Destined for Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 2) Contemporary Romance

by Melissa Foster

  On the way back home, she stopped at the library to do a little research on the dance of two lovers—anything to delay seeing her father. The Weston Library was a historical stone building with two-story ceilings and cherry shelves that lined the walls of the large structure.

  “Hey there, Jade. So great to see you. How’s your mom?” Polly Wright asked from behind the desk by the door.

  Jade had gone to school with Polly’s daughter, Krista. Krista had gotten pregnant right after high school and had married the father, Tom Hardwick. Last Jade had heard, Krista had a house full of children and an unhappy marriage. She was careful to avoid that topic.

  “She’s doing great, thanks for asking. I just came in to use one of your computers.”

  Polly leaned over the desk and spoke in a hushed tone. “I’m really sorry to hear about your family’s troubles. With the price of things these days, it’s amazing any of us can stay afloat.”

  Jade tried to hide her surprise. Does the whole town know? If her father was just posturing with the whole financial demise aspect in order to create a safety zone for her mother as she grew older, then he was doing it at the expense of his own reputation. She didn’t know what to think anymore. What if she’d chosen to believe the wrong explanation and they really were having financial troubles?

  “We’ll be fine. Thanks, Polly.” She headed to the computers by the back window with her head down.

  She did a quick library search on the dance of two lovers, and nothing came up. Not a book, a movie, or a myth of any kind. How could both Rex and the woman from the shop know what the dance of two lovers meant? As much as she wanted to avoid any further discussion about her father’s decision, she needed some answers. Polly was on her computer when Jade approached the desk.

  “I’m really sorry to bother you, but I’m looking for information on a myth, the dance of two lovers? Have you ever heard of it?”

  Polly blinked without answering, then squinted like she was thinking. Finally, she said, “Why, that’s one I’ve never heard of.”

  Great.

  “Catherine, have you heard of the dance of two lovers?” Polly called into the office.

  Catherine had been the head librarian forever. She had to be at least seventy-five years old by now. Her shaky voice called back, “I haven’t heard that in forty years. Who’s asking?”

  “Jade Johnson.”

  She heard Catherine’s chair scoot across the wood planks. Then her slow footsteps approached. Catherine was a tall, large woman. She filled the doorframe between the office and the large desk, one hand gripping the edge of the frame. Her gray hair had always been cropped into a short, layered style, and as Jade looked at her now, she noticed that nothing had changed. Catherine’s sense of style remained constant: polyester slacks, jacket buttoned up to her neck, and flats that looked as tired as the wrinkles on her face.

  “Jade Johnson.” Catherine smiled, exposing her impeccably straight yellowish teeth. “I hear you’re working wonders on the animals around here. It’s good to have you back in town.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad to be home again,” Jade said with a smile. She had many fond memories of afternoons spent in the library studying while other kids were out on dates or with their friends. Catherine had supported her efforts by bringing in veterinary articles she’d cropped from magazines and newspapers.

  “What is this about the dance of two lovers?” Catherine’s face grew serious; the lines around her mouth appeared more pronounced.

  Without thinking, Jade reached up and touched the charm beneath her shirt. Careful among the eyes and ears of the library, she made up a story to back up her question. “I was in town the other day and heard someone say something about it. It was intriguing, so I thought I’d look it up.”

  Catherine’s lips turned up into a curious, careful smile that did not reach her eyes. “Mm-hmm. Well, I doubt you’ll find anything on the dance of two lovers in any book. You could go ask Hal Braden about it.”

  Polly snapped to attention. “Oh, no, no, Catherine. She couldn’t do that.”

  Jade cringed at the truth of her situation.

  “No, I guess you really can’t, can you?” Catherine narrowed her eyes in a way that made Jade’s nerves sting.

  What the hell is going on? “Yeah, I can’t really do that. It’s not a big deal. Thanks anyway.”

