My throat closes, full of the arguments I want to throw out there, blaming Brody. But Mark and James catch my eye.
Mama doesn’t know the full extent of the ‘discussions’ we had with the Tannens when Paul tried to buy our ranch after Pops died. But it was tense and ultimately led to the current bad blood between the families. Not that Mama would care in the least. She’s a lover of all people, one of the good ones who will take care of you, whether you want her to or not. And she’s likely already forgiven Paul for any ‘misunderstandings’ about his offers.
But I follow Mark’s silent edict and swallow the biting words, instead offering Mama a dutiful, “Yes, ma’am.”
We finish dinner, delicious pork chops with applesauce, mashed potatoes, and green beans, but I don’t think I taste a single bite of it after that firing squad moment with me as the prisoner strung up before my family.
The ladies mostly carry the rest of the conversation, between Katelyn sharing stories about her latest bridezilla up at the resort where she’s an event planner and Sophie talking about a llama farm she’s going to visit with Doc. But Mark, James, and I have an entirely different conversation going, all through silent communication with eyes, eyebrows, and tensed lips.
I do my best to ignore them, feigning the utmost interest in whether Katelyn’s bride chooses ivory or cream.
After a slice of pumpkin Bundt cake that only reminds me of Shayanne’s smashed pumpkin puree, I excuse myself, thanking Mama for another tasty dinner. I’m basically making a run for it, not ready for the reckoning to come yet.
But before I can get out the door, my brothers are filling the frame and then some. They’ve let me keep my silence in Mama’s presence, being polite and familial, but that’s over now.
“Okay, now tell the rest of that story,” Mark growls.
I sigh, going to the kitchen to grab a beer, and Mama gives me a small smile. She knows what’s up and that Mark and James are about to do some of her dirty work. Heading into the living room, I toss one to James and one to Mark, both of them catching them with ease and popping the tabs. We each sit down on worn leather, them on the couch and me in a chair. Dimly in the background, I can hear Mama gather up Sophie and Katelyn to start clearing the table, giving us a little privacy. Probably so Mama can get Sophie’s side of the story before she talks to me.
I sigh and give in to the inevitable even as I still decide how I want to frame this. After all, they know I had words with Brody, but that’s not unexpected if a Tannen and Bennett meet these days. Even down at the rancher’s supply, things can be tense.
But they don’t know that it has a single thing to do with Shayanne, and I don’t want to spin that tale yet. Or maybe ever, depending on what she wants me to do.
“I was at Doc’s, like I said. Brody and Shayanne came in. He was eyeballing me from the get-go, and Shayanne stepped in to referee. She forced some small talk, which was awkward as fuck since she was being playful and cute about it, and then they left to make another delivery. That’s it.”
I take a drink, not missing the glance my brothers give one another. I don’t like being the center of their attention, the recipient of their judgement.
Shit. I said she was ‘playful and cute.’ For fuck’s sake, don’t let them catch that.
James breaks the stalemate. “I hate that fucker.” He shakes his head and then takes a deep pull on his beer. “You should’ve punched him.”
He raises his beer high, his other arm following so that it looks like he’s celebrating his favorite team’s winning touchdown.
“Hell, no,” I reply, giving him a harsh look. “Not with your wife and baby there in that tiny ass reception room. I am not risking my future niece or nephew just because Brody Tannen’s an asshole.”
James looked abashed, then nods. “You’re right . . . thanks. Still, Brody deserves a good smash in the teeth. Hell, we should do that next time we see them. Plain ol’ three on three.”
“And then we’d all end up in the clinker down at Sheriff Downs’s office,” I predict. “I’m sure Mama could afford bail for one of us.” I point to my chest, making sure they know I’d be the saved one.
Mark chuckles, sipping his beer. He’s got half a beer in him already, so he’s a little looser-lipped than normal. “Hell, we all know that Mama would bail her baby boy James out before she’d bail you or my ugly ass. At least I’ve got Katelyn. You, Luke? Well . . . don’t drop the soap.”
