Unmasking the Maverick

by Teresa Southwick

  “Yeah. But that was a couple years ago and the moment is gone. He’s nothing to me now.” Except the man her brother Ronan had set her up with. The whole experience was now just a cautionary tale.

  He turned onto the road that led to her house. “Almost there. You were right about talking making the time go faster.”

  “It flies when you’re having fun.” And reliving painful memories. Her house was just ahead and the front porch light was on.

  Brendan parked the truck and turned off the engine, throwing them into darkness. So, here they were, and she’d just bared her soul about the man who’d done her wrong. Now she was facing the “how do you say good-night?” moment. Hug? Handshake? Kiss on the cheek? Lip to lip was her preference, but there was no reason to expect that.

  She grabbed her purse and the rose in one hand, then opened her door and slid out. Meeting his gaze across the truck’s interior, she said, “Thank you for dinner, Brendan. That was very nice of you. I’m sure we’ll see each other around. Good night.”

  She closed the door and headed for the walkway to the porch. Behind her, she heard him get out of the truck, and moments later he fell into step beside her.

  “The least I can do is see you safely to your door.”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but this isn’t a Halloween slasher movie. It’s highly unlikely that someone will jump out of the shadows to attack me.”

  He shrugged. “Call me old-fashioned.”

  Naturally. And call her a sucker for courtly manners, she thought. A glow started inside her, and she felt sure it was visible from space.

  They walked up the steps onto the porch and stopped a few feet from the door. She turned to him and looked up—way up.

  “Well, thanks again,” she said. “I had a really nice time.”

  “Me, too.”

  Was it her imagination that he leaned toward her? She held her breath, and her heart beat so hard it sounded in her ears. Anticipation poured through her.

  And then he took a step back. “Good night, Fiona.”

  In stunned silence she watched him walk away and get in the truck. So, this was a horror movie, after all. But it was her expectations that were slashed. She’d been so sure he was going to kiss her. Until he didn’t. And she’d bought a new outfit for this? Some impression she’d made. Apparently he just wasn’t that into her.

  Never one to miss a chance to see the silver lining, Fiona rationalized the heck out of this. It was déjà vu. Brendan Tanner was a stranger, a nice hunky one, but they’d been pushed together by a well-meaning man. It was for the best that he didn’t kiss her because around him her wisdom and willpower seemed to evaporate. If history was anything to go by, giving in to the attraction would not end well.

  But none of that rationalization took away the sting of her bruised ego or the smarting of rejection.

  But she’d handled it once. A little chocolate along with reading a couple of sarcastic blogs to shore up her attitude and she would be just fine.

  Chapter Five

  “We’re almost there.” Luke glanced over from the driver’s side of his truck.

  “I was wondering if you were lost,” Brendan said.

  Luke had asked him to help with roundup this year and they were headed to the cabin to make good on his promise. In October ranchers went into the hills and gathered up cattle that had been grazing there during the summer. Luke had explained that this operation took about three days, and the staging area with cabins, pens for the cows and a stable to put up the horses was a three-hour drive from Rust Creek Falls.

  Of course Brendan had been happy to do it. But that was before he found out he’d have too much time to think about Fiona. Too many miles to remember every detail of their dinner the other night, including the fact that he hadn’t kissed her good night. He’d wanted to—bad. He was pretty sure letting that opportunity get away from him would be at the top of a long list of regrets.

  But on the drive home from Kalispell, because he’d been talking about his father after Fiona had asked him to surprise her, the warning his old man had pounded into him was right there in his head. Brendan still remembered the exact words: Don’t fall in love, son. Don’t you dare do it. Then no woman can hurt you like your mother did me.

  Brendan had figured it was pretty important to his dad since the warning was one of the last things Leon said to him before he died. But it wasn’t necessary. Brendan had lived the message. His father’s wife walked out and later a long-term girlfriend did the same. The experiences hollowed out Leon’s heart and made him a two-time loser. Brendan’s own growing-up years were all the warning he’d needed, and he swore a long time ago not to let any woman in.

  Then he met Fiona O’Reilly.

  “You’re not very good company,” Luke said. “I have better conversations with my horse.”

  “He’s back there.” Brendan angled his thumb toward the horse trailer that was hitched to the truck. “I’m happy to switch places with him.”

  “Now that’s what I’m talking about.” Luke grinned as he guided the vehicle off the paved road onto a solidly packed dirt one. “I could have used much more of that guy for the last three hours.”

  “That guy is up for the challenge.”

  “Too late. We’re here.” His friend came to a stop beside two trucks already parked in the small compound.

  There were two log cabins, side by side, with a couple of wooden picnic tables out front. A short distance away were several empty enclosures that, presumably, would hold the cattle they rounded up. Next to that was a barn—open on both ends—with a roof and stalls to stable the horses. The land was hilly and covered with grass and scrub.

  Overhead the sky was a cloudless blue, letting the sunshine take some bite out of the chill in the air. The word idyllic came to mind, and it would have been if he hadn’t spent the last three hours thinking about a woman he wanted but needed to avoid like the flu.

