Confident in Chaps (Crossroads Book 2)

by Em Petrova

  He swung his gaze to her. “What’s that?”

  “A bonfire.”

  “Oh yeah… How ’bout tomorrow night?”

  She grinned and squeezed his hand. “Tomorrow night.”

  * * * * *

  Kaoz leaned against the fence, watching Cort training a horse. The big training ring put the small one Brielle used to shame, but not all ranches were created equal. Plus, the Bellamy Ranch had three generations backing it now and was as far from a starter ranch as it could get.

  At his side, Uncle Cort snickered as the horse tried to best Cort with a sassy little bucking spree. They all laughed and looked on while Cort waited out the tantrum and got the horse in hand.

  “That horse might be Cort’s last one at this rate,” Uncle Cort said loud enough for his son to hear.

  He flicked his jaw up in acknowledgement of the jab and continued to keep his calm, firm upper hand with the yearling.

  Kaoz chuckled and hitched a boot up on the bottom rung of the fence. “I talked to your rancher friend. We set up a date to meet in a coupla weeks. I told him I can’t leave the ranch I’m working on right now.”

  “Good to hear. I know you’ll take good care of him. You’ve always had a knack for seeing issues on the ranch—from big to small—and finding ways to streamline and grease the gears so things run smoother.”

  Hearing praise from his uncle warmed him. “Thanks, Uncle.”

  “Which brings me to a question I’ve been meanin’ to ask.”

  He waited.

  Uncle Cort didn’t pull his attention from the ring when he said with all the nonchalance in the world, “What do ya say about taking a cut of the Bellamy?”

  He blinked. Then his brows puckered. He stared at his uncle’s profile, searching for some sign he was joking.

  “A cut of the Bellamy?”

  Slowly, his uncle turned his head and met his gaze. “That’s right. In the months since Cort took over, the ranch has nearly doubled in business. Too much for either of us to handle. We’ve hired a new hand in the last two months, but that only picks up so much slack. What we need is another business partner.”

  Any words he conjured would only come out on a stutter, so he remained silent.

  “Now, it won’t be an even split, mind. But you’ll get a quarterly check based on profit, and that’d be your salary. When I die, everything goes to Cort, of course. But you and Aidan are in the will as well.”

  He started to shake his head. “Uncle Cort, I can’t accept that. It’s too much.”

  “Now hold on. Your time is valuable, and the quarterly check will cover your time plus some, if my calculations are right and things keep growing around here. If you can offer advice on pinching even more pennies or wringing more profit from the land, then your pay will reflect that.”

  Still stunned, he gave another shake of his head. “I’d be honored to help out on the Bellamy. I can already think of a few things that might require updates.”

  Uncle Cort grinned and then slapped him on the shoulder. “That’s what I like to hear. We’ll get down to particulars as soon as you fulfill your commitment on your current project and then I’m next in line after my buddy. You’ll be a free agent to do consulting anywhere else, as long as you know that our practices here are held in confidence.”

  “Of course.”

  He gave a single nod. “Then it’s a deal. Glad to have you here, Kaoz.”

  “I appreciate it. I can’t wait.” Looking out at his cousin training the horse, he could barely concentrate. His mind worked at lightning speed, and it only took him a heartbeat to realize he needed to tell Brielle—now.

  “Excuse me, Uncle. I’ve gotta make a call.”

  The twinkle in his eyes reflected the fact he knew who Kaoz wanted to speak with. “Catch up with ya later.”

  Kaoz squeezed his shoulder in farewell and hurried across the lawn to where his truck sat. After he climbed behind the wheel, and with heart thumping, he dialed Brielle.

  She picked up after the second ring. “What’s up?”

  Now that he had her on the line, he felt half afraid to share the news with her. But that was crazy thinking—of course she’d be happy for him. He only didn’t want a repeat of the last couple fiascos.

  “Uncle Cort hit me with something, and I’d like to talk to you about it. You still out getting supplies or are you on the ranch?”

