LITMIR.BIZ

       Chapter Ten

      “No, Kayden.”

      Logan sprang behind the line of large racks housing the New Year’s Eve fireworks, scooped Kayden up and tossed him over his shoulder. Kayden squirmed as Logan carried him back across the safe line.

      It was almost midnight and so dark Logan couldn’t see his hand in front of his nose. Chaotic bursts of laughter, movement and music clamored on the air across the fields beyond them, but the dark night cloaked everything and very little was visible.

      “I distinctly remember telling you and your brother to keep your distance.” Logan flicked his flashlight upward three times and called out, “Found him, Dom.”

      The rustle of boots moving over the ground sounded and Dominic stalked out of the darkness surrounding them and into the low lights surrounding the work area. A tall, muscular man ambled up behind him with a pretty redhead at his side.

      “I ought to tear your tail up, boy.” Dominic blew out a frustrated breath. It hovered on the air in a white puff. “Your aunt Cissy’s fit to be tied. You ever run off like that again—”

      “Uh-oh,” the man at Dominic’s side rumbled. “Better take off now, Kayden. Dom’s on the warpath.”

      “Hey, Mr. Colt,” Kayden shouted, writhing in an attempt to get down.

      Logan laughed and released him, watching as he skipped over and high-fived the man. Colt Mead. One of Dominic’s fellow bull riders and playboy extraordinaire.

      “Glad you could make it, Colt.” Logan shook his hand. “Dom said you might take a break from the circuit and stop in.”

      “Yeah.” Colt ran a broad hand through his blond hair. “Gotta get off the road once in a while or you forget where you are.”

      “Just as long as you don’t stay in one place too long.” The redhead nudged Colt with her elbow. “There’s a lot of competition out there. You fall behind quick if you don’t stay on top of it.”

      Colt cocked an eyebrow and smiled. “Never met a woman who likes to race as much as Jen does. She might get good at it one day.”

      “Keep telling yourself that,” she said.

      Logan chuckled. Good was an understatement. From what Colt told him, Jen Taylor was steadily climbing the ranks of barrel racers. She was fast, focused and dedicated. Poised to be at the top of her game if she kept at it.

      She traveled with Colt and his cousin, Tammy. The trio was a band of close friends and Logan always enjoyed their visits to Raintree.

      Jen smiled. “When there’s a break between events, there’s no better place to be than Raintree.”

      “Yep,” Colt said. “Even though Dom does his level best to talk me into partnering with him every time I visit. Keeps saying it’s time I retire from the circuit and settle down.” He chuckled. “I still have plenty of rodeo years left in me, though.”

      Logan nodded. Next to Dominic, Colt was the most die-hard rider he’d ever met. The man was pure nomad and daredevil. Dom was wasting his time asking him to abandon the rodeo life. Colt wasn’t the type of man to stay put anywhere for very long. Or settle down. He enjoyed the circuit—and women—too much.

      Kayden tugged on Jen’s arms for a kiss and chattered a mile a minute about Santa’s recent visit and the approaching fireworks show.

      Kayden paused then flashed a hesitant smile. “You can help light the fireworks with me, Ms. Jen.”

      “Oh, no,” Dominic stressed. “You’re coming back with me so I can show Aunt Cissy you’re still in one piece.”

      Kayden frowned. “But I want to stay back here and help Uncle Logan with the fireworks.”

      Logan shook his head. “It’s way too dangerous, Kayden. You can see ’em fine from across the field and it’s much safer for you over there.”

      “But Aunt Amy said she’s staying,” Kayden argued, scrunching his nose.

      “Well, there’s not much I can do about it.” Logan grinned. “She’s a hardheaded woman.”

      “I heard that.”

      A jaunty bounce of light grew closer and Logan smiled. He flicked his flashlight up and the glow cascaded over Amy’s curvy form as she approached. Jayden clasped her hand and skipped along at her side.

      “You’re in trouble, Uncle Logan.” Jayden giggled. “Better say you’re sorry.”

      Logan met them halfway, tapping Jayden’s hat and touching his lips to Amy’s ear. “Sorry, babe. But it’s true.”

      Amy harrumphed, her expression playful but strained. Logan knuckled her hat straighter on her head and smoothed a finger over the curve of her cheek, tamping down his frustration.

      He’d spent the majority of the week following Christmas coaxing her into bed with him. Her rosy skin glowed, her kisses tasted sweeter than ever and her curves seemed to grow fuller every day. He damn well couldn’t get enough of her and every day that passed heightened his anxiety. She still hadn’t agreed to stay.

      “You must be Amy.” Jen reached over the boys and held out a hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

      Pleasantries were exchanged and it wasn’t long before Jen was regaling Amy with tales of the barrel racing circuit. Her enthusiasm for the sport was obvious. Colt tensed, shoving his hands in his pockets when Jen described her most recent close call in the arena.

      “One of these days, she’s not gonna come out of it so lucky,” Colt grumbled.

      Jen shook her head. “Don’t start, Colt. That warning’s ironic coming from a bull rider.” She smiled at Amy. “Men. They’re under the mistaken impression that we’re the weaker sex.”

      Amy laughed.

      “Fact is,” Jen continued, “we all have our dreams. And if they’re worth imagining, they’re worth chasing.” She winked down at the twins. “I’m determined to reach mine.”

      The boys beamed.

      “It’s about time to get the show started,” Logan said, clapping his hands together.

      The boys practically vibrated with excitement and Kayden begged again to stay behind and light the fireworks.

      Amy shook her head. “I hate to say it but Logan does have a point.” She nudged the twins in Dominic’s direction. “It’s much safer for you two to watch from the field with everyone else.”

      The boys groaned in disagreement but darted over to Dominic and pushed at his legs.

      “Then let’s go so we can get the best seats,” Kayden said.

      Dominic shook his head. “We had the best seats until you ran off from them.”

      He smiled and led the boys away. Colt and Jen said their goodbyes and followed, all of them disappearing into the darkness.

      Logan waved an arm, signaling to a crew of men to start the proceedings. Scattered shouts from the hands rang out as a couple of the crew moved around, testing and reaffirming everything

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