Daring Wes: Cade Brothers Series

by Jules Barnard

  He tossed his club in his golf bag and hauled it onto his shoulder. He’d practiced at the crack of dawn, like he’d been doing every day these last two months, then put in a few hours of lessons with clients. Afterward, it was back to the range for another two hours of practice. He would have stayed past dark, putting and chipping and honing his skills for the qualifying tournament, but Kaylee hadn’t shown for her lesson this afternoon.

  Wes had told Kaylee he didn’t want to see her again, but he hadn’t actually believed she’d stay away. She was having her wedding at his goddamned resort, after all. And then he’d seen her crying on her way out of the lobby yesterday.

  Wes strode to the pro shop and lifted his chin at the cashier. “I’m heading out.” He set his golf bag behind the counter. “Close up tonight.”

  The twenty-year-old cashier saluted Wes and went back to eating his energy bar.

  The shop and course were slow this afternoon. And in general. Wes would have to do something about that. Find a way to make it more profitable for the club and help his brothers preserve their father’s legacy. But all of that could wait. At least for the rest of the evening.

  Because Wes was heading out to find Kaylee.

  Goddammit. Kaylee had caught him unawares, showing up at his club after four years. All he’d wanted was to discover her secrets and scoot her the hell out of his life. And here he was, going after her because she wasn’t around.

  Kaylee had been upset yesterday. Given the information he had on her fiancé… Wes needed to know she was okay.

  Because he was worried.

  He hated that he was worried about his ex, but she wasn’t much of a crier. Kaylee was independent and chill most of the time, which was one of the things that had drawn him to her. She only cracked when deep shit went down. Like when they’d broken up.

  So if she’d been crying yesterday and hadn’t shown today, when she never missed a lesson before, something was off. That was the reason he hopped into his car and headed for her parents’ cabin, cursing himself the entire way.

  He should turn around. Go back. Thank his lucky stars she was staying away and move on with his life. But things still felt unfinished between them.

  And he needed his mind cleared of anything having to do with Kaylee if he had any chance of making it through the qualifying rounds coming up.

  Chapter 10

  Wes pulled up to Kaylee’s parents’ place for the first time in years. It looked exactly the same. Stone, with a rough wooden exterior sealed to keep the deep brown color intact. And there was only one car in the driveway.

  Thank fuck her fiancé wasn’t here. He would have a hard time explaining why a golf instructor needed to visit a client’s home.

  Wes exited the car and leapt up the porch steps two at a time, then knocked none too gently on the front door.

  He’d make this brief. Find out why she hadn’t shown and see if this was going to be the norm. That way he wouldn’t always be looking over his shoulder, expecting his ex to come walking around the corner. He’d even help her find a new instructor.

  That was the plan, anyway. Until she opened the door.

  Kaylee was beautiful, as usual. Dressed casual. She wore no makeup, but she’d never needed it to look pretty. It was the look of the dead on her face that scared the shit out of him. “Hey.”

  She swallowed, her distant gaze locking on his eyes. “Wes? What are you doing here?”

  He stepped inside without her offering, but she didn’t protest.

  Kaylee glanced to the side as though just noticing her surroundings.

  Man, she was out of it. “You didn’t show for your lesson. Bella was worried.”

  A lie. Bella had asked about Kaylee, but Wes was the one who worried. The pale cast to her face, her shaky frame, and the desolate look in her eyes told him he was right to come here.

  She walked slowly across the room and sat on the couch, where a dent in the cushion suggested she’d been sitting for a good long while. “You told me to find a new instructor. I’m also not feeling well.” Her voice came out scratchy, and she lifted her delicate fingers to her throat.

  He hadn’t planned on getting angry the other day. But his frustration had gotten the best of him. He’d been a dick, actually.

  Maybe he had a right to his frustration. He didn’t know anymore. He just knew he cared about Kaylee more than he did his reasons for being angry.

  Wes stuffed his hands in the pockets of his khakis. “You should see a doctor. You don’t seem well.”

