Branding A Legacy (A Silver Star Ranch Novel)

by Bellus, HJ

  “Mom, I saved a life and he basically kicked me out for it. I’m not making nice.”

  “Clover.”

  “I’m done with you, Mother.” I tap the red end button on my cell phone, toss it on the passenger seat, and let the tears flow. It’s the last time I’ll ever let her make me feel worthless. I’ve tasted my own life here in Texas and will never let her drag me down again.

  Once the tears start they don’t stop. I lay my forehead down on the steering wheel begging the tears to cease but keep wondering how a mother could hate their own flesh and blood so much. However, it’s like she said, I’m too much like my dad and she hated the man. Her one mistake—getting knocked up by him.

  A light rapping on my window causes me to throw my arms up and scream like a madwoman.

  “Clover.”

  I look out my window to see Marvel clothed in his gym shorts and a dark hoodie.

  “Are you okay?”

  I stare like a fool, not knowing how to respond and even wonder if it’s my imagination seeing him standing there.

  “Hello.” He waves a hand in front of my face.

  Slowly, I blink and come to my senses, wiping away a few stray tears. I turn the key on enough to roll down the window.

  “Hey.”

  “You okay?” he asks.

  “No.” I shake my head. “Are you okay?”

  “Me?” He points to his chest.

  “Yeah, you.”

  “I’m doing.”

  “Good.”

  “Why are you crying in the driveway?”

  Not in the mood to explain to him the whole screwed up situation, I answer him with a question.

  “Why are you walking down the driveway?”

  He cracks a slight smile. “Because I can.”

  “I’m crying in your driveway like a lunatic because I can.”

  “Want to talk about it?” He offers.

  A burst of laughter escapes me at the mere thought of sharing or leaning on his shoulder at all. “No, I’m good.”

  “Yeah, you look real good.”

  “Your time of being kind is all used up, so now it’s the mean ass Marvel coming out to play.”

  He plants both of his hands on my door. I stare at his fingers as they grip the inside and then up to his face as he leans down and into my car. “I told you that I’m sorry. I’ll never be able to say it enough. I’m trying to get better and fight off the demons. It’s just so fucked up right now, Clover.”

  “Oh, I get fucked up, trust me on that one.” I cover one of his hands with mine and feel that same electric touch. “I shouldn’t have picked a fight. I know you’re sorry.”

  “You’ll just never know how sorry I am for everything. You should have never had to find me that night, and no one should’ve ever died.”

  “I still don’t believe that’s any of your fault.”

  “Well, it is, and that’s what I’m trying to deal with day in and day out without becoming a bitter asshole.”

  “Well, you’re screwed on the asshole part.” I wink at him.

  “Oh, Nurse Nancy knows how to joke.”

  “Yeah, I got some game.”

  “I’m seeing this,” Marvel says with a genuine smile covering his face. It might be the first time I’ve seen him happy, and he’s simply gorgeous. His strong jawline, hazel eyes, and the wavy curls from the back of his hair enrapture me. It’s the Marvel I heard so many stories about from his family members while he was missing and the guy I saw glimpses of while he was in the hospital.

  “You’re gorgeous.” I cover my mouth, shocked and embarrassed about what just came out.

  “You’re not bad yourself.” He shrugs and stands up.

  “Gee, thanks. Want a ride?”

  “I’m a damn cowboy, and a stud at that, to hell if I’ll be caught dead riding in your slug bug.”

  “Fine.” I smile and turn the key over.

  “Damn, Californian.” Marvel lifts the bottom of his dark hoodie up and over his head, giving me a slow and seductive show. Inch by inch his skin is exposed underneath the big Texas sky. Bruises and healing scars cover his backside, only adding to his sex appeal.

  I soak in his torso, appreciating the right amount of muscles, and then let my vision drift a bit lower down to the waistband of his shorts. Which I might add seem to be riding just a tad low on his delicious hips. I cover my gaping mouth with my hand, the same fingertips that zinged when they touched him. I shake my head at the roller coaster of emotions I just jumped off.

