She answered him and wrapped her arms around him, pulled him as close as possible, and didn’t fight the feelings stirring up inside.
“I love you, Missy, and I can’t fight it.” Speaking against her cheek, he shut the door behind her and looked into her eyes. Love? That couldn’t be what she was feeling. What about trust?
Her heart pumped with a painful velocity, and she knew if she didn’t share, it’d end up hurting her. “It’s about time I told you a few things.” She took his hand. “About me.”
* * * *
Brent knew he couldn’t walk away from her, no matter how big this turned out to be. He pulled her into the living room and onto the couch with him. “Whatever you want to tell me, I’ll still love you.”
“I don’t doubt that.” She sighed. “I don’t feel good about myself while holding this back.” Tears flooded her eyes. “This is about the job I left behind.”
Things clicked together in his head, and he couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it before. “This is about the man you dated there.”
“Russ, my boss.” She met his gaze. “He flirted with me from the day I started working for the firm. But I didn’t want to date someone from the office.” Her voice shook so she paused. “He was persistent.”
He nudged the tears off her cheeks with his knuckles. “So you never dated?”
A stalker? Harassment in the office? No matter how the jerk scared her, he’d have to pay.
“Yes, we did. I’ve been ashamed of it ever since.” She stared straight down at the floor, but looked up when he touched her. “I finally went out with him just because he’d been asking for so long. He seemed to care about me, and I hoped I might feel something for him if we went on a date.” She stopped, looking down again, and he noticed she was barely breathing.
“Missy?” He scooted closer, wrapping his arms around her. “What happened? I remember you said he fired you.”
“My feelings didn’t change, and he grew more and more pushy. Then, one night when we were alone at the office, I told him I didn’t feel anything for him, that I couldn’t sleep with him, and that I couldn’t date him anymore.”
And he sent her packing. Brent tried to imagine how that made her feel, and could understand why she’d been so reserved when she came to the ranch.
“He wouldn’t accept that.” She spoke so quietly that he almost missed what she wasn’t saying. Gently, he touched her chin and nudged her face his way again. She turned her head but didn’t look at him.
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
“He thought the security guard was done with his rounds, but the guard was running late. If he hadn’t been on the floor, and heard my yells, Russ would have raped me.”
Pulling her close to him, he saw their time together in retrospect. Certain things, strange before, now made sense. After pulling in a deep breath to calm his rage, he asked, “Did you report him?”
“I ran. I went home and tried to figure out what to do, but I couldn’t think. By the time I called the police two hours later, they already had a report. Against me.”
“You?” He stiffened.
“For stalking Russ. They told me I was lucky they didn’t have enough to press charges, but they were going to watch me. By morning, the entire office had heard that I offered him sex when he fired me.”
“The bastard. He’s enjoying his high paying job, and you left town.”
“No one’s going to hire me now.”
He felt her tears through his shirt and pulled her even closer. “We’ll make it right, Missy.”
Instead of answering, she rubbed her face into him, still crying. He didn’t know what he’d do to the man who tried to hurt her, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to let him get away with it.
“So that’s what this was about. You had good reason not to trust me, or any man.” He rubbed her back, wanting her to release the tears and held-back emotions. “I’d sell this ranch before I hurt you. I’d give away the horses, move into a city.”
That’d be hell for him, but still not as bad as losing her. When her breathing sounded normal, he kissed her temple.
His lips trailed down to her neck, making her fingers dig into him. She couldn’t hold still. “It’s been so long.” She almost cried the words.
“Too long,” he agreed and felt her body tremble, come alive. She reached out to him and he knew that by sharing, she’d freed herself of the guilt that held her back before.
“Don’t torture me.” She pulled him back to her mouth roughly. His hands, resting on her shoulders, pushed her jacket off and slid down her side to rest on her hips. All of her, he had to touch all of her. He lost his breath when her hands slid under his worn T-shirt. Her touch did things to him; things he hadn’t known were possible. “Missy,” he murmured into her hair.
* * * *
Later, when his breathing slowed, he rolled onto his side, taking her with him, so they lay facing each other. After soothing her hair away from her face, he kissed her once more.
“You’re smiling,” he whispered.
“So are you.”
“Guess we’re both happy. That’s a good thing.”
A good thing. She shivered as her body cooled. Brent pulled the covers over them and drew her near.
He pulled her close and held her. They didn’t speak. What they’d shared could mean so many things, or nothing.
“Have you noticed we resolve arguments with sex?” she asked.
“Not sex. We make love.” He pulled her chin up and looked into her eyes. “In case you haven’t gotten it yet, I love you.”
“I know.” Her eyes were warm with love, but he wasn’t sure she’d tell him any time soon. Then she surprised him. “I’m not sure why it’s been hard for me to say that. I heard you the first time, you know. I love you. I have for a while.”
“Stay with me tonight.”
In response, she moved closer.
