a lot of it in your line of work.’ He glanced towards her, then back at the road. ‘I know you can’t discuss Owen specifically but any tips in general for reining in the wild boys?’
‘A lot depends on the family situation and background. Boys his age will often be reacting against authority or trying to assert their independence. Their personality type is a factor of course, whether or not they’re easily influenced, whether they’re chasing thrills or acting out of boredom. There’s no hard and fast rules but keeping them busy, respecting their privacy to a certain degree and recognising their need for space as well as support.’
‘So it’s like walking a tightrope strung across a lake full of piranha at three thousand feet with your eyes closed.’
A laugh bubbled up from her belly as Cole parked his ute a few spaces down from the hotel. He might be a farrier but he seemed to have a way with words. ‘Pretty much.’
‘Well, we appreciate any help you can give him. And us. He really is a good kid, just a bit misguided.’
‘Happy to do my job.’ Not that today’s session suggested any such thing. She would definitely do better next time.
Her head turned of its own volition to find Cole Harrison staring right at her. She could almost hear the click as their eyes locked. An electric current vibrated through her veins, setting her skin on fire. Damn. So much for her resolve to keep things businesslike.
‘Would you like me to—’
‘No need to—’
They spoke at the same time, but neither of them looked away.
After what seemed like an age but was probably a couple of seconds, Cole waved a hand. ‘I’ll just …’ He looked out the windscreen. ‘Shit, there he is. I’d better go.’
Hannah followed his gaze and there in the doorway of the hotel stood Owen, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a vape while he exhaled a cloud of nicotine. The car door slammed and Cole was loping up the street.
Should she join them? Make sure everything was okay? Risk being there while Owen revealed what had happened in their session?
No. Better to stay away and let his brother deal with the situation.
