Chase caught a movement in the corner of his eye and looked up to see a car pulling up the driveway. He shut off the sander.
“You’ve got company,” he said to Maddy.
She looked up and came to her feet.
“Know who it is?” he asked.
“I don’t recognize the car.”
It was a dark blue, late model sedan, clean and shiny compared to a lot of the vehicles he’d seen around town.
It came to a halt, and Chase could see a man was driving.
“It’s my brother,” Maddy said, setting down the scraper and brushing her hands across the fronts of her jeans.
“Zane?” Chase asked. He couldn’t see very well, but it didn’t look like Zane. The man was wearing a blazer or a suit jacket.
“Lucas.” Maddy rubbed her hands across her cheeks then she smoothed her hair.
“Which one is he?” Chase couldn’t help going on alert.
If he remembered correctly, Lucas was the brother from New York City. The one Zane had threatened to call in over Maddy getting a job.
“New York,” Maddy said. “He’s the oldest.”
The car door opened and Lucas stepped out. He was dressed in a business suit, wore a pair of wingtips, and he looked to be impeccably groomed.
Chase refused to feel self-conscious about his own appearance. He was working with his hands, not attending a board meeting.
“What’s he doing here?” Chase mused out loud.
She shot him a look of frustration. “Do I look like I know?”
“Do you think Zane called him?”
“He better not have.” She started down the stairs to meet her brother.
Chase’s instinct was to go with her, but he hung back. The man was her brother. There was nothing for Chase to contribute to the conversation.
The two hugged, even though Maddy’s clothes were marred by sawdust.
After that, the body language went downhill.
Lucas was frowning. Maddy was shaking her head. It was clear there was frustration in their exchange of words. When Maddy pointed at Chase, and Lucas shot a glare his way, Chase decided it was time to make a move.
He set down the sander and stripped off his safety goggles, making his way down the stairs and along the path to the driveway. He stopped a few feet short of the pair.
“Chase,” Maddy said, “this is my brother, Lucas.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Chase said, holding out his hand.
Lucas shook. His grip was firm, his hand callused. He might be dressed like a banker, but it showed that he’d grown up on the ranch.
“Maddy tells me you’ve been babysitting.”
Chase could hear both a challenge and the mockery in his voice.
“That’s right,” Chase answered easily. “Riley needed care.”
“He’s done a whole lot more than babysit.” Maddy rose to his defense. “He saved Riley’s life. He’s doing endless work around here.”
“I thought you were injured?” Lucas addressed Chase.
“You spoke to Zane.”
“I told him not to call you,” Maddy said.
Lucas returned his attention to her. “He didn’t. Zane talked to Eli. Eli called me.”
“Eli needs to mind his own business,” Maddy said.
“You are our business, little sister.” Lucas looked to Chase again, obviously sizing him up. “Everything about you is our business.”
Chase couldn’t help but smile at the subtle challenge.
“Something funny?” Lucas asked.
“Stop,” Maddy ordered her brother.
“I’m only painting her porch,” Chase said.
He had nothing to hide here. He might be attracted to Maddy, but he hadn’t made a single serious move on her. He was respecting her wishes, and his conscience was clear.
“Out of the goodness of your heart?” Lucas drawled.
“Uncle Lucas!” Riley came scampering across the uneven lawn, making a beeline for Lucas.
Lucas readily scooped the boy up in his arms. “You’re getting so big, Riley.”
“I am,” Riley happily agreed. He pointed. “My bike is red.”
Lucas dutifully looked to the bike. “I see that. It looks good.”
“We painted it. I got to pick the color.”
The look Lucas gave Chase said he was onto him. It wasn’t the time to set Lucas straight. But Chase got the sense he’d have that opportunity before Lucas left.
“I hear you started a job,” Lucas said to Maddy, letting Riley slide to the ground.
Riley headed back toward his bike.
“Please tell me you didn’t fly all the way from New York to tell me I’m wrong to start working,” Maddy said.
“You’re wrong to start working.”
“I need to earn a living, Lucas. That’s what I told Zane, and it’s still true.”
“If it’s about money…”
“It’s about more than money.”
Lucas glared at Chase. “Do you need to be here for this?”
“No,” Chase admitted. He didn’t.
Maddy’s tone went sharp. “Don’t chase him away.”
“I want to talk to you in private.”
“Bullying me alone isn’t going to work any better.”
Chase folded his arms across his chest. Lucas might be her brother, but Chase wasn’t going to stand by and let Maddy be bullied by Lucas or anybody else.
Lucas didn’t say a word, but it was obvious he caught Chase’s change in stance.
To Maddy, Lucas said, “You don’t need money, and he doesn’t need to be here.”
“Wrong and wrong,” Maddy said. “Piper has offered to watch Riley, but she can’t start until next week.”
Lucas stilled, his expression going on alert. “Piper?”
“You obviously remember Piper Beauregard.”
“She left town years ago.”
