The Hard Way

by Jill Sanders

  “I finished off the last of the chicken wings,” she said, motioning to the empty container sitting beside her.

  “It’s okay. I had a meeting at the Moose and grabbed a burger.”

  “Meeting?” she asked, trying not to pry.

  “Yeah.” He sighed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. She rested her head on his shoulder and enjoyed the extra warmth radiating from him. She’d pulled on the thickest sweatshirt she had, but still enjoyed the warmth from the firepit. “I figured I’d better meet with Don Hathaway one last time and make sure that everything was on the up and up.”

  “And?” she asked, holding her breath slightly.

  “And he assured me that everything is legal. Mark signed a grant deed that night and even got it notarized. Thank god there was a lawyer and a notary at the bar that night. Don claims that if there hadn’t been, I’d be screwed.”

  “That’s good news. So there’s no chance of you losing the place?”

  “None. The grant deed is solid, and the property was in Mark’s name and not his father’s or brother’s names, so they can’t claim ownership.” He ran his hand over her shoulder.

  “Do you think they’ll cause problems?” she asked. “TK and the others think so.”

  “I don’t know much about them. I only knew Mark Phillips when I lived here before. He followed me to North Dakota from Bozeman. We both worked for the McGowans for a while. I would have never considered him a friend, which is why I didn’t have any issues taking this place from him when I won it. Honestly, I think he went there that night trying to unload the property in the first place. Who just carries around a grant deed of property they own? I’d overheard him trying to get someone to front him a few thousand for the deed before he’d placed it on the table.”

  For some reason Mel thought back to the friends that she’d had in school. There were a handful of people she’d trusted in her youth. Most of them had disappeared shortly after she’d married Ethan or had left when Ethan had deemed their relationships unworthy.

  She doubted any of them had thought of her in the past few years. At this point, she even doubted her parents were really looking for her or that they cared how she was doing. Did they still believe that Ethan should have ultimate power over her? That their daughter shouldn’t have dreams and a career of her own? Or even believe her that Ethan had been controlling and abusive to her in the first place?

  A sense of loneliness filled her, threatening once more to consume her completely. Now, however, she had something new to focus on. The thing keeping her rooted was the feeling of Brent’s arms around her.

  Chapter 13

  He had felt the change in Mel. The tension had caused her to stiffen. He’d tightened his arms around her and felt her relax against him. He didn’t know what had caused her tension earlier but figured it had something to do with Mark’s visit.

  “Look,” she said, motioning with her hand as a shooting star streaked across the night sky.

  “Make a wish,” he said into her hair.

  “I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” she said with a sigh.

  “Too many wishes?”

  “No, too many things that need fixing.” She glanced up at him.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you earlier,” he said, cupping her face with his hand.

  “When?” she asked, her eyes searching his.

  “When Mark showed up,” he answered softly. “I don’t often get attacked.” He frowned. “Well, at least lately I haven’t,” he admitted with a soft chuckle.

  “Men.” She shook her head and sat up a little. “Why is it a macho thing for you to go around hitting each other?”

  He smiled. “It’s primordial. Sort of like enjoying watching the fights or sports and eating red meat.”

  She chuckled. “Want to drag me by my hair up to your cave?” she asked in a soft voice.

  He reached up, dug his fingers into her hair, and softly pulled her close for a kiss. “I just might do that,” he said against her lips. He felt her shiver next to him.

  He couldn’t explain how being with Mel made him feel. She brought out the best in him. For the next two days, he worked side by side with her and slept with her wrapped around his body at night.

  She met his every need with her own needs and, the more he was around her, the more he realized just how empty his life had become. He’d never laughed or enjoyed himself more than when she was around.

  When his sister showed up with his niece a few days later, he sat in a chair and gave as much attention to Bella as he did to Dylan while she talked to Mel about all of the plans for the party the following day.

  When Mel disappeared into the kitchen to handle a question from TK, Dylan turned her eyes towards him.

  “I like her,” Dylan said easily.

  Bella had fallen fast asleep in his arms and, he had to admit, he was afraid to move for fear of waking the baby. His fingers were going slightly numb from holding her, but he didn’t mind.

  “Yeah, she’s been great so far. I think we should keep her,” he admitted, looking down at Bella.

  “I mean Mel.” Dylan slapped him playfully on the shoulder.

  “Oh, yeah, she’s been great too,” he said with a smile.

  “There’s something between you two,” Dylan said softly.

  “Is there?” He played dumb, causing his sister’s eyes to narrow.

  “Well, whatever it is, don’t screw it up. For once, I actually like a woman you’re seeing,” Dylan replied.