  “I’m in town. I stopped in at Josserella.” She named Joss’s boutique.

  “Meet me at the barbecue place for lunch. Okay?”

  He could hear the smile in her tone. “I’ll be there.”

  “See ya in a bit.”

  While he drove into town, he thought about the ring, again nestled in his jeans pocket. He had yet to find a free moment to get it to the jeweler and request an update. Maybe after buying his girl a barbecue lunch, he’d get a chance. Or maybe she’d be so pissed about him taking on this new job with his family that he wouldn’t require the ring at all.

  He scuffed his knuckles over his jaw and tried to think of different ways to break the news to her. He wanted her to feel included in the decision-making. That seemed to be his biggest mistake the other times.

  With a plan in place, he felt slightly more confident when he opened her car door and helped her out. She smiled up into his eyes, and his heart pitched with what felt like an earthquake of love for her.

  “Hungry?” He offered a crooked grin.

  “Starved. And I could go for some barbecue too.” The sultry wink she dropped him pulled a growl from deep in his throat. He drew her against him, and their bodies bumped. The white-hot desire for her never faded, and from the look in her eyes, it didn’t for her either.

  The barbecue joint was a popular one where you walked up and ordered from the takeout window. Picnic tables were scattered around the lawn with striped umbrellas to offer some shade. With Brielle’s hand in his grasp, he led her to the big handwritten menu on the side of the building.

  He glanced down at her. “The usual?”

  She nodded.

  “Sweet tea?”

  “You betcha.”

  He ordered two briskets with sides of macaroni and cheese, which in his book could win awards, and they each got an ear of corn. When they carried their trays to a secluded picnic table around the side of the building, he nearly tipped over his sweet tea out of sheer nerves.

  She reached out and caught it, but she noted his lack of coordination with two raised brows. After he sat, she faced him. “What’s going on, Kaoz?”

  He captured her hands resting on the plank table and held her stare. “Uncle Cort offered me a consulting position with a cut of ranch profits quarterly. And I can still freelance elsewhere.”

  The words tumbled out so quick, he wasn’t sure she caught it because she sat there with a blank look on her face for a long heartbeat.

  Then all of a sudden, her face split into a grin. She shot up and over the table, narrowly missing the food, to throw herself at his chest. A grunt escaped him as she hit his arms, and he held her close, using his ab muscles to keep them both seated on the bench instead of the ground.

  “Oh my God, Kaoz! That’s so awesome! What did you tell him?”

  He stared down at her beautiful face, distracted from her question by a lock of hair tumbling over her forehead. He brushed it back, aware of how her round ass nestled in his lap. His cock began to stir, and she must have felt it too, because she sucked in a quick breath.

  “I didn’t tell him anything yet. I told him I need to talk to you about it all first. Brielle, it means we might not have a ranch of our own for a while. I always dreamed of having my own place, but life seems to be leading me in a different direction. I’d wake up in the morning and drive out to a ranch to help assess their problems or even work there for a while, same as I did with Beau’s place.”

  “Yes, but you’re so good at this work that it’d be a shame to let the opportunities pass you by. With all your knowledge—your gut insti
ncts too—you have to share it with ranchers. Think of how many failing ranches you might be able to help save.” Her voice pitched higher with enthusiasm, and her eyes sparkled.

  He shook his head. “I’m shocked by your reaction, to be honest. I thought…well, things are still up in the air between us and I don’t know where we stand in our life together.”

  She eased her arms around his shoulders. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  His throat clogged. The ring nestled inches away from his fingertips. He only had to reach into his pocket, pull it out and place it on her finger to start their lives back up.

  But giving her the same ring felt wrong somehow. Maybe even like a bad omen. The first engagement failed, so using the same diamond would jinx them somehow.

  “Brielle…” His throat worked against blurting out the words will you marry me.

  Her breaths came faster, rushing across his lips. He leaned in and stamped his mouth over hers, hard. Then pulled away. “Thank you for being on my side in this. I swear I’ll always have time for you. I’ll always take interest in what you’re doing. That won’t ever slip again.”