Chapter Eleven
“Thanks, Nick.” Brent hung up the phone. Standing by the kitchen window, he looked out at the horses in the pasture, but his mind was on everything Missy had told him. Nick Hatcher thought they could do something legally about it, and agreed with Brent that men like Russ were repeat offenders.
And now he would have someone checking up on him. If Russ had tried to hurt anyone else, Nick Hatcher would find out about it.
The clouds parted outside and bright sunshine shone in through the large windows. He spotted Missy walking up the pasture, in her red jacket and scarf, her hair whipping in the wind. The temperature had taken a nosedive, but that wouldn’t keep them inside.
After yanking on his own coat, he met her at the bottom of the steps. She smiled and took the arm he offered. He spun her around and planted his mouth on hers. When he finished he lifted his face.
She smiled. “Mmm . . . what was that for?”
“Your lips needed warming up.” He grinned at her. When they had decided to go out today, she had asked him for things to be normal. He decided not to tell her about calling Nick just yet. That way she could enjoy today.
“Race you!”
He hadn’t expected that. She was halfway to the stables already, and he couldn’t move as he watched that little bottom of hers.
She turned at the stable entrance and held her hands out in a question.
“Why run when I can watch you?”
“Like my legs, huh?” she asked, trying not to smile.
“And everything else.” He caught up to her and they went back to the tack room together. Once their horses were ready, they rode out into the forest.
“Are you looking forward to Christmas?” Brent asked. He remembered how little excitement she’d shown about Thanksgiving . . . until the actual day. Now out in the forest, they dismounted and walked slowly. She ducked under a wet Douglass fir branch, eyes scanning the smaller trees growing at the edge of the clearing they stepped into.
“I am, I think.” Side by side now, they looked through the trees aro
und them. “I haven’t done much for the holidays in years . . . How about that one over there?”
He ignored her first comment, since she seemed to want to skip over it, and stuck to business -- the business of picking out a tree. He sized up the six-foot tree, imagining how he’d trim it into the perfect shape. Thinking of the holidays made him think about family, think about him and Missy that way.
“Brent?”
Oh, no, he’d let his face get too serious. But he had to ask, “You sure you don’t want a tree for your house?”
“I still think of it as Ben’s house.”
He paused because she did, too. “Ever consider staying with me?”
“You? Aren’t you too old for a sleepover?” She giggled with her face turned the other way, cluing him in. She had understood what he meant, but he let that go as well.
With her gloved hand up in a branch, she paused and studied him. “I like this tree, Brent, and I want it in your living room.”
Shaking his head and smiling at the same time, he pulled the saw from behind his saddle. She walked his way again and watched him work.
Feeling her behind him, he asked, “Enjoying the show?”
“Yes, very much, thank you.”
The tree tilted to one side as he sawed through it. “Timber!” Water drops sprang out of the tree as he shook it and threw it into the long wagon they’d towed behind his horse.
“I love that chilly tree smell,” she said, then took a deep breath of it before she smiled at him. Their gazes were on each other as tiny snowflakes fluttered between them.
When she tilted her face up and let the flakes flutter down on her, he couldn’t breathe. He stepped in and wrapped his arms around her. A million sensations exploded inside him, especially when he heard her gleeful moan.
* * * *
Stepping into Missy’s place, Brent still didn’t know how he’d tell her what he’d done. Or that Nick had called him back with news. Too bad he couldn’t put this off. He wanted to spend the holiday with her without this monster on their backs.
“Smells like heaven in here,” he greeted, trying to keep a light tone.
“Heaven smells like chocolate chip cookies?” She turned to see him staring at the cooling batch of homemade treats. “Some are plain old chocolate . . . And some are white chocolate with macadamia nuts.”
“Winter Wonderland” played from her CD player to set the Christmas mood. A happy scene and he might have to ruin it. Might have to? There wasn’t any way around this.
She slid a glass of milk in front of Brent. “Remember the first day I met you?”
He nodded, thinking of the slick woman who’d shown up in his drive. Smooth on the outside, anyway, but her eyes had given her away. Deep brown and mournful, like a lost puppy.
“You poured me a glass of milk. I thought it was pretty funny after the way you treated me.”
“Mmm, mmm.” He’d bitten into a cookie as she spoke, so he couldn’t answer right away. “Oh . . . you looked so worn and tired.”
“Gee, thanks.” She nibbled on her own cookie.
“You looked hot, I won’t deny that, but you just looked like you needed something.” He decided not to tell her about the puppy comparison. She might not bake him any more treats if he did.
“You think I’m hot?” She dipped her cookie in milk and nibbled.
Watching her mouth, he said, “Hot and ready to take over my ranch.”
“I wasn’t after your ranch.” Her voice lowered to a husky drawl. Brent sent the rest of his milk down, following his cookies, and stared at the glass while deciding how to tell her.
“Is something bothering you today?” she asked before he could even start.
“That obvious, huh?” He raised his gaze to meet hers. “It’s about you, and what you told me. I talked to Nick about it. ”
“What?” Her brows raised and her eyes widened.