  I’m unable to force my stare from Marvel’s body and definitely will never be able to erase his smiling face from my memory. The game has changed now since he’s no longer a patient and I’m living across the road from him.

  A blaring sound goes off from behind me, causing me to jump straight up into the air. The top of my head slams into the roof of my car. I yell, piss a little, and then grab the steering wheel. When I look into the rearview mirror, it’s Merek and Challis, and if I’m not mistaken, they’re both laughing their asses off. Guess they saw my little leap of death.

  I waste no time throwing my car into drive and scurrying up the damn lane. Marvel’s out of view by the time I start going and I silently thank the gods he is. Once locked safely in my house, I throw myself down on the couch and let out a loud groan of frustration.

  Between my mom’s call and Marvel being nice, I have no idea what or even how to think anymore. Everything I thought was right in the world always seems to end up wrong. I’ve never wanted anything more than a routine and boring life but now find myself wanting more, and even my body is screaming for more.

  Looking at my wristwatch, I realize there’s an hour before Sterling will be here to pick me up. Rising to my feet, I contemplate whether or not to call him and cancel dinner. Well, I am hungry. He’s nice, and I like him as a friend, but there’s nothing else to it. I’m in love with someone else.

  My phone dings, causing me to jump once again, and I crack my shin on the coffee table’s sharp edge.

  “Fuck.” I cover my mouth, shocked at the word that escaped me. Shooting pain attacks my leg, and a wet liquid runs down the front of my shin. Blood soon appears on the outside of my scrubs. Slowly, I lift my pant leg and come face to face with a nice little wound from the table.

  “Asshole.” I kick the leg of it feeling better and walk to the bathroom. My phone dings in my hand once again, reminding me of my original startle.

  It’s a text from Sterling.

  Sterling: See you in an hour. Found a new steakhouse for us to try. Can’t wait to hear about your high school band days.

  Well shit, there’s goes any chance of canceling on him now.

  I dial Ella’s number, dancing around in the bathroom trying to clean up my cut, praying to the good lord above she’s out of her appointment.

  “Hello.”

  “Oh, my God, Ella, I need advice.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, sorry. Just a bit panicked.” Even embracing all my awkwardness and dorkiness, I feel at an all-time low right now in nerd-dom asking for help.

  “Just a second. I’m trying to get in the truck.”

  “Okay.” I pick at the edge of the bandage I just placed on my shin and can hear Maverik in the background helping hoist Ella up into the seat.

  “I’m here. What’s up?”

  “Well, I uh–”

  “Spit it out, woman. Next stop is the waffle house and I’ll be hanging up on your ass to get me waffles.”

  I laugh at her comment and then just spill everything. “I’m supposed to go on a date with Sterling in an hour, but I think I’m in love with Marvel.”

  Each word is like a brick of dynamite as I spill it, cringing internally and shutting my eyes as I let the truth out.

  “Okay.” Ella sounds a bit lost. “What’s the problem then, Clover?”

  “Well, I don’t want to be a whore going out with Sterling, and I also don’t want to upset him if I cancel.”

>   I hear Maverik’s deep chuckle on the other end of the phone. Oh, my God, I must be on speaker. I bury my face deep down in my lap with the phone still pressed to my ear.

  “Sterling told me that you’ve been a sealed ship, not even offering up a hand to hold or a goodnight kiss, so I think your worry of being a whore is out of the picture.”

  “Maverik,” Ella says into the phone. “Sorry, Clover, I had you on speaker. I thought you were going to try to weasel your way out of birthday cake tonight, so I was going to use Maverik for positive reinforcement.”

  My face burns with embarrassment as I continue to hear Maverik laugh in the background. Clearly me being a whore is quite the joke, and thank God for that since the part where I confessed to possibly being in love with his little brother has been overlooked for now.

  “So what do I do?”

  “Go out on the date with Sterling and then just don’t commit to any more until you know what you want.”

  “Okay, it’s just all insane and too much.”