  Jade hurried out the front door and into her car, where she rested her forehead on the steering wheel and closed her eyes, wishing she could talk to Rex. She hated the situation they were in, and as she drove home, that hatred grew. It was her own damned fault. What kind of educated woman runs home to Daddy when there’s an issue? She could have relocated anywhere in the world. Why did she have to come back to the one place where she’d fall in love with the one man she knew she could never really be with—at least not publicly? Maybe she needed to take this horse by the reins and find another place to live—another state altogether. Someplace where her heart wouldn’t break every time she thought of seeing Rex. Someplace where everyone didn’t know everyone else’s business. Someplace where she could stay up all night with a man and not feel guilty. The real problem was, the only man she wanted—she’d ever want—was Rex.

  She stormed into the house and stomped up the stairs to her childhood bedroom, slamming the door behind her. She paced the small space as tears welled in her eyes. Jade fell across her bed and buried her face in her pillow, crying, much like she had when Rex had punched Steve when they were kids. I’m such a loser!

  “Darlin’? Is something wrong?” her father asked from behind the closed door.

  She bit back the urge to scream, Go away! This is all your fault! If you were a man instead of a child none of this would be happening! Instead she said, “I’m fine. Just tired. I’ll be down later.” After you’re asleep and I don’t have to see your face.

  “Was everything okay with your girlfriends?” he asked.

  She sighed. He was so good to her that it made it hard for her to capture the spears of anger and keep them alive.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON, Rex was a nervous wreck. He hadn’t had a chance to get a message to Jade the day before, and it had taken all of his willpower not to drive over to her house and confront her father. Thankfully, he’d listened to the sound of reason echoing in his head and had kept his cool. He’d gotten up early this morning and left a note in her car, but the whole situation sucked, and Treat was right. He had to find a way to make it work. Running from his feelings for Jade was not an option. He’d spent too many years denying any thoughts of her. He wasn’t used to lying—especially to his family—which meant that, as far as he could see, he had one option. He had to find a way to convince his father to fix the feud, and he fully expected his efforts to fail, which put him right back to where he’d started: trimming Hope’s muzzle whiskers, bridle path, ears, and fetlocks in preparation for the show, knowing there was no solution to the only issue he cared about.

  “How long are you going to avoid me?”

  Normally, his father’s pat on his shoulder was reassuring. Now it made him feel rebellious.

  “I’m not avoiding you. Just taking care of business.” He felt his father’s eyes watching him and clenched his jaw harder.

  “Family’s coming in tonight. You gonna show up for dinner?”

  “Don’t I always?” Rex felt guilty, speaking to his father so harshly, but he was roiling inside, and he knew that if he gave his voice an inch of slack it would lash out in a way that he might not be able to recover from.

  “We missed you the other night.”

  Rex closed his eyes, stifling the urge to say what he felt. I was out with the woman I love. I didn’t even know I could love a woman, but I do. Be happy for me. Fix your shit so we can be together.

  “Son, you can’t avoid me forever, and you surely can’t avoid yourself. Guilt is a terrible enemy. She’ll eat you up and spit you out, then stomp on your writhing body until there
’s nothing left but a broken shell of a man.”

  Rex faced his father. He felt his nostrils flaring with anger, his hands fisting by his sides. “What are you saying, Dad? Just come out and say it. Don’t play these stupid games with me, all right? I’ve got a lotta shit to take care of.”

  A slow smile spread across his father’s lips. “I think you’re the one who’s playing games, son,” he said in a calm voice. “You just gotta decide if the game you’re playing is worth risking the reality you know.”

  What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

  His father shook his head and headed for the lower paddock.

  JADE NEEDED TO ride. She’d spent all afternoon with clients, the last of whom was a nasty man who treated his horse like crap. He yelled and tugged and generally showed no respect for the animal. It had taken all of Jade’s willpower not to haul that horse back to her own barn and nurture it properly. All afternoon she’d craved the thundering beat of a galloping horse beneath her and the feel of the wind in her face as she crouched down low and let him carry her away. She saddled Flame, skipping his usual calming massage. He was feisty, but she didn’t care. She wanted danger. She’d finally found a note in her car from Rex, and it appeared he was having the same trouble she was, which made thinking about moving away even harder. And she’d never expect Rex to move away with her, no matter what he might say he’d do. She ached to see him, to hold him, to be safe in his arms again.

