Her Secret Ranger (The Men of at Ease Ranch)

by Donna Michaels

  And that was about all the steam she had. Beth turned and headed for the door, blinking a few times to clear her vision as she marched down the hall. Coming here may have been smart, or it may have been stupid, but at least she’d said her piece and could be comforted knowing she didn’t leave with things unsaid.

  But, God, she wished things could’ve been different. The thought of not being a part of Brick’s world was a little too hard to bear. Somehow she’d hoped… She’d thought…

  Didn’t matter. She swiped her face with her arm, opened the door, and strode to her car. Her future was all screwed up now, so she might as well put her energy into figuring out what to do about it. Make new plans and follow through.

  Behind her, she heard the door open and boots clamping on the porch. For a brief second her breath caught in her throat.

  “Lizzie, wait!

  Wrong Ranger.

  She continued to her car.

  “Would you wait!” Two big hands clamped on her shoulders and turned her around. Concern darkened her brother’s eyes. “What happened? Why were you fired?”

  She shrugged. “Oh that. Funny thing happened after you left last night. The manager came by, due to a complaint from the guy next door. Seems the wall separating us cracked. Can’t imagine how that happened. Oh, wait! My guess would be when you and Brick were rolling around like Neanderthals on my floor. You know, it seems to me some of what happened the past few weeks is your fault, too.”

  He released her and reeled back. “How the hell do you figure that?”

  “Haven’t you been listening? If you had spoken about your friends with their given names, I can guarantee you Brick would’ve rang a damn bell. Or hey, maybe if I had met them all those years ago.”

  Although she wasn’t so sure she would’ve been able to resist the cowboy. His badass, dimpled grin flashed through her mind. Yeah, she definitely would’ve formed a crush on him.

  “How did this get you fired?”

  Beth blinked and refocused on the question. “Ah, that would be because the manager kicked me out, but not before calling my boss, since the room was in the company name. Georgina fired me for ruining that name and made me pay the hotel bill plus restitution for the damages right then and there.”

  Yeah, last night had been a really great night. And once again, Georgina was going to swoop in this afternoon and take over the event and all the credit.

  Whatever.

  Cord winced and shoved a hand in his hair. “Jesus, I’m sorry. What kind of money are we talking?”

  He was doing it again. Always trying to take care of her.

  “Don’t sweat it, Cord, okay? I had it. I’m not your responsibility.”

  “How. Much.”

  She lifted her chin. “Half my tuition.”

  “Shit.” He scrubbed a hand over his face then leaned back against her car. “I’m sorry. I know you worked hard to save up for it.”

  She twisted around and leaned next to him. “It’s all right. I did it before. I can do it again. But you need to stop, Cord. You need to stop trying to run my life. You never should’ve been at my hotel last night in the first place.”

  “The hell I shouldn’t. You were with Brick.” His body stiffened beside her. “Lizzie, I’ve known him for over a decade. He didn’t get the nickname Romeo for nothing. He earned it. I’ve seen him do…well, things.” He stammered and shook his head. “I didn’t want him doing those things to you.”

  “Maybe I did.”

  Cord twisted to frown down at her, but before he could start a tirade she cut him off.

  “I’m not sixteen. I’m twenty-six, and although you don’t want to hear this you’re going to. I haven’t been a virgin for a long, long time.”

  A slew of muttered curses spewed from his mouth clenched tight. “Who was it? That skinny kid in Rachel’s basement?”

  She giggled at the absurdity. “No. And it doesn’t matter. It’s none of your business. I’ve dated men older than you, and yes, some were jerks, some weren’t. And there were times when you were overseas that I stopped dating altogether because I knew you’d ask and be worried, and I didn’t want you distracted.” She watched as a glimmer of remorse shifted across his face. “Look, I know you’re trying to protect me. I get that, but you have to stop. I need to make my own choices and mistakes, not worrying about you and rocking the boat.”

  He sighed long and deep. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  Too late.