  “It’s because you’re falling for a Slatter. That intensity never dies out.”

  “I’ve never been in love before, Ella.”

  “Well, you picked the perfect man, and it couldn’t come at a better time in his life.”

  “I didn’t pick him, my heart did.”

  14

  Marvel

  The house is cheerful with all the family gathered around Granddad’s dining room table. Ella’s belly hits the edge of it as she keeps leaning over to eat, so Maverik has resorted to feeding her. Granddad sits back in his chair with a smile covering his face, and it’s one of those rare moments for me where I feel like the old Marvel. The one who loved deep, worked hard, and lived life to the fullest.

  A knock on the door grabs my attention as I watch Maverik stand to answer it. There’s undercover agents crawling all over the ranch disguised as workers, and it may be the only thing that doesn’t have the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention. I take a long drink of the coke and whiskey in my cup and watch Maverik open the door.

  Sterling appears in the doorframe. He nearly covers the entire entrance with his height and bulk. The man is fucking built from head to toe. I smile remembering some of the torture he and Maverik used to put me through when we were little kids.

  He steps into the house, taking off his black Stetson cowboy hat and hanging it up on the coat rack. The noise level in the house raises but all becomes a blur when I see her. Clover is right behind Sterling, her hand clutched in his as they walk in. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face and do notice the tinge of jealousy at the sight of their connected hands.

  I lean back on the dark marble counter, tipping back the rest of my drink, and then fold my arms over my chest. I admire Clover from head to toe—her straight dark hair falling over her shoulders, tight jeans, and sweater. It’s almost like seeing her for the first time with her hair down and in normal clothes. I know I’m staring and should take my eyes off of her but can’t help it. I wait for her to make eye contact with me.

  Granddad’s out of his chair and has her wrapped up in a hug and then Ella and Challis both give her a squeeze. Sterling takes her hand once again and guides her to the table, and that’s when our eyes lock. She immediately ducks her head when she sees me and I know it’s because of the way I’ve treated her.

  I react quickly, leaping forward from the counter and pulling a chair out for her. It’s centered between Merek and lil’ Mav. And you can bet your sweet ass there’s only room for one.

  “Here, Clover.” I nod to her and point to the chair.

  I hear Maverik call to Sterling, distracting him from finding a seat for both of them and mentally thank my older brother.

  I grab her hand and pull her near the chair and as close to me as possible without making her feel uncomfortable. Dragging my hand slowly up from hers and the length of her arm, I trail my fingertips up her jawline, until they disappear beneath her hair and wrap around the back of her neck. I lean in inhaling her sweet scent. The same one that kept me going while in the hospital, even though I fought it every chance I could get.

  “You look amazing tonight, Clover.”

  I have to force myself from leaning over and kissing her. I drop my hand before my will escapes me. When I look down at her, she smiles back up at me with flushed cheeks.

  “Thanks for coming tonight,” I say.

  “I wasn’t sure.”

  “About?” I ask, tilting my head and clutching my hands together so I don’t touch her.

  “Coming here.”

  “Can we talk later, Clover?”

  She only nods to me as the rest of the party invades our conversation. I turn to go back to the counter and signal to Merek I need another stiff drink. Anyone else in the house would throw a complete shit fit about me drinking, and rightfully so, but I need something to take the edge off and detour my thoughts from going down the wrong path.

  Merek places another stiff one at my side and then goes right back to the party. I let the liquid flow down, enjoying the taste of it, but when my vision lands on the back of Clover, the alcohol does nothing for me. She does.

  Ella pats the empty chair next to her and nods in my direction. My body is stiff and sore, but there’s nothing that would stop me from joining my family right now. I settle in at the table and am thankful Sterling is far away from Clover.

  Ella pats my leg then leans over and whispers in my ear, “She likes you.”

  I lean away from her and shake my head from side to side, because there’s no way Ella would know what’s going on. She nods her head up and down then leans toward me again.

  “She really likes you, Marvel, and may be the one to save you. I know how it feels to be at the bottom of the world hurt, don’t push her away.”

