Brokenhearted Beauty [Divine Creek Ranch 19] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Heather Rainier

  “You know that I wasn’t just talking about sex,” Vincent ground out.

  “I know. It’s just easier for you to communicate on that level, like a fucking caveman.”

  Vincent gave him a single-finger salute and both men chuckled. Vincent said, “I love her just as much as you do.”

  James made eye contact and nodded. “I know you do, Vince. That was never in doubt. And I think she knows there’s a real connection between us, too. Just let her do her thing.”

  Vincent nodded, still worried that she was already in Abilene, already loving that store, already seeing her place in it, and that fucking general contractor her dad was putting her in contact with was already flirting with his woman. She could make a decision without knowing how deep his feelings went, because his pride had stopped him from speaking them that morning. She knew he loved fucking her but she probably didn’t know he loved her so much he’d give his life for her.

  Chapter Six

  “And this,” Denny Calder said as he opened the door to the office at the end of the corridor, “would be your office.”

  Leah smiled as she tried to gingerly slide by Denny’s broad chest into the office. It was at least twice the size of her old office and had a window that looked out over the park across the street.

  Her movement was halted by a tugging at the back of her blouse and she looked up into his smiling brown eyes and said, “Uh-oh.” Oh, this is so awkward! He’s gonna think I’m coming on to him. “My blouse is hung on something.”

  His smile changed to a look of concern and he reached around behind her. She didn’t think he was purposely making bodily contact with her but she was really snagged so she held still. He curved his body around hers and she caught the close-up version of his woodsy scent combined with good, healthy sweat.

  “Here we go. I don’t think your blouse is torn,” he said, freeing the knit material. “You were hung on a splinter. Are you hurt?”

  “Um, no,” she replied, letting out her breath after realizing she’d been holding it. She looked around the office, imagining it once the renovation was done. Right now it was bare bones and down to the studs on the inner walls and the old bricks on the outer walls.

  “You’ll be able to pick your own paint colors and flooring, if you’d like,” he said as he slid his hands into his jeans pockets.

  “That won’t be necessary. Whatever is chosen for the rest of the offices and the store will be fine, no matter who takes on the position. It looks great so far.”

  Denny nodded and smiled at her, her noncommittal comment about the occupant of that office going in one ear and out the other. “That’s pretty much the end of the tour. If you would like, I can show you a little about the area and…”

  “Thank you but it’s been a long day, Denny. I really need to find some place to eat and get back to the bed-and-breakfast.”

  All she wanted right now was a nice long soak in the great big tub in her room. Awesome as usual, Evelyn had taken it upon herself to arrange accommodations for her that night at the Angel Arms Inn, a quaint little bed-and-breakfast situated within a few miles of the store. It’d originally been a Victorian home that had been moved from its former location in another town and had been completely rebuilt and updated with modern conveniences.

  “Well, I was also planning to show you one of the better eating establishments, and then I can drop you off at the bed-and-breakfast.” When she’d called him that morning to let him know she’d arrived in Abilene and asked for directions to the store, he’d offered to pick her up and had shown up at her door not five minutes later. Because she did need a tour of the area, she hadn’t rejected the offered ride, but the day had been a long one.

  “Well, I suppose that’d be all right, but…” Damn, I really wanted to be alone tonight. He looked so hopeful she finally relented. “That’d be fine.” It was hard not to be taken in by the likable contractor. He’d told her he was a recent widower with two kids who were in college but he looked barely old enough to have kids that age.

  “Great. Ready to go when you are.”

  She followed him back down the hall, and out into the store which was now closed for the day. The last of the inventory had been moved into one section at the front of the store and the rest of the vast space had been sealed off with yellow “caution” tape, where construction was now going on. The work was impressive. It was obvious he led a rather large and accomplished construction crew and she hadn’t been able to find anything wrong with any of the work, although the city inspectors would have the final say on that matter.

  She said good night to the manager on duty and the remaining employees, appreciating their friendly and open attitude toward her upon her arrival that morning. The store seemed like it was going to be an absolutely fantastic addition to her father’s fleet of department stores. She could envision this store carrying soft goods for the entire family with a heavy emphasis on Western wear.

  She cast another long look around while Denny waited patiently, holding the front door open for her. From a professional standpoint, she was intrigued. This was the kind of place she’d envisioned working when she’d still been in school. From a personal standpoint, was there enough here to hold her in Abilene? She wasn’t sure. And she was willing to admit that part of her didn’t want to be sure.

  She shook her head at her mental ramblings. The voice of reason that had dogged her all day told her to give this place the chance it deserved before discounting it.

  “Everything okay?” Denny asked as she turned and passed through the door into the blasting heat of Abilene.

  Love that wind, girl. That’d take some getting used to for sure.

  Denny drove her around the city, sticking mainly to the major thoroughfares, in order to acclimate her to getting around easily, he said. He pulled in to an apartment complex a couple of miles from the store and drove through slowly. “I’ve done work in some of these units over the last couple of years. They have lots of luxury features and good security systems. These at the end would probably suit your needs perfectly, at least short term, anyway.”

