Unmasking the Maverick

by Teresa Southwick

  “Okay.” There was irritation in that one word. “I’m feeling that you’re not yourself. That you’re ticked off about something and not especially cheerful or fun to be around.”

  “Excuse me. I didn’t realize that amusing you was part of getting the job done.”

  “Not fair, Fiona. There’s a burr under your saddle and you’re taking it out on me.”

  Guilty, she thought. He was more emotionally aware than she’d given him credit for. “There are other reasons for a woman’s bad attitude besides it being that time of the month.”

  “So I’ll take that as a no on the monthly thing.” He met her gaze and she confirmed with a nod. “At the risk of pissing you off more, it’s a little early to be wearing the Halloween witch costume.”

  She really couldn’t argue with that characterization. “I’m just having a bad day.”

  “That’s not like you,” he commented. “Usually you’re so cheerful and optimistic it makes my teeth hurt.”

  “Then your teeth should be thanking me,” she snapped.

  “See, that’s what I’m talking about. That was a sarcastic comment. Usually those same words would have been teasing.”

  “Are you saying you don’t like my tone?”

  “Yeah, pretty much.”

  “I say again—tough.”

  “Come on, Fee, I’m your big brother. You can talk to me about anything. We established it’s not that time of the month so—” He suddenly stopped talking and his gaze snapped to hers. “Are you late? Does that mean you’re pregnant? I’m there for you. You have to know that. It will be okay—”

  “Take a breath, for Pete’s sake. I’m not pregnant.”

  One had to have sex for that to happen and she hadn’t for a long time. That thought brought back the humiliation of Brendan not kissing her. She would have been putty in his hands but he didn’t want her at all. Unexpected tears gathered in her eyes and she looked away. The last thing she wanted was for Ronan to see her cry.

  “You have a vivid imagination. Maybe you should be the writer,” she said.

  “I’m not an idiot. And don’t tell me that’s open to debate,” he warned. “Something’s up. Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”

  It was a valid question. She was close to her sisters and discussed everything with them. But since Brenna and Fallon had fallen in love and set up housekeeping with their respective men, Fiona had grown closer to Ronan. He was there on the ranch. Living in the converted barn, but just a short walk from the house. And he took his responsibilities as big brother very seriously.

  She didn’t really want to talk about it. There was nothing anyone could do. Rejection was her issue to work through and put behind her. But still. Although he hid it pretty well, her brother was a good guy with a soft heart. He didn’t deserve this from her.

  “You know,” he said, “your mood was just fine until Tanner showed up yesterday. Does he have anything to do with your foul temper?” His voice was barely audible over the clip clop of their horses’ hooves, but intensity wrapped around every single syllable of those words.

  “It’s not what you think,” she said.

  “What do you think I think?”

  “That he got out of line when he took me to dinner the other night.”

  “Did he?” Ronan looked at her, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

  She laughed, but that was about irony, not amusement. “Actually, it was just the opposite. He couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

  “So there was no chemistry between you.” He sounded both relieved and pleased.

  That’s just it, Fiona thought. She was pretty sure there were buckets of chemistry and not just from her. When he touched her it was electric. The looks he gave her sizzled. He’d asked her to dinner, and why would he if not for some feeling on his part? If her man radar was that far off, she would give up her matching black lace bra and panties.

  “If you must know, he didn’t kiss me good night.”

  “All right, then.” There was a high five all over that statement. Then he looked at her face. “Oh. You wanted him to.”

  If she wasn’t on a horse, Fiona believed there was a very real possibility that she’d have cheerfully choked him just then. “Give the man a prize.”

  “So, he hurt you. Damn it.” His horse danced sideways, probably sensing his anger. “Well, you can be sure he won’t do it again.”

  It took several beats before the words sank in, but when they did Fiona’s stomach knotted with dread. “How can you be so sure about that? Now that I think about it, you were talking to him yesterday and neither of you looked like it was a friendly chat about the weather. What did you say to him?”

  Ronan shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter. You’re obviously not going to give him another chance.”

  “Seriously? You can read my mind?” What if Brendan wanted a second chance? That was unlikely, but what if? Did Ronan scare him off? It would be good to know the context of that tense conversation. “What did you say to him, Ronan?”

  “I warned him not to hurt you.”

  Too late. “Why on earth would you do that?”

  “Because he’s a drifter. Just like the one who broke your heart.”

  “Oh, Ronan—”

  “What? Do not tell me I should have stayed out of it. What kind of big brother would I be if I didn’t look out for my little sister?”

  He meant well, but that didn’t stop her irritation from bubbling to the surface. “While I appreciate your honorable intentions, I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself, thank you very much.”

  “Because you did such a good job of that?” Ronan said. As soon as the words were out of his mouth it looked as if he’d give almost anything to have them back.

  “You fixed me up with that jerk,” she shot back.

  “I introduced you,” he defended. “I met him at Ace in the Hole and thought he was a good guy. Obviously I was mistaken. You will never know how sorry I am about that. I feel terrible about what happened.”

