Screwed and Satisfied (Moon Ranch Book 2)

by Em Petrova

  “Who else worried about the cattle? You were the one who went after that sick cow in the storm. And how many nights did you spend in the barn with the animals when you were worried about one?” He reached out and squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “You deserve this place, Z. Don’t ever let the dumb shits in Stokes make you feel otherwise.”

  He set his lips in a hard line. “Never did. None of us did, Dane. We Moons fought for everything and always will.”

  “Yeah…” Except Dane couldn’t think of anything he’d fought for lately. He couldn’t count his ex-wife in that equation, because she needed to be set free as much as he did. He hadn’t fought those guys from taking his truck, but only because he knew he was in the wrong.

  And he hadn’t fought to keep Brennah, either, even though every cell in his body burned for the woman.

  Right now, she sat in his house and he stood out here stalling so he didn’t have to face her and feel things he didn’t know how to cope with. Like the fact that his heart stirred each time he thought of her—or she deserved any man but a Moon.

  He heaved a sigh.

  “Uh-oh,” Zayden said.

  “What?”

  “I’m pretty sure that sigh of yours is over the veterinarian.”

  He shook his head. “You’re crazy if you think I’d ever date a woman smarter than me.”

  “Why’s that?” Zayden’s smile at least revealed Dane had gotten his brother’s mind off the horse.

  “A smarter woman would definitely work out how to kill me in my sleep. I snore, remember.”

  “I remember you fartin’ in your sleep too, bro.”

  “That was only from the rotgut we cooked for ourselves. I was fine after Mimi came down from the rez and took over in the kitchen.”

  They shared a laugh, which left him feeling lighter and Zayden’s shoulders not so slumped.

  Dane went into the corner of an outbuilding and pulled out a couple old boxes. Then he broke them down into flat pieces he could strap to the wood for the time being. After a few minutes’ work, he stood back to study his handiwork.

  The injured horse had moved to the water trough and then nosed some hay.

  Zayden drifted over. “Looks like it will hold for a while.”

  “I’ll get on the repair as soon as I can find the right wood.”

  “Speaking of wood, tomorrow we’re expected in town to take down a couple trees. Maybe a big limb as well.”

  “I’m there.” Dane held out his fist, and Zayden bumped knuckles with him. “Right now, I’m going inside and see if Mimi needs anything.”

  Zayden arched a brow. “You mean Brennah.”

  His gut hollowed at the sound of her name. Brennah…his Brennah.

  Not mine. I’m not good enough, and I proved that after last night.

  Without responding, Dane walked away and headed to the house. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Brennah’s coveralls hanging on a wall hook. Dirt and horse blood covered them. Her boots sat below, which she’d obviously insisted on removing to protect Mimi’s clean floors after all.

  God, she was a hard worker. The way she’d handled the injury, with so much composure, knowledge and downright heart…

  He kicked off his own boots and followed the sound of her and Mimi’s voices to the kitchen.

  Just as he guessed, Mimi had a pot of chili warming on the stove and mugs of hot coffee before her and Brennah. At the sound of his step, both women looked up at him.

  Brennah’s gaze skittered away.

  He deserved that, but damn if he didn’t ache to be back in her good graces.

  Offering up a smile, he moved to the coffeemaker. “I see Mimi talked you into stayin’ for lunch.”

  Brennah buried her nose in her mug. “Yes. The food smells delicious, so it didn’t take too much persuasion.”

  “Is there cornbread, Mimi?”

  The woman gave him an insulted glance. “What good is chili without cornbread?”

  “Mimi makes the best cornbread you’ve ever had,” he told Brennah. He carried his mug to the table and pulled out a chair next to her. He noticed when she tucked her socked feet under her chair, out of his reach.

  “I’m sure it’s excellent. Most homemade food is.”

  “I bet a busy doctor like you doesn’t have much time for cooking, do you?” Mimi asked her.

  She shook her head. He watched her carefully, but only a lift of her lashes told him she’d stolen a peek his way. “I eat in my SUV a lot. Packed sandwiches.”

