by Em Petrova
“Seven in the morning.”
“I’ll start at seven-o-one.”
Beau polished off his cupcake and reached for another. “You want one?” he asked while the lid still lay open.
“Sure. Give me a chocolate. I’ll grab a coupla beers and we can see if the game highlights are on.”
Beau gathered their cupcakes and he reached into the fridge for beers. Then they settled in chairs in the living room. If someone had suggested he’d ever reach the point where he didn’t find Beau annoying, he would have laughed in his face. But for the moment, he didn’t want to throttle the man for being pigheaded.
They switched on the sports channel and found some recaps of the night’s game. After it was over and Kaoz had drank half his beer and felt even sleepier than before, he cleared his throat. “How was she—after I left for New Mexico?”
Elbows on his knees, Beau slid his eyes to him. “Pretty busted up.”
Fuck. Kaoz’s heart sank a little more.
“I’m sorry for it.”
“I know. For some reason, she still loves your stupid ass.”
At Beau’s insult, Kaoz gave him a crooked smile. “I want to do right by her. How do you think I can get her back—for good this time?”
“Stop screwing up?” He took a swig of his beer.
He chuckled. “I agree with that.”
“You can always do more dishes.”
“If that’s all it took…” He perked up, an idea spinning around in his mind. It could be crazy—and not at all something he ever considered doing before. But it would be another stretch to show Brielle how serious he was about making her happy for the rest of her days.
Beau stared at him expectantly, and Kaoz waved a hand in dismissal. “Never mind.”
When Beau stretched and stumbled off to bed, saying he was bushed, Kaoz sat there longer, staring blankly at the TV and thinking of texting Brielle. What would he say?
Any silly apologies would go unanswered, he knew. She might be deep in margaritas with whatever friend she stayed with, and possibly trash-talking men.
He shook his head. No, Brielle wasn’t that type of woman. But he’d hurt her, and he deserved whatever she said about him.
With any luck, his plan would work and she would truly see how important she was, how happy they could be together…for the rest of their days.
* * * * *
Brielle closed her car door and shot a look around the property, hoping Kaoz didn’t linger nearby. She might be home, but she still needed a bit of time to think about how to approach everything. Confused didn’t begin to describe her feelings on Kaoz agreeing to leave the ranch after butting his way in. And there remained the hard little pill to swallow that she really did love the big jerk.
She pushed out a sigh of frustration as she walked to the house. Silence met her, and she realized that both Kaoz and Beau would be out in the field, digging the footer for the barn. Funny she hadn’t heard the machine running. Maybe they were taking a break.
Rushing to her room seemed a bit dramatic. So she calmly walked to the kitchen and stopped dead. For the first time maybe ever, she found the space completely spotless. No dirty dishes in the sink. In fact, there weren’t even dishes to put away in the cupboards. The countertops had also been wiped down. Only one item lay there—a note.
Her stomach hollowed at the sight of Kaoz’s handwriting. She steadied herself and read the words.
Surprise for you in the freezer. –K
When she opened the freezer door, she didn’t know what to expect to see awaiting her. But it wasn’t this.
Her eyeballs bulged. A huge mixing bowl took up an entire shelf.
An ice cream sundae of epic proportions.
One look told her he’d used an entire half gallon of ice cream. Once she drew the frosty bowl into her hands, she gaped down at a jar’s worth of cherries, rainbow sprinkles, peanuts and thick hot fudge. Of course, it all sat there for Lord knew how long and had frozen into one massive glob.
She let out a soft cry. He’d fixed her a sundae to end all sundaes and she hadn’t come home to eat it.
She couldn’t feel guilty for that, though. She deserved time to think, and distance too. On the other hand, how could she stay angry with a man who knew her soooo well? After a long, hot, stressful day he knew she needed ice cream. A clean kitchen too.
Hands shaking, she set the bowl in the freezer. Half afraid to think about what else he’d done to kiss up after his mistake of not communicating with her on important subjects, she headed to her room, stripped off her clothes and went straight for the shower.
