She hated it. She kind of liked it.

She had no idea what to do with it.

She just needed some distance.

She needed him to not be touching her.

“No,” she said.

“No, you’re not going to take the order, or no, you’re not quitting?”

“I’m not quitting,” she said.

She stared at him, not breaking eye contact, stared until the air seemed to vibrate between them. And he finally released his hold on her arm.

“When you ride Gem tomorrow, text me. And let me know that’s what you’re doing. I want to be out here.”

She bit her tongue to keep from arguing, and instead she nodded.

“Go home,” he said. “Put some ice on your hip.”

And it hurt badly enough that she wasn’t going to argue with him about that. But she collected her things without saying another word and got into the truck, starting the engine and beating a hasty retreat from the ranch.

And it wasn’t until she was out on the highway that she realized she was shaking. And she didn’t think it was from the fall.

CHAPTER NINE

GABE WAS MADE of pure agitation by the time the evening rolled around. He kept seeing Jamie, tumbling off the horse and hitting the barrel.

It played in his mind over and over again. And then, worse than that, he kept on reliving the moment he had knelt down in front of her and touched her face. Realized how soft her skin was.

He didn’t know what in hell had possessed him to do that. To act like he was a nurse, when he was the furthest thing from it.

But all that, mixed with the conversation he’d had with his dad earlier in the day, had driven one thing home for him. He needed to get a grip on himself.

Because what he’d said to his dad was true. He didn’t forget who he was or where he was. He didn’t forget what his obligations were.

Those were his dad’s excuses. That he was in the moment. That he had just kind of forgotten that he had a wife and children waiting for him at home. That a pretty little thing smiled at him and he just couldn’t help himself.

He could well remember his dad trying to excuse himself with words like that after screaming fights with Tammy.

He remembered the time his mother had taken a bat to his father’s truck out in the driveway.

Gabe had been fourteen at the time.

And Hank just smiled and laughed.

I made a mistake, he’d said. I can’t say it more than once. She’s left me before, but she never stays gone. She knows how I am. I don’t mean to. I don’t want to hurt anyone. But you know... Think of how stupid you feel sometimes when a pretty girl looks at you. That’s just how it is. Some of us are a little weaker than others.

He had given him a conspiratorial grin like Gabe was supposed to understand. Like it was just how it was for men like them.