“All right. I get it.” He raised his hand to make his brother stop. “But I don’t need to open up to a bunch of guys to have a relationship with Beth. We’re doing good.”
“Ever think that maybe you’re doing good because of these sessions?”
He jerked his head toward Stone. “What the fuck are you talking about? Tonight was our first one.”
His brother raised a brow. “When did you start to consciously see Beth and only Beth?”
“Almost a week ago, when she kissed him on a dare at the fair,” Cord supplied with a grin and saluted with a lift of his beer.
The fucker.
“A dare?” Interest lit Vince’s gaze as he leaned forward to set his beer on one of the coaster’s Jovy set about the room in an attempt to civilize them. “I’d love to hear more of this.”
“Yeah, me too.” Leo smiled.
Brick shook his head. “So we’ve been seeing each other for a week, unless you count that weekend earlier in the month. What of it?” He shrugged, not seeing a point. Hopefully, his brother would make one soon, his beer was getting warm.
“Maybe you were open to the possibility of a relationship because you had already opened your mind enough to agree to these sessions. Something you never would’ve done in the past.”
He’d like to say his brother was reaching, except the bastard was right.
Dammit.
Hell, just the fact he had a relationship was a miracle. A week ago, if someone had told him he would, Brick would’ve laughed in their face. Now, he couldn’t imagine seeing anyone else. Beth was the only one who consumed his thoughts. Sparked his needs. And he was just fine with that and the addicted, hungry, lost expression she sometimes wore on her face, matching everything he felt inside. And knowing he was the cause brought out protective, feral, primal urges he’d never experienced in his life.
“Perhaps.” It was all he was willing to admit.
Stone nodded and let the matter drop. Thank God. Brick tipped back his own beer and listened to the conversation turn to Cord and his sister’s impending visit tomorrow. No one had ever met Lizzie. Over the years, the guys kind of stayed away from one another’s families, except at funerals. An unspoken code. No need to invite issues should one accidentally fall into bed with a buddy’s family member.
“It’s going to be great to finally put a face to the girl you are so proud of, Cord.” Stone grinned, and everyone murmured in agreement.
“How come we never got to meet her before?” Vince asked.
His buddy refused to even share a picture because he said she was too good for their sorry asses.
Still, Brick couldn’t pass up the opportunity to razz the guy. “Yeah, Cord. How come?”
“You know exactly why.” Cord scowled. “Last thing I wanted was for her to fall for one of you jackasses. Or one of you to fall right back. Christ, then she would’ve been stuck in Haley’s shoes, being a military girlfriend. Or worse, a military wife. Fuck no.”
The mood instantly turned solemn. Haley’d had it pretty rough, even before Drew’s death.
His buddy cocked his head. “Tell me, Romeo. What would you do?”
“Me?” Brick reeled back.
“Yeah, you.” Warlock’s gaze bore deep. “What would you do if your sister fell for one of us?”
Too easy. “I’d never let any sister of mine date a guy like me.” They’d been pretty wild back then. Damn rowdy. Brick wouldn’t have appreciated his buddies lusting after his kid sister if he’d had one. “Now Stone on the other hand?” A smile tugged his lips. “Hell, you could’ve lusted after his mangy ass all you wanted.”
Once again, laughter reverberated around the room. Even Cord cracked a smile as he glanced at his phone.
“Thanks, bro.” Stone flung a cork coaster at him, but Brick ducked and it sailed over his head. “Nice to know you had my back.”
“Your back, sure.” He pointed his bottle at his brother. “Your ass, no.”
Cord tossed his phone on the coffee table with a thud. “Sorry, guys. Lizzie just texted. She has to head home this weekend to do something for Mom.”
Brick flicked his gaze over his buddy, whose disappointment he could feel clear across the room. “Maybe next week.” He was kind of having the same problem. Trying to coordinate times with Beth was tricky, since her job wasn’t a strict nine-to-five.
“Yep.” Cord lifted his beer. “Now I can stop warning you guys off her until next week.”
