Page 95 of Lawless Rivals

Keira studies the setup, gazes up at the sky, looks around at the trees, and tucks her hair behind her ears, taking a slow breath.

“Wow, you guys have all the mod cons.” She plasters on a fake smile. “Is there hot water?”

“There’s water,” I deadpan.

Moving away, I grab her a towel, shake it out once, and hang it within reach of the shower.

My fists clench, and I turn my back too fast, reaching for the first thing in the shed just to give my mind something to think about.

The second cold water splashes her skin, she yelps and swears. I huff a chuckle, something close to a smile pulling at the corner of my mouth before I kill it and take another drag instead.

Serves her right.

I inhale more smoke and keep my eyes off her, moving to the front of the mobile.

After a while, she rounds the tin and stops in front of me, dressed, hair bone dry and a glower directed right at me.

“That was freezing,” she grits.

“So I heard.”

She shoots me a look, all heat and bite, skin flushed from the icy water and fresh air, and I take it in before I can stop myself.

Sunlight catches in her eyes and makes them brighter, while her bare complexion has a scattering of tiny freckles.

Standing here, she looks⁠—

I drop my cigarette and stamp it out, not giving the thought time to grow.

“We’re heading back to the yard.” I pop my jacket collar. “You can grab whatever you need from the cabin before ya return later.”

“Really?” She props her hands on her hips. “Can I bring a kettle…or a heating system?”

“I’ll see what I can do, princess,” I say, already turning before she answers.

I head for Bran, slide his saddle onto his back, and buckle the girth.

“How long do I have left?” She comes up beside me, throwing on the oversized coat she grabbed from inside. “Before this is over.”

“That depends on your da.”

“It’s land,” she says. “You’re acting like he stole a crown.”

“He stole access.”

Her frown pulls tight. “Access to what?”

“The river.” I check Bran’s girth and keep my voice even. “That strip is the only way from my yard to the water without crossing Harrington ground. Every late-night delivery has to bend around him because of it.”

“So this is about business?”

“It’s about power. Business is just what men like your da call it when they don’t want to say control.”

“So, you’ll let this run on while I suffer?”

My brows snap together. “Suffer?”

“Yeah.” She smooths her hands over Bran’s hind. “Cold water and tinned food.”