“I can’t hear something like that and not do anything.” He should have seen this mess coming. Too late to reconsider now.
“Why didn’t you at least ask?” she demanded, holding her hands palms up. Tears of hurt swam in her eyes, slamming instant guilt into his gut. She added, “Why Nick?”
Maybe now he could explain. “He’s a lawyer. I didn’t tell him to gossip about you. I wouldn’t do that to anyone. I asked him to look into this Russ thing.”
Her nostrils flared and she planted her hands on the edge of the counter, like she needed something to hang onto. When she blew a breath out her mouth, he stepped closer.
“Don’t close up on me, Missy,” he pleaded, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning his face onto her shoulder. He’d done this to her, and he’d hold her while she worked through it. She could push him away, but he wouldn’t leave.
On a sob, she asked, “What am I supposed to think?”
“How about justice? Getting your good reputation back?” he asked, just as his own tunnel vision hit him. If she got this mess cleaned up, she could return to Las Vegas and get another advertising job. Had he just given her the perfect out?
Once again, too late to consider that. He loved her and had to do this for her, no matter what happened between them.
She hadn’t answered, so he said, “Missy?”
“What do you want? Do you want me to press charges? Pull my humiliation out again for everyone to see? He lied, I have nothing to stand on. Especially since I ran.”
“You do!” He twirled her around and brought their faces close. “He’s been indicted for sexual harassment. You can add your say in with the other women who are pressing charges.”
Her mouth fell open and new tears sprang into her eyes.
“Yeah, sweetie, the truth’s out. Everyone knows what a scumbag he is. And he’ll pay for hurting you and others.” He pulled her into his arms.
The strength of her sobs and her body shaking took him by surprise. He saw that he hadn’t fully understood what this had done to her.
Even if she left his life, this would always be there. He’d hold onto the fact that he’d helped her. He’d given her something.
“It’s all right now. Everything will get fixed,” he murmured into her hair. Holding her felt so good, he pushed away the urge to ask her if she’d stay.
* * * *
A fire blazed in the fireplace as Brent paced in front of it, waiting for Missy. Weren’t they done yet? He should have stayed with her while she talked to Nick and the detective. So what if she didn’t want him there?
Okay, he had to respect her wishes, even if it tore him apart. He wanted to be there for her now.
The phone rang. Would she call from her place and tell him to come over?
“Hello?”
“Is Miss Nelson available?”
Nerves prickling, he asked, “Who’s calling?”
When he learned it was the firm Missy had worked for in Las Vegas, his nerves settled. But something else awakened. “Can I also tell her the reason for the call?”
“That depends upon who you are.”
“I’m dating her,” he declared without a thought about it. They were doing something, even if they’d never defined it. “I know what’s going on, and I don’t want you harassing her.”
“Of course not. After we learned what happened with Russ Faraway, we’d like to make things right. We’re offering her a job, with a raise, of course.”
Well, there you go. He would lose her for sure now. After the phone call, he couldn’t pace around his living room, waiting for them to finish. He grabbed his coat and slid his arms inside of it on his way down his front steps.
At her house, he rapped on the door and opened it. Inside, he found Missy sitting at her kitchen table with both Nick and the detective.
Nick stood. “Hey, Brent. This is Detective Anderson.”
“Hey,” he said while all three looked at him. “Missy, he said, “Your old firm called . . . to offer you a job.”
“Oh.”
He could tell she didn’t
know how to react. Nick and Anderson watched her, waiting. At least Missy knew why he’d come right over. This meant leaving the stables, leaving him.
Missy knew he’d been afraid of this very thing happening.
After glancing at the men sitting at the table, she asked, “Did the person offer to call back? Or am I supposed to call them?”
Call them? Now he had a delayed reaction. Staring at her, he didn’t want to believe what he’d heard. “I gave him your number.”
Even with his gaze trained on Missy, he could tell the other two men were looking between the two of them. The room felt too small.
While he gazed at her, wondering about her decision, she simply stared back at him with a slight frown. She seemed to be searching his eyes for some kind of answer. Didn't she want to stay with him?
Life without her would be like days without sunshine . . . a sky without stars . . . he’d live his life without any life in it.
She wanted the job. He'd feared this, but he didn't expect it.
His world didn’t feel right. And to think, he'd handed this right to her by calling in his lawyer. Everyone still stared at him. After he nodded at them, he turned and left, walking down to the stables.
Dale was headed that way, leading a horse back inside. “Hey, what’s up?”
His tone of voice asked what was going on, why Brent was dashing down there like God himself had sent him. Without breaking stride, he said, “I need something to do.”
“Got plenty of that.” Dale muttered after him.
He worked a good two hours before saddling Jeffery. It was mid December and biting cold, but he didn’t care. Hardly felt it as they cut through the fields and took off up into the hills.
He didn’t want to think about the stables without Missy around. Maybe she’d come back to visit, but that would be more heartache.
He felt out of control once again. He couldn’t make her stay. He wouldn't want to make up her mind for her.
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