Divided Interests

by Kelly Elliott

  With a sigh, I closed my eyes. I could feel my heartbeat pick up. I hated that I had to defend Lucas. I knew I couldn’t have my father hating Lucas for the rest of our lives. It would make everything more difficult. I drew in a few deep breaths and was ready to tell him he had to talk to Lucas and come to some sort of truce. When I opened my eyes again, my father was staring at me. The corner of his mouth rose the slightest bit, and he nodded.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to him, sweetheart,” he said softly, then gave me a slight smile.

  “Thank you, Daddy. It would mean a lot to me if you forgave him.”

  “I know. But if he ever hurts you again, I’m having his legs broken. Slowly.”

  I tried not to smile, but I lost. “Deal.”

  “Did you ever find what William wanted the two of you to find?” he asked after a few minutes of us painting in silence. I froze, and he noticed.

  “I’ll take that as a yes. What was it?”

  “Well, it was… um…”

  I cursed inwardly. Lucas and I had never come up with a plan on how or what to tell people that we’d found. Lou already knew the truth. So did Carl and Lynn. But my father, as far as I could tell, didn’t know.

  He frowned as he looked at me. A heavy feeling settled over my chest, and I my hand trembled slightly. Why had I not been prepared for this?

  “We…did…find something. He pretty much just wanted us to get our heads out of our asses and get back together.”

  Daddy narrowed his eyes at me. “Okay. That’s what you’re going with?”

  “It’s the truth,” I said in a defensive tone.

  “Right. You’re about as naïve as William, Paige, if you really think I don’t know the truth.”

  I swallowed hard. Good Lord. Does everyone in this town know?

  Clearing my throat, I said, “I don’t know what you mean.”

  He laughed, then went back to painting. He remained silent for the longest time until I finally couldn’t take it.

  “Did everyone in this town know William was my grandfather?”

  His head snapped up, and he stared at me, in complete shock.

  Oh. Shit.

  My father stood there with a paintbrush full of white paint now dripping down his hand, staring at me like I’d lost my damn mind.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing,” I quickly replied.

  “Paige, what made you say that William was your grandfather?”

  I rubbed my lips together, trying to think of a way to get out of what I had just said. A part of me wanted to tell him the truth. Carl had known; how could my father not know?

  “Is that your phone ringing?” I asked, glancing down to his pocket where he always kept his cell phone.

  “No.”

  “Lucas went to Paris with Bianca, did I tell you that? The one city I really wanted to go to with him.”

  Now my father put the brush down, grabbed a paper towel and wiped off his hands. He folded his arms across his chest and glared at me.

  “You’re trying to change the subject, and it won’t work.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut and blew out a defeated groan before focusing back on my father.

  “We found a marriage certificate. William was married to Millie, your mom. Granddaddy was really your uncle by blood, not your father.”

  He looked at me with a blank expression.

  “We found the adoption papers. When May came back from England, which is a long story in and of itself, she was pregnant by some earl or duke or something. William and May married quickly, then she had Carl. William adopted Carl legally. So, you see, William felt obligated to leave me half the house and half of it to Lucas. I know this is a load full of information, and well, when you brought up the truth, I figured you knew because Carl knew.”

  That made his brow raise even more.

  “Oh, I’m making this worse. You didn’t know, did you?”

  He rubbed his neck and looked away for a few moments. “I had my suspicions. Heard talk around town when I was younger. Asked William about it once, and he just smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze, but he never actually answered the question. I found out a couple of years after your momma and I got married that someone had paid off our ranch. Did some digging and all roads pointed to William. Never did ask him about it, though. I figured he had a reason. I knew I looked just like him, a hell of lot more than Carl did.”

  I smiled.

  “So, to answer your question, I guess I knew, just never admitted it out loud.”

  “How was something like that kept such a secret?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “Country folks know when to keep certain things private and when not to.”

  “Linda May certainly didn’t know.”