  She studied his face.

  He shifted his feet, finding it difficult to come across at ease. He was showing some of his cards, but he wasn’t changing course now. Kaylee wasn’t a bad person. It was okay to care, he told himself, justifying the visit.

  She tucked her short, dark hair behind her ears. “I’m not sick.”

  He watched her shaky hand drop into her lap. “Riiight. When did you last eat?”

  She sighed, her chest falling as though a bag of sand held it down. “Wes, why are you here?”

  He noticed she didn’t answer his question. “I told you. You didn’t show for your lesson. The last time I saw you, you looked like you were about to hurl your lunch.”

  He didn’t want to say exactly why he’d felt compelled to check in on her. That somewhere deep in his dark, cold heart, he still felt something for her, much as he wished it weren’t true.

  Recognition dawned on her face. “Right. I’d just spoken to Emily.” She sank her head into her hands and mumbled something he couldn’t hear.

  “What was that?”

  She looked up. “The wedding is off.”

  He let out a deep sigh. Thank fuck. “Are you okay?”

  “I know you didn’t like Eddy. You don’t have to act all concerned.”

  He sat on the couch beside her, leaving a good two feet between them. “I wasn’t a fan of McDouche…ah, Eddy. But I didn’t intend to ruin your relationship with him. When we last talked…the things I said…they didn’t come out right. Shit, I didn’t even know I was going to say them. I thought I’d let you figure it out on your own. But then you mentioned trust... I got defensive. Shouldn’t have taken out my anger that way.”

  Her mouth curved up. “I didn’t exactly believe you, if that makes you feel any better.”

  For a moment, his heart sped at the teasing look in her eye. And then he took in her words.

  His shoulders tensed. “Why would you believe me? Oh, wait. Maybe because I’ve never lied to you. Not all men are like Eddy.”

  She frowned. “You might not have lied to me, but you hurt me.”

  “I hurt you? Other way around, Kaylee.”

  He scrubbed a hand down his face. Rehashing the same old argument wasn’t why he’d come here. “If I hurt you in the past, it wasn’t intentional. And I wasn’t trying to hurt you again the other day. Nor did I come here to upset you. I came to check in.” He glanced down her body. “You look shaky and you’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”

  “Thanks for pointing out how bad I look.”

  He frowned, but it was halfhearted. She never did let him get away with anything—and he liked that about her. “That’s not what I meant.”

  She leaned back and hugged a couch pillow. “Sorry. I know you’re here because… Actually, I’m not sure why you’re here. But I’m fine. Really.”

  He hated that she was closed off to him now. “Have you eaten? How about I make you something?”

  Her forehead scrunched and then she laughed—and it was melodic and pretty and genuine. Just like the girl he remembered. “Since when do you cook?”

  He rolled his eyes. “A man can’t live on frozen food alone. I’ve learned a few things.”

  Not exactly true. He wasn’t much of a cook, which was why he went to Adam’s place when he felt like eating something decent. His brother kicked ass in the kitchen. Adam’s fiancée Hayden might not be a fan of Wes showing up unannounced, but what were brothers for?
<
br />   That glassy, desolate look crossed her eyes again. “I’m not hungry, Wes.”

  He studied her for a moment, then stood. “You mind if I grab something? You may not be hungry, but I am. Spent a long day practicing.”

  She flopped back and stared at the ceiling. “Have at it.”

  Wes checked the cupboards and fridge. Not much in the house, but he found what he was searching for. He pulled out a bag of microwave popcorn and butter.

  He might not be a cook, but he was a master at timing the microwave popcorn to perfection before half the bag burned. That technical expertise came from experience.

  Wes placed the bag in the microwave, cut the stick of butter in half, and dropped it in a small bowl. Rummaging through a few more cupboards, he found a larger bowl, and grabbed that one as well.

  When the popcorn was ready, Wes pulled it out of the microwave and opened the bag—without scalding his face—and poured it in the large bowl.

