Red Lines Read Online Free PDF Page B

responsibilities he had to face, or maybe it was the fact she knew his real name, his complete identity, and that made her see him in an entirely new light.
    Regardless of the confusion swirling in her head, she was excited about seeing the ranch. She followed Evan to the far end of the garage.
    “We have to drive?” she asked.
    “Sorta.” He pulled the cover off a four-wheeler. “This is how I like to see the ranch.” He walked to the opposite wall and retrieved a few helmets.
    She secured it over her head and clasped the buckle in place against her cheek. “How does this look?”
    “I’d say it’s the best lookin’ helmet in Texas. Ready?” He straddled the ATV and patted the back of the seat for Haven to sit behind him.
    She followed his instructions and slid her hands around his waist.
    “Hold on tight.” He revved the engine, threw the four-wheeler into reverse, and peeled out of the garage.
    The sun was glaring as Evan turned the bike onto a dirt path. She always thought August in North Carolina was hot, but this was a whole new level of heat. She was glad they were going fast. The wind whipping through her hair gave the illusion that it wasn’t a scorching Texas day.
    The house disappeared behind them, and eventually, they were rolling through an open field. Haven couldn’t see the road or a single building. They were actually alone.
    Evan called over his shoulder, “This used to be a grazing pasture, but the cattle have been moved to another part of the ranch to let this part grow back.”
    She nodded, but wasn’t sure he saw it. There was a huge grin on his face as he steered them deeper into the rolling fields. He turned them toward a cluster of trees.
    “I want to show you my secret fishing hole,” he yelled, then spun them hard left until they were in the shade of low-growing oaks. They emerged after a few seconds in front of a pond. Evan cut the engine.
    Haven noticed a few chairs, and the stone circle of a campfire pit. It made her smile.
    “This is my escape when I’m here.” He led her toward the chairs.
    “Why do you need to escape at the ranch?” she asked. He had everything he needed at the house, not to mention you could get lost trying to find the bathroom. She thought the house was his escape.
    He picked up a few rocks and started skipping them across the stillness of the pond. The ripples carried from one end to the other.
    “’Cause, sometimes it’s too much. And I like to be alone.”
    “Oh.” She twisted her lips into a frown.
    “Not like that. I didn’t mean that. Not alone away from you. I meant away from the staff. Away from work. This is my place. I wanted to share it with you.”
    “I think it’s beautiful.” She stooped to grab a handful of pebbles and walked closer to the pond. “What kind of fish are in here?” She tried to skip the rocks but could only get two hops at a time.
    “Catfish mostly, but since I haven’t been here all summer they are probably enormous. Want to fish with me?”
    “Yes, let’s do some fishing. I’ve never fished in a pond before. We don’t exactly have any on the island.”
    “Maybe there is something I can teach you about the water after all.” Evan chuckled. He strolled to the four-wheeler and unhooked a cooler and two rods that were strapped to the back.
    Haven reached for one of the rods.
    “Ok, so the beauty of fishing here is the fish can’t escape.”
    She laughed. “That seems cruel. They don’t have a chance.”
    “Then they shouldn’t take my bait. Trust me, we need to fish this pond. It’s probably overrun by now.” He attached bait to the ends of their lines and cast his lure into the center of the pond. “Need help?”
    Haven shook her head. “Oh no, I can cast. Grew up on an island, remember?” If there was one thing she could do, it was catch a fish. When you spend your summers as a kid on the docks outside your parents’ store, you get good at perfecting your fishing techniques. She was