  Daddy laughed. “No, probably because she moved in so late. The old timers knew.”

  “I didn’t know. I had no idea.”

  “You had an amazing bond with William. I’m glad.”

  With a smile, I replied, “Me too. I’m sorry you didn’t.”

  “I did. He was a good friend. I loved your grandfather. He was a good man and loved me fiercely. That was probably one of the reasons I chose not to believe the rumors, even though deep down I guess I knew.”

  “I found William’s wedding pictures with Millie. You looked exactly like him when you were younger. Do you want one? I can have some copies made?”

  “I’d love one.”

  “I’ll get them right away. There’s also a family photo album. I’ll bring it by tomorrow. I wasn’t sure if maybe we had some cousins or something who might like the pictures. Millie and Grandpa were the only two siblings. I haven’t been able to find out if there were any cousins.”

  “Daddy never had any other kids, so it’s just me. All his cousins were from the Austin area. He moved here after I was born.”

  “To take care of you, because William wasn’t emotionally able to.”

  “So, William left you the house because you are his granddaughter. How did Lucas take that?”

  I half-shrugged. “Fine. William adopted Carl, so Lucas was his grandson also.”

  “He’s not bothered that he isn’t blood-related?”

  “Not at all,” I said, giving him a look that asked where he was going with all of this. I placed my hands on my hips and shot him a look that should have bolted him to the floor.

  “Do not think for a moment that Lucas is trying to get his hands on the house. Daddy, he asked Lou to bequest his inheritance to me before we even found out.”

  “He did what?” my father asked, clearly taken aback.

  “He tried to give me the whole house. It’s just as much his as it is mine. We both want to see it fixed up and raise our own family there, just like we talked about when we were younger.”

  He walked over to me, pulling me into his arms. “I am happy, sweetheart. I really am. As long as the little prick treats you right and makes you happy, I’m okay with him.”

  With a giggle, I kissed him on the cheek. “What were you talking about when you said you knew the truth?”

  He laughed. “Hell, mine was so much simpler. That William was trying to get the two of you together. I never dreamed it would be all of that.”

  I shook my head. “It was a shock, to say the least. Are you okay, Daddy? Knowing the truth?”

  “I am, princess. Like I said, I always knew it deep down.”

  With a smile, I motioned back to the desk. “Come on. Let’s finish painting this desk, then you can take me for ice cream.”

  “I like the sound of that plan.”

  Paige

  PULLING UP TO the barn, I saw Lucas in the corral working a horse. My stomach flipped with desire and a memory flooded in.

  Lucas stood in the barn, his cowboy hat tipped low, his green eyes a stark contrast to the black of his hat. He smiled, and it was so mind-blowing that it left me unable to breathe. His boyish looks contrasted his large frame. My fingers itched to tra
ce every inch of his body. To explore how he was built. To feel the way his muscles moved when we finally had sex.

  “Are you sure, Paige? We don’t have to do this. I’d wait forever for you.”

  I returned his smile and pulled the dress over my head, leaving only my bra and panties, along with my favorite pair of red cowboy boots. Lucas swept his eyes over my body in a greedy fashion: fast, then slower. The look on his face would forever be etched into my memory. He licked his lips, and I heard myself moan ever so slightly. A pulse between my legs grew faster, harder. God, I couldn’t wait for him to be inside me.

  “I want this Lucas. I’ve been wanting this.”

  After putting my car into park, I made my way over to the fence. I climbed up and sat there, watching him work the whip. The way his muscles moved through his tight T-shirt had my body humming with pure lust.

  The horse was just as beautiful a creature as Lucas. The horse’s muscles flexed as he ran around the circle, exerting hardly any effort as he seemed to dance over the dirt.

  When Lucas lowered the whip, the horse slowed. He came to a stop, then made his way over to him. I watched in awe as he bent his head and Lucas leaned his forehead to the horse’s. He whispered something to the horse while he stroked the side of his neck gently.