James puffs up, knowing it’s true, but hopefully, none of us is actually going to put that to the test anytime soon. “What can I say? She loves me,” he says with a shit-eating grin. But then his smile dims, and he looks a little worried. “Hey, did Brody’s hard-on for you have anything to do with your dancing with Shayanne at Hank’s the other day? If folks were telling tales, that’d rile him up before he even laid eyes on you.”
Technically, the answer to his question is no. It didn’t have anything to do with anyone telling him about our dancing.
My guess is Brody could tell there were some sparks pinging between Shay and me, and her stepping in between us probably didn’t assuage those concerns. But I’m not sharing that, and I’m crossing my fingers and toes that Sophie doesn’t get too starry-eyed sharing that version of events either. “Nah, he didn’t say anything about Hank’s. Just a one-off, ran into each other unexpectedly, and you know how he is.”
I shrug, trusting that my brothers will think the best of me and the worst of Brody Tannen, which they do.
Mark slaps his knee with his free hand, standing and suddenly resolute. In his boss man voice, he growls, “You two, stay away from anyone with a last name of Tannen. Got it?”
He points to me and then to James, but James is never done. “Well hell, Mark, I was planning on heading over there uninvited for dinner tomorrow night. That should be fine, right?”
Sarcasm coats every word and Mark rumbles deep in his chest.
Ever the peacemaker, or at least the one who pushes things past the line so that it’s two on one, I add, “Oh, you’re going for dinner? I was thinking of breakfast. I’m sure they’ll welcome me with open arms.”
Mark looks to the ceiling, or maybe he’s seeing beyond to heaven, looking for some divine intervention. “See what I put up with? This is why I’m an asshole, because everyone else is a bigger asshole.”
James and I look at each other, united in our teasing. “You are definitely the biggest asshole of them all,” we say simultaneously, spreading our arms wide and then laughing.
Mark moves toward the door, shaking his head. “I ain’t got time for your shit. Katelyn’s probably ready to head home and is waiting on me.”
There’s a joke in there too, something about her waiting on her knees, but even as frat boy immature as we can be, that’s a joke I’d never make. Especially not about my brother’s sweet wife.
But when Mark throws up a middle finger as he struts out the door, I do call out, “Fuck you too!”
But it’s with a smile. And a prayer that Mama ain’t listening too closely.
James gets up too, pointedly putting his empty can on the coffee table like the heathen I know he’s not. “Me too. Sophie and I need to drive into town. See ya tomorrow.”
A few minutes later, I hear James’s truck start up and rumble down the drive toward the gate. He’ll lock it behind him, so we’re secure for the night.
Mark and Katelyn in their little house. Mama in the main house. And me in the ranch house. But for some reason, I feel more alone than ever.
I finish my near-warm beer, realizing that if my family gave me shit for the little scene at Doc’s, it’s likely that Shayanne’s did the same to her. Especially Brody, since he saw the whole thing firsthand. But she didn’t say anything about that when we met last night.
It makes me uncomfortable that she might’ve had to sit through a dinner while they volleyed questions at her about my knowing anything about her smashed pumpkin puree or how our eyes locked when she’d walked in.<
br />
I stare at my phone sitting on the coffee table, inches away from James’s empty can, wondering if I should do what I’m considering. Mark explicitly ordered me not to, but I also already know I’m going to do it anyway.
I pick up the phone, scrolling through my messages to find hers and type a new one.
Got a full interrogation at dinner tonight about Doc’s.
A few seconds later, my phone buzzes in my hand.
Eek! Sorry. You okay?
I’m fine. You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. Brody say anything?
Tree at midnight?
Definitely.
Chapter 10
Shayanne
I wait for the house to be quiet, knowing that my up-at-sunrise brothers will be asleep long before midnight. Once the only thing I hear is the sound of the night outside, I slip out the back door, closing the door silently. I forego riding Ember, who’s likely asleep too, in favor of walking, also in the interest of quiet.
