The Rogue (Hideaway Springs #3)

21. Levi

21

T essa’s in a floral skirt today—one I picked out for her at the boutique because I thought she’d burst out laughing. But she just grabbed the hanger, held it against her waist to inspect, then gave me a curt nod.

I like her in those plaid shirts and short denim shorts. But hell, I like this look too. Especially when those full pink lips and whiskey-colored eyes are stretched in smiles and laughter.

She and Jackson set up a mid-afternoon refreshment stand outside the house, serving iced tea and muffins. Her wavy curls are tied back and hang over one shoulder. She’s a vision as she mingles with the cowboys.

Her hand goes over her eyes, blocking the sun as she focuses on something in the distance.

Following her gaze, my eyes land on the riding arena.

One of our younger cowboys, Max, is giving another riding lesson to Lizzie Thoreau. It’s her third lesson with Willow. My bet is they’ll be making an offer for her soon.

I swallow the hard lump in my throat .

At sixteen, Lizzie’s a natural rider. Her parents have been bringing her to the ranch for years. They’ve got a small farm nearby. Willow would be happy there.

I force the rigid thought out of my mind. Nothing on my ranch is “not for sale.” And Willow’s a pretty penny. Could get the outer gates replaced or something.

But fuck, this ache in my chest is stubborn.

Swallowing hard, I turn the tractor and head to the ranch gift shop.

Judging by the hint of redness glowing beneath her cheekbones, Tessa could use a nice cowboy hat.

On my way back, I hand off the tractor to Max and tell him I’ll return Willow to the stables. After a pitstop, of course.

Tessa beams when I ride up to their little stand.

“Hey, boss.” She pours what remains of the iced tea into a paper cup. “Just in time, we’re about to close up shop and head inside.”

Boss.

I don’t like it.

Maybe it’s because I want to be more than her boss. Maybe it’s because I prefer “Indie” or “Cowboy” or hell anything but boss .

Or maybe it’s a reminder that she’s on my payroll. That this is a temp job. She’s not choosing to be here. With me. With Jackson.

I hop off Willow, giving her a pat before pulling the gift bag from the saddle horn. “Got you something.”

“For me?” She shrugs at Jackson before digging into the bag. A small gasp escapes as she pulls on the fine straw hat with red trim around the base. She puts it on. “Howdy.”

I chuckle and hop back on my horse. “You fit right in.”

She smirks and picks up the empty pitcher and muffin tin. “Come on, Wiggles.” She dips her hat at Mason and Harry. “Same time tomorrow, boys. ”

I watch them head up the porch steps to the house, then cock my head. “You boys need somethin’ to do?”

They exchange a look and squint back at me. “We were just wonderin’…that your girl?”

My gaze flicks back to the windows, where I vaguely see her moving about the house with my boy.

“No,” I answer firmly before giving Willow’s left rein a tug. “That’s my woman.”

Tessa and Jackson are at the bookstore yet again. With its grand opening just three weeks away, they’ve spent the last few days helping with preparations.

I’ve been tied up at the ranch, but word is Charlie’s in a real tizzy. Fussing over every little thing to make sure that bookstore opens up just right.

Tess sure has got her hands full these days between my adventure-seeking kid and Shelf-zilla. That’s Tessa’s new name for her.

I’d like to think she’s found some peace here on my ranch. In my house. But exhaustion is probably the real reason for her restful nights.

She’s been in my bed almost every night. If not with the lights off, then with the covers on.

She never stays.

I’ve never been one to force a woman to spend the night. But it’s damn hard to accept a no when I’m well aware of what holds her back.

She’s anxious about the nightmares that could come back .

The bullet scar.

And whatever else she’s keeping from me that’s haunting her.

One thing’s for sure. When the summer is up, I’m not letting her leave without knowing she’s safe.

That is, if I’m able to let her go at all.

If I’m having a hard time walking her across the hall, there’s almost zero chance I’m letting her walk out the front door.

A car rolls up the driveway, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I recognize Noah’s bright-light SUV and toss the towel on the counter before moving to the door. As part of a new routine, I keep it locked at all times.

Noah, Chase, and Jackson step inside while my eyes sweep behind them. “Forget someone?”

They slip off their shoes like they’re staying and head to the kitchen. “Smells good ,” Chase drawls.

Noah spins, snapping his finger like he forgot to mention something. “The girls asked Tessa to hang back with them. Said they had more work to do.”

Chase shuts the fridge. “Yeah, right. If I know my wife—and the bottle of margarita mix she brought along—I’d say they’re not gettin' much work done,”

Noah takes two beers from him and passes me one. “Your girl’s a bad influence, Levi. If I get a call from the Sheriff’s office, you’re bailing them out and paying for any damages.”

“First, if they’re out wrecking the town, how is Pepper and Charlie dragging Tessa along her fault? Second”—I smack his arm, cocking my head toward my kid—“she’s not my girl.”