Laughter kicked up around the room again, lightening the mood. That would never be an issue with Brick. Jesus, he’d never mess with Cord’s sister.
A buddy didn’t do that to another buddy.
…
By the time Monday came around, Beth was tired. All the lying and covert crap she’d gotten herself into was taking its toll. Big time. This weekend, she’d had no choice but to postpone her ranch tour with Cord.
At least she hadn’t really lied. Her mother had called to ask if she could come home for the weekend to help. The ladies auxiliary was sponsoring a rummage sale to raise money for a local family who’d recently lost everything to a fire. Short a helper, her mother had called late Thursday night in desperation, and since desperation loved company and Beth had been the epitome of desperate—with her brother pressing her to visit At-Ease—she’d eagerly accepted. Thankfully, her weekend had been free of work commitments and had allowed her to go.
So, no, she hadn’t had to lie to Cord, but Brick, that had been another story. No way could she tell him she was heading home to help her mother. What if Cord mentioned that in passing, too? She couldn’t risk it. The only thing she could think of that he wouldn’t question was work, hence her excuse she had to go back to Austin to take care of some stuff at the office.
God, she wasn’t cut out for this crap.
With a heavy sigh, and an even heavier heart, she drove past the Braxton exit and continued toward Joyful. She was only delaying the inevitable and hurting two men she cared very much about. She had to end this farce today. The guys deserved better. But, damn, she wished she could’ve had one more day with Brick. One last time in his arms would’ve been wonderful, treasured…not nearly enough.
Her heart squeezed tight.
No. She had to come clean and take her medicine. Maybe—just maybe—she could salvage their relationship. Her snort broke the silence in her car. There wouldn’t be any salvaging because she was Cord’s kid sister. End of story.
Blinking her burning eyes, she lifted her chin. At least they couldn’t take away the memories she’d stored. Nope. They couldn’t take that. And as she drove the rest of the way those memories were her bittersweet companion.
It wasn’t until she passed by Skeeter’s garage and turned onto the pretty country road that nerves started in. The knot in Beth’s stomach twisted tighter and tighter with each mile until she had to pull over and get out to suck in some air and talk herself out of being sick.
While she worked on lessening the tension, she thought she heard someone calling to her faintly in the distance. She glanced around, listening as the wind carried her name. God, was she hallucinating now? There were no cars. No horses. No houses. Nothing. Just fields on either side.
“Beth.”
There it was again. She turned in a slow circle, scanning the area. The sky was full of clouds with peeks of sun, but neither helped nor hindered. Wild flowers blew in the wind, along with the sound of a cow bell. A flash of black and white movement at her right caught her attention near a tree in the field across the street.
The cow ambled out from around an old oak tree, and up in the branches was… Jovy?
“Beth, thank God. Can you get Lula Belle’s attention so I can climb down?”
Last week at lunch, she’d heard the tale of how the cow had chased Jovy up a tree when she’d tried to pick flowers.
Now she had a front row seat. “Sure.”
Biting back a smile, she waved her hands and called to the cow, who mooed and lumber
ed closer. Jovy dropped out of the tree, grabbed a handful of flowers, and raced for the fence. Beth was still petting the cow’s broad nose when the woman joined her.
Lula Belle turned, looked Jovy in the eyes, and mooed long and loud.
Jovy jammed a hand on her hip and shook the flowers at the cow. “What did I tell you about sassing me? And here I came out here today to try to extend the proverbial olive branch, hoping to come to an understanding. And what do you do? Chase me up the damn tree again. And now I’m late. I promised the girls I’d help them with a delivery today. I hope you’re happy.”
Was that a snort?
“Listen, missy, you don’t own the flowers in that field and I don’t own Stone. I came here to tell you I’m willing to share if you are.”
A shorter, stronger moo lifted Lula Belle’s head, and as she stepped closer to the fence, Jovy immediately jumped behind Beth.
“I’m guessing that was a no.” Beth chuckled.
“Yeah,” Jovy said from behind. “She’s such a diva.”