  And suddenly she got it. The acute overprotectiveness. “You got in Brendan’s face because you’re trying to make it up to me.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Look, it’s very sweet of you to be concerned and I love you for it. But that bad choice and any I might make in the future are mine alone.”

  “Are you telling me to stay out of your love life?”

  “I—” There wasn’t anything to stay out of, but this was a stand for her independence. She’d made it an issue and he deserved an answer to the question. “Yes.”

  “I can’t promise you that.” He held up a hand to stop her words. “I can tell you that I’ll give anyone who comes calling the benefit of the doubt, but if there’s anything I don’t like, I’m sticking my nose in. If you don’t like it—tough.”

  “Fair enough. Just give me room to make my choice.”

  There wouldn’t be any reason to interfere in her love life because she was never going to be stupid again. Her head was on straight now. Brendan Tanner was a drifter and falling for him would be a check mark in the “stupid” column. She was many things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.

  Chapter Six

  “Good chili.” Brendan had no idea who made it but he put the words out there anyway because that was the truth. At six he had joined Jamie and Luke Stockton in the O’Reilly cabin around a wooden picnic-style table where meals were being served.

  “Glad you like it,” Ronan said. “It’s my world famous recipe.”

  His brother snorted. “You never make it the same way twice. Recipe is a stretch.”

  “Keegan, you wouldn’t know a recipe if it came up and kissed you on the mouth.” Ronan elbowed his younger brother.

  “You’re not foolin’ anyone,” his father said. “Throwing beans, meat and seasoning into a p
ot is the best you can do to get a meal together since our Fiona’s ultimatum.”

  “Which was?” Luke asked.

  “She refused to do all the cooking for roundup just because she was the only woman,” Paddy explained. “So the boys and I agreed to each be responsible for one evening meal.”

  “Heaven help us when it’s Keegan’s turn,” Ronan teased.

  “I barbecue a mean steak,” his brother shot back.

  “The corn bread is good, too,” Brendan continued. “Practically melts in your mouth.”

  “Now, that was Fiona’s doing,” Paddy said proudly. “She’s a good cook. Her mother taught her everything.”

  “I’ll never be as good as Mom,” she said.

  “I don’t know about that,” Jamie offered. “That macaroni and cheese you make is enough to make a grown man cry. And it’s stopped my triplets from shedding tears a time or two.”

  “Isn’t that the truth,” Paddy agreed.

  She smiled at her father, who was next to her. The “boys” were sitting across from them. Jamie was on her left with Luke on the other side of the table from him. Brendan was on the end, odd man out. There to lend a hand with rounding up the cows but not really a part of this tight-knit group.

  That was just a fact. But what he found truly aggravating was that since giving him the two-cent tour, Fiona had gone out of her way to ignore him. And after a long day in the saddle he was tired and hungry—but not for food. He’d been looking forward to seeing her. Now she wouldn’t even look at him.

  The good-natured banter continued between the O’Reilly brothers, who pulled siblings Luke and Jamie into the joking. Without a word, Fiona stood and stepped over the bench before grabbing her plate and eating utensils. She took them to the sink and washed everything by hand, then put them in a dish drainer on the counter. Brendan decided to do the same and joined her there.

  “So, I’ll just clean up after myself.”

  “Knock yourself out.” She moved away, then grabbed her jacket from a peg on the wall.

  Quietly she let herself out the door. The men were still talking and laughing. They didn’t seem to notice she’d left, and Brendan figured he sure wouldn’t be missed. He set his washed dishes with hers, grabbed a jacket and slipped outside, too.

  It was a chilly night but there was a full moon that bathed the landscape in silvery light. He could see Fiona in the distance and followed her. A couple times he lost her along the winding trail, or trees and bushes blocked his line of sight. But he kept on and heard the sound of gurgling water, which was a clue to her final destination.

  Moments later he emerged from the trees and saw a clearing by a stream. Fiona was sitting on a fallen tree trunk facing it. Moonlight turned her red hair into a bright beacon, leading him straight to her. If this was a combat situation, his warrior sense would be warning him to stand fast. Danger ahead. Now that he was a civilian, he called it his better judgment and that was telling him to walk away. Turn around and don’t look back. But he ignored it.

  “Hi.” His boots made noise on the rocky river bank and she’d no doubt heard his approach, but he wanted to make sure he didn’t scare her. “It’s just me.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, then turned her gaze back to the stream. “Thought you’d be hanging out with the menfolk. Telling off-color jokes.”

  “No.” So, she still wouldn’t look at him. “Is that why you came out here? To give them space?”

  “I just wanted some fresh air.”

  “You didn’t get enough of that rounding up cows today?”

  Instead of smiling, her mouth pulled tight. “I was with Ronan. It was air, all right, but not what I’d call fresh. He’s something.”

  “Yeah.”

  “This is a pretty spot.”

  So, they were changing the subject. “It is. Mind if I join you?”

  That got her to look up at him and there was surprise in her eyes. Then she shrugged and said, “Suit yourself.”