The walk to the tree is quiet and peaceful as the bright moon lights my way and I know the path like the back of my hand. The tree stands tall in front of me, a beacon of peace, usually, but tonight, it seems like it’s more. A promise of excitement, maybe? A hope for something new?
It seems insane that for being the quintessential boy next door, Luke definitely feels new and exciting. Since we’ve rediscovered each other, he’s different in a way that doesn’t make sense for a guy I’ve known my whole life.
And it’s not the taboo of his being off-limits or the way we came together like fireworks. It’s how his smile lights up his face, the kindness in his heart, and the surprise of the way he spun me around the dance floor but kept me secure in his strong arms.
It’s the way he’s respected me, taking it slow even though we both could be swept away in this tidal wave of desire that’s smashing through us. The way he wants my first time to be something special.
It might be dumb, or at the least ill-advised, but I’ve got a full-blown, life-sized, hotter-than-three-PM in August crush on that man. The man who drove me to do the craziest thing I’ve ever done in the dusty quiet of his barn, the man who cared enough to check on me after my brother’s spectacle, the man who should be here any minute.
And what’s even crazier is that he has a crush on me too. Little old Shayanne Tannen. Who’d have thunk it?
I grab the blanket from the branch where we left it, thanking the tree for keeping it safe and then smiling as I realize that it smells like Luke. Hay, sunshine, animal, and cologne, and even though he’s not here yet, it makes me feel surrounded by him. I lay it out beneath the tree, sitting down to wait while wishing upon the stars. Yeah, they’re romantic girly wishes, but for Luke, I feel okay being romantic and girly. Or at least my version of it.
I watch the night, seemingly still and quiet but alive with lightning bugs and the occasional moos of cattle. The moon rises, tracing a shining path across the star-studded inky sky. I smile and wait until I hear the sound of grass moving and denim on denim as bootsteps draw near.
My heart jolts, for one second thinking I’ve been caught, and I realize I have been. Caught in Luke’s eyes as he gets close enough that I can see him in the dark. He’s wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt, a black ballcap pulled down low.
“You trying to scare me, coming up like a country cat burglar?” I tease, laughing softly as the squirt of fear turns to molten desire at seeing him. He looks dark and dangerous, not because of the clothes, but the hard set of his jaw and wide berth of his shoulders.
“Just thought I’d dress for discretion, seeing as I’m your dirty little secret.” He says it with heated promise and a cocky smirk that tilts up only one side of his mouth, knowing it’ll make me squirm in a good way.
Ooh, he’s playing dirty. Two can play that game.
“Well, come sit down then, Secret.” I throw the blanket open and smile innocently when he hisses.
“What the fuck are you wearing, Shay?” he bites out like I’ve somehow wronged him with my chosen apparel.
Of course, I’ll admit the tank top skims my curves nicely, holding the girls up so I can go braless, which is obvious by the diamond points of my nipples in the cool air, and I intentionally rolled the waistband of my flannel pajamas down a little bit, leaving a strip of my belly bare.
“Pajamas. It’s part of my whole cover story, you see. If I were to get caught sneaking out or sneaking back in, I can say I was getting a drink of water and heard something outside.” I gesture along my body Vanna White-style as I throw him a dazzling movie star smile. “Perfect cover story.”
He mumbles under his breath as he takes his boots off, but it’s quiet enough that I hear anyway. “Barely covering a damn thing.”
He sits down and leans back against the tree, throwing out his right arm for me to snuggle up next to him. I lay my head on his chest, pressing my front to his side and throwing my leg over his. It feels natural, like we’ve done this a million times before. Or maybe like we’ll do it a million times again. I hope it’s that one.
He pulls at the blanket, covering us both and turning us into a Luke-Shayanne burrito, warm against the slightest chill in the air.
“Did you bring a jacket, at least?” he asks. “Or are you gonna freeze your tits off on the way home?” He growls that part like he doesn’t like that idea at all.
I look up at the tree where my flannel shirt is hanging, and he follows my gaze. “You know, you could help me stay warm instead.”
