“Why did you have to go ahead and open your mouth? I don’t need supervision, Waylen. That’s what you and Aaron are for, isn’t it?”
“We’ve got five girls to watch at all times, if I’m only watchin’ you then they’re goin’ to be unsupervised. Can’t have that.”
“So you set me up with surfer cowboy? You think that’s enough to stop me doing what I want?”
Waylen eyes me, his expression dark. “I don’t want to have to take you right back to where I just got you out of, Willa. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Technically,” I point out, “I’ve done my time, surely there are rules against holding us here?”
“It’s part of your release terms. Do it or go back and finish up the rest of the time in prison. Choice is yours.”
I mutter under my breath and take another inhale of the smoke.
Waylen studies me, his eyes scanning over my body.
Did I mention we fucked?
Right, we did.
On the way here we had two stops. One of those stops I got myself very, very drunk and Waylen helped me in my motel room. One thing led to another, and the man fucked me in way I haven’t been fucked before. It was incredible and, I’m fairly certain, illegal. He made it very clear it wouldn’t happen again.
We’ll see about that.
“Why are you staring at me like you want to eat me alive, Waylen?”
He slowly turns and looks over the patio, as if my words simply don’t affect him at all. “We’re not goin’ there, Willa.”
“Where? To the other night where your mouth was between my legs for so long I can still feel the tingle?”
He stiffens.
I grin.
“Enough.”
“Nobody forced you there, big guy. You dove in all on your own.”
He glares at me. “I said enough, Willa. It was a mistake.”
“Tell that to my vagina.”
I lean against the wall of the cabin and stare out.
Neither of us says anything more, but I wouldn’t mind spending another evening with Waylen, mostly because it has been a while since I’ve been with a man, and I enjoyed every second of it. On the plus side, I’m sure if he doesn’t want to come to the party, one of these gorgeous cowboys will.
Not the one currently striding toward us with a scowl on his face, though.
No, that one doesn’t like me, and the feeling is mutual.
My babysitter stops when he reaches the patio, glaring up at me with those gorgeous eyes. He looks like he belongs in the ocean and not on a ranch, but who am I to judge? I grin down at him. “Fancy seeing you here, surfer boy.”
His jaw tics in a way that makes him look even more spectacular. “Get your shoes on, you’re comin’ with me.”
I stare at him with narrowed eyes. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s not negotiable.”
“I thought this retreat was a place of relaxation and personal growth.”
His glare doesn’t waver.
I cross my arms.
“I’ve got the fuckin’ wonderful task of lookin’ after you, and I’m not goin’ to make that easy. So, my suggestion is that you get off that fuckin’ deck and start walkin’ with me or I’ll make it a whole lot harder on you when we get to where we need to go.”
I look to Waylen. “You’re not going to let him treat me like this, surely?”
Waylen shrugs. “Don’t mouth off and it’ll go well.”
I gape at him and then turn and stare back at Lake. “Listen, River, I’m not into horses and cowboys and running around acting like those things excite me.”
“It’s Lake,” he grinds out.
I wave a hand. “Lake, Ocean, River, it’s all the same, isn’t it?”
He looks like he’s going to take me over his knee, which I wouldn’t mind.
“Fine,” I mutter, “I’ll come, but if you think I’m going to help, you’re sadly mistaken. The least amount of time I have to spend doing anything around here, the better.”
“Happily take you back to your cell if that’s how you’d like to spend the remainder of your time,” Waylen offers, a sly grin on his face as he inhales the cigarette.
I give him an expression that I know is lethal. “Watch it.”
“Do as you’re told, Willa,” he tells me, pushing off the wall and dropping the cigarette into an empty bottle. “Make this enjoyable for us.”
Enjoyable? He has to be kidding.
Nothing about this place is enjoyable.
Sure, it’s better than the cell I’ve spent a great deal of my time in, but it’s also not something I’d pick for myself if given the choice. Don’t get me wrong, the ranch is gorgeous and I can see the appeal, but I want, more than anything, to just leave everything behind me and go as far away as I can. Nothing else seems to appeal to me right now.
“Shoes on,” Lake orders.
With a huff, I pull on my joggers and then follow him as he begins walking down toward the paddocks.