Denying the Devil

by Calle J. Brookes

  Trust. Safety. It would be easy with that man. She’d feel exactly like she belonged.

  Nate stepped back outside. Perci looked up at him just as he smiled.

  At her.

  When was the last time he’d smiled at her just like that? She honestly couldn’t remember.

  They had fought for so long.

  She felt strange, vulnerable. Tender. Not for him, but like she’d been kicked or bruised and was just learning to deal with it.

  Hell of a way to feel about a man. Like a mule had kicked her in the chest and she wasn’t certain if something was broken or not.

  “You ready?” he asked, holding out her jacket to her. She’d grabbed it from her room a few minutes earlier and tossed it over the back of her chair at the table. She nodded.

  He held the jacket open for her and helped her slip it on around the sleeping child.

  It might have been her imagination, but she was almost certain Nate’s hands lingered.

  Touched her just a little more than she was ready to think about.

  12.

  HIS WIFE’S BOY HAD thrown him off his property. Told him that he had no business showing up the way he had. Clive still smarted at that. He had raised that boy as if he were his own son, and Clint treated him no better than shit.

  Hell, Clive didn’t even know why he’d bothered going out there. The baby and Clint really weren’t his business.

  But they were all he had left. Maria had been right in that. He’d never have grandchildren of his own flesh. That hope had died with Jay. It would take him a while to get past that.

  But Clint...Clint was second best. He’d been raised right. He was making a good showing with the Wyoming State Police and was doing his best to get that ranch running that he’d inherited from his mother’s parents.

  All while trying to raise that baby girl on his own.

  Any man would be proud to call Clint his son. But Clive? Clive just didn’t have it in him to give a shit any more.

  Not since Jay.

  Everything he had done for the past thirty years had been for Jay.

  And all of that was gone.

  Clive wondered around the town’s only market aimlessly. He couldn’t remember why he’d come inside in the first place. He supposed he ought to buy something, a man needed to eat, and all.

  The woman who owned the place was a skinny blonde around Jay’s age. He didn’t know much about her. He would have, at one point. She’d moved to Masterson well after Clive had lost his bid for sheriff this last time.

  To a damned Masterson.

  Mastersons had cost him everything.

  His life’s work. His only son. His self-respect. Everything.

  He rounded the aisle and came face-to-face with one of those sonsofbitches. A redheaded woman walked at his side.

  Another one of those damned Tylers.

  He studied her for a moment, wondering if it was this one who had gotten his son killed.

  He didn’t think it was. That one worked the ranch and dressed like exactly what she was. And was usually with her husband, the vet.

  This twin didn’t wear a wedding ring. The big brute at her side was the doctor, not the veterinarian. Or so he thought. Clive wasn’t entirely certain which Tyler twin was which—or which Masterson doctor was which, for that matter. Other than the new sheriff, he didn’t know the Mastersons at all. The way they’d all intermarried, it left a person even more confused.

  Those Mastersons had had everything they’d ever wanted.

  His boy had lost everything, including his own life, for one of those damned Tyler girls.

  “Masterson.” His words were for the man, but his eyes...his eyes wouldn’t leave the woman. He knew who she was now.

  Perci. He and Perci...well...of all the Tyler girls, he knew this one the best.

  Tyler blue eyes widened when they looked at him.

  The child in her arms barely registered with Clive at all.

  13.

  NATE’S HAND LANDED on Perci’s shoulder before he even realized he had moved. With a simple nudge, he had Perci and Ivy tucked closer to his side. Protected.

  He didn’t like the light in Clive Gunderson’s eyes. The way the man stared at Perci was almost fanatical.

  With hatred.

  Gunderson was making it very clear for anyone within viewing distance that he could not stand Perci. Or Nate.

  But the situation was Gunderson’s own fault.

  He’d heard the story of Sheriff Gunderson straight from his youngest sister-in-law’s own mouth. She had had nothing good to say about the Gundersons. No Tyler had.