  An expression flitted across her face, one he couldn’t read. She dropped her head forward, and he kissed the spot between her eyes, his own emotions in a riot. All he wanted to do was make her his, but they’d rushed into it once before and now he wouldn’t make the same mistake.

  She slid off his lap and settled on the bench beside him. He pulled her tray across the table and they sat side by side like some old married couple that can’t stand to be separated even by a table. As he dug into his corn, he shot her a grin.

  She mirrored it, and he knew things would be okay. They only needed time.

  And after they parted to go about their days, he was damn well heading to the jeweler.

  * * * * *

  Brielle sat behind the wheel of her truck and watched Kaoz drive off. She still sat in a state of shock—the man had learned from his past mistakes and come to her to discuss the new offer from his uncle.

  She shook her head, letting the daze sweep her up all over again. After he told her, she didn’t know how to respond. Her mind had blanked with surprise. Then, when he held her in his arms, she thought for a heart-pounding moment that he’d ask her to marry him again.

  The man had several chances now—what was stopping him? If he didn’t pop the question soon, she’d have to take matters into her own hands.

  She giggled to herself as she thought of putting the ring on her own damn finger and pitching her voice low to mimic his. Will you marry me, Brielle? Yes, Kaoz! I will.

  As she pulled out of the parking lot of the barbecue joint, she laughed to herself some more. Suddenly, she realized Kaoz hadn’t actually stated that he would take his uncle’s offer. Surely his excitement about it all reflected where his heart lay.

  Only, now that she thought on it, he also brought up their dream of having a ranch and how that wouldn’t be possible while he spread his time to other ranches.

  Biting down on her lip, she replayed their conversation. No—he really hadn’t come out and given her his decision. Maybe she should call him and talk it through some more. The cut of profits from his family’s ranch proved too good to pass up.

  He wouldn’t consider doing just that in order to keep hold of their original dream together…would he?

  She took partial responsibility for this. She’d walked away and ruined his world when she really should have sat him down and told him how she felt. Her belief that he knew how his treatment affected her stopped her from doing that. Now she knew the man was clueless and blindsided by her walking away.

  They’d come a long way, but they had more paths to walk together. Wasn’t that what a solid couple did? She felt confident that they would make it, and every issue in the future could be worked out.

  She drove home to the ranch and took her purchase from Joss’s boutique into the house. The flowy dress in patchworked deep blue would be the perfect dress for an engagement party. This time around, she wanted all the bells and whistles attached to the moments leading up to their actual wedding day. She pictured the ranch decorated in the shades of blue of her color scheme for that special moment, with Kaoz in denim with a navy blue suit jacket, string tie and his cowboy hat with his groomsmen, Cort and Aidan, at his side.

  Dang it, she wanted that ring.

  The ring Kaoz had in his possession. She’d all but thrown herself at the stubborn man.

  When she started in on her chores, she found Kaoz had done the heavy lifting for her by bringing a bale of hay to the horse.

  “Whatcha smilin’ about?” Beau’s question made her turn.

  “Kaoz carried the hay out to the horse.”

  He glanced into the corner of the pasture where the horse grazed and then turned back to her. “You look happy, sis.”

  She tipped her head. “I guess I am.”

  “He’s it then? The one?”

  Issuing a contented sigh, she said, “He always was. We only had to iron out some problems.”

  Beau stepped up and hugged her. She squeezed him too, so glad that he didn’t hate the idea of her being with Kaoz.

  “I’m happy for ya,” Beau said.

  “Thank you.” She drew away and swiped at a tear dangling at the corner of her eye. He laughed at her, like only a brother would, and she aimed a punch at his arm.

  He dodged her. “What do you think of takin’ a walk over to the barn site with me?”

  “Love to.”

  As they strolled, it felt like those first weeks where they’d set up on the ranch and Beau drew spires in the air with his hands and told her all his plans. He did none of that now—the past few months had brought him down to earth. He no longer harbored any disillusions about owning a ranch or what that life looked like.