While the hot water ran over her body, she considered all the ways to talk this out. They hadn’t really cleared the air after she left. Both of them steered clear of hard topics like the engagement, where the ring had gone to…or hell, the beer tap, for that matter.
When the going got tough, they didn’t know how to deal—pure and simple. If they were going to give this relationship a shot, they must work on that. She didn’t expect perfection from him, but they definitely had a distance to go.
After she dressed and brushed her hair into a low ponytail on her nape, she donned her hat and boots, drew a deep breath and went outside in search of the guys.
First she paid a visit to the pigs. Leaning on the rail and talking to the cute, fat things, she remembered she promised to put one onto a spit for the barn-raising party. She looked from one to another. Feeding them all this time made them into friends.
Crap.
She pasted a hand over her face. She couldn’t eat them. She had to come up with some other food for the workers Sunday. She was also the worst rancher ever. Getting attached to an animal meant for auction or the butcher block was rule number one broken.
She groaned. Wait until her brother found out—he’d never let her live it down. She might as well prepare herself for the teasing because it’d be relentless until Christmas.
She left the pigs to bask in the morning sun and took off for the barn site at a fast clip. As soon as her gaze fell on the unmoving backhoe and two bodies lying prone on the ground, a scream ripped from her throat. At first, she couldn’t get her legs to move. Her muscles locked, her heart stopped.
Finally, her feet unglued from the turf and she took off at a dead run. Another cry must have left her lips, and she saw nothing but the men on the ground. Her brother…and her lover too. What had happened?
When she got closer, she saw movement from one. Then she heard a weird metallic clinking noise.
What the…
A head lifted from the ground, and Kaoz pierced her in his gaze as she skidded to a stop, hand over heart.
“Are you all right?” she gasped out, flicking her attention to Beau, who lay on the ground next to the big tire. “Is he…?” She gulped down the words, fear clotting her throat.
Kaoz sat up and then jumped to his feet. He grabbed her by the upper arms and held her steady. “Brielle, look at me. Beau’s fine. I’m fine. The backhoe broke down, and we’re fixing it.”
Beau waved a hand from behind the tire.
Dizziness crashed over her. Her breath punched from her as relief took hold, and she folded forward, gasping for air.
Kaoz made a noise in his throat. “Oh shit. Sit down and put your head between your knees, sweet thing.” He tried to guide her down to the grass, but she waved him off. Finally, air flooded her nose, pungent with the scent of fresh-turned earth.
“You…scared the…shit out of me!” She straightened and sent a glare his way and then Beau’s. Her brother had crawled out and sat there with a big wrench in his hand like a kid caught eating ice cream when he should save his appetite for dinner. A guilty look crossed his face as he realized the scare they’d both given her.
“It must have looked bad. We didn’t realize. Sure you don’t want to sit down, Brielle? You’re pale as hell.”
She narrowed her eyes to slits. “No kidding I’m pale. You would be too if you saw…” She waved a hand. “This!”
Kaoz smoothed his hands over her shoulders repeatedly until she felt herself slump at the relief of their safety as well as the feel of his hands on her.
Finally, she met his stare—and realized an awkwardness stood between them. They needed to talk, but at the moment, she couldn’t think of anything good to say. Despite what she’d thought in the house, she was only caught up in the ice cream sundae and the other efforts Kaoz had made.
She pulled away from his touch and saw a flicker of unease work through his blue eyes. “The backhoe’s a rental,” she tried for a nonchalant tone. “Why don’t you send it for repair?”
“Because we need it today. Everything’s ridin’ on this,” Beau said.
She eyed her brother. At the moment, she thought both men were crazy asses. She couldn’t see how any of this would be ready for the first inspection from the bank let alone the horses they were boarding. Even with all the help in Crossroads and a working piece of equipment, the possibility felt like a long stretch.