Noah winces and mouths an apology.

Chase pulls the lid off the pot. “You cook?”

“I always cook. ”

“Not like this .” He scans the counter, smelling the pepper steak dish. “Is that fresh garlic?”

I set an extra plate for the table and shove my brother out of the way. “Wash your hands and take Jackson with you.”

“Come on, buddy. Let’s wash up.” Chase clasps his hands and points to the kitchen sink.

“But I washed at the store,” he whines.

“Wash again,” the three of us call back.

“What are they doing anyway?” I mutter, setting a pitcher of water on the table. Between the three of us, we’ll go through it.

Chase especially. He follows a strict diet as an athlete, including a full glass of water before each meal.

Noah shrugs. “Who knows? We’ll check the cameras on my iPad after dinner. Make sure they’re okay.”

“What cameras?”

“We had cams set up this week behind the cashier and a few other spots throughout. Just to keep an eye on things.”

Jackson takes his seat after washing up. I reach over to cut his meat.

“How much that cost us?” Chase asks. He’s got every right to, given both he and I went in on this project Noah produced to fulfill his girl’s passion for books and children.

“Doesn’t matter,” I tell him. “Any kind of security is alright with me. Are they well hidden? Who’d you use?”

“They are. I’ll leave you the guy’s card. He’s in Denver. Top notch system. I did my research.”

“I’m sure you did.”

“Speaking of…” Noah glances at my kid. “Are you sure you don’t want me to dig up more on your…new friend?”

“I already said no.”

“That was when you thought she was leaving. ”

“Still is.”

“Bullshit,” Chase howls. Then covers his mouth when I shoot him a glare.

Jackson scarfs down the last bite. “Dad, I’m done.”

I check his plate and look at the time. “Still got a half hour. Want to watch some TV?”

“No. It was a long day. I’m going to go to bed.”

I set my fork down. “Good idea.”

Chase waves me down. “I’ll tuck him in. It’s been a minute. Come on, kid. You still sleep with a nightlight? Because if it’s lights out, I’m going to pass out before you.”

“I’ll give you my dolphin. I don’t use it anymore.”

News to me.

I catch my kid’s wrist, turning him back to me. “Hey, I didn’t know that. When’d you stop using your nightlight?”

He shrugs. “I’m good without it. The house is safe. Tessa reminds me every night. She also said if there was something scary in the house, I’m the first person she’d come to.”

I smirk. “To rescue you?”

“No. To hide with me under my covers.” He laughs.

Chase takes Jackson to bed while Noah and I clean up.

“The girls eat dinner?” I ask.

“Yeah, we ordered takeout before leaving.” He turns up the iPad and moves to the living room.

“Okay, you guys,” Tessa’s voice comes on, and I freeze. “ Last one , but then I really need to get ho—back to the house.”

Pepper comes on next, a grin in her voice. “You were going to say home . ”

I shut off the water and move to sit next to Noah on the couch. Through the screen, I see them all seated on the floor behind the mini kitchen counter on the first level. Each with a margarita in hand.

Tessa shifts, sitting straighter against the back wall. “Sure, technically, I am living there. For a few more weeks.”

“You just got here. You’re leaving already?” Charlie pouts.

Tessa shrugs as if to say, 'W hat other choice do I have ?'.

I want to give her that choice. I want Jackson and I to be that one choice.

“Oh, we got you something.” Charlie claps, twisting the mood. She does that well.

“That’s right. Oh my god, I almost forgot.” Pepper sits up, snatching a small gift bag from a nook under the counter.

From my distant, hazy view, I watch Tessa take it with something that looks like hesitation. It’s a small box about the size of a phone case.

“Wait, this is…a phone? Like a real phone?”

Charlie nods happily. “We noticed yours sitting on the counter the other day was cracked. And that sucks. So we got you a new one and…bedazzled it.”

Tessa twists it in her hand. “That’s…wow. This…I’m not sure what this is,” she breathes, making me swallow hard for her.

“It’s a gift from your besties and you can’t refuse it.”

“Besties,” she repeats like it’s a foreign word.

Pepper waves a hand toward the box. “We didn’t do any of the technical stuff, but I’d bet Jackson could get you all set up and running on it. That kid’s going to be a tech genius.”

She chuckles softly. “I bet he can. Thank you.”

“Ooh, are we spying? Turn it up,” Chase calls from behind us.

I push off my seat when I realize how right my little brother is. “Shut it off. It works. They’re safe and still at the store. ”

Chase takes my seat next to Noah. I move about the living room, feeling uncomfortable. Voices are muffled as the conversation shifts.

Pepper's voice comes on. “Chase has got a huge—”

“Whoa, turn it down,” Chase cuts in.

“Ego. I swear he thinks he’s the king of the earth rather than just on the ice.”

Chase chuckles. “She loves my ego.”