With that, Lula Belle lifted her head, turned around, and stood with her butt in their direction while her tail swished back and forth.
Beth twisted to look at Jovy, and together they burst out laughing. When she sobered she shook her head. “Oh my God, what an attitude.”
“I know, but she’s all sweetness and cream around Stone.”
A loud moo rumbled from the old girl before she lumbered away.
“Wow, not sure I would’ve believed it if I hadn’t seen it.” Smiling, she walked across the street to her car. “Do you want a ride?”
“Yeah, thanks.” Jovy headed to the passenger side. “Can you give me a lift back into town?”
With a nod, Beth started the engine and turned the car around. “I’m dying to know how you ended up a tree again.”
The woman snickered, lifting the flowers clutched in her hand. “I was picking these for the café, trying to make amends, like I said, when Raging Moo decided to be impossible.” Jovy stilled and set a hand on her arm. “Please don’t tell anyone. Especially Stone. He asked me to stay out of that pasture. But I was just trying to help. To do the right thing, but sometimes the right thing doesn’t always work, you know?”
Tension returned to ripple through Beth’s stomach. “Yeah, I know.”
At first, Beth had thought she was doing the right thing by not telling her brother about Brick when she had suspected he was former military. She truly only meant to avoid a confrontation. Didn’t want either guy to hurt the other. But now, with the guys knowing each other, it was so much worse.
“You heading to the ranch to see Brick? I don’t remember him mentioning it. He said something about you working a princess birthday party now, too, but maybe he mentioned your visit. My brain tends to take a hike when his brother’s around.”
She nodded and forced a smile as Jovy’s question brought her out of her guilt. “Yeah, I’m here to see Brick, but he doesn’t know I’m coming.”
“Ooh, a surprise. I like surprises. But I wonder if I could ask you a favor first?”
“Sure.” She turned and drove past Skeeter’s. It wasn’t like she was in a hurry to lose the best thing to ever happen to her since, well…ever.
“About that delivery I promised the girls I’d make. Can you give me a hand? Cece was supposed to help while Leslie manned the café, but thanks to Lula Belle, I’m late and Leslie’s shift is just about up.”
“I’d be glad to help.” Beth drove through Main Street, and a woman—Leslie, she presumed—was just pulling out as she turned to go behind the building per Jovy’s instructions. A minute later, they were parked and headed inside where she met a pretty blonde with enough sass to rival a certain cow.
Beth liked them both.
And she confessed this ten minutes later as Jovy drove them through a small subdivision on the outskirts of town just before noon. “I’m betting both females keep your life interesting.” Beth grinned while she glanced out the window at the quiet development.
Gorgeous two-story houses lined the wide street with several lots for sale in between a few homes under construction.
“True.” Jovy pulled up in front of one of them on a big corner lot and parked behind a row of vehicles. Two were vaguely familiar.
Her heart skipped a beat, but before she could question the woman she found herself alone. Trying not to panic…or glance at the house, she got out and scurried to the back of the vehicle to hide behind the opened trunk. “So, who exactly is this delivery for?”
“Hey, sweetheart. I thought I saw you pull up.” Stone sauntered around the car, which answered part of Beth’s question, but the rest apparently would have to wait, because he pulled Jovy into his arms and kissed her soundly on the lips.
Well hell.
That was nice. Real nice, especially how they went about it unhurriedly. Beth might’ve felt like a third wheel if the couple had acknowledged her presence. They didn’t. Just kept kissing. Slow and sweet. After a few seconds, she got the feeling they forgot she was there.
When the kiss ended, Stone tucked a thoroughly ravished Jovy against his chest and smiled over at her. “Hey, Beth. Does my brother know you’re here?”
Jesus… “He’s here?” Her heart hit her knees and she wobbled, reaching out to grab the car to steady herself. Who else was there? Cord? She blinked at a beaming Jovy. “You knew.”
“Told you I liked surprises.”
Beth didn’t. She liked plans…and not knowing exactly who was at this house was not part of her plan to come clean. It involved the privacy of the ranch, not in the front yard in the middle of a subdivision.
