When Drew walked in the back door, Damon looked up and smiled. “How goes it, bro?”
“All right, can’t complain.” Drew sat down and reached for a cup while Damon held up the carafe of coffee.
“So, how did you get along with Liv?” Damon asked and leaned back in his chair.
“Fine. I helped her put up her things and showed her the ranch then dropped her by here, and I went home.” Drew took a drink off his coffee and listened to the giggling coming from the kitchen.
Damon studied Drew with a grin on his face.
Drew listened to Regan and Liv giggling in the kitchen and turned to Damon, questioning him with his eyes.
Damon laughed. “They were at it half the night and up at the crack of dawn this morning, and they’re still at it.”
“They know each other?” Drew looked seriously at Damon. What the fuck?
“They have been friends since high school, dumbshit.” Damon chuckled.
“Son of a bitch!” Drew mumbled under his breath and rubbed his temples.
“What was that?” Damon asked, missing what Drew said.
Drew shook his head. “Nothing.”
* * * *
When Liv came out of the kitchen with platters of food, she nearly dropped them when she saw Drew. Although he and Damon looked very much alike, they were totally different. Damon had a cute and sappy newlywed smile, and Drew had a hard edge to him. It was a dangerous look, a man that shouldn’t be messed with, and to her it was attractive.
Immediately her heart began to race as images of yesterday flashed through her mind. Her body reacted by sending a quiver through her stomach and an aching between her legs. Carefully, she set down the platters and tried to act like it had never happened.
“Good morning, Drew. I hope you’re hungry. Regan and I got carried away with the cooking this morning.” She smiled sweetly and headed back to the kitchen to calm her racing heart. No one should have that kind of effect on her. He looked sexy as hell with groggy eyes and adorable with his tousled hair from his hat.
* * * *
Regan walked back to the kitchen and caught Liv leaned back against the cabinets with her eyes closed. “I know the feeling. Been there, done that.” She giggled and gathered up a stack full of plates and silverware.
Liv straightened her posture and put a smile on her face. She walked into the dining room and sat down at the table.
Regan watched intently as the sparks flew between Liv and Drew all through breakfast. It did bother her that Drew looked like he was hell-bent on disliking Liv, but she could see through him. She crossed her fingers a couple of times and hoped for the best. She wanted Drew to be himself again, the good-time guy that liked to charm the women and party it up with the boys. Ever since the night at the club he looked this way. Oh my god…Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of that night! She never thought to consider that if it had been a year, it had also been a year as of yesterday since he’d been with a woman, because she had never seen him with one since. That would explain the crankiness lately, but today he should be smiling. Maybe Liv was right. That night Shay made a fool out of him, and he was being eaten alive by the thought.
Drew interrupted her thoughts. “Thank you, ladies, for the wonderful breakfast,” he said softly and picked up his hat, and out the door he went.
The room fell silent as they watched Drew leave.
* * * *
Liv wondered what was going on in Drew’s head. He was quiet all through breakfast, and then he just up and left. She really didn’t expect much from him but thought he would at least be more relaxed. She supposed he’d be a hard nut to crack. That was okay, though. She liked a good challenge.
Regan got up and began clearing dishes. “Well, I guess I better get these dishes cleaned. I have to run into the city and put in my weekly order for the shop. Liv, would you like to come?”
“I’d love to, but if we could be back before dusk I’d like to shoot a little. The light is better at that time of day,” Liv said, knowing that the situation here at the ranch may be a little tense for a while.
They finished cleaning up, and Regan picked up her purse. “You ready, Liv?”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing your shop again.”
“Be careful, ladies.” Damon smiled and kissed Regan softly. “I’ll see you later.” He growled.
Regan giggled. “Can’t wait, now get out of here!”
The screen door smacked shut, and Regan turned to Liv. “What’s your plan, Liv? I can’t stand to see Drew this way.”
Liv smiled. “Don’t worry, he’ll come around.”
“I hope so.” Regan exhaled.
* * * *
Late in the afternoon, Drew loaded up his fencing supplies. He had worked all day and hadn’t bothered to go to Damon’s for lunch like he normally did. Surprisingly, Damon hadn’t come out to chew his rear after more than likely hearing about yesterday then not coming to lunch. It was an asshole move on his part, and he didn’t want to hurt Liv’s feelings, but he just needed to be alone.
Well, speak of the devil. Damon roared up in the feed truck and hopped out. “Why didn’t you come to the house for lunch?”
Drew looked up for a moment and continued to gather up his tools. “I wasn’t hungry.”
“Well, I know that’s a bunch of horseshit. You’re always hungry.” Damon picked up the post driver and put it in the back of Drew’s truck.
“Today I wasn’t,” Drew stated flatly and continued his work.
“Why don’t you like her?” Damon pushed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, bro.” Drew tried to dodge and act uninterested. The truth was he just needed to be alone to think.
“You know who…Liv.” Damon stopped and looked directly at Drew.
Drew sighed and dropped his hands to his sides. “I don’t like her or dislike her. I did, however, find it interesting that no one bothered to tell me that Regan and Liv have been friends since high school. Hell, I thought she was just a woman we hired because she could take care of our advertising.”
