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There was a stigma about motocross racers that Seth kept trying to buck against by staying far away from alcohol, drugs, and the hordes of women who followed the circuit and by praying before and after every event. When interviewed, he gave credit to the good Lord above and his family.

“I don’t think this is your crowd of choice,” he said gently.

Breeze’s mouth twisted and her dark eyes flashed. “No,” she pushed out, “but it seems to be my lot in life.”

That made his heart kink. He’d been born to a happy family, pure love, and privilege. He always donated the proceeds from each win to different charities, but what did he really understand about going without or being part of a rough home life as she must be intoning?

“Can I help you escape from it?” he asked. He wanted to be her hero, her champion. It was crazy, but he felt it deeply.

Her eyes darted to his and seemed to beg for him to rescue her, but there was a spark of pride in her eyes that both impressed and concerned him. Would she accept his help?

She wrapped her arms around herself, looked away, and muttered, “My brother owes Flint Brooks a lot of money. That’s why I’m here. We’re both working it off.”

Seth was relieved she wasn’t here by choice and thought it was honorable that she was helping her brother. He’d do the same for any of his siblings. Yet something about Flint Brooks and “working it off” had him on edge. “Has Flint tried to …” He couldn’t spit it out. It made his stomach churn and his spine prickle. If Flint had so much as touched her, Seth was storming in that cabin and ripping the man apart.

She wouldn’t look at him, but instead muttered, “He’s offered. I’ve said no.” She pushed out a breath. “He told me that he likes his women willing.”

Seth’s stomach rolled. Flint might claim that, but Seth knew a man like that was just toying with Breeze. He couldn’t imagine Flint would wait long for a beauty like Breeze to succumb to him. She was in danger here. If not from Flint, then from one of the other drugged up men.

“How much does your brother owe him?” he asked quietly, not wanting to think any longer about Flint touching Breeze.

“Twenty thousand.” Her jaw was tight, and her shoulders rounded slightly as if the burden were too much. “But we’ve worked some of it off,” she rushed to say. “He’s paying us each fifty dollars an hour and we’re working twelve hours per day so only two more weeks and we’re free. That’s five times what either of us makes back home so it’s pretty generous.”

Seth had so many thoughts rolling through his head at her last statements. First, though he recognized that twenty thousand dollars would be a lot of money to somebody who only made ten dollars an hour, it would only make a dent in his monthly income.

Second, he wanted to explain to her that Flint probably didn’t plan on freeing them until he’d taken advantage of Breeze. The jerk didn’t know the meaning of the word “generous”, unless it applied to giving drugs and alcohol to his entourage to keep them from rioting.

“Breeze.” He caught her delicate hand and held it between both of his. He knew he had to protect her. “I want you to wait right here for me. I’ll go get the twenty grand and get you out of here.”

“You have twenty grand?” Her eyes bugged out for a second, but then resolve tightened her jaw and she yanked her hand free and backed up. She shook her head violently. “No way. I’m not a charity case. I’m not taking your money.”

Seth’s neck heated up, but at the same time he gained even more respect for her that she didn’t want the handout. “I didn’t say you were a charity case,” he said gently, but he had to lay it out there. She couldn’t be so innocent that she didn’t recognize the bad situation she was in. “Breeze you have to recognize the danger you’re in with these men. Any one of them could hurt you, take advantage of you.”

Fear flickered through her dark eyes, but she seemed to conquer it quickly. She nodded. “I know, but I think Flint has claimed me or something. They look plenty and say gross stuff, but none of the rest of the scum have tried to touch me or anything.”

“It doesn’t mean they won’t,” he flung back at her. Why wouldn’t she take his money? Flint had “claimed” her? He was going to puke. “Don’t go back. Come with me to my parents’ and first thing tomorrow we’ll take the cash and go pay the debt. Then you can go home.”

“Youaren’t paying my debt, and I can’t leave Ridge.” She stared at him with those dark eyes as if it were the last time. She gave a little cry, turned, and ran for the cabin.

“Breeze, stop!”

Seth started forward but she looked over her shoulder, gave him a fierce glare and mouthed, “Please, don’t.” Then she turned forward and pounded up the patio steps to the main floor.

Seth watched in torment as she went in the rear patio doors and wound through the men on the main floor and then up the grand staircase until she disappeared up the next set of steps like she had the night before .

He was torn and sick to his stomach. Every part of him wanted to chase after her, yank her from that den of losers, and carry her home to safety. Yet she obviously didn’t want him to. Was it simply her pride? Her love for her brother? He fell for her even deeper in that moment. He’d never had a woman turn him down. He’d never known someone who had so little adamantly refuse help.

He loved that she was strong, full of pride, and so loyal to her brother that she’d put herself at risk to protect him. He knew his brothers and sisters would do the same for him. Yet Breeze … Wow. She was impressive in her naïve bravery. She was in danger, yet she refused to leave.

It took everything in him to not rush after her and carry her away from here. He liked being the hero and he liked knowing he could easily solve problems with his money, his talent, and his ability to win any fist fight he’d ever been in.

His respect for Breeze and her misguided pride was the only thing that helped him make the heavy steps back home. Yet his mind was spinning with solutions and ideas, and he started praying for her protection and to know which path to take. There had to be a way to free Breeze, show her how he cared for her without pushing her away. If only he could see the clear path that could lead him to Breeze being safe and sound, and in his arms.


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