Road to Love (Triple R Book 4)

by Jules Dixon

  “I have a friend who was a Marine and my boyfriend runs a security company where almost all of his employees are ex-military.”

  “Can’t wait to meet this boyfriend, sounds like my kind of guy.”

  Only one man is my kind of guy.

  I downed the rest of my coffee, the hot liquid burning away the thoughts of frost-colored hair and icy-blue eyes. “Well, Sage, sorry, but I need to get out into that field. Those soybeans aren’t going to harvest themselves.” I stood.

  She did a sharp inhale, but blew out the breath with a whistling sound while rubbing her stomach. “Dave always said the same thing. You’re going to work out just fine.”

  “You okay?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder as I carried my cup and her glass to the sink.

  “Just a little twinge. I swear the three of them are practicing to be gymnasts in there.”

  “My sister had twins. Seemed like she was uncomfortable from about month two on.”

  She rubbed her stomach and stretched to lengthen her torso. “Uncomfortable is the word and I have four and a half long months to go. Your sister have girls or boys, or one of each?”

  “Two girls, Eva and Keely. They’re already teenagers. Do you know what you’re havin’? Besides gymnasts?”

  “Two boys, one girl. At least that was what the last ultrasound indicated. I think one of those boys could turn out to be a girl. He was really shy to share his…” She grabbed the edge of the table, her knuckles whitening.

  “Sage, you sure you’re okay?”

  I’d seen plenty of farm animals go through the stages of gestation, and there was a glassy sheen in their eyes when something was wrong. That look of distress was in Sage’s expressive eyes, too.

  “I didn’t sleep well last night. Just a little worn-out today. I’ll go home and get some rest. I came out to make sure the cats and dog had food.”

  “Boomer jumped in the back of Vern’s truck on Sunday. He said it wouldn’t hurt to add another to his pack of dogs. I bought some cat food last weekend. Been feedin’ the cats. But from my experience, if you keep country cats a little hungry they do a better job keepin’ the mice from the barn and silos. I’ll make sure to keep up with the animals. No worries there.”

  “Great, that’s a load off of my shoulders. Thanks.” Sage stood. She grabbed her stomach and her legs buckled. I caught her in my arms, drawing her against my bare torso. “I’m just tired.” She rested against me.

  “Sure seems like more than just tired. Are you sure you don’t need medical attention?”

  “No, just had a stressful night last night. I’ll call a friend for a ride home.”

  “Nonsense. I’ll drive you there.”

  “You need to get into the field.”

  “The beans will still be there this afternoon. My mother would tan my hide if I wasn’t a proper gentleman and saw you home safely. Can I call Rahl to meet us there?”

  Her body stiffened in my arms. “I don’t know. We had a fight last night. I don’t think he’ll want to see me.” Her body jerked with sobs and warm tears ran down my chest.

  I rubbed her back. “Sage, a man wants to know all his babies are safe, and that includes the one carrying the little ones. No matter what. We may not carry the offspring, but I swear we feel that connection somewhere in our gut, too. Saw it in my two older brothers.”

  Sinking back into a chair, she sighed. “You’re right.” By the time her phone connected she was crying, and there was no way Rahl would be able to understand anything through her babbling.

  Hearing his frantic voice calling out for her, I reached out and she handed me the phone again. “Yes, hello, Mr. Vendetti. This is Holt Jamison. I’m the new hired hand at the Whitemans’ farm. Sage is out here and isn’t feelin’ well. She says she’s tired, but she’s pretty pale. I’m going to bring her—”

  Rahl swore a succession of words that my mama had a special bar of soap saved for. Something that stung like bees were swarming in whomever’s mouth she shoved it in.

  I cleared my throat. “Mr. Vendetti, I promise, I’ll get her back to you safely.”

  Rahl rumbled, “I’ll hold you to that promise.”

  “About o-nine-hundred-hours then.”

  “What branch?”

  “Marines, sir.”

  “Good to know she’s in good hands. Leaving for home now. See you in twenty, soldier.”