  It was the same tone she’d used with her “knock yourself out” comment. As if his presence made no difference to her one way or the other. That rankled and he decided it suited him to sit next to her. So he did.

  His shoulder brushed hers and he’d swear there were sparks spiraling in the crisp night air. That would explain why his brain shorted out for a couple of seconds. When he could manage a coherent thought, the best he could come up with was, “There are wild animals out here. Probably best not to be alone.”

  “Is that why you’re here? To wrestle mountain lions who get any ideas?”

  There it was. Her teasing humor and biting wit. He’d missed them more than he’d realized. “I have a certain skill set.”

  “Apparently the male protective streak is strong here in Montana,” she said wryly.

  “I didn’t notice.”

  “Oh, please. I know Ronan got in your face yesterday. I saw you talking to him. And I know my brother. He was doing that thing he does. Some older brother/younger sister code he feels obligated to uphold.”

  “It was nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Still, if he made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

  “No need.” Because he wanted so badly to take her in his arms, Brendan rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together between them. “I would do the same thing if I had a sister as pretty as you.”

  “Hmm. I don’t know whether to say thank you or you need your eyes checked.”

  “I’d suggest going with the first one. I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

  “That’s refreshing.” There was a trace of sarcasm in her tone.

  “It’s the truth,” he said quietly.

  “I wasn’t implying that you are in the habit of telling falsehoods—” She sighed. “The thing is, a little context might explain my skepticism and help you understand why Ronan acted the way he did.”

  “I’m a guy. I get it.”

  “It’s more than just macho swagger. Remember I told you about the guy who I thought was going to propose?”

  “And got a girl pregnant?”

  “That’s the one,” she confirmed. “Ronan introduced me to him.”

  “He fixed you up?”

  “Yeah. They met at Ace in the Hole. My brother liked him and he set up a meet.”

  “Mr. Matchmaker,” he commented, trying to reconcile the cupid image in his mind with the Ronan he’d met.

  “If you say that to his face...duck.” Her smile came and went in a heartbeat. “The thing is, the jerk told me he had to go back to Thunder Canyon for a while. Some things to take care of.”

  “That’s one way to put it.”

  “I know, right?” She stared at the gurgling water, moonlight reflecting off the ripples. Her delicate jaw clenched, hinting at the anger and hurt she still felt. “He asked me to wait. Promised he would come back to me. Idiot that I am, I believed him. So I waited.”

  He remembered her saying that communication between them was sporadic before it stopped. “And he didn’t have the guts to tell you himself that he’s a cheating bastard.”

  “Yeah. So Ronan feels lower than pond scum and has gone into protective, “touch my sister and die” mode. I’m sorry he confronted you when there’s not even anything going on between us.”

  “If there was,” he said, “I would never string you along. I’d never break a promise like that. When I joined the Marines, I took an oath to protect the Constitution of the United States. I still feel the weight and commitment of that vow in a lot of ways, but especially my personal behavior. I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep.”

  “You’re a good man, Brendan Tanner. I appreciate knowing that. Even though we’re not a thing,” she added.

  “You’re sure about that? Us not being a thing?”

  “If we were, you would have kissed me
after we had dinner the other night.” There was regret in her voice.

  That was something he knew all too well. Remorse for things he’d done and things he hadn’t. Just yesterday he’d kicked himself six ways to sundown for not kissing her when he’d had the chance. To miss another opportunity would just be wrong. Because Fiona by moonlight tempted him to his limit.

  The conflict raged inside him and he didn’t make a conscious decision, but he must have instinctively moved toward her. She met him halfway and the next thing he knew, they were kissing. For just a second he was afraid the pressure of her lips was only his imagination, but it was so much hotter that he knew this was real. Even better, he finally knew the texture and taste of her lips—soft as clouds, sweet as candy.

  Just like that he was on fire and wanted more. He took her in his arms and pulled her into his lap, where she snuggled against his chest. Their jackets were in the way but he tightened his hold anyway. She slid her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and his whole body went hot and hard.

  His heart was pounding and he couldn’t get enough air into his lungs. He felt like a man drowning, a man sinking into the feel of Fiona, the scent of her skin, the need to touch her everywhere. Her breathless little moans drove him completely crazy and he wanted her here and now.

  Then, through a haze of lust, he heard a nearby twig crack, loud as a gunshot in the quiet night. Whether it was an animal or a man, it was enough to break the spell.

  He pulled his mouth from hers. “Fiona—”

  “What?” She pressed her kiss-swollen lips together and blinked up at him.

  “I need to get you back to the cabin before both your brothers and your father come looking.”

  “Oh. I guess you’re right.” Reluctantly she pushed herself out of his arms and stood in front of him. “Okay.”

  Side by side they walked the path back. Neither of them spoke and the air between them crackled with tension. Thoughts tumbled through his mind like rocks rolling down a hill. According to her reasoning, a kiss made them a thing. But he told her he would never promise her something he couldn’t deliver.