Run Wild (46 page)

He was overly aware of four sets of eyes watching him. Turning to the King men, he nodded toward his house.

“There is beer in the refrigerator. Please, make yourself at home. If you don’t mind, I’m going to talk to Natasha alone for a few minutes.”

“About what?” Jake stepped forward.

Greg King put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Sounds fine, Son. It’s too damned cold out here for any sane man anyway,” Greg offered, grinning and using, it appeared, just a bit of force to turn his younger son around and give him a good shove toward the house.

Haley came up around Trent, laughing as she moved among her men. “You’re right. Natasha will freeze before winter even gets here.”

“She’ll stay warm,” Trent said, unable to not be part of their conversation.

Jake turned around, an animalistic growl exploding from him as he appeared ready to lunge at Trent. Greg and Marc moved just as fast. Trent braced himself. He wasn’t doing anything wrong, and it wasn’t as if Natasha were a child. When the men finally went inside, he turned, and headed to his barn.

Natasha had eased the saddle off Midnight when she spotted Trent. But she glanced past him when he took the saddle from her.

“You were really out of line messing with the truck,” she mumbled.

Trent had his back to her as he put the saddle up, but didn’t need to see her face to know there was pain there. He imagined she’d been beyond pissed when she read his note. They’d just endured enough trauma to drain all adrenaline and anger out of both of them. Maybe that was why he was inclined to agree with her.

“I knew it would get ugly,” he said honestly, that being his only defense. He returned to Midnight’s side, then rubbed the side of his head when the horse nuzzled into him. “Even with all the backup in the world, I needed my eyes on everyone out there. I wouldn’t have been able to protect you.”

Natasha sighed, obviously not having a clue how difficult it had been for him to admit that. “I can protect myself,” she said, although her tone sounded almost as flat as his. She began brushing Midnight, and her tangled hair fell in disarray down her front and back. “And I can protect you as well, if needed.”

When she shot Trent a look he noticed how her pretty eyes glistened. God, she wasn’t close to tears, was she?

“Where is everyone?” she asked, and her voice cracked.

“Inside.” He felt like an ass. As much as he wanted her to understand how imperative it was to him that she always remain safe, he also needed her to know that he knew how good she was, at so many things. “I wasn’t trying to discredit your abilities.”

“Oh yeah?” she accused, dropping her hand and staring at him. “You sabotaged my truck. But worse yet, you were too chickenshit to come tell me you were leaving.”

He stared at her. This wasn’t the type of woman he should be falling in love with. Trent might not be the best catch in the state, but he had a few things to offer a lady. He had a home, good land, a decent-paying job, and respect in his community. He always imagined the woman for him would always be there for him, anxious to see him come home at night, eager to make the house her own and rearrange all of his furniture. She would adore him, love him, and sit up late at night waiting, worrying, on the occasions when Trent had to chase down a criminal. Trent wouldn’t be able to come home to Natasha. She would want to share his day with him. She would always be by his side, caring about what he did. They would end up being best friends.

Trent had always thought his perfect woman would need him. Natasha didn’t need him. In fact, she might very well be able to protect him under a variety of circumstances, just as she kept telling him.

“Trent, my family is going to get rooms at Pearl’s and in the morning we’re heading back to L.A.”

He blinked, the dream in his head collapsing, then vanishing altogether. “I was wrong.”

Natasha dropped her hand with Midnight’s brush in it to her side. Her lips parted, which was probably real close to her jaw dropping in stunned amazement.

“Would you mind repeating that?” she asked, frowning as if she wasn’t quite sure she believed he’d just said that.

“Actually, yes, I would.” God, he wanted to touch her, pull her into his arms, beg her to stay. “I’ve always had this image in my head of what the woman for me would be like. I didn’t imagine her right,” he confessed.

Natasha put her hands on her hips, her coat bunching up around her, and glared at him. “You were not only wrong. I’m starting to think you’re a lost cause.” She was trying to sound mad, but her voice cracked and she looked away from him.

Damn it, there were feelings here, strong feelings. Trent couldn’t let her get away and he didn’t want her crying.

“I know you can take care of yourself.” He did touch her then and gave silent thanks when she didn’t flinch or slap his hand away from her. “I entered Burrows’ home at the same exact minute you sent Rebecca Burrows flying over your shoulder. Woman, you’re impressive as hell.”

“Yet I need protection.”

“No!” he snapped. Emotions spiked inside him and he turned away, needing a distraction, so heading for Midnight’s food. “You don’t need a damn thing,” Trent shot at her, over his shoulder. “You’ve got it all. You’re perfect in every way, sweetheart. I’ve never met a woman like you, and I mean that,” he added, fighting not to yell or to break down and beg. More feelings than he could handle attacked from all sides so that his hands shook. He gripped the edge of the stall in front of him and watched his breath cloud up in front of his face as he searched for the right words. “I’m not sure there is anything you can’t do. And yes, that scares me. What the hell do I have to offer you?”

There was silence between them. Her small hand touched the back of his shoulder and Trent spun around, not having heard her approach. But she had. That had to be good. He needed her to stay, wanted her to stay, and even knew, somewhere in the back of his brain, what he needed to say to keep her with him. But the words were so foreign to him, he didn’t know how to say them.

“I think you offered me love.” Her voice was so soft he almost didn’t hear her.

Trent tried taking her hand, but she pulled it out of his and dropped it to her side. She didn’t back away, though. “There is really only one thing I need from you.”

“What?” He sounded anxious, like a dog willing to dance or do any trick for the treat being offered him. Oddly enough, Trent didn’t feel humiliated or manipulated. His insides rejoiced, a flutter of excitement daring to build in his chest. “Tell me, Natasha. What can I give you?”