Chase tried to guess what was going on in Lucas’s mind. Something was obviously wrong. For some reason, he didn’t trust Piper. But Maddy had mentioned that the Beauregards lived in the valley for decades. What would there be not to trust?
“She’s back,” Maddy said. “She owns the print shop now.”
Lucas seemed to catalogue the information. Then he neutralized his expression. “How much money do you need?”
“Stop,” she said.
“How much?”
Chase couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “What have you got against her working?”
Lucas gave him a look that clearly questioned his intellect. “She has a son to take care of.”
“Plenty of women work and raise children.” Chase knew it was rare for single mothers to have the luxury of spending all day with their children.
“Maddy’s not plenty of women.”
“You do know she’s over twenty-one.”
Lucas’s expression turned steely. “What is that supposed to mean?” It was obvious the turn of phrase made him even more suspicious of Chase’s intentions towards Maddy.
Chase squared his shoulders. “Are you actually questioning your sister’s virtue?”
“I’m questioning your motivation.”
“My virtue is none of your business, Lucas,” Maddy said.
“He said it,” Lucas pointed out. “Not me.”
“I haven’t touched her,” Chase said.
Maddy’s eyes went wide in obvious astonishment.
“That’s what’s really got you bothered, isn’t it?” Chase asked Lucas. “Well, let me put your mind to rest.”
“What’s got me bothered,” Lucas said, articulating each word, “is that my sister is leaving my nephew with a babysitter while she flirts for tips in a casino.”
“She’s a card dealer, not a cocktail waitress.” Chase had seen her uniform.
It was a plain black dress with red piping. Her shoulders were bare, and it was figure hugging and, sure, he thought it was sexy. But he’d find her sexy in a potato sack. He wasn’t an ac
curate benchmark.
“I can speak for myself,” Maddy said an edge to her tone. “I’m not flirting with anyone. And Piper will take good care of Riley. He’ll be asleep most of the time I’m at work.”
“And what about you?” Lucas asked. “You’re going to exhaust yourself.”
“I’ll manage,” she said.
“You don’t have to manage.”
“I’m not taking your money. It’s yours. I know you’re saving.”
“I’ll save a little longer.”
It was obvious Lucas was saving for something specific. It was just as obvious that it was none of Chase’s business. A week from now, he’d move on to Missoula, or maybe he’d hold out for Tacoma. But either way, Maddy and Riley’s lives would carry on without his input.
Lucas, on the other hand, would be a part of her life forever.
Chase felt a sudden shift in his perspective. What would he do in Lucas’s shoes? What if he had a sister who was a single mother and needed financial support?
He’d try to ram it down her throat every bit as hard as Lucas was trying to ram it down Maddy’s. And he’d be right. Because he’d never let a sister of his exhaust herself working in a casino if he had the power to stop it.
“You should listen to your brother,” Chase said.
Two astonished gazes swung his way. Lucas’s turned quickly to appreciation, while Maddy’s turned equally quickly to anger.
Chase spoke to Maddy. “You don’t have a really good argument against taking his help.”
“What about independence and self-sufficiency?”
“What about Riley’s well-being?”
Her blue eyes cooled in the heat of the afternoon. “Don’t you dare try to tell me what’s best for my son.”
“An exhausted mother is not best for anyone.”
Maddy glared at Chase then she turned on Lucas. “Neither of you can stop me from making my own decision. You might as well give up now.” She turned on her heel and marched toward the house.
They watched her go.
Lucas was the first to speak. “You better not be sleeping with her.”
“I’m not sleeping with her.”
Lucas’s look was piercing. “Then why are you still here?”
“Zane didn’t tell you?”
“I talked to Eli not Zane.”
Chase knew there were four brothers. He didn’t know where the communication chain broke down, but it had broken down somewhere. “Then they didn’t tell you.”
“Tell me what?” There was more than a thread of steel in Lucas’s voice.
There was no point in sugar coating it. “Riley thinks I’m his father.”
Lucas’s jaw dropped open.
“Yeah.” Chase had an inkling of how Lucas felt. “We’re trying to bring him back to reality, but we’re afraid to do anything drastic.”
“How can he think…”
“Apparently, I look like him and sound like him. I have the same first name, and Riley saw me bull riding.” Chase could feel his throat thicken over the words and he swallowed the emotion down. “Poor little guy is desperate for me to be his daddy.”
*
As she made her way through the motions of the evening, Maddy felt completely alone. It wasn’t that she was arguing with Lucas. She argued with her brothers all the time.
It was being at odds with Chase that had her upset. Since the moment he’d come into her life, he’d done nothing but back her moves. Through some extraordinary ups and downs, he’d had her back at every turn. And now he was siding with Lucas.
She made them all burgers for dinner. Then she gave Riley a bath and put him into his pajamas. She stayed out of sight in his room while he said good night to Chase and Lucas, grateful that he scampered back down the hallway on his own and she didn’t have to go get him.
She lingered over his stories, reading to him long after he’d fallen asleep. Finally, she couldn’t put it off any longer. She dreaded sitting down to talk to the two men without the buffer of Riley making everyone hold their tongues.