  “Short term?”

  “Well, you may decide to make a…more permanent move here, and then a house and all that entails would be nice. You know, roots.” His cheeks became a little ruddy as he said it and she looked out the window both to give him time to recover from whatever thought had embarrassed him and to give herself time to look the complex over.

  The apartments were nice on the outside and the complex was recently painted and super clean-looking, with no junky cars in the recently resurfaced parking lot.

  “Looks great.”

  He took her to a restaurant located on the main thoroughfare near the store and she hesitated when he held the door open for her. She’d thought it was a steakhouse but the interior looked much more cozy and intimate, the kind of place you’d take a loved one for a special occasion.

  When she glanced back at him, he grinned and lifted a hand in surrender. “I promise I’m not trying to date you, Leah. I just wanted to show you the best side of Abilene. I think you’d like it here.”

  She chuckled, thinking he deserved points for trying. He was a nice guy. He was good-looking and had an open demeanor that told her he could be trusted. In short, he was one of the good guys. But she didn’t find him appealing as anything other than a friend. His personality, his looks, even his scent, were appealing, just not to her.

  Similar thoughts occupied her as she looked over the menu and ordered a steak and salad combination that sounded good and not overly filling.

  “What do you think of the construction so far?” he asked after the waitress had collected their menus and left them with their chips and salsa and sweet teas.

  She was relieved that he was no longer dropping hints about choosing to stay in Abilene and instead focused on the work at hand. “I’m pleased to see that you’re not just putting a bandage on an older building.”

  “Your dad was pretty specific ab
out what he wanted. I liked that. I imagine he’s where you get your attention to detail from?”

  “Yes. Did he tell you that?”

  He tilted his head and shrugged. “He hinted at it, saying you were a stickler for details but it’s also pretty obvious.”

  “Is that a problem? I thought you’d want my opinion.”

  “Not a problem at all. I want you to be happy.”

  That unsettled feeling in her gut returned and she silently wished for the meal to be over with soon. She still hadn’t checked in with James and Vincent. Her cell phone signal had been nonexistent at the tiny bed-and-breakfast she’d stayed at the night before, so far off the beaten path she’d needed to stop for directions to find it. The name, Boondocks Bed-and-Breakfast, should’ve been a clue.

  Every time she thought about leaving town like that and then not communicating with James and Vincent directly about it, her heart ached. She’d checked in with Evelyn during the day and she’d mentioned that James had come by with flowers for her and she’d only felt worse. She was praying her cell phone worked when she tried to call them once she got back that night.

  “Leah?”

  “Yes?” She realized he’d been talking while she’d been worrying.

  “I was asking about flooring materials for the office space. Your dad told me to leave the choice up to you. Are you okay?”

  She smiled. “I’m sorry. What were my choices again?”

  “The designer suggested ceramic tile or wood laminate in the lower traffic office areas.”

  She didn’t even hesitate. “Wow. Expensive.”

  “I had the distinct impression that your dad wanted only the best for you. Nice guy.”

  Nice of him trying to maneuver me into taking this position. It’s almost like he wants me gone from Divine.

  She considered the choices and said, “Ceramic tile would be a bit more durable long term, I think.”

  He nodded and looked around the restaurant before gazing at her again. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable by bringing you here.”

  “No, it’s fine, Denny. It’s me. I’m just a little distracted.”

  The depression settled on her shoulders and he nodded, seeming to understand. “I understand. I still miss…my wife. It just takes time, or so I’m told.” He tried to hide it but she could see a glimpse of the sadness he also carried around.

  “My dad told you?”

  He nodded. “He didn’t gossip about you, Leah, but he did mention that you’d suffered a loss of someone you cared a great deal about. He knew I lost my wife a year ago, and…Well, I guess he was doing a bit of well-meaning matchmaking.”

  With a dry chuckle, she said, “That sounds exactly like my dad. There are circumstances he doesn’t know about, but yes, Patterson died at the beginning of April. A motorcycle accident. He died of a head injury.” She cleared her throat and took a deep drink of her tea.

  The way his brows drew together and true sympathy entered his eyes made her throat clog a bit. “Some good did come from it. He was an organ and tissue donor and thanks to him seven people are still alive today and two have at least partial vision. That’s something.” She looked down at her hands in her lap. That knowledge should help her feel better but she still struggled with resentment, crazy as that sounded. Part of him was living but she still suffered his loss.

  “Doesn’t really make you feel better, does it?”

  “Is it that obvious?” she asked, her laugh sounding hollow. “I miss him every day, and…” I miss his brothers, too.

  The waitress brought their food and as they settled in to eat, Denny said, “Just give it time. It does get a little easier. I don’t think you miss them less, but time keeps moving forward and so does life. I hope I haven’t messed up the store’s chance of getting you for general manager. Please accept my apologies if I’ve overstepped the boundaries.”

  She put down her fork and waited for him to look up. “Denny, you haven’t done anything wrong. The construction is progressing well and ahead of schedule. The store will be beautiful when it’s finished. I think…it’s going to be a tough decision.”