“Well, there is that love part,” she said hastily, and dropped her attention to her hands clasped in front of her.

Trent barely had to move to touch her. He took her chin, gently easing her head up, then tilted it so her eyes focused on his. “I think you already have that, sweetheart.”

When she blinked he saw the moisture pooling in her eyes. She moved her hands quickly, rubbing her eyes, then looked rather put out when she focused on him again. She was tough as nails, raised in a world where strength was required, not only physically but also emotionally. It didn’t surprise him a bit her family watched him warily. Natasha meant the world to them and for obvious reasons.

“Equality.”

“What?”

“Equality,” she repeated. “If we’re going to give this a shot, then we do it as equals. You have no more right to restrain me than I do you.” She raised her finger and poked him in the chest. “And believe me, mister, if you try again, I promise I’ll do the same to you.”

He believed she would. Life with Natasha would be a challenge, and one he couldn’t wait to embrace.

“All right, darling. I accept your terms.”

The corner of her mouth twitched, but he didn’t wait for the full-fledged smile. Trent wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off her feet, and devoured her mouth.

A loud whooping and instant cheers damn near made his heart explode.

“I thought I was going to freeze my ass off waiting for you two to figure it out,” Marc announced loudly as he bounded into the barn.

“I don’t know, Natasha,” Jake said, stalking in alongside his brother. “Seems you were going to freeze to death waiting for him to agree to treat you right.”

“Shut up, both of you.” Natasha turned, had her back to Trent, and looked ready to take both of her cousins on at the same time.

Greg and Haley King were right behind their sons and Haley rushed around the men to hug her niece. “Ignore all of them,” Haley said, loud enough for everyone to hear her. “I say he’s one hell of a catch.”

“Just let me know if he turns out not to be,” Jake said, giving Trent a warning look.

Natasha punched Jake in his chest and he feigned pain as he backed up and hugged himself, wailing to his parents to make Natasha quit abusing him. All of them broke into laughter and Natasha turned, looking up at Trent.

“Don’t worry, my dear,” she said, moving into his arms. “I’ll protect you from these brutes.”

“She will, too,” Greg said, obviously having overheard his niece. He moved alongside Trent and slapped him on the back. “Our little girl cares deeply for those who mean the most to her. She will protect and care for them with her own sweat and blood.”

Although Greg smiled and looked relaxed and happy, Trent got his meaning and nodded. The older man nodded back, then took Natasha from Trent and gave her a bear hug.

Trent was more than overwhelmed. He’d just been invited into a very close-knit, protective family and was very aware of the honor they bestowed on him. He wondered, if this was their reaction to him and Natasha agreeing to a committed relationship, how they would react if he proposed marriage. Suddenly he felt weak in the knees. When he looked around him all three King men were watching him, grinning. If they’d read his thoughts they seemed to understand and told him so with knowing looks.

He returned their attentive stares and hoped they saw what was inside him. He would be all Natasha needed and wanted from him. Equality wasn’t such an unreasonable request. As he watched her, jabbing at her cousins, laughing with her aunt, and hugging her uncle, Trent’s love for her grew. And with that came an overwhelming desire to do whatever it took to keep her smiling and laughing always. All she’d asked was they treat each other the same. He was one lucky guy.

“I’m starving,” Marc announced. “And freezing.”

Everyone immediately agreed with him.

“I haven’t had a chance to tell you,” Natasha said, returning to Trent’s arms. “Dad called on the ride back over here. He wants to take you and me to dinner. His way of saying ‘thank you.’”

Trent had no doubts how the town would react to seeing him eating dinner with Natasha’s family. He decided it might be the easiest way to let his town know he’d taken his name off the available bachelors list.

“I’ll finish feeding Midnight,” he offered. “Take everyone inside before their thin L.A. blood does them in.”

This time, Natasha rode with him, her hand in his, as her family followed them into Weaverville. When her phone rang she was still glowing as she pulled it out and answered it.

“Hi, Dad,” she said cheerfully. “We should be there in a few minutes.”

As the town came into view Trent slowed and glanced over at Natasha when the first city lights flashed over her expression.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered.

“No. It’s okay, Dad. I understand. Love you, too.” When she hung up her phone she rested it on her lap.

Trent stared at the woman, his woman, who’d lived her entire life loving a father who simply didn’t have the capability to give her everything she gave him in return. At that moment Trent made a silent vow never to do the same.

Natasha looked at him. “Looks like there will be one less of us at supper. Dad is already putting California behind him. He said he forgot about our supper invitation and wanted to call before he hit the evening traffic in Seattle.”

“Natasha, I’m—”

“No.” She held her hand up. “It really is okay,” she said, and sounded like she meant it. “Believe it or not, I think Dad is growing up a bit.”

Trent signaled, then pulled into the diner’s parking lot. “How so?” he asked, and parked as quickly as he could so he could pull Natasha into his arms.

“He called,” she said, then opened her car door and hopped out of the Suburban without waiting for Trent to come around. “Before he might have left a message with someone else.”

Dinner was everything Trent expected. Everyone eating in the diner found a reason sooner or later to stop by their table and learn who the people were who were eating with their sheriff. They each walked away with knowing smiles on their faces.

“I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Trent was surprised when Jim Burrows stood next to him, the man’s loud, commanding voice as strong as a rock, just as it had always been.

“Of course not.” Trent stood and shook the man’s hand, then made quick interruptions. “I admit I didn’t expect to see you in town for a while.”

“Got the family in order,” was all he said.

Trent seriously doubted Jim had bounced back as quickly as he appeared but gave the man his pride. “Join us, please,” Trent insisted, and signaled for the busboy to grab a chair.