  Pan had told them exactly how often and what kind of hell Clive Gunderson had put her and her sisters through. To hide what his son Jay had tried to do to Pip.

  Pan had hinted that Perci had suffered most of all. That Gunderson would follow Perci home from classes and pull her over. On an almost-monthly basis. To remind them all to keep their mouths shut.

  The harassments had been beyond horrific.

  No one knew exactly what had happened to Perci out there alone on the road with Clive Gunderson. Perci had never told her sisters what he’d done to her. Pan had said she’d refused to talk about what that man had done. That she was terrified every time the man’s name was mentioned.

  His fist tightened with the urge to ram it into Gunderson’s face. Show that sonofabitch that she was no longer vulnerable. That she had him, and all of his brothers, to stop assholes like Gunderson from ever getting near her again.

  Instead, he spread his fingers wide over her back, then slid them up to cup her narrow shoulder.

  “Gunderson.” He wasn’t going to say he was sorry for Clive Gunderson’s loss. Maybe he should be—he was a doctor, after all. He had taken an oath to heal.

  Jay Gunderson had almost killed three people Nate loved. That would never be forgotten.

  His hand tightened on Perci’s shoulder, almost involuntarily. She looked up at him, a question in her Tyler blue eyes. He shook his head minutely, then guided her and the grocery cart—and Ivy, who was clinging to her—around the man half blocking the aisle.

  “I hope you know what you have, Masterson. It sure as hell burns when you lose it.” Gunderson’s tone was guttural, broken.

  Menacing.

  Nate turned back to the man, making certain he was between Gunderson and Perci and Ivy, just in case the man snapped. “You planning on making trouble, Gunderson? I don’t think that would be a smart idea.”

  “Nate...” Perci slipped in front of him and turned. Her hand rose, landed in the exact center of his chest. Hell, it was probably all that stopped him from making a scene. “Don’t. Not here...Ivy...”

  FOR ONE HALF SECOND, she was almost certain Nate was going to charge Gunderson right there in the midst of the IGA. His hand covered hers, and he squeezed, without even looking down at her. Big, strong, protective.

  She shivered.

  It was rather hard to be afraid of Gunderson when a man like Nate was right there.

  She trusted him. To keep her safe, to protect Ivy, and to just...make everything ok.

  That thought completely rocked her off her foundation.

  She trusted Nate Masterson.

  Perci tried to tell herself it was the same as the way she trusted his brothers, but she knew it was a lie. She hadn’t ever been great at deluding herself. Everything about Nate was different from his brothers.

  Gunderson stared at them as they walked away. She could almost feel a knife in her back from his gaze. Nate leaned down after they’d rounded the corner. “Don’t ever let him see you’re afraid. Gunderson’s a damned snake. The whole lot of them are.”

  She nodded. “You don’t need to tell me that.”

  Clive Gunderson had gloated when her mother had died. Had said the Tylers always got what they deserved. She would never be able to forget that. Or forgive. He could have helped them more that night. But he hadn’t. She’d always wondered if her mother had died part
ially because of his neglect. But that was an answer she’d never get. And all those nights when he’d been waiting for her alongside the highway...she would never forget that fear. She never knew when he’d be out there. Sometimes he’d pull her over and hold her alongside the road for hours. She’d always told her family she’d worked late at the ER whenever it happened. She shivered again. She would never forget the nights she’d end up sneaking in to her room and cry from anger and frustration and terror. Because of Clive Gunderson. “Let’s just get what we need and get out of here. Forget about him. Please?”

  He nodded.

  And kept his hand on her. For once, Perci didn’t mind.

  Ivy had sensed the tension that had risen and had started fussing a bit. Perci cuddled her for a long moment. Nate moved closer still, almost surrounding them with his much bigger body.

  Protecting them from the rest of the world around them.

  14.