  “Brennah makes a mean pickle loaf sandwich.”

  “Do you? I haven’t eaten that before.” Mimi moved to stand. “I’ll just give the chili a stir.”

  “I’ll get it. Don’t get up.” He stood and crossed the room to the stove. Then he located the cornbread pan, dished out a half dozen slices and put them onto a plate he could warm in the microwave.

  “Make sure you get enough slices for Zayden too,” Mimi said.

  He glanced over his shoulder and caught Brennah’s eyes on him. She quickly dropped them, but his body knew that look from her. And I want to do somethin’ about it too.

  “He won’t be in just yet. He’s frettin’ over the horse.”

  “Maybe I should go out and speak to him. Ease his worries.” Brennah set aside her coffee, but Mimi pressed a hand over the back of Brennah’s.

  “He’ll be all right. It’s just Zayden’s nature. He’s the worrier in the family.”

  “And Asher’s the family clown. He always made us laugh even in the worst of situations.” He stuck the plate into the microwave and programmed it to warm.

  When he returned to the table with the women, he inched his chair a hair closer to Brennah’s. Angled toward her, all he had to do was slide his foot along the floor to play footsy with her under the table.

  Mimi definitely was not blind, nor was she oblivious to the tension between him and Brennah. Her eagle eyes swung between them. “It’s true Asher always gives us a break from the worst of life.”

  “Where is he now?” Brennah asked.

  He and Mimi looked at each other. He shrugged. “We don’t know. He took off after the funeral.”

  “I see.”

  Now that he knew what she’d endured with her mother, he believed she did see how a son could run from the home that had provided little but hard times and a lot of misery.

  Fuck it. He eased his foot against hers. She twitched hers away, but he followed, running his big socked toe over hers. Out of Mimi’s sight, she aimed a kick at him, crushing his toes.

  He grinned and moved his foot away for the time being.

  “I’ll dish up the chili. How hungry are you, Dr. Peterson?”

  “Please, Mimi, call me Brennah. I’m not very hungry. A small bowl is perfect.”

  “I’ll get it. You do enough for us all, Mimi. Let me dote on you ladies a little.” He jumped up and strode to the cupboard for some bowls. After spooning copious amounts into two bowls, he carried them to the table and put them before them.

  “Thank you, waiter,” Mimi joked.

  With a flourishing wave, he bowed at the waist to them. Mimi laughed, and he caught a twitch at the corner of Brennah’s lips. Before he grabbed her and splayed her out on the kitchen table without a care as to who saw, he walked back to the microwave and got the cornbread.

  He carried the plate back and finally returned for his own chili, which he filled nearly to the rim. “Crackers? Of course we want crackers.”

  As he rooted in the cupboard again, he wondered what he could do to make things up to Brennah. He wouldn’t soon forget that pained expression in her eyes when he insisted on leaving the previous night. That he’d put it there left him feeling like even more of a bastard.

  All night long, he’d replayed what took place. Their heated bedroom play and the liquid passion in the depths of her eyes each time she looked at him. Then the stab to the gut that she could possibly leave Stokes and walk out of his life as quick as she’d walked in. Her findin
g the AA token had been a moment of revelation and confession for them both, which only deepened his connection to her.

  Finally, that burning-hot sex in the barn still had him half-hard.

  What they shared had been a goddamn rollercoaster—something neither of them wanted after living in hell all their lives. She deserved better, and he had to get his shit together.

  After heavy consideration, he’d woken to the decision he would attend a local AA meeting. He hadn’t been making things up when he told Brennah he didn’t need alcohol. But he was guilty of using drink to mask emotions. And when he felt he couldn’t possibly escape his father’s genetics, he said fuck it all and jumped in with both feet. Landing deep in muck never seemed to matter at the time, but now he wished he didn’t need to dig himself out of messes with loan sharks or fields burned in retribution.

  He located the crackers and returned to set them in the center of the table. Then he opened the pack, making sure he created as much noise as possible so Mimi gave him the eye.