  It was official. I was insanely jealous of the horse.

  After watching them for a few minutes, I decided it was time to let them know they had company.

  “I hate interrupting this bromance, but I sure wouldn’t mind some of that attention.”

  Lucas faced me. My stomach flipped when he broke into a wide smile, the one he seemed to save for me. I felt my body tremble ever so slightly as he walked toward me.

  “This is a nice surprise.”

  He reached up and helped me jump off the fence, then wrapped me into his arms. The horse came up and bumped Lucas on the back, causing us both to stumble into the corral fence.

  “Goodness, looks like I have to fight for your attention,” I said with a chuckle as I stroked the horse gently on the neck.

  “Ranger remembers you,” Lucas said with a bit of mischief in his voice. “Or at least he remembers what you did to me in his stall.”

  My cheeks heated as the horse snickered. “Sharing is caring, Ranger. I’ve already told you that once.”

  “I still feel that hay up my ass.”

  I laughed harder and took the horse’s reins as I walked alongside Lucas. My eyes did a quick sweep of his body.

  Wrangler jeans. Tight and sexy.

  Stetson cowboy hat. Hot as hell.

  Tight T-shirt that left nothing to my imagination. Swoon city.

  Cowboy boots, old and well-worn. Yes, please.

  “If you keep looking at me like that, Paige, Ranger is going to have to watch me take you against his stall.”

  My body hummed with excitement.

  “Then let me look a little harder.”

  Lucas let out a growl and picked up his pace. “Let me take care of the horse, then I’ll take care of you.”

  I felt my lower lip go numb as I realized I was biting down on it.

  Thirty minutes later, Lucas had me up against the wall of Ranger’s stall. “Take off your pants.”

  “It’s not that easy. I have on boots,” I said with a giggle.

  “I only need one boot off, one leg out of your pants.”

  I gave him a mock expression of surprise. “You’d take me half-dressed?”

  “Yes, seven ways to Sunday if given the opportunity.”

  Moving with lightning speed, I pulled my boot off and dropped it to the side, then slipped my leg out of my jeans. I went to pull my panties down when Lucas grabbed my hand.

  “Don’t bother.” He lifted me, pushed my panties to the side and entered me in one quick movement. I gasped at the sudden fullness.

  “Shit, are you okay?” he asked, his breathing ragged.

  “Yes. I’m okay. Don’t stop.”

  Lucas moved again. The feel of him inside me, so fast and hard, had my body building faster than ever before. I could feel my orgasm at the beginning stages already as he hit the exact spot I needed him to. I was so close. Adjusting my hips, I gasped. My orgasm was about to hit.

  Then everything changed. We weren’t alone, and I didn’t just mean the horses.

  “Lucas was in the corral earlier. They have to be around here somewhere.”

  With eyes as wide as saucers, Lucas stopped moving the moment he heard his father’s voice.

  “I tried to call her cell and leave a message.”

  I closed my eyes. Both of our fathers were in the barn.

  Before I could move, Lucas spun and dropped us both to the stall floor.

  “So much for no hay in our asses,” I whispered.

  Lucas threw his hand over my mouth as he rushed to help me get my pants back on. I, on the other hand, started to laugh uncontrollably.

  “Stop!” Lucas whisper-shouted.

  When we finally managed to get my jeans back on, Lucas crawled and got my boot, then grabbed my hand and moved to the back corner of the stall.

  “Ranger’s in his stall, so maybe they’re outside,” Carl said.

  Ranger started fussing, clearly not liking how close we were. Lucas looked up at him, pleading eyes and all. Which made me start laughing all over again. I covered my mouth with both hands and closed my eyes. Maybe if I willed it hard enough, both men would walk out of the barn.

  That’s when I heard Lucas.

  “Shit.”

  I opened one eye and saw my father standing in the stall, looking down at us. Thank God I had my jeans on, although they were still unbuttoned, and I was missing my boot.