  She fought back a round of more stupid tears. “I know, but don’t you see? That’s life. And I refuse to live it under your thumb anymore.” Moving to stand in front of him, she put her hands on his tight shoulders and squeezed. “I love you, Cord. I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me, but from now on, please don’t interfere. Please let me live my life. You need to put the energy into living your own life. God, when’s the last time you went out?”

  He shrugged. “I’m good.”

  “No you’re not.”

  “You’re right.” He surprised her with the admittance. “So I’m not about to subject any woman to my sorry ass right now.”

  That about broke her heart. She stepped close, wrapped her arms around him, and held tight, happy when his arms encircled her. The tears she’d been holding at bay returned with reinforcements. So she quietly wept for her brother, and herself, while in the safety of his strong arms.

  A few minutes later, after her tears subsided and composure returned, she released her brother and stepped back.

  “Feel better?”

  “Yeah, almost…” She lifted the bottom of his T-shirt and bent down to wipe the smeared makeup off her face before lowering his shirt back in place. “Now I’m better.”

  His lips twitched. “This was a new shirt.”

  “Good choice. Color brings out the macho in your eyes.”

  He snorted and pulled her in for another hug. “God, I miss you, Lizzie. Any chance you can stick around Joyful?”

  She stilled. Yesterday, it had been her fervent wish. Now…it was wishful thinking. “I’d like to, but…I’m not that strong. It hurts.” Really bad. But her brother didn’t need to know. She’d said too much the way it was, so she drew back and shrugged. “I think I’ll head home for a few days until I figure out what I want.”

  “You love him, don’t you?”

  Her brother was finally getting a clue. “Yes.”

  “This is what I was trying to protect you from.” He cupped her shoulders. “Brick’s a good man, but not when it comes to relationships. He’s never had one. Avoids them like the plague. I didn’t want you to become another notch on his damn belt.”

  “It wasn’t like that, Cord. He was nothing but sweet to me. And as for a relationship, he was doing really good. I never felt slighted or smothered. I felt wanted and cherished and so alive. It was…amazing.” Again, she was revealing too much, but she couldn’t stop the words from flowing. “I’m going to miss him. So much.”

  The ache inside felt like it was getting bigger and bigger. Too big for her to continue talking.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, squeezing her shoulders. “All these years, I’ve kept you away from my friends and military men because I didn’t want that life for you. It’s damn hard being a spouse or girlfriend. The separation during deployment. Anxiety. Worrying about the guy’s well-being. Worrying if he’s cheating on you. It happens. I’ve seen it. More than I wanted. And, dammit, I refused to let you suffer or become a widow, the one left behind…or a victim of infidelity.”

  Her brother’s impassioned tone revealed his genuine concern for her…and that he had indeed borne witness to those acts. Since he never mentioned a girlfriend, she had to assume he was speaking about his buddies and other Rangers and their families.

  “I know you were looking out for me—you’re always looking out for me—and I appreciate it.” She folded her arms across her chest and held his gaze. “But none of what you just mentioned applies now. It hasn’t in the tw
o years since you and your friends retired. Deployments and all the worries associated with it are no longer an issue. There was no reason to continue keeping your family and your Ranger buddies separate, Cord. And don’t try to say it was to keep me from getting hurt. You need to let me live my life. I’m not a teenager. Stop trying to protect me.”

  His lips twitched. “Can’t. It’s ingrained in me. You’ll always be my kid sister.”

  A half sigh, half laugh escaped her throat. “And you’ll always be my pain-in-the-ass big brother.”

  “Guess that’s your cross to bear.” His lips twitched again.

  Beth smirked. “Don’t I know it.”

  “Look, Lizzie.” His gaze turned serious. “I’m not sorry I kept you away from my friends, so don’t expect an apology. No way in hell was I going to take a chance with you. Those guys were horn dogs when we were on active duty, and you would’ve hit their radar with a big fat bullseye on your pretty forehead.”

  Her mind reeled. “But…what about your buddy code thing? I doubt any of the guys would’ve tried to put a move on me.” She knew for certain Brick never would’ve broken the code. Last night, he came right out and said it.