  She mounted Flame and trotted around the edge of the property. The sun was just beginning to set, making it difficult to see into the woods. She found herself searching for Rex even when she knew he wouldn’t be there. When they reached the back of the property, the long stretch of pasture called out to both her and Flame. One light tap of her heel sent him cantering at a fast pace. She squeezed his muscular body between her thighs. She knew she shouldn’t make Flame push too hard, even if his leg seemed fine. All she needed was a few minutes to relieve her mounting stress. She lifted her weight off the back of the horse and shortened the reins. Flame did the rest. In perfect balance, they bulleted forward in the evening light. Jade’s heart slammed against her chest. The muscles in her lower back and legs tightened and pulled. Her long dark hair lifted from her back, whisking away her stress and worry with it.

  When she no longer felt like she wanted to climb out of her own skin, she lowered her body down to Flame’s back, and he slowed his pace.

  She stroked his warm, thick neck. “You are such a good boy.”

  They were heading toward the woods that separated the Braden ranch from theirs, with the unoccupied land in between. Jade guided Flame down one of the narrow trails.

  She heard the laugher before she reached the edge of the woods. Clear joy sifted through the air and drew her forward. She guided Flame toward the road, leaving the woods behind, the same way she had so many months ago when she’d come upon Rex and his family in the driveway.

  They walked past the driveway, in the direction of the voices, and she brought Flame to a halt just above the barn, giving her a clear view of the family gathered around a long table. She counted three dark male heads and a woman who she assumed was Treat’s girlfriend. Her heart kicked up a notch when Rex walked out of the house toward the table. She’d recognize his formidable gait anywhere. His dark brown Stetson made him appear even taller than she knew him to be. Oh, how she longed to be at that table. No, not just at the table. I want to be welcomed to the table.

  She watched as Savannah stood and brushed her hair from her shoulder, then scooped something from a bowl and put it on the plate of whichever brother was beside her. Then she reached across the table and did the same for her father, but he knocked the ladle just as she was putting it on his plate, and the plate tumbled off the table. Jade bit her lower lip through her smile as Hal Braden shot to his feet, his hands out to his sides. All fell quiet, and just as quickly uproarious laughter filled the air. She picked out the cadence of Rex’s hearty laugh, wrapped it up, and tucked it away next to her heart. Then, fearful of being seen, she guided Flame home.

  SEEING HIS BROTHERS and sister was just what Rex needed—and just what he didn’t. Anytime the Bradens were together, there was laughter and love, and tonight was no different, even without Dane and Hugh, who were unable to clear their schedules for the weekend.

  “Josh, tell me what’s going on in New York these days,” his father said, slinging an arm over Savannah’s shoulder.

  “I’ve got a new fall line coming out, and so far the critics are loving it.” Josh’s brown eyes were smaller, more almond shaped than Rex’s, and ever since he was a little boy, they’d told the story of his emotions. Now Rex saw delight as Josh spoke of his fall line. He ran his fingers through his closely shorn dark hair just above his ear, a mannerism as familiar to Rex as the silence Josh kept regarding the women he dated.

  “I saw something about it in People mag. Someone wore one of your gowns to something,” Savannah said. “Very impressive.”

  “Someone’s always wearing something of mine,” Josh teased. “Other than that, not much is going on.”

  “You seeing anyone special?” Josh never talked about the women he dated, and though his father would never push any of his children for information, he held Josh’s gaze until Josh turned away.

  “Nah, Dad.” Josh slugged his beer and began to choke.

  As Rex patted him on the back, he caught sight of Jade passing their driveway on Flame, and his chest squeezed tight, stealing the laughter right from his throat and replacing it with a longing so present it inhabited every inch of him.