  RHEA KNEW SOMETHING was up with one of her boys. A mother always did. Since Levi was in Hollywood, of all places, she’d passed Joel driving the squad truck on her way into town, and Matt was right there in the diner with that sweet little wife of his, that left only one option.

  Nate. She sighed. Of course. It had always been Nate who had given her trouble. From the time her third son had made his somewhat difficult appearance in this world, he’d been fighting everything.

  He should have married that girl months ago. It took Rhea some checking with her sources—social media was great for meddling mothers, which was exactly what she aspired to be. Before she found out something that shocked her.

  But it also gave her hope. And a little bit of a tender feeling inside to know her boy was going above and beyond to do the right thing.

  She had raised him right, contrary, though, he could be.

  She just had to swing by and see how the two were getting along—and check on that precious little one for herself.

  Nate’s truck was parked in front of the house he shared with his brother. Rhea didn’t bother knocking, but she made certain to be quiet in case the child was sleeping.

  She was. Curled up on the couch with another chair pushed up like a rail and a quilt Rhea’s own mother had made when the boys were babies. Rhea studied the toddler for a moment, first as a doctor, and then as a temporary grandmama. There were bruises that would never belong there, but they would heal. The girl looked like a little angel right there. Rhea’s heart melted.

  Her arms ached to hold. As soon as that little one woke, she’d be doing exactly that.

  Perci slept curled up in a big recliner nearby. Nate worked at the table in the kitchen. Rhea studied him for a long moment, that rush of motherly pride no longer shocking her when she looked at the boys she’d raised.

  Nate had always done her and his father proud.

  He was the one who looked the most like and acted the most like his father, and had grown to be as big as his father, too. She missed that man every single day. Nate was a living look into the past, though he had her eyes and hair.

  The pain was finally starting to not stab through her, though. The love she and her husband shared had been deep and lasting.

  She wanted the same thing for her sons. Three had that.

  This stubborn holdout was being ridiculous. He really was just like his father. Daniel had fought her like wildfire all those years ago, too. He’d said she was too young, had too much of a future ahead of her with med school, and hadn’t needed to get distracted by him.

  Fooey on that. She’d seduced him the first month she’d known him. Six months later, they had been expecting Joel, and she’d been about to enter med school—and they’d been married two months. A year after Joel had come Matt. Fourteen months after that had been Nate. Twenty months after Nate had come Levi.

  Her boys.

  “Well, there you are. Heard about the excitement.”

  “Mom, have you eaten lunch?” He barely reacted to her comment, just giving her that dark look his father had perfected long before this version of him had been born. Rhea smirked. She’d had decades of experience dealing with that look. Nate didn’t stand a chance.

  “Not yet.”

  He grabbed her a bowl and spooned out some soup from the pot on the stove. “Pan froze some soup when she was here last. That girl can cook.”

  “I’d like to meet her again. The last time I saw her she was covered in amniotic fluid.” She’d delivered all three of her daughters-in-law. Beautiful babies, the lot of them. The twins had been a difficult birth, but their mother had pulled through. And gone on to have a bunch more. Unfortunately, they’d switched physicians after Pan’s birth, to one closer to their ranch.

  Rhea hadn’t thought of that particular branch of the Tylers in years until she’d hired Perci.

  “You will. As soon as Rowland Bowles is finished with her.”

  “I can’t imagine seeing three of my daughters-in-law and my own son in a movie. I’m sorry I missed it.” There was a lot she’d missed.

  Grief had been what had mostly sent her running. Everywhere she’d turned, she’d seen her husband. To the point where she hadn’t wanted to look at the boys they’d created together.

  She’d had to get away before she lost herself. Leaving so Nate could find his way was just her convenient excuse. Rhea had had to find her purpose in life without Daniel. She had made a difference out there, helping those in need.

  She was back now. It was time to move on to the next stage in life. Grandmother-hood. And there was a little one starting to fuss in the living room that she could start with. She knew Ivy North’s history—and she’d call in every favor she could to ensure that child remained safe.