  “Jamie’s not here yet. The slacker,” Luke teased.

  “The man has triplets,” Brendan reminded him. “Maybe you should cut him a break.”

  “I’ll give it some thought.”

  “You might want to decide before those three kids are teenagers.”

  “Three teens at the same time.” Luke shuddered. “I don’t know what you were like at sixteen, but I wouldn’t wish three of me at that age on my worst enemy. And one of them a girl. You’re right. That’s when he’ll need the slack.”

  That said, the two of them got out of the truck and looked around. Brendan didn’t recognize the other vehicles. “If Jamie’s not here, who do those belong to?”

  His question was answered when Fiona walked out of the cabin nearest them. A feeling rolled through him that felt like Friday afternoon of a long holiday weekend. Happy to see her didn’t do justice to what he felt and he wasn’t especially thrilled about that.

  When Luke stopped beside him, Brendan said low enough so only his friend could hear, “You didn’t mention the O’Reillys would be here.”

  “No?” Luke shrugged and met his gaze. The expression on his face was just a little too innocent. “The O’Reillys are here. The cattle carry the brands of our respective ranches. Every year we combine our resources to round up the animals and separate them into pens. I hope that’s not a problem.”

  Brendan saw Paddy, Ronan and Keegan come out of the barn and head in his direction. He blew out a long breath. “Not a problem for me.”

  Then Brendan’s gaze zeroed in on Fiona’s mouth. That was a problem.

  “Hello, Luke.” Paddy led his brood in handshakes.

  “You’ve all met Brendan, I assume?” Luke’s question was met with nods all around. “He’s helping us out this year. He has some ranching skills being that he’s from Texas. I told him Montana would show him the right way.”

  Paddy laughed, but hi
s boys didn’t react. Apparently glaring at him took all their concentration.

  “Good to see you, Tanner.”

  “How are you, Mr. O’Reilly?”

  “Can’t complain,” the older man said.

  Brendan suspected his sons could and would answer differently. He would admit to not always treating women with the respect he should have—promising to call when he had no intention of following through, classic crap that guys pulled—but he hadn’t put a disrespectful finger on Fiona. If they were aware of that, it didn’t seem to matter.

  “How was the drive?” Luke asked the older man.

  “Good.” Paddy looked up at the perfect sky. “But the weather is due to take a turn. You know how unpredictable October can be in Montana.”

  “Yeah. I think we’re getting this done just in time.” Luke nodded. “Jamie’s on his way. I planned to give my brother a hard time about always being late but Brendan reminded me he has three kids who will all turn into teenagers at the same time. Figured he needs to save up energy for that.”

  “Amen.” Paddy glanced at his adult children. “It’s a load off a father’s shoulders when his kids grow up to be fine human beings.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Fiona smiled at him. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  “Don’t let it go to your head,” he teased her.

  “I’m going to take care of my horses,” Luke said. “Fiona, would you do me a favor and show Brendan around? Give him the first-timer tour?”

  “Sure.” The brim of her brown Stetson shadowed her eyes so there was no way to read her reaction to the request. “Grab your gear and I’ll show you where to put it.”

  “Okay.” He opened the rear of the four-door truck and took out his duffel, then turned to see she was waiting for him.

  His intention was to make eye contact, but damned if his gaze didn’t go rogue and land on her lips again. If he’d gone with his instincts that night, he would already know how she tasted instead of letting his thoughts run wild with the unknown. But he hadn’t kissed her and was now forced to use his imagination.

  “This way.” Fiona pointed to the cabin closest to the holding pens.

  He fell into step beside her. For some reason he felt the need to break the tense silence. “How’ve you been?”

  “Fine.”

  He waited for her to take over the conversation and run with it, but that didn’t happen. “How’s the latest article going?”

  “Good.”

  Zero for two, he thought when she didn’t elaborate. Miss Get the Conversation Started didn’t seem inclined to want to follow her own advice.

  She had surprised him with the story of her bad experience. Brendan was no saint but he would never cheat on a woman and he wanted five minutes alone with the guy who’d done that to her. Even though he had no right to it, anger burned through him, bright and hot.

  They stepped on the porch and their boots thudded on the wood. She pushed open the door and led him inside.

  “It’s basic,” she said, “but there’s running water and indoor plumbing.” She pointed out the open room. “Kitchen, eating area, a couple of bedrooms and bath downstairs. Upstairs are two more bedrooms and a loft. Pick a spot and stash your stuff.”

  “Okay. I assume your family is in the other cabin?”

  “Yes.”

  This was not the carefree, happy woman he’d had dinner with. He wanted that woman back.

  “Are you okay, Fiona?”

  “Fine.”

  Liar, he wanted to say. Tell me what I did. But he didn’t get a chance to say anything because she turned abruptly and started toward the door.

  “We trade off cooking meals for everyone,” she said over her shoulder. “Jamie handled it last year so meals will be in our cabin this time.”