  Rex lowered himself to his chair across from Max and Treat. Max reached over and wiped the edge of Treat’s mouth with a napkin, then kissed him on the lips. His father reached out and draped his arm across the back of Max’s chair. The tug on Rex’s heart spurred his jealousy. He narrowed his eyes, watching his father whisper something in Max’s ear. He yearned for his father to accept Jade in the same way.

  “Rex, hello?” Savannah tapped his arm.

  “Sorry, what?” he asked.

  “Ketchup, can you pass it, please?”

  He handed her the ketchup while looking up toward the driveway again, feeling Jade’s absence like a missing limb.

  “Hey, what’s that?” Savannah said, touching the chain around Rex’s neck.

  He swatted her hand away and rolled his shoulders forward. “Nothing.”

  “Oh, come on. Let me see. You never wear any jewelry. What is it?” Savannah was being her normal teasing self, and if she’d have done that two weeks ago, he’d be laughing right alongside her, tickling her ribs until she stopped badgering him. But tonight he was all kinds of stressed out.

  Rex’s biceps flexed, and he gritted his teeth. A hush swallowed the din of his family, and he felt five sets of eyes on him. “It’s just something I bought in town,” he said gruffly.

  Savannah reached up again, and his father growled, “Savannah, leave the man alone.”

  She arched a brow. “O-kay then.” She picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of broccoli.

  Treat caught Rex’s eyes and held them. Rex read his brother’s message loud and clear: Stupid shit. Are you trying to get caught? At this point, he wasn’t sure that wasn’t exactly what he was doing. He pushed away from the table. “I’m gonna get some water.”

  “Actually, that sounds good to me, too.” Treat rose to his feet.

  “Me too,” Savannah chirped.

  Josh was right behind Treat, leaving their father and Max alone at the table.

  Rex stood in the kitchen against the counter, drinking a glass of water, one ankle crossed over the other. He watched them file in and knew he was in for an inquisition.

  “Too bad Hugh and Dane couldn’t make it. We could have had a full house,” Rex said in a serious voice.

  “Hugh had a race, and Dane got some lead on a major funding initiative for the whale sharks. Max’ll keep Dad busy. She knows how this goes by now,” Savannah said, winki
ng at Treat. “So, what’s the scoop? And what’s around your thick neck?”

  Rex shook his head.

  Josh leaned against the fridge next to him. His black slacks were perfectly pressed, his white dress shirt pristine. He was narrower than all of his brothers, as lean and sleek as they were thick and rippled, and every bit as handsome. His dark hair was just as thick, though he kept his much shorter. As a fashion designer, Josh was more interested in his appearance than any of them. Treat used to rival him with his Armani suits, but now that he was spending more time back home, Rex noticed that Treat rarely broke out anything more formal than a pair of jeans or dress slacks.

  “Anything I can do?” Josh asked.

  Rex shook his head. “Not unless you can end a forty-year battle,” he said honestly. It felt good to get it off his chest. What had his father said? Guilt’ll eat you up and spit you out, then stomp on your writhing body until there’s nothing left but a broken shell of a man. Rex wasn’t about to let that happen.

  “You mean the Johnsons? What’s going on with them?” Josh asked.

  Savannah grinned mischievously. “Josh!” she said in an excited whisper. “Jade!”

  Rex lifted his eyes to his sister and couldn’t keep a smile from his lips. He’d expected a modicum of support, but he’d also expected a rage about his breach of loyalty.

  “Jade Johnson? She was eyeing you the day of Max’s accident in the driveway.” Understanding dawned in Josh’s eyes, and he cracked a smile and elbowed his brother’s ribs. “You dirty dog, you. Did you eat the forbidden fruit?”

  You could say that. “Hey, let’s keep it clean,” Rex said. “Aren’t you guys gonna ream me out for going against Dad?”

  “Ream you?” Savannah asked. “I’ve known you were in love with Jade since high school when I caught you staring at her during that 4H auction. Remember?”