Before Beth could ask about her brother—without asking about her brother—Stone winked and pulled her farther behind the car.
“Hey, Brick, come on over here and lend a hand.”
The workout she was giving her heart today was insane. First squeezing, then dropping, now it raced a mile a minute as images of Cord and Brick showing up at the same time flashed in her head. Shoot. This wasn’t good. This was not good. Or at all private. About to come straight out and ask if Cord was there, she stilled, knowing it was too late to make any type of escape. Her body already began to tingle and her nipples perked up.
Brick was near.
“What do you need help…Beth!” The tall cowboy stopped dead, his eyes registering surprise, then heaven help her, pleasure as he stepped close. “It’s great to see you.”
A second later, she was in his arms and he was kissing her in his own version of “slow and unhurried” that completely obliterated all thoughts from her head. When he finally drew back, she was clutching his shirt, because he’d decimated her strength as well.
“Hi.”
“Hi, angel.” He smiled. “What are you doing here?”
A million and one replies sprang to her mind, but her mouth couldn’t voice a single one. How was she supposed to tell him about Cord when he made her feel so special. So wanted. So…damn…
Cord.
She stiffened and tried to glance around, but the opened trunk and her big cowboy got in the way. Was he there? Had he seen that?
“Beth was on her way to the ranch when I kind of coerced her into helping me with this delivery.”
“You were heading to the ranch? To see me?” Delight washed through Brick’s gaze, and she felt incredible and horrible at the same time.
She nodded. “I thought you were working on the barracks. I didn’t realize you had other jobs.”
Because she was an idiot. He worked construction. Of course there would be other job sites.
“We’re building the female barracks in our spare time.” He slid his hands down to her waist but didn’t release her. “Foxtrot has several other job sites, too. Stone and I are here today. Cord is at McGregor Feed in town, and Vince is back at the ranch, supervising the remodel. Fixing up the men’s barracks is the only job at the ranch we’ll work on daily. I was going to head back there after lunch to check on thin
gs.”
Some of that registered in Beth’s brain, but the part about her brother being at a different site caught and snagged. Relief eased the stiffness from her shoulders and lessened the knot in her stomach.
Cord wasn’t there.
No public confrontation.
Suddenly exhausted, she leaned into Brick’s warm, welcoming body, needing his strength.
“Why don’t you two head to the ranch now?” Stone’s voice made it through the haze in her head.
“Yeah, maybe go on that picnic we kind of ruined for you last week.” Jovy grinned, shoving two takeout containers at Brick. “Cece’s Cajun enchiladas, cornbread, and raspberry almond squares. Perfect for a picnic.”
Butterflies swarmed around the knot in Beth’s stomach. She knew this wasn’t a good idea. A little more than an hour ago, she’d been on her way to the ranch to end things. Well, to tell him the truth which would inevitably end things. But Beth also knew there was no way she’d refuse the chance to spend the afternoon with Brick. It was like she was getting her wish of one more day.
“Great idea. After I check in with Vince, I’m all yours.” He grinned. “Where’s your car?”
Her car… Shoot. She’d forgotten about it. “Behind the café.”
“Go ahead with Brick. It’ll be fine there,” Jovy insisted, and Stone concurred.
At the couple’s reassurance, Beth walked with Brick to his truck parked around the corner, which explained how she hadn’t seen it. “Are you sure I’m not goofing up your work day?”
“Angel, I wish you’d goof up my work day more often, especially in one of these sundresses.”
They got in, and after starting the truck, he reached across the seat to set his hand on her leg. “These dresses drive me wild.”
Unlike the last time, Beth hadn’t slipped into her strapless sundress with Brick in mind. It had solely been due to the very muggy day. No bra, loose fitting, it was a perfect beat-the-heat dress. But she was okay with letting him think otherwise. Besides, subconsciously, she probably did dress with him and his deliciously rough, roaming hand in mind. The one making its way under her dress to slowly skim up and down her thigh.
Her Secret Ranger (The Men of at Ease Ranch) Page 10
