And Then You Kiss

by Heather A Buchman

  “I was going to teach at a university.”

  “What are you waiting for?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You aren’t doin’ anything else. You could finish now.”

  Lyric had a point. How hard would it be for her to finish? More than likely it wouldn’t be hard at all. Maybe she’d go online and see what courses she could take at UCCS.

  “Thank you.”

  “Huh?”

  “Thank you. You’re very…straightforward. I appreciate it. I don’t think anyone has been this honest with me in weeks.”

  “Call ’em as I see ’em.”

  Bree had to laugh. If anyone could get Blythe back in the game of life, it was Lyric. Bree was actually looking forward to the day Lyric would kick her sister’s ass in the same way she’d just kicked hers.

  “Since we’ve settled what you’re gonna do with your life, there’s somethin’ else I want to talk to you about.”

  As if Lyric hadn’t stunned Bree enough already. Now what?

  “Yeah?”

  “We need to find Tucker.”

  Chapter 12

  “I’m guessing you already have an idea for how to do that.”

  “Well, not exactly, but I’ve been thinkin’.”

  Did this girl ever stop thinking?

  “Jace is still trainin’ with Billy, right?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Lyric let out a sigh. “You know who Billy is at least, don’t ya?”

  Yes, she knew who Billy was, but what he was training Jace for and whether he was still doing it, that part she didn’t know.

  “How often does Jace come see Blythe?”

  That was an easy question to answer. Almost every day. He helped her sister more than she did. In fact, there were days she wondered if Jace wasn’t the brother who was in love with Blythe. He certainly acted like he was.

  “When I first met her, she was with him.”

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “When I met Blythe. She was on a date with Jace. Tucker was in Europe or somethin’.”

  This was news. “How did she end up with Tucker?”

  Lyric told her about the night at the National Western, and how bizarre it had been to watch Blythe change the minute she realized Tucker was there. She also told her about how much weirder it got, and how she’d been the cover when Blythe wanted to get away from both Tucker and Jace.

  “And then it didn’t matter,” Lyric said. “’Cause that’s when she got the call about your husband.”

  Bree took a deep breath. “This is very confusing.”

  “Tell me about it, you shoulda been there. It was the craziest thing I ever saw. Ask Renie about it sometime, she’ll have an interesting perspective given she as the one who hooked up with Jace in the first place.”

  Bree’s head was spinning. What? Did Lyric say Renie had been with Jace? This was too much to take in. She decided to go with whatever the rodeo girl had to say. No matter how many questions she asked, Bree doubted she’d ever truly understand any of it.

  “So Jace is the key to this whole thing. We gotta spend more time with Jace.”

  “Huh? How do you suggest we do that?”

  “Well I’m too busy to do it, so you’re gonna have to.” Lyric looked as though she was thinking very hard about something.

  “I have an idea.”

  Didn’t she have a million ideas? Bree had gone from confused to fascinated. “Go on, please.”

  “Since you’re into all this sociology stuff, maybe you could say you were writin’ a paper or somethin’. You know about why guys ride broncs. You could spend some time out at the ranch, pretendin’ like you were studyin’ them. Talk to Jace, maybe we can figure out a way to work together to find his brother.”

  It was going to take Bree a few minutes to catch up with Lyric’s line of thinking, but she was beginning to form some thoughts of her own.

  The “angle” of writing the paper, wasn’t a bad idea. The subject matter fascinated her. What Lyric suggested as a guise, might turn into a real thesis project.

  “I think you’re on to something.”

  “I always am,” answered Lyric with a confidence Bree wished she could someday possess.

  “You’re very sure of yourself.”

  “If I’m not, who’s gonna be?”

  For the second time that morning Bree thought maybe the most intriguing subject to research would be Lyric.

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

  “A brother. That’s why I think Jace is the key to findin’ Tucker.”

  Bree was lost again. “How’s that?”

  “He’s my twin.”