  He smiled and raised an eyebrow. “I think no matter what store you work in, the people there are lucky. It sounds to me like your heart is in Divine, same as my heart is here.”

  Letting out a shaky sigh, she said, “Maybe so, but it’s my head that needs to rule my choices.”

  He nodded and they finished the meal with friendly, noncommittal chit chat about the community, other businesses in the area, and amusing stories about his time in the military. He was careful to keep the conversation platonic and by the end of the meal she was certain she’d made a good friend. If he was disappointed, he hid it well.

  The sun had set by the time he drove her back to the bed-and-breakfast. She put a hand on his forearm and said, “Thank you for the tour…and for understanding, Denny.”

  There was true understanding in his eyes as he patted her hand. “It’ll get easier. Hang on and I’ll open your door for you.”

  Rejection, no matter how slight or well-intended, didn’t make him forget his manners, which she appreciated. He helped her down to the asphalt and walked her up the stairs. “Shall I pick you up tomorrow?”

  “No. I can find my way to the store with no problem and I’ll probably leave for home straight from there.”

  “Leah, I wish you luck no matter what you choose to do.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You’re quite a lady.”

  “You’re right about that, mister,” said a growly, possessive, and familiar voice from the shadows of the deep porch. “And she’s already been claimed.”

  Leah gasped and her jaw dropped as Vincent stepped from the shadows. She’d never been happier to see him, but then his declaration registered and words failed her.

  Denny filled the gap and said, “Is this someone you know, Leah?” Unspoken in his tone was whether Vincent was someone she wanted to see at the moment or not.

  Her cheeks filled with heat and she looked back at Denny and nodded. “Yes. Despite his rather intimidating attitude, he’s a friend of mine. Thank you again for taking me to supper. I’ll see you in the morning at the store.”

  Denny nodded but hesitated, casting a gaze back and forth between the two of them. “If you’re sure…”

  “Positive. See you in the morning.”

  He tipped his hat and gave Vincent one last unflinching, appraising look and then walked back down the steps.

  She waited until he was in his truck and starting it before she turned to Vincent.

  He stood with hands on his hips, dressed in denim shirt and jeans, cowboy boots and cowboy hat, which was every bit as hot as seeing him in his black police officer’s uniform. But she needed to be firm.

  “How did you know where I’d be?” she asked as he opened the front door for her.

  “Evelyn told James and he told me.”

  “Is he with you?”

  “No.”

  “Did he know when he told you that you’d be driving out here?” It was at least a two- or three-hour drive for him.

  “No. I’m sure he knows by now, though.”

  Mrs. Miller, the owner of the bed-and-breakfast, hurried to the foyer. “Oh, there you are, Miss Woodworth. This young man said he was your boyfriend. I told him he needed to wait down here. I hope that was all right. Do you know him?”

  Leah nodded in thanks. “Yes, ma’am. And that’s fine. If you don’t mind we’re going to finish our conversation upstairs.”

  “That’s perfectly fine. I just wanted to make sure he knew you.”

  Vincent hid a smile and Leah elbowed him. “Yes, ma’am. He’s a police officer and I’m sure he appreciated your vigilance on my behalf.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I did,” Vincent replied.

  He followed her up the stairs and she swatted his hand when he pinched her ass while they were still in full view of the owner who was watching them. She keyed open her room door and once it
closed behind them she turned and shoved him up against it, no mean feat considering she was at least ten inches shorter than him.

  “Who in the hell do you think you are?”

  He looked down at her with amusement, and ignoring her question, he said, “Looked to me like you were on a date with that guy. I was just letting him know he’s too late.”

  “Too late for what? Too late since I already have someone acting like a guard dog over me? Too late because the slot I had open for an overbearing, bossy, jerk-in-my-life asshole was already filled by you? What are you doing here?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? I wanted to see you.”

  Ready to hit him, she shoved him back against the door when he leaned toward her. “You wanted a booty call!”

  He scoffed and looked her straight in the eye and said, “Doll, I’m not that much of a dog. It couldn’t have been much of a date if all he did was kiss your hand. If I was out with you I could think of about a hundred better ways to say good night, starting with a kiss and ending with you getting nekkid.”

  He chuckled when she swatted at him again. The man was impossible. “I can just imagine, you Neanderthal. And I wasn’t on a date!”

  “Maybe you should’ve told him that.”

  She pointed her finger in his face. “You listen up, Vincent Elder. I’m here on business. Denny is a contractor doing work for my father and he’s a nice guy. We spent the day together going over his work at the store and then he took me out to supper. End of story.”

  “You want me to believe he wasn’t interested in you? You’re more naïve than I thought.”

  She let out a frustrated breath. “I am not naïve. Okay, so he was interested at first but I made it clear I’m not. He was kissing my hand to be sweet, something you clearly know nothing about.”

  He grasped her arms and reversed their positions, pressing her firmly up against the door. “Maybe you’re right,” he said with glittering eyes. “Maybe I’m not a hearts-and-flowers kind of guy but I know how to treat a real woman, naïve or not.”