  Her words hit me hard and deep, and I know exactly what she means. Ella has suffered just as much as anyone at this table and knows what it takes to fight back.

  “Thank you,” I whisper and clutch her free hand. “I mean it, Ella.”

  She winks back at me. “You are going to be just fine, Marvel.”

  “Mom, Dad, look at this.” Lil’ Mav holds up a brand new rope. “It’s so sick, thanks, Challis.”

  Challis stands up, enveloping lil’ Mav into a big old hug. From the sounds of it, the two have become quite the pair, running up and down the road going to different ropings.

  Lil’ Mav sits down and tears into his next present. It’s a large box and was clearly wrapped by Merek. He’s notorious for using way too much tape and wrinkling the paper. I look over to him and his shit-eating grin on his face. He’s propped back in his chair with one arm wrapped around Challis with his ball cap on crooked.

  “Holy shit,” Lil’ Mav squeals as he peeks down in the box. “Holy shit, Merek.”

  Ella is on her feet scolding him and running over to the box.

  “No, you didn’t, Merek Slatter.” She whops him on the back of the head as she nears the box. “Maverik, if your little brother did what I think he did, shit is going to hit the fan.”

  Merek sits back and laughs as Maverik and Sterling near the box to peek in it.

  “What’s going on?” Clover asks, looking toward me since I’m the only one left sitting. I stand and go to her, grabbing her hand, pulling her to stand, and then lead her down the dark hallway into the bathroom. I shut the door, flip on the lights, and take a moment to admire her.

  “Marvel.”

  I place my finger over her lips, stopping her from talking or giving her a chance to ask any questions. I remove my finger and replace it with my lips. They freeze on hers. It’s the most delicious taste I’ve tasted, and in this moment I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I want this taste for the rest of my life. I run my hands up her back, finally gripping her neck and tugging it gently. I wait for her reaction, not wanting to be too overbearing.

  I back up a bit. “Clover, when I start I won’t be able to stop.”

  “Kis
s me, Marvel.”

  Those three words destroy every ounce of self-control I thought I had left. I place my lips back down on her and relish the feel of her sweet skin on mine for a second before I indulge. When our lips fuse together, I lose all sense of reality.

  I tighten my hold around her neck as I deepen our kiss, gliding my tongue along the inside of her mouth. Clover moans into my mouth as I feel her knees weaken, and I do my best to keep her upright using what strength I have. I push her body back against the door, pinning her just where I want her.

  “Don’t ever stop kissing me, Marvel.” Clover turns her head, laying it back on the door.

  I take advantage of her position by trailing kisses up her exposed skin. I feel her fingernails dig into the top of my shoulders as she pushes her chest into mine. I growl with the need to move this further and faster along. I need to release inside of her now.

  “I want you, Clover.”

  Both of my palms plant on her cheeks, prying her gorgeous face back up to mine.

  “I think I’m ready to kiss you back now.”

  “What?” I tilt my head to the side.

  “I’ve never been kissed, Marvel.” She raises one hand to her mouth, brushing her fingertips along her swollen lips. “I’m ready now.”

  Leaning down, I lightly nibble on the back of her hand that’s covering her mouth until she moves it. I freeze as I feel her weave her hand to the back of my head, clutching onto my hair. Clover presses her hand into the back of my head, guiding my mouth down to hers, and when our lips touch a fire ignites between the both of us. It’s just not me kissing this time.

  Between her sweet tongue darting in and out of my mouth and her innocent hips rocking into mine, I nearly rip all of her clothes off. The speed of our kisses quickens as Clover begins tearing at my clothes.

  I slide my hand under her shirt up to her bra. My fingers dance around the bottom edge of her bra while her full tits brush my knuckles. I’d warned her about my self-control flooding once I started. And it was a fucking promise. I cup both of her tits, letting my fingers dig into her luscious flesh. When Clover moans and bucks her hips toward me, I can tell she’s coming nearly almost as undone as me.