  The phone went dead.

  Not great phone manners, but forgivable given the circumstances.

  I excused myself to get dressed and in five minutes we were on the road in Sage’s car. My current transportation was a grain truck and wouldn’t be safe or comfortable for her. Somehow I’d find my way back to the farm. I could hike it back, if necessary.

  Sage rested against the passenger door. Almost seemed too quiet for my nerves, until she started to hum a little song, and I listened to what must be as close to an angel on Earth as I’d ever hear. My grip on the steering wheel relaxed, and I enjoyed the entertainment.

  I drove into the garage of their home and a pickup pulled in behind Sage’s car, followed by a blue sedan. A muscular guy wearing all black ran to the passengers’ side of the car, his eyes never leaving Sage.

  That’s Rahl? Lucky lady.

  As soon as she stood from the car he scooped her into his arms. They shared apologetic and comforting words with each other. I tried not to listen in, but it was hard not to want to experience even just a moment of their connection and take a piece of it with me.

  Miss those private words that mean so much.

  Oliver had had a way with words, and not just the ones that got me into bed, but also the ones that kept me there. He’d paid attention to what I’d needed and wanted, and had shared his affectionate feelings freely, but he’d also known how to use words to hurt. Time hadn’t healed all my heartache, but the only real way to heal my heart was to face Oliver, and that was why I was in Nebraska. I just needed to find the right time to contact him.

  But right and ready were separated by fear at the moment.

  “Jamison!” Rahl called out as I exited the garage to make my way home. “This is my employee and our friend, Breigh. She’ll drive you back to the farm. Please give her your phone number so we can get a hold of you. Thank you, soldier, I’m glad you were there.”

  “My pleasure, sir. Sage, I hope you feel better soon. Please, no worries about the farm, I’ve got it under control.”

  Her green eyes watered and she nuzzled her forehead into Rahl’s neck. Her lyrical voice echoed in the garage, “Thank you, Holt.”

  I heard Rahl ask Sage if my name was Colt or Holt. After she clarified, he called out, “Holt!”

  I stopped by the passenger door of Breigh’s car.

  He asked, “What did you do in the Marines?”

  “Cryptologic linguist.”

  “Good to know. I’ll be in touch.”

  I watched as he carried Sage inside the home. I turned to Breigh. “Holt Jamison.”

  “Breigh Ellis.” The girl’s dark eyes, equal parts mysterious and friendly, and her wide beaming grin welcomed me to Nebraska.

  On the way out to the farm Breigh kept the conversation mostly on polite subjects, but with her continuous smile and sideways glances I could tell she wanted to know about one thing—my relationship status, but not necessarily my sexual orientation. I was good at hiding that.

  “Since you’re new in town, would you like to have dinner tonight?”

  I ran a hand through my hair. I’d been in such a rush that I’d forgotten to grab my Stetson. “Can I take a rain check? I need to get the beans out of the field today.”

  “Of course, I should’ve expected that you’d have farming to finish. My dad’s a farmer and the day isn’t over until he’s exhausted and then some.”

  “Sounds about right, but I bet he doesn’t complain about it.”

  She thought for a minute. “Wow, he works twice as hard as any man I’ve ever known and you’re right, he’s never once c
omplained.”

  That’s a farmer’s way.

  “And he never will, until someone else is farming his land and then you’ll never hear the end of him.” I chuckled.

  Breigh nodded. “Yeah, my brother isn’t looking forward to that day.”

  I pointed to the farm’s entrance.

  Inside the driveway, she left her car running, but walked to the fence by the barn and gave attention to a horse that had made its way in from the pasture. “I love horses. Do you think I could come out and ride some day?”

  I glanced to the field. “Let me give a couple of the more friendly ones a try first. I don’t know how much they’ve been ridden lately. I’d hate to see you get bucked off ‘cause they’re skittish and need a little trainin’.”

  “Thanks, Holt.”