  “Okay. If you need help I can—”

  “No.” She glanced around, everywhere but at him. “That’s it, then. Dinner is at six.” And without another word she walked out the door.

  Brendan dropped his duffel and followed her. She was headed for the other cabin and he started after her. Before he could catch up, someone behind him called out his name.

  It was Ronan. “I need a word, Tanner.”

  The snarl in the other man’s voice said this wasn’t going to be a “welcome to the neighborhood” conversation. He turned and faced Fiona’s older brother. “What can I do for you, O’Reilly?”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Like Luke said. To lend a hand.”

  The other man folded his arms over his chest. “That’s it? Just helping out?”

  Brendan knew where this was going, but he didn’t plan to make it easy. “What other reason would there be?”

  “Maybe your motivation has something to do with my sister?”

  “I didn’t know she would be here. Luke didn’t mention that any of you were coming.”

  All of it was true but Ronan didn’t look like he was in the mood to believe that. Brendan wouldn’t have agreed to come if he’d known, but it was unlikely this pissed-off older brother would believe that, either.

  “So you’re here out of the goodness of your heart?”

  Luke had asked on Jamie’s behalf and Brendan couldn’t say no to the man who had given him a place to get a fresh perspective. He considered him a friend who asked for a favor. That was good enough. Did that fall into the “goodness of his heart” category? Close enough. “Yeah. I’m a prince of a guy.”

  “Then why is Fiona upset?”

  “She’s your sister. How am I supposed to know?”

  Ronan’s gaze narrowed on him. “She was fine until you took her out to dinner. She was cheerful, happy, taking care of everyone like always. She was just...Fiona.”

  “And what? She turned into someone else?” Brendan couldn’t resist needling this guy, but he braced himself. No telling how hotheaded he was.

  Ronan’s glare intensified. “Don’t be an ass.”

  “Too late.”

  “On the drive up here she was good. When you showed up she wasn’t. I don’t know. Her mood changed.”

  “I have no idea what’s going on with her. Maybe you should try asking her about this.”

  “I will.” The conviction in his tone said he would do just that. “And one more thing.”

  “There always is.” Brendan barely held back his annoyance.

  “I saw the way you looked at her.”

  “And how was that?” Again with the knee-jerk comment. Brendan knew exactly how he’d looked at her.

  “I think you can figure that one out for yourself.” If possible, Ronan’s expression turned even hotter. “Fair warning. If you hurt my sister—”

  “Before you finish that thought, you should know I’m an ex-marine. I have advanced hand-to-hand combat training.”

  “All the same...you’ve been warned. No one hurts her again.”

  He walked away before Brendan could respond. He was aware that big brothers could be protective, but this man had a level of hostility that took it up a notch. And the best explanation was that Ronan felt he was somehow to blame for her being hurt. Why?

  Brendan meant what he’d said. He wouldn’t do anything to make Fiona unhappy and the best way to avoid that was to keep his distance. But damn it. Being warned off made him want her even more.

  * * *

  Of all the roundups in all the world, Brendan Tanner had walked into hers. How is that even fair? Fiona thought. At dinner she’d managed to avoid him, and everyone turned in early to rest up for a long day in the saddle. She’d tossed and turned all night and was now in said saddle and feeling tired and pretty doggone crabby about the whole situation.

  She and Ronan had paired off and were riding in the hills. From previous years they knew the cows wandered off a fair distance and it wa
s best to start there, then head back to the staging area with as many animals as they could find. The strategy avoided having to double back while keeping the strays together.

  It was a Montana Visitors Bureau kind of day. Blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. The air smelled of earth and shrubs and early morning dew. She loved riding and taking in the beauty of the great outdoors. All these sensations were going into a journal for an article she was planning to write about the experience.

  Normally she loved roundup, but this time she wasn’t feeling it. Normally she made an effort to chat up whoever she was riding with, but she wasn’t feeling that, either. After all, this was Ronan, and her brother didn’t care whether or not she kept him entertained with witty conversation. Although he kept giving her funny looks.

  “What?” she finally said.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You keep staring at me. Why?” she snapped.

  “I know you’re going to bite my head off for saying this, but—” he blew out a breath “—is it that time of the month?”

  “Are you seriously asking me that?”

  “It’s a legitimate question,” he defended.

  Fiona noted that he looked a little skittish and took some satisfaction from that. Her big, badass, chick-magnet brother might just be a little afraid of her. For however long it lasted she had the power and would abuse it to the best of her ability. And, yes, she realized her pique was directed at someone else and Ronan was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tough noogies.

  “Define a legitimate question,” she said.

  He squirmed in the saddle as the horses walked side by side. “It’s just that you’re usually so perky. Asking about everyone else and—”

  “Are you saying I’m not pulling my weight this year? Because that’s just baloney. I’ve fetched, carried, cooked and done my fair share of the chores.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “It sounded like that’s what you meant. So explain it to me.” She gave him a look that would have lasered paint off the side of a barn. “For once try talking about your feelings.”