  He shoved the butter in the microwave and nuked it for a few seconds, making sure it was nice and melted.

  Kaylee frowned. “Popcorn? Anything else I can get you? Maybe a home-cooked meal?”

  “You offering? Because I sure as shit won’t pass that up. Don’t pretend.”

  Her look was pure exasperation. “No, I’m not offering. My life is crumbling and you’re eating all my food.”

  “It’s only popcorn.” The microwave beeped and Wes pulled out the butter and poured it over the food in question. “And if you’re not going to eat it, why should I let it go to waste?”

  “Isn’t there somewhere you need to be? The pro shop? Teaching Bella, maybe?”

  “Nope.” He returned to the couch, closer this time, allowing the steam from the popcorn to waft in her direction. He jammed his hand in the bowl and shoved the buttery goodness in his mouth.

  She watched him with a look of disgust on her face that he didn’t believe for one second.

  “Mmm. Good stuff. You want any?” He offered her the bowl.

  She looked away. “No.”

  After a few moments, during which the only sounds permeating the room consisted of Wes crunching on popcorn, Kaylee twisted toward him. “Why didn’t you like him?”

  He assumed this was about McDouche. “He wasn’t good enough for you.”

  “He was a good boyfriend,” she said, but even Wes could hear the lack of conviction in her tone.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Fine, he was a lying asshole. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  “If it fits.”

  She absently reached over and grabbed a handful of popcorn, eating it while she spoke. “I didn’t know he was lying. I had no reason not to trust him.”

  “Sure you didn’t. You’d just come out of a relationship where the man you were with was honest. You had no experience with lying bastards.”

  Her mouth twisted. “I hope you’re not referring to yourself. I hate to tell you, but you were not a paragon.”

  He gestured to his chest in mock disbelief while she stole another handful of popcorn. Which had been his intent all along—to get her to eat. Asking her to eat would get him nowhere. She was beautiful and stubborn.

  A stab of something hit Wes in the chest. Nostalgia? Fuck, he didn’t know, but he brushed it off. Didn’t need that shit clouding his judgment right now. “You have to admit, I never lied to you. I wasn’t perfect, but I loved you.” A prickle of unease shot through him. He was exposing himself.

  He sensed her stare and cleared his throat. “Anyway, you never explained what I did that was so horrible and made me an absent boyfriend. Most women give their guys the courtesy of telling them what they’ve done wrong before dumping their asses.”

  Kaylee extended her arm for another handful of popcorn, and Wes pulled the bowl out of reach.

  She glared. “I thought you were here to make me feel better? Share, dammit.”

  He narrowed his eyes, but his chest heated. This was why he’d loved Kaylee. She was stubborn, feisty, and territorial over food. He respected the hell out of her. “I came to check on you, not cheer you up. No more food until you tell me what you’re keeping behind lock and key inside that head of yours.”

  She looked away and brushed her hands together, knocking off popcorn flakes. “I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “It’s hard for me, Wes. Really hard. I’m scared.”

  She was serious. Obviously. Whatever this was about had destroyed their relationship. He’d thought she’d gotten sick of him putting her on the back burner for his golf career—and that might have been part of it—but there was more. And he’d only recently realized it.

  He’d been so pissed that she’d dumped him and his career had tanked, he’d never considered there might be another reason behind their breakup.

  Would it change anything? Probably not, but he still wanted to know what she was keeping from him.

  “I can’t talk about it right now,” she continued. “I’m in an emotional wasteland. Bringing up the past… I just can’t go there.”

  “Fair enough.” He gave her the bowl, but she didn’t dig in. She looked crushed. “You should come to your next lesson.”

  “Why? I’m not with Eddy anymore. I don’t need to practice for our honeymoon. There is no stupid honeymoon. And you’re not teaching me, remember?” She set the bowl on the side table with a loud thunk.

  “You said he wasn’t the only reason you were taking lessons.”

  “He’s not…but I feel like crap. I can’t go out right now. Maybe in a few weeks.”