  “Who is?”

  “My brother. We’re twins.”

  “Okay, and what does that mean?”

  “Jace knows more than he’s lettin’ on, or more than he realizes.”

  “And you know this how?”

  “’Cause I’m a twin. You sure you went to college?”

  Bree laughed. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m also sure that your brain moves at the speed of light. You aren’t easy to keep up with.”

  “Thanks. I think. Anyway, Jace is our guy. And if he’s not payin’ attention to what’s in front of him, we’ll help him along with it. Get him refocused.”

  Yep, Lyric was quickly becoming the most interesting person Bree had ever met. She couldn’t wait to find out more.

  “Where is your brother anyway?”

  “He’s in Oklahoma. And that is a story for another day. Or another week. Hell, Bullet’s story might take me a month to tell.”

  “Bullet?”

  “My brother. Isn’t that who we were talkin’ about? Damn Bree, you don’t have much of an attention span, do ya?”

  Bullet. Interesting name. Bree was beginning to think she’d stumbled on enough material to write an entire book rather than a simple thesis.

  ***

  When Bree got to the house later that morning Jace was already there.

  “It isn’t your responsibility,” she heard Blythe say to him.

  “What if I want to make it my responsibility? I care about you, and I care about the baby. Let me do this Blythe. Let me be part of your lives.”

  Bree hated that she heard as much as she did. She went in search of her parents before Blythe and Jace realized she was eavesdropping.

  “Jace, you have to understand—”

  “I know what you’re gonna say, and it’s okay.”

  “What was I going to say?”

  “That you’re not over Tucker. And it’s okay. I can wait.”

  “It isn’t that I’m not over him. I’m having his baby Jace. Doesn’t that kind of…I don’t know…turn you off of me?”

  Jace touched the side of her face. “No, it doesn’t. I meant what I said. I care about you, and I care about the baby. I want to be part of your lives. And if you don’t feel the same way about me as I feel about you, well, I’ll learn to be patient.”

  “What if I never feel the way you do Jace?”

  “You did once Blythe. I know you did. Things got all kinds of mixed up between you and me and Tuck. But I’m here now, and he isn’t. I asked you once before, and I’ll ask you again. Please give me a chance Blythe. That’s all I’m askin’ for. A chance.”

  “And if I say no?”

  “I’ll ignore ya.”

  That made her laugh. “That’s what I figured.”

  “I’m not givin’ up. I won’t push you, but I won’t give up.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “For now, I’ll be your friend—your best friend. I’ll be here when you need me. I’ll help you with the pregnancy, and once the baby’s here, I’ll help you then too. I’m here for you Blythe. That’s all you need to know right now.”

  “You’re sure about this?”

  “Never more sure of anything.”

  ***

  The ultrasounds they performed indicated Blythe’s baby w
as perfectly healthy. She was far enough along that they should have been able to tell the baby’s sex, but Blythe insisted she didn’t want to know.

  In a couple more weeks, the doctors wanted to perform an amniocentesis saying it would give them information the ultrasound could not. Blythe hadn’t decided yet. There were risks that the doctors said were minimal, but any risk was too much. Tucker’s baby lived, through some very trying conditions. Blythe didn’t want to put their baby through anything else.

  More and more, Blythe turned to Jace when she had to make a decision about the baby. She listened to her parents when they gave their opinion, and to Bree, and even Renie. But when the time came for a decision, it was Jace that Blythe listened to.

  He was the one who convinced her to go through with it. Whatever they learned, he told her, they’d face together. And ultimately, if there was anything wrong, which he was sure there wasn’t, it would give them a chance to do more to help the baby, rather than hurt it.

  The results again were very positive. Everything came back normal. Blythe started calling the baby her little miracle. And so did Jace.

  Jace was always close, affectionate, but not in a romantic way. When Blythe was with Jace, she was calm. When he wasn’t around, she grew anxious. Everyone sensed it, especially Jace.