“She is great at what she does, there’s no doubt, but no one purposely withheld that information.” Damon leaned against the truck.
“Bullshit! Save it, and tell Regan that I don’t need her matchmaking expertise.” Drew threw his pliers toward the tool box.
Damon’s fists balled up. “Maybe she’s tired of watching you mope around here for the last year. Hell, maybe she doesn’t care and failed to mention their friendship. I didn’t know really anything about Liv myself until last night.”
“Yeah, and I’m sure she gave y’all the lowdown on how big of an ass I am.” Drew shook his head and headed for his truck door.
“What in the hell are you talking about? She didn’t say anything about you, so get over yourself,” Damon ground out while following.
“Listen, I just need to be alone.” Drew got in his truck with Damon on his heels.
“Wait!” Damon held on to the door. “I want my brother back. I miss him.”
Drew looked at Damon and shook his head. “I don’t know that guy anymore…what you see is what you get. Take it or leave it.” He started the truck and pulled away from Damon. In his rearview mirror Drew watched Damon just stand there and watch him drive away. He loved his brother a great deal and would do anything for him, but honestly he didn’t need their help or sympathy. As far as the man he used to be…he didn’t recognize him at all anymore.
* * * *
After Liv and Regan returned to the ranch that afternoon, Liv gathered her camera and tripod and set out across the ranch in her Jeep. She wanted some unique landscape shots for the cover of the sale catalog. The entrance to the ranch with the large iron “Welcome to Radcliff Cattle Company” seemed as good a place to start as any.
The sign was enormous and stretched high above the road with large lettering. In the background were acres of cattle lazily munching on what little grass this region had to offer in the
heat of the summer.
While out shooting assignments, Liv rarely had thoughts of anything run through her mind other than how best to capture what she wanted. Today, however, she couldn’t stop thinking about Drew and the hot interlude they shared yesterday. Her body just buzzed and yearned for more. More than likely, that wouldn’t happen again without a lot of effort on her part.
The man was stubborn, she’d give him that. Right now he was punishing himself by the looks of it, and she understood exactly how that felt. It wasn’t more than eight years ago that she was angry, stubborn, and trying to push the entire world away, too. Her situation was different, a lot different, but one man pulled her out of that dark place and turned her life around.
It wasn’t easy for Brock, or Liv for that matter, but he made her face the truth of what had happened in her life and absolved her of the guilty feelings. Liv had been in self-destruct mode for years, and it had nothing to do with the opposite sex or relationships. The attitude she had back then and the attitude Drew had now, well, they were exactly alike. Drew needed to face what was bothering him rather than push it deep inside and mull over it daily.
Liv finished shooting at the entrance and made her way toward the stream that dissected the ranch. It was peaceful and serene there, and she noticed the cattle yesterday were there cooling off and enjoying the water. Her artistic side got excited because the shot she envisioned would end up as a background for the multiple-picture spread showcasing the available dams the ranch would have up for sale.
It was difficult for Liv to understand the cattle market in its entirety when she first started working for ranches, but now she was beginning to understand the market more and more with each assignment. For the Radcliff’s, they dealt in registered Angus and top-notch genetics. To look at a sire sheet, most would be confused, but to Liv it was just a family tree for cattle, not people, with lots of numbers and percentages. She didn’t need to know what they meant to do her job, so she didn’t bother to understand them. Tomorrow though, she was finally going to see artificial insemination take place and learn how they documented it. Damon said there would be quite a few dams that would be ready for breeding. How he knew was beyond her, but she was looking forward to finding out.
At the creek, Liv set up her tripod and began shooting. Some cows and their calves had their heads down in the creek while others decided to treat it like a swimming pool and stood in it to cool off. Calves on the other side jumped and played together just like children would. Liv stepped back from her camera and watched the peaceful scene play out and just enjoyed the quiet.
* * * *
Drew watched Liv from a grove of trees a substantial distance away with his binoculars. She seemed to be enjoying what she was doing, by looking at the smile on her face. Maybe she wasn’t as bad as he thought or as devious. No, she was devious. She had shown him that yesterday, and he’d do well to remember that fact, his mind argued. But she did look fascinating while she worked. She had a look to her...what was it? Angelic, that was it, that was how her face looked, he thought and began to move his binoculars down to look at her other assets.
Of course, any red-blooded man wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to stare at a woman’s breasts if he could get away with it, and Drew, well, he was as red-blooded as they came. He watched her chest expand when she took a deep breath and noticed how her breasts poked out. Yesterday he didn’t have time or the forethought to sample them with his mouth, and now he wanted to. There were other areas he wanted to sample as well.
Liv stretched with her arms high in the air. Hello, hard-on. Her blonde hair was swept up in a ponytail, showing off her slender neck. Her breasts jutted out, tempting him so much he had to readjust his straining cock. She had a narrow waist, full hips, and a nice heart-shaped ass that Drew couldn’t help but slap yesterday for being so perfect. Her legs were long and slender, yet firm like she worked out. Yeah, he wanted those legs wrapped around his waist while he found his salvation between her thighs. Once was not enough to quell his desire.