  “Dane, you always were the loudest of the crew. Here, let me open that.” Mimi took the food from his hands, and he and Brennah smiled while she deftly opened the wrapper. She handed the crackers back to Dane.

  “Thanks, sweetheart,” he drawled. He took a huge stack of crackers into one hand and crushed them with more noise than the packet made.

  Brennah gave a small snort of amusement. Mimi only shook her head.

  “Am I being too noisy again?”

  They both nodded.

  He liked the gleam in Brennah’s eyes, though, and wanted to see it linger. He got up and stomped across the room, making the most of his big size and heavy footfalls.

  A giggle sounded from behind as he reached the coffeepot. He smiled to himself and carried the pot back with as much thumping of feet as possible.

  “All right, Dane. We get the drift—you’re the loudest Moon of all.” Mimi beamed at him in only the way a mother could, even if she hadn’t birthed him.

  “No idea what you’re talking about.” He poured them all hot coffee and took up his spoon once more.

  Brennah buried her face in her cup but not before he saw the smile she tried to hide from him. Under the table, he brushed his foot over hers again. This time she didn’t pull back.

  * * * * *

  Before hitting the road back to town, Brennah stopped in to check on her patient and speak with Zayden. After a brief scan of the horse, she noted how much better she looked.

  “I’m pleased she’s on her feet and eating and drinking. Some horses don’t bounce back from anesthesia that fast,” she told Zayden.

  “Yeah, I’m glad to see it. When should I give her the Bute?”

  “With her dinner feeds.”

  “Sounds good. Thanks again, Doc. Just send me a bill.”

  She nodded. “That job’s for my office worker, but I’m sure she will.” Smiling, she threw him a small wave. “Call if you have any concerns. Seriously, day or night—we’re just a field away.”

  “I appreciate it.” The hard nod he gave her reminded her all too well of his brother. After lunch, Dane had left the house and she didn’t know where he’d gotten to. Probably better not to run into him, especially alone. Who knew what her crazy self would do. When it came to Dane Moon, she didn’t seem to harbor much control. Even when he rubbed his foot against hers, she liked the sensation and didn’t stop him.

  As she walked the distance back to her SUV, she covertly glanced around for a glimpse of Dane. He didn’t stand at the barn and wasn’t fixing the gate.

  When she reached her vehicle, a noise made her look around, and she saw him jogging toward her.

  God, did her body have to react so strongly to the cowboy? From the scuffed boots on his feet to the battered hat on his head and every inch of denim and cotton in between, the man’s appearance grabbed her ovaries and knotted them up.

  “Brennah, wait.”

  Her heart tripped, but she paused before getting behind the wheel.

  He stood a foot away, head bowed. “Look, last night…”

  “Things got out of hand. I said some things I regret too,” she spoke up.

  “Hell, I’m not askin’ for an apology from you. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s all on me.” He thumped his chest with a fist.

  Her stomach twisted harder. “Dane, I need time to sort out some things.”

  When he swallowed, his throat worked as though against a lump. “Brennah, I’m sorry. You don’t deserve to be put through my hell. But…I still want to be friends.”

  Ouch. Friends.

  She nodded. “We’re neighbors.”

  “Hell,” he said so softly she nearly didn’t catch it. A heavy heartbeat passed. Then his voice came out gruffer. “I’d like to offer my help with training your horse. Give her more time in the ring when you’re away.”

  She blinked rapidly to fight back her rising tears. “That’s very generous to offer your time. Thank you. I’ll think about it.”

  They faced each other, but didn’t meet each other’s eyes. Whatever easy feeling that existed from the start between them now felt jagged, like the rocky face of the mountain neither could climb with their bare hands… But oh, she wanted to.

  “Thanks again. I’ve gotta get back to the clinic.” She reached for her door handle, but he was faster and opened it for her. He held the door while she placed her coveralls and bag she’d picked up after speaking to Zayden on the passenger’s seat. Then she slid behind the wheel.

  He didn’t immediately step back. She didn’t immediately start the engine.

  “Take care, Brennah. If you need me, you know where to find me.” With that finality ringing in her head like a gong, Dane closed the door and walked away.