Still, she agreed to support the ranch. “Do you want any parts picked up?”
Kaoz shook his head. “I think we got it covered.”
Seeing that she didn’t have a better response to him, he went on, “Well, we’d best get to it. Sorry for the scare, Brielle.”
“I’ll recover. I’m tough.” With that, she turned away and headed across the field to the horse pasture. When she signed on to help Beau, she hadn’t signed up for this. She knew it would be stressful and they’d experience setbacks…but this entire operation seemed like a losing prospect to her. And sadly, she couldn’t find much joy here right now.
Maybe it was time to find something for herself here. She had a little of her own money and always wanted a flock of chickens. With her mind set, she detoured from the pasture and grabbed her car keys instead. While in town ordering food for the barn-raising—if it actually could take place—she’d stop at the feed store and see if they had any chicks in stock. Though a bit late in the year, she might get lucky.
When she rolled into town, she stopped at the Crossroads Perk Shop to grab a coffee, seeing how low her energy stores were. When she entered, she spotted Cort’s fiancée Joss and her older sister Jada already seated near the window that overlooked the town square.
Brielle didn’t feel all that social today, but she still threw them a wave and smile. They gestured her over to their table.
“Join us!” Joss moved the extra chair out for her to sit.
“Oh thanks, but I was going to grab a cup to go. I have errands to run.”
“You have time for one coffee.”
Brielle looked at Joss. The woman had a way of luring anybody in even if only for a brief chat over coffee. No wonder Cort had fallen for her the second time around. She patted the chair next to her, and the twinkle of invitation in her eyes was too much for Brielle to resist.
She took the seat, and the waitress paused to ask if she would like something. She ordered a cappuccino and a cinnamon roll since she missed breakfast too.
The ladies looked at her close—too close. She didn’t want to know what they saw on her face. Fatigue, lingering lines of anger and annoyance, possibly a hint of the terror she’d experienced thinking the men in her life might be injured or worse…
She swallowed and gave them a wobbly smile. “It’s nice you’re having coffee together. Is today your day off at the nursing home, Jada?”
The pretty twenty-something nodded. “I’ve worked four long shifts in a row, so I figured it was time Joss and I caught up on her wedding plans.”
“Oh. How fun.” Despite her attempt to keep her tone lighthearted, she heard the sour note. She dropped her gaze to her hands in her lap. “I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep well and with all that’s going on at the ranch, I don’t sound very enthusiastic.”
Joss rested a hand on her arm. “I know about you calling off your wedding. I guess it’s a little insensitive of us to mention mine. I’m sorry, Brielle.”
She shook her head, suddenly feeling stupid tears burning at the edges of her eyes. “I’m happy for you and Cort. You worked it out, and you’re going to make each other very happy.”
At that moment, her cappuccino arrived, which gave her something to do besides jabber on. She lifted her cup to her lips and sipped the sweet, strong brew she loved. As she sipped, she listened to the hustle and bustle of the coffeeshop. All the pastries were made right here in the shop, and the scents of apple turnovers flooded out from the kitchen. The reminder of apple pie had Kaoz squarely fixed in her mind again.
Joss and Jada exchanged a glance.
“You know, if you need to talk, we’re here to listen.” Joss motioned between her and her sister.
Brielle set down her mug. “It’s a lot to convey. I’m not sure I’m feeling up to it today.” She did feel more fortified for having the warm, strong drink in her.
“I understand,” Joss said.
“You should see Joss’s new fall collection,” Jada bubbled out. “It’s soooo good. I want every single piece.”
“Oooh, tell me about it. Do you have photos on your phone?” What a relief to have something to discuss besides men and second chances.
Joss nodded enthusiastically and pulled out her phone. They spent the next fifteen minutes talking fashion and the new fall collection consisting of country plaids, leathers and fringe.
“I want that one.” Brielle pointed to the phone and the photo of a mid-length dress in several patterns of plaids that somehow looked so charming and vintage together. “You mentioned you have a dozen in stock?”