  We exchanged phone numbers and she said she’d contact me later in the week. Her soft-spoken ways reminded me of a girl back in Montgomery. I didn’t want to string Breigh along, but I wasn’t ready to give people a reason not to like me, especially being the new guy in town.

  Time to get those beans done. And concentrate on something else.

  Chapter Four

  Oliver

  Rahl didn’t return to the office yesterday. Breigh came back and relayed that Sage wasn’t feeling well and Rahl would be working from home. We all—well, Breigh suggested it—but we all decided to send Sage flowers, and I got a thank-you text in the afternoon asking me to come to their house on Friday for a birthday gathering for Jude Saylor, a mutual friend.

  This morning Rahl walked in with the same grump-aholic mood as Monday and yesterday. I decided it was time for an intervention. Rahl was going to tell me what was going on or fire me. Employees were talking about him and really only him. Productivity wasn’t at the top of their list of concerns.

  He allowed everyone access to his online calendar. I set up a time with everyone that seemed would work. Having tech guys on staff came in handy when the boss needed a talking-to without interruption.

  I stepped inside his office and closed the door.

  “Aston? Did we have a meeting I didn’t put in my—”

  “No, Rahl. I’m in here as your friend, not your employee.”

  “I don’t have time for this. Get out.” He went back to the paperwork in front of him.

  “No.”

  “I’m giving you one chance, Aston. Get. Out.”

  “What’s going on, Rahl?”

  “You’re getting fired if you don’t get out.”

  “Fine. I’m no longer your employee. Now, what’s up?”

  Rahl’s eyebrows furrowed. “Did you just quit?”

  “If that’s what it takes to get you to talk, then yes, I quit.” I took a seat in the chair across from him.

  Although his office was organized, for a guy whose girlfriend was an interior designer, the surroundings screamed dull, white walls, grey industrial furniture, and uncomfortable guest chairs that made his employees want to limit their time there. That part is probably on purpose.

  “Fuck, Oliver! Why do you have to make everything so difficult?”

  The fact he used my first name was promising. His guard was down.

  “I don’t. Okay, since I quit, tell me, Ogre, what’s up with you? And since the office sent her flowers yesterday after you sprinted out of here in panic mode, I’m going to assume something’s up with Sage, too?”

  The way he huffed his breaths through his nose told me I was nearing the end of his patience, but there was no turning back. Plus, I didn’t work at VSI anymore. I didn’t care.

  Yes, I do.

  “Did you mess up or do something? Is she sick?” My skin prickled. “Is the cancer back? Is there something wrong with the ba—”

  “Don’t even think either of those last two.” His hand clenched into a hard fist on the desk.

  “I won’t and I’m sorry for saying them.”

  Rocking back in his chair, he inhaled a cleansing breath. “How much do you know about Sage’s past?”

  “I think everything. I know she came from a one-night stand, she didn’t know her father, her mother died young, she was raised by her grandparents, and Sage had breast cancer, way too young for that shit.”

  “That about covers it. A couple of weeks after Sage and I got back together, we went to her family’s farm to meet her grandparents. While Sage was talking with her grandparents, I was outside playing with a friendly dog and I met the hired hand, Dave Breckley.”

  “Okay. And?”

  “And Dave’s eyes are Sage’s eyes.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Aston, I can’t stop staring into her eyes, the color so unique it’s hard not to describe that green without using her name as the descriptor because sage-green fits. I know my girlfriend’s eyes. They have the exact same eyes.”

  “And?”

  “I went out there by myself one day and asked him and he admitted he is Sage’s father but Elana, Sage’s mom, didn’t want her to know. He tried to step up and be a father and Elana turned him away. Sounds like it killed him to see Sage grow up and not be able to be a part of her life. He has regrets that I can’t say aren’t reasonable. It would kill me not to see my children grow up.” Rahl’s pause spoke his concern that he might follow in Dave’s shoes. “Anyway, after Elana died, Sage’s grandparents upheld her mother’s wishes even though it turns out they didn’t want to. I talked to them, too.”