  She drove out to the main road, under the Moon Ranch sign, and back to Stokes. Back to her lonely, overworked life with no hope Dane would show up on her doorstep tonight and offer to grill her a steak or blow her mind with his kisses and dark, delicious pleasures.

  Chapter Ten

  Sweat trickled down Dane’s nape and ran into his shirt collar from both hard work and the rising temperature. Using his forearm, he swiped away a droplet before it ran into his eye.

  “This is a big job for just the two of us. We could use Asher right now,” Dane said between hefting heavy logs into a pile they’d split later in the week for the customer. Two weeks ago, he’d been broke but now he had a bit of cash in his pocket and his first payment wired off to Big John.

  “Yeah, I think the people of Stokes must have taken pity on us and given us smaller jobs.” Zayden lifted a wide chunk of wood and chucked it over with the others.

  Dane squinted up at him. “Are you kiddin’? Everyone in this town hated us Moons.”

  “Still do, far as I can tell. The sheriff doesn’t give a damn about our tractor and it’s been weeks.”

  Compressing his lips, Dane focused on the job and not the topic of conversation. “I haven’t seen a parade in my honor yet, that’s for sure.”

  Zayden grunted. “Sometimes feels like it’s them against us. But they forget we’re stronger.”

  “You smell stronger.”

  “I was gonna tell you the same. Dickhead.” Zayden grinned.

  Dane straightened and stretched the tightening muscles in his back. Looking at the two trees they’d just felled and took turns cutting up with the single chainsaw to their name, they’d made pretty decent progress for one morning.

  Following his line of sight, Zayden straightened too. “I made a deal with the homeowner that we’ll work to noon or ’til the job’s done. Then we still got daylight for our own work on the ranch.”

  They’d been up well before dawn checking the herd and feeding stock and likely wouldn’t fall into bed until late. But that sat just fine with Dane—the fewer hours he had to think about Brennah, the better.

  “Esme wasn’t all too happy when I told her about the job this week. She had plans for us to look at wedding venues in the evenings.�
��

  Dane shook his head. “Jesus. You’re really gettin’ hitched?”

  A crooked smile cut a path across Zayden’s face. “Yeah. Guess I done lost my mind.”

  “You’re the last person I ever thought would marry, Z.”

  “You aren’t the only one. Now you getting married—none of us were too surprised when you called and told us.” He gripped another heavy slice of wood and tossed it into the split pile.

  Dane wrangled a cut branch for a moment, getting hung up in another branch. He had to drag both across the yard in order to separate them. Then he hauled them to a growing pile to burn. There’d be one hell of a bonfire later.

  When he returned to Zayden, his brother picked up the conversation again. “My marriage will be a sight different from yours, though.”

  “Hope to hell that’s true. What we had was a train wreck. Too bad we couldn’t have been on one o’ those reality shows. Coulda made a bundle before the divorce.”

  Zayden chuckled and reached for a large chunk of wood. The base of the tree easily spanned five feet in diameter when standing. They’d cut the beast into slices they could easily move. With a grunt, he rolled it across the ground to the chop pile.

  A breeze cut across them, and they lifted their heads to drink in the cooler air. “Damn, that smell makes me want to be on the mountain,” Dane said.

  “No wonder, with as much time as we spent there growin’ up.”

  His thoughts of finding a small corner of the mountain and building a permanent residence there hadn’t stuck with him long—now he could see how much his brother needed him on the ranch. The increased workload and the growing herds proved too much for one man.

  “Maybe I’ll head up the mountain sometime this weekend, for old time’s sake.” Dane pitched a few smaller chunks of wood onto the pile to split.

  A small smile formed on Zayden’s face, and his eyes took on a faraway expression. “I met Esme on that mountain, so it holds some fond memories for me.”

  “I heard. Sounds like a better place to find a woman than a strip club.”

  He grunted. “What about the doc?”

  Inside, he jerked. Outside, he went still. Without looking up at his brother, he lifted a log. “What about her?”