  “Attraction can be tough to resist when you know you’re going to face death again.” Her brother’s words were not only a shock, but they also held a truthfulness that stopped her heart.

  Had Cord felt something for one of his buddies’ relatives? If so, had he acted on it?

  No, her mind immediately dismissed the idea. No way would her brother ever cross that line no matter how strong the pull. Still, she wondered who had caught his eye.

  “Sounds as if you’re speaking from experience.”

  The slight widening of his gaze was the only change in his expression. “We were speaking about you,” he replied without acknowledging a thing. “But you’re right. I should’ve invited you here and introduced you to the guys sooner.”

  “Wow.” She blinked. “You admitted you were wrong. I bet that hurt.”

  “You’ve no idea.”

  “But I do.” Dragging in a good lungful of air, she stepped close to pull him in for another hug. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you changed the subject.” He stiffened in her arms. “Relax. Unlike you, I know how to back off. I just wanted to thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For caring.” She drew back to slug his shoulder. “But, from now on, can you do it without trying to control me?”

  He blew out a breath and nodded. “All right. I’ll try. And I won’t stand in between you and Brick.”

  She knew what just happened was beyond momentous. Cord had taken a huge step toward letting her live her life. “Thanks, but you don’t have to worry about standing in our way. The buddy code will do it for you.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The following Friday, Brick was sitting around the rec room, feeling miserable, having a beer with Vince, Leo, Cord, and Stone. Kind of what he did every night. He didn’t go out, didn’t do much of anything but work from sun up to sun down, eat, maybe have a beer, and go to bed. Then get up and repeat.

  It was as if the fun in his life left the ranch with Beth.

  Beth…

  Pain rippled across his chest whenever he thought of her. He rubbed at the ache, which he did often, but it never faded. He was right tired of it and of going through life without meaning.

  Whoa…where the hell had that thought come from?

  He tipped back his beer in hopes of washing the sissy from his brain. Life had meaning, just not a happy one. He’d had enough time to calm down and realize Beth had been right. If she had told him she was Cord’s sister the first day she was at the ranch, he would’ve walked away.

  Not something he was proud to admit, but he would’ve dumped her. Not because he wanted to, but because of her bloodline.

  Exactly what you did anyway, the damn voice in his head pointed out.

  “He’s grumbling again,” Vince said.

  “And staring off into space,” Leo added.

  “Too bad he didn’t take your lead tonight, Cord, and open up at the meeting.” Vince shook his head. “Might’ve loosened the stubborn inside him.”

  “Or the stupid,” Stone chimed in.

  “I’m right here, you know.” He waved his beer, still a little shocked over the fact Cord had spoken at their group therapy session tonight, admitting that he had a problem with control and over-protectiveness—all while staring at him.

  “Why?” Jovy asked, breezing in with a big bowl of popcorn and a plate of nachos she’d nuked with cheese and salsa on top.

  He frowned. “What do you mean why?”

  She set the bowl and plate on the coffee table, barely getting her hands out of the way before the vultures descended, then straightened to face him. “Why are you here? It’s been five days since Beth left. That’s long enough for you to come to terms with what happened, realize she did what she did because she cared about you, and go get her.”

  Jovy was right. He’d realized all that and more this week, but the “go get her” part wasn’t happening. There was still the “Cord was her brother” part. A line Brick wouldn’t cross. Although technically, he already had, but that was because he hadn’t known who she was, and now that he did, he wouldn’t go there. Couldn’t, no matter how damn bad he wanted to.

  He took another pull of his beer.

  Jovy tossed her hands in the air. “Unbelievable.”

  “Come here, babe.” Stone grabbed her from behind and tugged her down onto his lap. “You’re talking to a brick wall.”

  “Yeah, you can’t fight stubborn,” Vince said.

  “Or stupid.” His brother grinned.

  Brick lifted his hand, a half second away from flipping the bastards off, when he remembered Jovy was in the room, so he reached for a nacho instead. Damn things were good. He had another.