Charlie’s voice comes on next. “You guys are cute. Always thought so. But you’re so right. Hard to believe that boy could love anyone more than himself.”

“Chase? I think Noah is the real phenomena here,” Pepper argues.

Noah shakes his head with an eye roll but watches the screen like he’s waiting for his girl’s rebuttal.

“The only thing Noah did that was not Noah-like is take in all my parents' belongings into his home, keeping them for me. Other than that, nothing surprised me. You guys forget we used to be best friends. He’s got a tough exterior, but he’s a softy when it comes to important things.

“When it comes to you,” Noah mutters like we’re not in the room.

“Guys. That’s enough. Shut it off.” My voice is firm, but they don’t give two shits.

“What about you, Tessa?” Charlie asks.

Noah and Chase perk a brow in my direction. “Still want to shut it off?”

I don’t reply. My hands are tight on my hips as I pace.

“Yeah, Tess,” Pepper starts. “Don’t tell me there’s nothing going on with you and Levi. We’ve all seen it—and been seeing it since I came back to town.”

That does it .

I move to sit on Noah’s other side, watching the screen like a private investigator.

Tessa grins and it’s too hazy to tell if she’s blushing. “Okay. I won’t.”

The other girls erupt with cheer and giggles.

Tessa puts up a hand. “No, no. None of that. There’s nothing going on. And whatever you’re pickin’ up is coming straight from me. Not him. He’s focused on his kid, the farm and their future. He’s not looking for a woman.”

I wasn’t looking for a woman. Till she showed up at my door.

Chase looks up from the screen, mocking me for my pet peeve. “She called Hideaway Ranch a farm . Let’s lock her up now.”

“Asshole,” I mutter.

Pepper cocks her head. “So you got a thing for him?”

“I’m shuttin’ this down.” I reach over, but Chase snatches it from Noah first.

“Hold on, Cowboy. You might not be curious, but I am.”

“They’re having a private conversation. Or did you want to end up in the dog house again?”

Noah curses. “He’s right. Chase, shut it off.”

There’s faint mumbling that neither of us catch until we all freeze at Tessa’s words.

“He doesn’t trust me and he’s right not to.”

Chase grins, scrunching his nose. “You’re right. This is wrong. I’m shutting it down.”

“Don’t you dare,” I grit. “Give it here.”

Chase hands it over. There’s not much to see since the screen is either frozen or the girls are quiet in response to what Tessa’s admitted.

Charlie finally speaks, but it’s low. “You can tell us anything.”

I run a hand down my face. “I’m goin’ to hell for this.”

“Well, you know how I go a little rogue sometimes? The library fees, the traffic violations, the hardware store…even Jackson’s old nanny.”

“I didn’t hear about the hardware store one.” Pepper perks with interest.

Noah frowns, leaning in. “Yeah, me neither.”

Tessa waves her tattooed arm like it’s nothing. “Oh, I stole money from the cash register to pay the delivery boy the owner refused to settle up with. It was two years ago. He was a high school kid who ran Larry’s deliveries for several weeks during the summer. I watched the man come up with excuses week after week to avoid paying him, until one day he fired the kid for being late and refused to pay altogether. The poor kid couldn’t defend himself…so I did.”

“How?” Charlie asks while Pepper lets it fly with a bunch of cuss words.

“Told the kid to wait up. Rang open the register, cleaned it out, and handed him all the cash. Then I turned to Larry and dared him to call the police.”

“He wouldn’t do it,” Pepper says flatly.

“’Course not. He knew he was wrong.” Tessa shrugs and laughs. “Tell ya this much, I sure as hell didn’t get paid that week after he threw me out.”

Chase looks at Noah, who sighs. “Yeah, I’ll pay Larry a visit tomorrow.”

“We both will,” I seethe.

“Anyway,” Tessa continues. “That’s kind of my thing. I can’t help it. I help people who the system, laws, rules or even grumpy store owners screw over. Including Jackson. He couldn’t defend himself against that mean old lady. So I did it for him.” She grins mischievously. “My way.”

“You’re my hero,” Charlie breathes .

After a moment of silence, Pepper speaks up. “Tell us about the tattoo.”

“Why?” Charlie asks, ignoring Pepper’s subject change.

Tessa looks down, twining her fingers nervously and I worry that the girls are pushing it. “Because the system screwed me over. And I had no one to stick up for me.”

Silence again.

“I’m sorry…what system ?” Charlie boldly asks.

“Bureaucracy.” She looks at Pepper. “Ironically, it’s the reason behind my tattoo.” She traces the snake around her arm. “I feel…confined…bound.”

Charlie nods. “I don’t suppose you’d elaborate?”

Tess looks up, blinking, and I know what she’s thinking. She got carried away. “Nope.”

Just when we think the conversation took a cold turn, the girls crowd Tessa, planting themselves on either side of her. They clink their glasses and gently lean in, resting their heads on her shoulders.