She had her own bottle of bourbon in the cupboard, and she stopped in the kitchen to pour herself a glass, taking a big sip before making her way into the living room.
There, Chase and Lucas seemed deep in conversation. She could only imagine plotting how to attack her together.
“He asleep?” Chase asked.
“Yes.” She took another sip.
Chase’s glance went briefly to the glass, but he didn’t make a comment.
“Chase told me,” Lucas said.
“Told you what?”
“About Riley.”
It took Maddy a moment to realize what Lucas meant. He was talking about Riley thinking Chase was his father. She sank down in an armchair, giving herself a moment to breathe.
How had that circumstance not been her first thought? In such a short time, she’d grown used to Riley calling Chase Daddy. It had jarred her at first. And then she still noticed it. But lately, it had become something of a backdrop. That couldn’t be good.
“Yes,” she said to her brother, “it’s a big problem.”
“What’s your plan?” Lucas asked.
“To introduce the idea slowly,” she said. “Chase already introduced the concept of a child having more than one father, that sometimes fathers had to go away.”
As she spoke, she realized that conversation had taken place days ago. Neither she nor Chase had done anything since, at least nothing that she knew about. And she had a hard time believing Chase would have made progress and not mentioned it to her.
“Chase isn’t going to be Riley’s new father,” Lucas said.
Anxiety cramped her stomach. “I know that.”
“He’s leaving.”
She couldn’t stop herself from glancing at Chase. “I know he’s leaving.”
Was that what they’d been out here talking about? Chase’s plan to leave?
“You need a long-term plan,” Lucas said.
“I know all this.” She wished Chase would say something. She could use his support along about now.
“Then why haven’t you done anything about it?”
“Who says I haven’t? When Chase leaves.” She paused to take a drink, buying herself a moment and bracing herself with the liquor. “When Chase leaves, if Riley doesn’t already understand, I’ll make him understand.”
“I’ll help,” Chase said.
“Riley’s going to need your support,” Lucas said to Maddy.
“He’ll have my support. Don’t you question my parenting capabilities.”
“He’ll need you here,” Lucas said.
“And we’re right back to it.” She swallowed the remainder of the bourbon and rose to get some more.
“I’ll get that,” Chase said, standing up quickly and taking hold of the glass in her hand.
“Do you really think you need another?” Lucas asked.
“Back off,” she said.
“I’ll get you another,” Chase said firmly. “Sit down.”
She didn’t like that it sounded like an order. She didn’t let go of the glass.
“Please,” Chase said, “listen to your brother. Try not to let your emotions get in the way. He only wants what’s best for you and Riley.”
“Seriously, Chase. My emotions?”
“You know what I mean.”
“You mean I’m a woman, and therefore I don’t have it in me to be logical.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You might as well have.” She snapped the glass from him and turned for the kitchen.
When she got there, she realized he was on her heels.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.
“I’m thirsty.” She poured herself another drink.
“Nobody’s going to make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
She laughed at that. “You’re giving a damn good imitation.”
Chase lowered his voice. “Talk to him, Maddy.”
<
br /> “Why are you on his side?”
“I’m on your side,” Chase said.
She suddenly realized how close they were standing together. His voice was vibrating through her. He smelled like sawdust and the outdoors. She wanted to touch him. She wanted him to hold her, to pull her close, and tell her everything was going to be alright. She had a wild, momentary fantasy of them taking this on together.
“Listen to what he has to say, then do whatever you want to do.”
“What?” She’d lost her train of thought for a moment.
Chase took her drink. He downed it. Then he kissed her soundly.
She would have protested, but she was too surprised. Plus, she didn’t want to protest. She wanted to beg him to kiss her again.
He set down the glass. “Instead of getting drunk. Talk to your big brother. This might be hard for you to understand, but the same way you want to protect Riley, Lucas wants to protect you.”
“I’m his sister, not his daughter. It’s not the same thing.”
“He told me he was twenty-five when your father died. You were fifteen. You have to forgive him if he sometimes mixes up his roles.”
“You’re ganging up on me,” she said.
“We are. But in the end, you’re the one who gets to decide.”
For some reason, his words made her feel better.
“You kissed me,” she said.
His gaze went to her lips. “I did. I promised myself I wouldn’t do that again.” Then he turned abruptly to one side to give her room to pass. “Let’s go.”
It took her a moment to move. She wanted him to kiss her again. And she wanted him to want that too. But he didn’t make a move.
She left the kitchen, returning to her brother.
Lucas stood.
“I need to think about this,” she told him.
His gaze flicked behind her, obviously to Chase.
“But you will think about it,” Lucas said.
“I will.” She couldn’t imagine changing her mind. But she didn’t feel like arguing anymore. “Are you going back to New York?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“Are you staying here tonight?” She couldn’t see putting Chase on the sofa. But she supposed Lucas could take her bed, and she could sleep out here.
“I’ve got a hotel room in town.”
Chase (American Extreme Bull Riders Tour Book 2) Page 8