  ***

  Sunday afternoon the Cochran house was full. Billy and Renie were staying at the ranch in Black Forest. Ben and Liv flew over for a visit, and brought Jace’s parents with them. They wanted to see Blythe and let her know they would support her in any way they could. Paige and Mark hosted a barbecue for everyone.

  Jace could feel Blythe’s exhaustion from across the room. Billy was in the middle of a sentence Jace wasn’t listening to anyway, when he walked away. She needed him. He could feel it.

  He sat down next to her and drew her into him. He couldn’t help himself; he was falling in love with her. He didn’t know if she’d ever love him the way he knew he’d love her, but it didn’t matter, he’d never leave her. His brother had, but Jace would not.

  Blythe rested her head on his shoulder. She was tired. Exhausted more than tired. She needed rest, and while she appreciated everyone visiting, this gathering was becoming too much for her.

  Paige and Mark had set Blythe up in the guest room on the main floor of the house. Next week, she was scheduled to have the cast removed from her arm, and if all went as planned, she’d be able to stop using the wheelchair shortly after that.

  “Time for our Blythe to get some rest,” he said. Jace picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

  Bree wasn’t sure why Jace’s actions irritated her so much. It was as though he’d taken over her sister’s care, to the exclusion of her family. He hadn’t even asked Blythe if she wanted to get some rest, he picked her up, and carried her off.

  “Maybe she wasn’t tired,” she said when she met him outside the door he closed behind him.

  “She was exhausted.”

  “She has a mind of her own you know.”

  “Yes, she does that.”

  Jace tried to walk away from her, but Bree grabbed his arm.

  “I don’t like the way you treat her.”

  “I couldn’t care less what you like or don’t like,” Jace growled at her. “The only thing I care about is the woman on the other side of this door. The one who needs rest. Now get the hell out of my way before our arguing wakes her up.”

  Jace stormed past her, bumping her up against the wall when he did.

  She went to follow him, but her mother stepped in her way. “Let it go.”

  “He isn’t even letting her think for herself.”

  Paige sighed. “He’s exactly what she needs right now. Let it go. I won’t say it again.”

  Bree turned in the opposite direction and went out to sit on the porch. She heard someone coming around the side of the house. Damn, it was Jace.

  He must’ve heard her, or seen her, as much as she tried to stay in the shadows unnoticed.

  “What the hell?” he said. “Are you followin’ me now?”

  “Uh, I think I was out here first cowboy. So I guess I could accuse you of the same thing.”

  “You’re ’bout the last person on earth I would want to follow, so you can let go of that fantasy.”

  As if she wasn’t already angry enough, now Bree wanted to hit him. What an arrogant bastard Jace Rice was. She had no idea what her sister, or anyone else saw in him. Asshole.

  Before she was tempted into giving him the satisfaction of a retort, Bree turned back around and went inside, locking the door behind her. If he wanted to get in the house, he’d have to go back around the way he came. And if she had anything to say about it, she’d beat him to the other side of the house and lock that door too. Maybe the insufferable jerk would give up and go home then.

  Her family could take care of her sister just fine without him. Better, in fact. At least if she and her parents were taking care of Blythe, she’d be given the opportunity to make her own decisions rather than having them made for her by Jace. Maybe Bree would start calling him Jack instead of Jace, as in jackass.

  Mark was out on the back deck when Bree came around, talking to Jace. She slunk back, hoping to go unnoticed, so she could eavesdrop on the conversation taking place between her father and her newfound nemesis.

  She couldn’t make much of it out, but it sounded as though her dad was asking about Tucker. Even though she couldn’t hear the words, she could hear the pain in Jace’s voice. The last thing she wanted to hear was anything that might make her feel sorry for the sonuvabitch. When she turned around, Lyric was standing in the kitchen watching her.

  “Got something to say?” Bree challenged her.

