Page 58 of Forsaken Hearts
“For what?” Ben made a grab for the bacon.
“I’m taking you both to the ranch.”
Ben stopped with a slice of bacon halfway to his mouth. “Are there horses?”
“Yeah.”
“Cows?”
“Also yes.”
Summer’s lips twitched as she tried not to smile. She wore a soft blue sweater that made her skin glow and her hair was pulled back, showing off that sweet spot on her throat that Pope never could resist.
Her eyes went liquid as if she knew his mind was circling ways to sidetrack Ben long enough to haul her off to bed.
“Can I ride a bull?” Ben’s voice jerked both of their attention to the boy sitting there with a mouth full of bacon.
“No.”
“Absolutely not,” Summer said at the same time Pope spoke.
At Ben’s disappointed expression, Pope ducked his head to hide his smile. He reached for the coffeepot and poured a mug for Summer, then himself.
He could already see his plan to bring them to the Black Heart Ranch was one of his best yet. Ben and Summer needed a day of fun together. And she could relax even more there, surrounded by bodyguards and high-level security.
Seeing her at the Stockyard bearing the weight of fear had worn on him. She shouldn’t be watching doors and scanning parking lots. The lack of answers bothered him more than he admitted.
Nothing had happened since the tires or the groceries, and every day that passed made it harder to know whether the threat was still out there or if it moved on.
But he was the new guy at Black Heart. Carson had trusted him with Summer’s protection, and Pope wasn’t about to start freelancing an investigation because his patience was running thin.
For now, he did the job he’d been given.
The Black Heart started as a place where he could rest and get his life together again, and he wanted that for them.
“What can we expect for activities?” she asked, lifting her mug to her lips.
“You definitely want to wear boots and a jacket.”
She lowered her gaze to her plate. “Will we spend any time with the Malones?”
“Who are the Malones?” Ben scooped a bite of egg into his mouth.
“The owners of the ranch,” Pope supplied before turning his attention back to Summer. “We might run into a few. Especially Willow, since she spends a lot of time with the horses.”
Summer looked down at her sweater and jeans, and he already knew what she was thinking.
“You look perfect,” he told her, and was rewarded with a soft smile.
They reached the ranch midmorning, the air bright and sharp and the Wyoming sun pale over the mountains. Ben had his face pressed to the window before Pope ever approached the gates.
“Wow!” he cried out.
“Impressive entrance,” Summer added.
“It keeps everyone safe.”
She turned her head to meet his stare, and he saw all the thoughts churning behind her eyes. But she didn’t say more as he buzzed the gate for entrance and drove up the driveway toward the ranch.
