Free Unbroken: Country Fever, Book 3 by Em Petrova

her.
    Without looking back, Claire strode toward the small pen where Boomerang was kept. The animal was drenched, too stupid to get under the shelter it was given. When Claire approached, it trotted up to the fence.
    She reached to fondle the strange puff of hair on its crown, a white afro over a curious face. Boomerang blinked at her, unmoving, its mouth shifted to the side in a totally laughable expression.
    Claire did laugh. The musical sound washed over Christian, warming his skin against the cold sting of rain. “Get out of the rain, Boomerang,” she said.
    When it didn’t move, she hooked a leg over the fence, preparing herself to jump in.
    Christian lashed his fingers around her arm. “Is that safe?”
    She laughed again. “What’s she going to do? Attack?”
    He swung his gaze to the animal, whose tongue now lazed out between its lips. “All right. What do you feed it?”
    “I think I see a feed bag in that shed.” She jerked her jaw toward the shelter.
    “Okay, I’ll carry some buckets of water for it.” Christian left her to go in search of buckets. When he returned, she’d managed to lure the animal into the shelter with her and had her arms around it. Her face was buried against its side and her shoulders shook.
    Christian slowed his step, a stitch in his heart. “God,” he breathed as he set the buckets outside the fence. Bracing one hand on the rail, he vaulted over, easily landing in the mud and slop.
    With care, he approached Claire, using his new knowledge of animals. The last thing he wanted was a skittish woman. Hurting her was out of the question.
    At the sound of his steps, she raised her head, staring him down, eyes ablaze with tears. “Why can’t those holes be mended, Christian? Why?”
    He drew her into his embrace. With her wrapped solidly against his chest, he listened to the fat rain splat on the metal roof of the shed. He had no answers, but she didn’t seem to need them.
     
     
    The first thing Claire did once inside The Hellion was to make a revolution of the bar, tables and dance floor, searching the sea of faces for Allie, the blonde who had spent the night with Tucker and Christian.
    A new pang of jealousy smashed into Claire full force. Now that she knew the joys to be had in that bed between two men, she didn’t want to know about another woman having experienced it too.
    Hell, Claire still felt that drunken high as the memories assaulted her.
    The low country twang of George Jones rushed from the jukebox. Soon the DJ would kick things up and the dance floor would crowd with bodies.
    She loved to dance but not tonight. Her heart ached. Two days without Tucker was an eternity. Knowing he was out there somewhere, alone and hurting too, shoved a knife deep in her guts.
    I can’t compete with a memory.
    If she kept telling herself this, her love-fogged brain might someday accept it and move on.
    To someone like Christian?
    The thought blindsided her. She’d spent two days with him, caring for the animals and making sure the ranch was operating smoothly. In those two days, she and Christian hadn’t spoken much, but a quiet camaraderie held them together. Two people working toward a common purpose.
    And they worked well together. Cleaning stalls, holding a horse still while Claire examined its hoof.
    There was something more to Christian. He was steadfast, calm. He eased her with his presence alone.
    And Lord knew the man was walking sex poured into worn jeans and a T-shirt. Watching his back ripple with muscles as he shoveled manure or forked hay tempted her body.
    Satisfied that Allie was nowhere to be found in The Hellion, Claire went to the bar to get a drink. While she waited for her usual Long Island Iced Tea, the man on the stool beside her started chatting her up.
    “Ever wonder why people come here, little gal?”
    She shot him a sidelong glance. She felt a story coming on and wished she could run. “I suppose it’s for entertainment.”
    “Entertainment or