When Liv bent over with her ass in his direction, he cursed and pounded the steering wheel. She knew he was watching, and how, he didn’t know. He thought he was well camouflaged in the grove of trees. Apparently not.
* * * *
Liv felt sexy and wanted when she caught the reflection of light bounce off of the trees. It could be one of two people, and she was damn sure it wasn’t Damon. No, it was Drew watching her, and she liked it. So to punish him for ignoring her all day and for hiding out in the trees, she was bent over stretching, showing him her ass and long legs.
She stood but didn’t look his direction and leaned her head back slowly while her hands traveled to her breasts where her nipples were already erect. She squeezed and pinched her nipples for relief and felt her panties get more and more wet. The thought of Drew watching just made her hot. She bit her bottom lip as her eyes closed and her head rolled back, her fingers still teasing and nipping.
Mercy, I need to come. Her body was on fire again, and all she could think about was Drew being the one to satisfy her in the way only he could. How she wished he would drive over and take her like he did yesterday, but so far he hadn’t made a move. When Liv realized Drew had left, her heart sank. She began to pack up her equipment while her body hummed and ached. Where had her mind gone? Ah, yes, it was studying the planes of Drew’s rock-hard body. Her mouth was sampling inch after inch of his tanned skin.
Back at the main house, Liv showered and had dinner with Damon and Regan. Of course Drew didn’t come. She could sense the tension in the room as each tried to ignore the obvious. By looking at Damon, she could tell that he and Drew must have had words today. He looked tired and worried with a faraway look in his eyes. Regan, well, she tried to stay upbeat and keep the conversation going.
Liv decided then that she was going to break through to Drew somehow. Seeing his family worry broke her heart. No doubt Drew was dealing with his own brand of pain, but he wasn’t realizing how it affected everyone around him. One thing was certain. Drew had morphed into a totally different person, and she needed to step up and take control.
Damon quietly got up and took his dishes to the kitchen. Regan frowned and pushed her food around her plate.
“It will all work out, Regan,” Liv said softly.
“I hope so.” Regan sighed. “It’s affecting Damon and me. We knew it would be rough, but a year?” She raised her brows in confusion, a sad, forlorn look marking her expression.
“Different people have different ways of dealing. Some are able to put their lives right back together, while others”—Liv paused, thinking of how many years she stuffed her problems and emotions back—“take years.”
Regan nodded, as if she knew what Liv was talking about. “How did you do it?”
Liv smiled brightly. “I was pushed by a very unique person to face my baggage.” She laughed. “And it worked.”
Regan dropped her fork, knowing what Liv was talking about. “Do you think it will work for Drew?”
“I think it will.” Liv leaned back and grinned.
* * * *
Drew washed his plate and glass. A sandwich and chips sure didn’t compare to the meals Regan had been preparing lately. Yeah, it was immature to avoid Liv, but he just couldn’t be close to her. He didn’t want to want her. He didn’t want to want any woman for that matter. Women were too hard to read, too complicated, and too damn sneaky. Shay was sneaky and also a dishonest bitch.
Opening the refrigerator, Drew grabbed a beer and went to his usual spot on the couch. He shifted uncomfortably. His dick was still semi-erect from watching Liv aggravate him earlier. She was sly, intelligent, and sexy in ways most women weren’t. He shouldn’t be attracted to her. Liv didn’t possess one quality that he liked in women. It must be the opposites-attract thing at work, he supposed. Didn’t matter. He wasn’t looking for a relationship. Hell, he wasn’t looking for anything, and she showed up. Seductress, that’s what she was, and he was h
er prey. Well, he may have been weak yesterday, and with good reason, but today, he definitely showed her that yeah, he could resist her.
A knock came at Drew’s back door, and he immediately cursed.
* * * *
Liv stood on Drew’s back porch trembling, not because she was scared, but because she was excited. Drew avoided her all day, most likely to prove to himself that he could resist the temptation. Well, she was going to push his limit in an attempt to make him feel and more importantly, to want to feel.
When Drew opened the back door, his jaw was clenched tight, and his eyes were fierce, warning her. “Do you always show up on a person’s doorstep without an invitation?”
Liv flashed him a wicked smile and brushed past him as she entered. “Depends on the person,” she said and studied the atmosphere of his house. The kitchen was nice and tidy, no dirty dishes sitting in the sink or dirt on the floor. Interesting. She continued to look around while Drew stood, dumbfounded, by the open door.
“You’re going to let june bugs in if you don’t close the door,” Liv chimed and walked toward the living room. The room was cozy and quaint with barn-wood paneling, a large, oversized couch, and a big-screen television. DVD cases sat on the entertainment center, so she walked over and picked up one.
Drew stood in the threshold between the kitchen and living room with his arms crossed, his shoulder leaning against the wall. “You’re pretty damn nosy,” he barked, but didn’t act at all embarrassed that she was holding up one of many porn videos he possessed.
Drew [The Texas Senator's Sons 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 4