  “I find it interesting that Jace Rice manages to get under the skin of every female he comes across. Except me, of course.”

  “He isn’t under my skin. I simply hate the man. He’s arrogant and pushy and demanding and…”

  “Uh huh,” Lyric nodded before she turned and walked away.

  Under her skin. Jace infuriated her, that’s as deep as he went.

  ***

  Blythe couldn’t sleep, mainly because the baby couldn’t either. He, she liked to think he was a boy, couldn’t find a comfortable place to rest, so he was doing what felt like somersaults. She reached over and turned on the light, bringing her sweatshirt up so she could watch him as he moved.

  Every so often a hand or foot would press against her belly, and she could make out the shape of it. When she laid her hand there, he’d stop moving, and leave whatever appendage it was, where it was, as though he could feel his mom’s hand comforting him.

  When Jace opened the door to check on her, she was lost in the moment, feeling her son pressing against her.

  “Why aren’t you asleep?” he asked.

  “The baby woke me up.”

  He walked over and rested his hand on top of hers, as he so often did. He leaned down and kissed her belly.

  “Go to sleep miracle baby. Let your mama get some rest.”

  Why couldn’t she love him? There were days she was certain Tucker would never come back, but Jace? He was right here in front of her. Gentle, loving, nurturing, and patient. He said he’d never run out of patience, but what if she never felt the way he did?

  He reached up and rubbed his fingers over her forehead. “So much worry tonight. What’s goin’ on?”

  “I’m worried about you.”

  “We’ve talked about this. Nothin’ to worry about where I’m concerned darlin’. Nothin’ at all. You’re my life now. You and this little baby.”

  “What if I can’t be what you want me to be?”

  “Blythe, how many times do we have to talk about this?”

  She didn’t need to answer him. He knew what she was saying, and she was right. Every night, when he finally let the sleep he fought take over, he dreamt of her. It was often the same dream. He was making love to her, and each time, she called out Tucker’s name. It would
wake him up, and he’d fight going back to sleep again.

  ***

  Even through his drunken haze, Tucker felt his brother’s warring emotions. He’d alternate between serenity, and anguish. The same way Tucker did. When he felt the peace, he wondered if that meant he and Blythe were together. And what about the anguish? What was that all about? Or was it his own anguish breaking through? The lines were so blurred he couldn’t tell where he ended and Jace began.

  Chapter 13

  Blythe asked Bree to take her out to Billy’s ranch to watch him and Jace train. After Renie’s graduation the last week in May, Billy and Renie would be leaving for Crested Butte. Soon after Jace would follow them. Renie and Willow would be staying with Liv and Ben while Billy and Jace were on the rodeo road. Liv and Ben’s baby was due in June, so Renie had another reason for wanting to be at the Flying R.

  Jace told her he was thinking about quitting saddle bronc riding so he could stay home with her. She told him if he did that, she would never speak to him again. It was bad enough that he spent most of his time with her; she wouldn’t let him give up this dream.

  He made her promise to come and watch him practice, and to come to some of the rodeos he was competing in. She agreed, particularly when Lyric said it would be a great opportunity for RodeoChat, and she’d go with her. They were already planning when they’d join everyone in Crested Butte for Cattlemen’s Days in Gunnison.

  Bree was taking summer classes at UCCS, most of which she could take online, and at Lyric’s urging, was writing a research paper on why people competed in extreme sports. She wasn’t limiting it to bronc riders. Lyric set up interviews with bull riders, ropers, barrel racers and bullfighters. Bree also set up interviews with athletes who were competing at the X Games in Snowmass.

  “Jace, who’s staying at your place in Aspen?” Blythe asked him.

  “No one. My mom and dad check in on it, but that’s about it.”

  “Why don’t you let Bree stay there while she’s at the X Games?”

  Why didn’t Bree ask him herself if she wanted to stay there? He couldn’t say no to Blythe, but he sure as hell could say no to her sister.