  Right where she was.

  Nate stood. “I’d better get her before she wakes Perci. I don’t think either of them slept well.”

  Nate would have known if that girl had been in his bed where she belonged. Rhea bit back a sigh.

  He was as stubborn as his father.

  She’d had to seduce Nate’s father thirty-eight years ago, too.

  Maybe she needed to give Perci some pointers. That girl really needed to pick up the pace. It was best to just blitz Nate. Not let him know what’s hit him. Otherwise, her son would snail-pace everything to death.

  Just like his father.

  Her other three took after her in that regard: when they knew what they wanted, they went with it. But Nate? Nate had to analyze and ponder everything to the nth degree.

  Infuriating.

  A tear touched her eye. Damn it, she really missed him. Daniel would be so proud of those boys they’d raised. Just like she was. The fifteen months she’d been without him had seemed like a lifetime.

  15.

  NATE READJUSTED THE blanket over Perci and then scooped up the now awake Ivy. She fussed a bit, but didn’t resist him holding her.

  Ivy wanted Perci; it was obvious in the way the little girl looked at the woman in the chair and fussed. “Shhh. Let Perci sleep. She’s sleepy.”

  “Perci’s napping, but Ivy is very hungry.” Big eyes blinked at him sadly. “Very hungry.”

  “Then we’ll feed you.” He held her close and rocked. He’d checked her bruises himself that morning. She’d be due for some pain medication soon, but she was making good progress. The best thing for her was to rest and heal. To know she was in a safe place. “There’s ice cream, if you eat your soup first.”

  His mother was still in the kitchen, but had pulled vegetables from the fridge. “There’s a roast in the freezer that hasn’t frozen yet and still enough time to make it. I’ll throw it in. That way you and Perci don’t have to worry about dinner. How long do you expect to have the little princess?”

  “I don’t know. Levi’s technically the foster parent on record at this point. And it all depends on how things resolve with her mother. It was her third offense. If the charges stick, then she’ll be facing a minimum of five years in Wyoming. There were other charges outstanding from Montana.” Joel had cal
led him that morning for an update on Ivy, first. And to let Nate know that her mother was going away for a long while. “And Colorado. She has a history.”

  “So Ivy’s future is unsettled.” His mother shot him a pointed look. “How long do you plan to keep that girl in there?”

  “As long as she’s needed.” Today had been a surprisingly calm day so far. He and Perci had focused on playing and snuggling Ivy. They’d even curled up on the couch before the nap and watched a children’s movie Perci’s brothers had left behind. Before he’d known it, Perci’s head had landed on his shoulder and then Ivy’s on his chest.

  It had felt so damned right he hadn’t wanted to even think about moving.

  So he hadn’t.

  For a very long time.

  It had given him a lot to think about.

  Maybe he should just give in. Go after what was right there in front of him. Fall in line with everyone’s expectations.

  It wouldn’t be a restful kind of life with Perci Tyler, but it might very well be worth it. They’d no doubt argue, but the times in between would be...wonderful. Passionate. Perci did everything with passion.

  “Were you and Dad always happy?” The question popped out before he could stop it. His parents had one of the fieriest and most passionate marriages he’d ever seen.

  “Always? No. Mostly—hell, yes, we were mostly happy. He just made my world brighter, Nathaniel. In a way you can’t ever understand until you feel that same kind of love. It’s different than the love you feel for your brothers, or your parents, or even your child. Why do you ask?”

  “Just thinking. About Joel, Matt, and Levi. About their wives. Pan and Levi remind me of you and Dad.”

  “Any particular reason?”

  He shot his mother a look. “Don’t be difficult.”

  She smiled, an expression very much like Levi’s most wicked. “What did I say?”

  “I was just wondering.”

  “Of course, you were. Perci’s staying until Ivy’s situation is figured out.”