  “And all of this without Sage knowing?”

  “Which was a big mistake, right?”

  I wasn’t answering that question. Rahl was highly intelligent. Asking that was not.

  “So, you told Sage?”

  “No. Sage is upset about something else. This news is eating at me, not her, yet.”

  “What is she upset about then?”

  He tipped his head back and pinched his eyes shut. For a guy who had been through intensive therapy for PTSD, I’d have thought he could share what was bothering him.

  “Aston…” He shook his head. “I asked her to marry me. I was unhappy with her answer, because it wasn’t yes. I told her I wouldn’t ask her again, that it was a one-time, take-it-or-leave-it offer. Sage told me she’d have to leave it. I kind of got the feeling she meant she’d leave me, Ollie.” He brought his head back down to face me. “I told her to do what she had to, but I swear I didn’t mean it. I slept in the guest bedroom, which was about the worst thing I ever could’ve done to her. Well, besides what I said. She can’t sleep when I’m not with her. Hell, I can’t sleep without her next to me either. I acted like a complete asshole.”

  “Damn, Rahl. You know, sometimes it’s hard to see you two together, because you are just so perfect for each other. Then there are times like this when I don’t understand how relationships get so complicated. I know how easy it is to make a snap decision, so I can’t judge you there, but you’re right, you were a complete asshole.”

  “You are fired now.”

  “I quit before you said that.” I chuckled but turned serious. “Did you get anything worked out?”

  “Not really. After she came home so upset yesterday, I apologized for the way I behaved, but I was clear with her. I want to be married before our children are born.”

  “And that’s five months away, right?”

  “Four and a half.”

  “Don’t you think she’ll change her mind before then?”

  “I really don’t. I can see it in her eyes that some part of her believes I’m only with her because of the pregnancy.” His eyes glossed over, as the hulking teddy bear of a man stared at a picture of Sage on his desk. How she couldn’t see what she meant to him was either fear of finally finding true happiness or fear of the happiness not being permanent.

  That happens when you find something special. Even people in love sabotage relationships.

  Rahl cleared his throat. “When Sage thought she couldn’t get pregnant, I told her that having her in my life was the most important thing and I didn’t lie. I’m
thrilled we’re having three babies, but for my pride and … my heart, I want my name behind all of them, including her, but she won’t let that happen. I don’t know how to make her see that I’m in for the long haul, forever.”

  “But now you have a secret and if she finds out you know that, then you think she might not trust you and leave.”

  “Yes.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yes, shit. Well said, Aston.” He rocked back in his chair, crossing his arms.

  “I’m sorry, Rahl.”

  “No, I’m sorry for being an ass the last few days. What’s worse is I don’t want to drop the news on her while she’s so stressed as it is. I shouldn’t have stuck my nose into her business and that’s what Sage is going to say, too.”

  “We’ll figure this out, Rahl. I’m not saying today, but soon. She deserves to know the truth, and you deserve to have the woman you love by your side for as long as you both shall live.”

  “There’s that poetic side of you, Ollie.”

  “Yeah, it never came in handy before, only with you.”

  And the cowboy.

  Rahl stood. “We are done. Get back to work.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t work here anymore. If you’d like my services, I need to negotiate my salary.”

  “Aston…”

  I laughed. “Just playing with you, boss. Back to work.”

  Rahl cleared his throat. “Hey, what’s the name of your Marines guy again?”

  “Why?”

  “Just answer me, soldier.”

  My boss was the only person in Omaha who I’d told about my guy from the desert. Rahl was an expert at disarming my defensive shields and convincing me to give up information I’d normally have kept private. His perfected training irritates me sometimes.

  “Holt Jamison.” The syllables of his name made my heart pound a little faster.

  Rahl’s lips tipped up in the corners. “Okay, thanks. That’s all. You’re dismissed.” Rahl sat, picked up his land phone, and started to dial. He tried it again. “Get Greenstein to hook my phone back up.”