“That’s right. I’ll save one in your size. Stop into the boutique when you find time.” Joss beamed at her.
Looking at her, Brielle wondered if she really could talk to the sisters about Kaoz. She chewed her lip a minute. Then she took another sip of cappuccino.
“Can I ask you a personal question about you and Cort, Joss?”
“Of course.” She set aside her phone.
“How did you do it—try it a second time around? Weren’t you afraid things would be all wrong?”
Joss immediately nodded. “Oh yeah. In fact, I didn’t think it could work. At first, we fell back into being friends.”
“Friends?” Jada burst out. “Girl, I know what you were doin’ at that pond!”
“Shhh!” Joss’s cheeks burned hot pink as she tried to quiet her sister. “Okay, so it’s easy to fall back into…” she lowered her voice, “intimate relations with someone you’ve been with before. But I really didn’t have any intention of rekindling our romance.”
Brielle listened intently, taking in what Joss had to say. Her problems with Kaoz were a lot different from Joss and Cort’s. They’d split up because they were both so young and had dreams to follow.
She stared down at the caramel-colored cappuccino, realizing all of a sudden that Kaoz had followed his dream too—all the way to New Mexico. He claimed he did it to benefit them both. To better their lives together.
Okay, she could see it better now that she had a bit of distance from the emotions. She could even see how his agreeing to do consultant work for the rancher in another county would be work that ultimately meant more stability for their life together.
She shook her head, and Jada and Joss gave her almost identical looks of concern.
“I think I’ve been a little selfish.” She bit down on her lip.
Joss tipped her head. “How so?”
“I was so wrapped up in the wedding plans and our life together that I didn’t see Kaoz really was trying to give us a good life. Only he didn’t care much about the venue or whether we had prime rib or fish. His mistake was putting too much focus on that goal and losing balance in our relationship. I see all that now. But it doesn’t make me worry less about being involved with him again…”
Joss squeezed her arm. “I totally understand. You’re both smart and you’ll work it out one way or another. Remember if you need to talk, I’m here.”
“W
e both are,” put in Jada.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
She felt like leaning across the table and pulling both women into a group hug but refrained so as not to spill their cappuccinos. After that, the talk turned to the rodeo coming through Crossroads and how Joss was dressing not only her own man this year but several others who’d contacted her for unique attire.
They asked if she would be attending the rodeo this year. “Of course. Who doesn’t go to the rodeo when it passes through?”
Last time she’d been to the rodeo, she and Kaoz had been so in love. She could hardly pull her eyes off her man to watch the events. She still felt that way.
With an empty mug and only a few crumbs left from her cinnamon roll on the plate, she pushed away from the table. “Thanks for letting me join you ladies. I have to get on the move if I’m going to finish errands and train the horse today.” She snagged the bill before the others could grab it.
“You don’t have to pick up the tab, Brielle!” Joss called out.
“Next time you can treat. It’s been wonderful talking to you both. Really. Thank you.”
She made her goodbyes and hugged them each. When she went to pay the bill, she asked about the source of the apple smell and learned they were indeed apple turnovers.
“I’ll take half a dozen.” A small thrill went through her at making the request.
Once she sat behind the wheel of her car, with the box of turnovers on the passenger seat, she replayed the talk she had with Joss and Jada. The two women hadn’t said much, but she felt better about confiding in them than she did her old friend who she spent the night with. Why? Maybe because Joss was so forthcoming with her own story. Maybe because they were both in love with Bellamys.
She’d been too wishy-washy with her decisions regarding Kaoz. She was either in or out—pure and simple. Did she want to see him walk away, give up months of love and memories together?
No.
The rock-solid answer sounded with a boom of thunder in her soul.
Well, that means we have to make it work.
No denying Kaoz had been trying pretty damn hard to please her, and she remained skeptical and guarded her heart regardless of his attempts to break through her wall. If they were going to have a life together, there could be no walls.