  “Hey there, Daddy,” I said with a wide smile. “What brings you here?”

  “Jesus,” Lucas groaned, scrubbing his hand over his face.

  “Paige. What are you doing on the floor of a stall, half dressed?” The way my father turned and glared at Lucas made me jump up.

  “I’m dressed, Daddy.”

  He lifted a brow.

  “I’m also going to be marrying Lucas, so let’s not pretend that we’re not sleeping together.”

  “For the love of all things holy, Paige, you’re making it worse!” Lucas said.

  Now my father was standing with his fists in tight balls. “Foster, you better run if you know what is good for you.”

  “Phillip,” Carl said, a slight bit of humor in his voice. “Leave the boy alone.”

  “Dad! Are you laughing?” Lucas asked as he hid behind me.

  My dad took a step forward. “Hiding behind my daughter is not going to help you, coward.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Lucas. I raised you better than that. Don’t hide behind your fiancée. At least get behind the horse.”

  I started to laugh all over again.

  “It’s not funny!” Lucas and my father said simultaneously.

  “What’s everyone doing in here?” Lynn said as she walked up. “Paige! I’m so glad you’re here. I found a girl who makes the most amazing wedding cakes.”

  “Really?” I said, slipping my boot back on.

  “What happened?” Lynn asked.

  “Your son is what happened. He was… They were…in the stall!” my father managed to say.

  As I walked by, I tapped him on the chest. “Oh, Daddy. This isn’t the first time in the barn.”

  “Holy shit! You threw me under the bus, Paige!” Lucas said.

  “Son, now would probably be the best time to run,” Carl said, laughing again.

  With that, Lucas rushed past me and my father and hightailed it out of the barn, my father hot on his tail.

  “I didn’t realize my dad could still move like that,” I said, giggling.

  “Well, he’s only fifty-three, he still has a lot of get up and go in him,” Lynn said as we walked out of the barn.

  Carl removed his cowboy hat, ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “I really should go save my one and only son. I need him a
live to help with the courthouse renovation.”

  Lynn waved her hand in dismissal. “He can surely outrun Phillip. Now, let’s talk wedding cakes.”

  Lucas

  THE MOMENT THE cold bag of corn touched my eye, I hissed.

  “Sorry.” Paige looked at me with a sympathetic smile. “How did he catch you?’

  “The old man is fast! Really fast. I should have remembered that from when he coached football in middle school.”

  She pressed her lips tightly in an attempt not to laugh. Again.

  “Then, after he hit me, do you know what he said?”

  Paige shook her head.

  “He laughed, first of all, then he told me that was for taking your virginity. I know he knows that wasn’t the first time, especially after you told him.”

  This time she did laugh. Hard.

  I rolled my eyes, then groaned when my right eye ached.

  “I think he’s been waiting to do that for a number of years. The whole hitting you for ruining his little girl thing.”

  I scoffed. “Little does he know it was all your idea.”

  “Like you were against it.”

  “I was! I didn’t want to have sex with you for the first time in a stall.”

  “You didn’t complain. Besides, I thought it was romantic. You even put a blanket down for us.”

  “Only because Milo told me to do it. Experience from when he and Jen did it in the barn.”

  Paige’s mouth dropped open. “Jen and Milo slept together?”

  “I thought you knew that.”

  She shook her head and made a weird sound. “Wait until I see her again. She’s always going on about how I never tell her everything. Ugh. How could she not tell me Milo was her first?”

  “He wasn’t,” I replied, drawing a gasp from Paige.

  “That little whore!”

  I laughed, then gently pulled her hand down. “How’s it look? I have a meeting tomorrow with some clients in Austin I’m still trying to finish up with.”

  She chewed nervously on her lip. “Is it outside? If it is, you might want to keep your sunglasses on.”

  My shoulders slumped. “Why would it be outside?”

  Paige shrugged. “Wishful thinking.”