He chuckles and pulls me to him, his voice low and intense in my ear. “So, you knew exactly what you were going to do to me, didn’t you, honey?”
His fingers are skimming along the stretch of skin between my pants and shirt, almost ticklishly light, but it’s the casual way he calls me ‘honey’ again that makes bubbles rise like champagne in my belly.
“Who was I to know you had a thing for flannel PJs and tank tops?” I say coquettishly, thinking I’m getting good at this flirting thing. Thank God for books and movies or I’d be awkward as hell.
“Never did until about two minutes ago,” he whispers against my hair before pressing a kiss there. “Or maybe it’s just you.”
It’s quiet for a moment, and I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I’m thinking how much I like this. It’s still head rattling how I could go from barely speaking to Luke Bennett one day to feeling like I’m missing a limb when he’s not next to me. I’ve heard of insta-love and insta-lust, but always dismissed them as fairy tales.
But this is insta-something, and shockingly, it feels deeply real. From the moment he took my hand on the floor at Hank’s to right now, he’s suddenly my first thought when I wake up, my last thought when I go to sleep, and damn near every thought in between.
His quiet words break my reverie. “Sophie threw me under the bus tonight, making it sound like Brody and I were this close to blows.” He holds his finger and thumb an inch apart. “And then Mark declared Tannens off limits.”
He snuggles me in closer, pressing his cheek to my head, and I can feel the ‘fuck off’ message he’s sending to his brother.
“You’re a bad boy, not minding your brother like that,” I tell him as I draw shapes on his chest with my fingertip.
“Guess that makes you bad too,” he says gruffly, and I can feel his heartbeat thumping. I like that he didn’t call me a ‘bad girl’. It shows that he’s listening to me, respecting me. Another sign that he’s a good man, regardless of what my daddy says about the Bennett boys.
“What about your brothers? Did they say anything about the scene at Doc’s?” he pushes, and I can feel the protectiveness blooming in him. It feels different from what my daddy and brothers do, though. Luke doesn’t want to smother me. He wants me to feel safe to blossom.
“Brody was making all sorts of noise about your trying to look tough in front of him, but I reminded him how nice you both were with your small talk. I even ventured that maybe Daddy was wrong about your family, seeing as he�
�s been wrong before.”
I swallow thickly, years of hero worship of the man who raised me hard to let go of, but I can see the truth now. The pedestal I had him on started crumbling a while back, and now there’s only rubble left surrounding him. “I only said that because he was gone. Figured it was a way to get my brothers to see reason, or at least the beginnings of it. Because I truly believe that Daddy was wrong. I started seeing that with the way James is with Sophie.”
Luke squeezes my hip, his voice soft in my ear, contemplative. “I don’t know what all your dad has said about us, but we’re definitely not perfect. I suspect no family is. But all of this started long before any of us had anything to do with it, which means it’s our right to either continue it or stop it.”
I pick up, meeting his eyes. “I want to stop it, but I don’t know how. Do you know what started everything? I mean, I know bits and pieces, but I feel like everything I’ve been told has been filtered through Daddy’s lens, and I don’t trust that anymore.”
It’s a painful confession, but it’s the truth. I don’t trust Daddy, having seen firsthand how willing he was to put us all on the line.
Luke gathers me back to him, taking a deep breath like he’s about to tell me a bedtime story, but I sense this one won’t be a fun adventure. Instead, I think the pedestal rubble beneath my father is about to be reduced to dust.
“I don’t know a lot about when we were kids, but I think there was a little bit of tension. Nothing big, though, just between your dad and my pops. Mama says that everything was fine until a while after your mom died. She said Paul loved your mom, and he took her passing hard, especially since he had a lot on his shoulders then with the farm and you four kids. Mama was helping when she could, being neighborly and bringing over casseroles and school supplies. At some point, Pops felt like Paul was . . .” he pauses like he’s not sure he should say whatever he needs to.
Racing Hearts: Bennett Boys Ranch Page 11