  “I’m proud of you, Beau.”

  He threw her a quizzical grin. “Why’s that?”

  “You’ve grown so much recently. Even though we haven’t succeeded in doing many of the things we wanted to by now, you seem to have accepted it and aren’t so stuck in your ways.”

  His lips tipped up farther. “You callin’ me stubborn?”

  “Yep,” she said without hesitation.

  He laughed, and she joined in. They reached the barn site, with only a short bit of earth scraped away by the backhoe before it quit working.

  “Are you still planning to go with the metal structure?”

  He nodded. “I’m thinkin’ of the interior and thought I’d get your take on how to lay things out.”

  Happiness flooded her. “I’d be happy to.”

  They spent the next hour walking what would be the interior of the barn, mapping out stalls and a nice wide aisle for easy maneuvering. The hay loft would go along one side with big double doors that would lead out to pasture.

  “I can’t wait,” she said. “When do we get started?”

  “Soon as Kaoz’s friend calls with a final price for us. Then we place the order and start the build. I placed a couple ads in forums for boarding.”

  “Any bites yet?”

  “Hasn’t been long enough, but I’ll check in tonight and see if anybody left messages or showed interest. Now, we have another problem, sis.”

  “What’s that?” Concern rippled through her.

  He pivoted in the yard and pointed at the pig shed. “The small matter that we’re raisin’ pigs that you’re too attached to to eat.”

  She pasted a hand over her face and peeked at her brother through her fingers. “Guilty as charged. I always believed I could do it, Beau—I did! But now that the moment has come, I can’t bear to do it.”

  “Which got me thinkin’.”

  She waited for more and lowered her hand from her face.

  “We keep a sow and boar and continue to raise ’em up, but we sell them at auction rather than butcher them ourselves as originally planned.”

  She started to nod before he even finished talking. “Yes! Let’s do that. It
makes me so much happier.”

  “You realize what happens to pigs that go to auction, right?” He cocked a brow at her.

  “Yes, but it’s not on my conscience.”

  “As long as you’re happy.” He chuckled. “Let’s go inside and grab somethin’ to eat.”

  “I already ate. Kaoz and I met for brisket at the barbecue place.”

  “And you didn’t bring me any home? Dang… Guess I’ll have to make some eggs.”

  She wrinkled her nose.

  “What’s that face for? I thought you started eating eggs again. Kaoz makes them for you almost every morning.”

  She groaned as they turned for the house. “He makes them but I can’t eat them. Just looking at them grosses me out.”

  “You haven’t told him that?”

  “I did—early on in our relationship. Guess he forgot and it’s such a sweet gesture to bring me breakfast in bed that I didn’t have the heart to tell him again.”

  “Love is crazy. Don’t know how you people put up with it.”

  She eyed him. “Does that mean you never want to fall in love?”

  He shrugged. “Too busy to think about it right now. Maybe someday, when I got more to offer.” He waved at the ranch. “You and Kaoz will be moving off the ranch at some point and I’ll have to get some more help in.”

  “That won’t happen for a while.” She bit off from saying more because she didn’t want to share Kaoz’s news when nothing had been decided.

  “Well, I’m glad to have ya both right now. The workload’s far too big for one. Once we get horses in, that’s going to be more weight on my shoulders.”

  She reached out and squeezed his arm. “You’re strong enough to carry the load, and I’m here to help. Kaoz too, for now.”

  “I’m happy for it.”

  They reached the house and while Beau fixed himself a sandwich, she went into her room and opened the closet. She rummaged through a box and when her hand touched the cool metal, her heart gave a flip.

  She pulled out the beer tap she’d given to Kaoz and then taken away from him. She held it in the light and smoothed her thumb over his initials K R B, for Kaoz Ryan Bellamy.

  She’d return it to him as a way to show him that she was sorry for burning a bridge without working more on their relationship. Maybe tonight when they had the bonfire, she would do it.