  “So that’s it?” Jovy asked. “You’re going to sit here and do nothing instead of heading to Austin to get her and bring her back here where she belongs?”

  Pretty much. He lifted his bottle in acknowledgement and drank.

  “Wow.” She shook her head. “That’s fucking stupid.”

  He choked on his beer while the guys all snickered. Even Cord’s lips twitched at Jovy’s uncharacteristic language.

  “Pardon my French,” she added with a shake of her head, her gaze full of disapproval. “I just don’t see what the big deal is.”

  She really didn’t get it. He had a loyalty to the brotherhood. To Cord. They had each other’s backs in and out of combat. Went through training together. Took bullets for each other. Stood up for each other in bar fights. Backed each other on split-second decisions in battle. Traveled to hell and back. They had a history. Trust. And messing with Cord’s sister was a violation of that trust. He’d unknowingly broken it, and Cord had forgiven him. They were in a good place again. No way in hell would he knowingly break it. No way.

  He blew out a breath. “It’s complicated.”

  His brother tipped his head and glanced around the scowling woman at him. “Then uncomplicate it.” Throwing the advice he’d given Stone a few weeks ago back at him.

  His brother had taken the advice, bared his heart to the woman he loved, and now his arms and lap were full of that woman.

  Brick’s were empty. Like his life.

  Even if he didn’t have his loyalty to Cord standing in his way, there was the fact Beth had a life already carved out for herself. She worked hard and busted her ass to achieve those dreams. He wasn’t going to mess them up for her, too.

  “She has plans, work, college—”

  “Not anymore,” Cord spoke up for the first time.

  Brick jerked his head back and narrowed his gaze on the guy. “What do you mean?”

  “She’s not going to college in the fall,” his buddy replied.

  “What?” Brick’s heart dropped to his stomach. Had her plans changed because of him? He set his bottle on the table and jumped t
o his feet. “Why the hell not?”

  God, she’d been so proud, so excited over the prospect.

  “She used her tuition money to pay for damages we made at the hotel.”

  Son of a bitch.

  “What damages?” He inhaled while his shoulders, neck, and chest squeezed tight. “And why am I just hearing about this now?”

  Cord rose to his feet. “That’s not all.”

  Jesus, wasn’t that enough?

  “What do you mean that’s not all?”

  “Boss fired her.”

  Ah hell. She’d been telling the truth?

  Brick shoved a hand through his hair then squeezed the back of his neck. “Because of the hotel?”

  “Yep.”

  He muttered a stream of curses and dropped his hand. “That’s not right. We have to do something.”

  “Tried. She’s stubborn. Said it was her responsibility.”

  “No.” He got right up in Cord’s face. “You and I fucked up the room. Jesus, why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

  “Didn’t think you cared.”

  “What?” He jerked his head back. “Why the fuck would you say that?”

  “You didn’t try to stop her when she left.”

  “Yeah, Brick,” Jovy said. “You broke her heart.”

  “More like ripped it to shreds.” Vince scowled. “Did you see that poor girl’s face as she spilled her heart out to you on Sunday? And you just sat there.”

  “Cold, man.” Leo shook his head.

  He turned back to Cord. “I didn’t try to stop her because she was your sister. And because I was a jerk.”

  “Do you love her?” Cord pinned him with that damn Warlock stare and caught him off guard.

  “What?”

  “Do you love my sister?”

  God, yeah, if waking up with her on his mind first thing in the morning and going to bed with her on his mind at night and every minute in between was anything to go by. Or the fact he saw her everywhere, felt her, hell he even smelled her damn perfume.

  He missed making her smile just to see it consume her whole face. How she threw her all into everything she did, even him. Especially him. And her eyes. God, she’d looked at him with such warmth it’d enveloped him, reached deep inside and spread out in all directions. Or darkened to a deep emerald when she was consumed with need as he buried himself deep inside. He loved her so damn much he used the insurance money he received that week to buy a green truck.