  “All the more reason for you to show up. And not in a few weeks; that’s not healthy.”

  He mentally shook his head. Since when was he the mental health expert? He’d spent the last four years being angry over his ex dumping him.

  Wes stood and grabbed one last fistful of popcorn. “And eat some food, Kaylee. Don’t make me come over and cook more popcorn. We’ll tap out on my food prep skills real quick.”

  She tried to hide a smile. “Wouldn’t want that.” She let out a deep sigh. “Thank you, though. For coming today.”

  He crunched on the popcorn. “Only came because you didn’t show,” he said around a mouthful of food. “Pisses me off when my clients miss appointments. It’s rude.”

  She smiled. “So you’re my instructor again?”

  He shrugged noncommittally.

  “Fine,” she said, and sank back into the couch cushions. “I’ll be there.”

  Chapter 11

  Kaylee made a quick trip home to her folks’ house and shared the news about her broken engagement. And swung by her family doctor to get tested for STDs, because eww. She didn’t know if Eddy had practiced safe sex. Somehow, Kaylee doubted it. At least her doctor told her she was in the clear. She supposed that was some consolation.

  Her parents didn’t seem surprised about the split. In fact, her father appeared downright pleased.

  How could she have been so blind? Who knew how many women Eddy had slept with while they were together? Now that she saw the real Eddy, she couldn’t un-see what a disgusting human being he was. Apparently, when you were running from ghosts, you made terrible decisions. Like spending your life with a guy because he couldn’t have children either.

  To make matters worse, Eddy phoned in some misguided attempt at getting back together and accused her of being the problem.

  Oh, hell no. She wasn’t walking around in a daze anymore. That call had lasted all of two seconds, before she told him to never reach out to her again.

  Kaylee made it to her next golf lesson, and no, she wasn’t happy. She felt like crap, but Wes was right. She couldn’t mope around and not take care of herself.

  Wes didn’t ask any questions about the breakup, just nodded his approval at her being there, and proceeded to make her sweat it out at the driving range for a couple of hours. Which, in some weird way, made her feel better, because it took her mind off the rest of her life.

  We
s, like Kaylee and Bella, was in training mode. He practiced alongside them and was hyper-focused, just as he’d been in college. Kaylee wondered why he was practicing so hard. It reminded her of their painful past together.

  If Kaylee really wanted to depress herself, she thought about how she’d come full circle—hanging out with Wes, attracted to him, as always, but never his priority. She was not interested in dating Wes or anyone right now. Was it even possible to rebound with the ex you rebounded from? That was a hell of a mindbender. No, when she was ready, she would move forward, not backward. And good God, dating Wes would be taking five steps back.

  Kaylee had other things on her mind, anyway, like where to live. Eddy had somehow stolen the apartment she’d rented in San Francisco, and she couldn’t care less. A year ago, he had insisted on buying all new furniture, so the only things she’d left behind were a few clothes and some knickknacks her father had graciously offered to pick up so that she wouldn’t have to deal with Eddy. Moving back to the city would feel like stepping back, and if she was making a fresh start, she wanted it to be somewhere she could see herself living long term.

  After practice, Kaylee went into emergency get-your-life-back-on-track mode. Tapping her pen at the makeshift desk she’d set up at the kitchen table, she sifted through Craigslist, Monster.com, and other job search engines, and filled out job applications. The jobs she found didn’t pay much, but she wanted something she might enjoy. For now, she only needed enough money to survive on. Her parents’ place was paid for, and they said she could stay as long as she liked.

  Despite the massive turn her life had taken, she felt surprisingly Zen with everything. As though a weight had been lifted. And maybe it had. Somehow, things would be okay. As long as she didn’t forget the boundaries that needed to remain between her and Wes.

  * * *

  Wes scanned the applicants in his inbox for the new assistant golf pro position. Very few people had experience with children. He could hire someone without it. Their new direct marketing was working better than expected, and they needed instructors for adults too. But Bella had changed Wes’s opinion on the whole “training kids” thing.