  “I thought you liked Tilly?” he asked.

  “Tilly was dense. Extremely so,” Dylan said, causing him to laugh.

  “It wasn’t her brain I was attracted to,” he admitted.

  “No, but Mel seems to have it all.” Dylan glanced towards the kitchen doors. “There’s a hidden pain behind those eyes.” Her eyes turned back towards him. “Tread carefully. You don’t want to hurt her any further.”

  He opened his mouth to tell his sister he wasn’t about to hurt her, but then Mel stepped back into the room.

  After his sister’s family left, he helped Mel and TK unload the fresh produce and set up the walk-in refrigerator. TK was very organized and wanted everything in specific places.

  He couldn’t shake his sister’s words and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that his past experience with women hadn’t been as great as he’d believed.

  Clear back from when he’d first started dating his first girlfriend in grade school, he had always ended up hurting them. Not that he’d ever cheated on anyone. That was a line he hadn’t crossed nor ever would. Not after he’d caught Rose with one of his friends at a party in junior high.

  Still, that hadn’t stopped him from pushing them away all the same.

  It’s not as if he had set out to pull away from anyone, but he had some deep-rooted issues, thanks to his parents. Even though they’d had a great relationship between them, how they had treated their kids had been less conventional.

  He remembered how much he and Dylan had to rely on each other growing up. His parents had never really attended any sports or school functions, leaving Brent to shuttle his sister to her after-school activities.

  Honestly, up until their parents’ death, Brent and Dylan had been pretty much left on their own. After their death, things had taken such a dark turn for him. He knew it was the added financial burden that had caused him to party and drink instead of fending for him and his sister. He’d just… shut off.

  He was determined never to do that again. And no matter what happened between him and Mel, he was going to do everything in his power not to hurt her further.

  The night before the party, his nerves were in full gear. He and the rest of his crew rushed around the place, making sure everything was in order.

  By the time they climbed the stairs, it was past one in the morning and neither had the energy to do anything other than to fall into bed together.

  She had moved some o
f her things into his room and, since that first night, she had spent every night in his bed. It was almost an unspoken thing between them. Nothing had to be said. He could tell she was enjoying herself and, the way he saw it, if anything changed, he’d just have to go with it.

  The morning of the party, he woke again just in time to hear Mel shut off the shower. He’d gotten the hint that she was a very early riser, something he wasn’t. Still, he didn’t mind when he walked into the kitchen after his shower and she handed him a cup of hot coffee and had a plate of fresh fruit ready for him, along with an omelet with green peppers, onions, and tomatoes.

  “No sugary donuts for us today,” she said, sitting beside him.

  He groaned. “I could use the extra push, but this will do.” He took a bite of the eggs. “It’s very good.” He glanced around. “TK make these?”

  “TK should be here in about an hour. I made these.” She smiled. “I like to cook.”

  “You’re good at it.” He took another bite. “Very good.”

  She smiled. “I haven’t been able to enjoy moving around in a kitchen for a while,” she said with a slight sigh.

  “You could always lend a hand if you want,” he suggested.

  She tilted her head and looked at him. “I may just do that. If I have time.”

  He didn’t know why, but he asked her, “Are you happy here?”

  She set her fork down and looked at him, meeting his eyes so he could see the truth there.

  “I am. For the first time in a long time. I never thought I would be.” She glanced around the quiet kitchen. “I would have never pegged me being happy in a place like this.”

  “Like this?” he asked. “A bar and grill or Montana?”

  She smiled. “Both, I suppose. I always figured I’d be happiest in a city.”

  “You’ve been here less than a week. You may tire of country living.” He felt his heart sink at the thought of losing her. He was enjoying being with her and wanted to do everything he could to continue doing so.

  She picked up her fork and started eating again. “You might, as well. You did mention you tired of Haven before.”

  “True.” He nodded. “Now, however, I have reason to stick around.” He thought of Bella and smiled. “Having this place and my niece changes things.”

  He thought about his plans to eventually purchase a home somewhere in town and rent out the rooms upstairs for an added income, after a quick remodel. Not that he figured it would be anytime soon. He’d sunk all his savings into the bar. But if things went well, he knew he’d want a home and a place away from work.

  “Are you excited about today?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

  “Nervous. You?”

  “Both. I know things are going to go smoothly but there is always a fear.”

  “Something is bound to go wrong. It happens. I just hope it’s not something too crazy.”

  “Whatever it is, I’m pretty sure we can handle it,” she said with a smile.

  Two hours later, he stood in one of the bathrooms, his shirt soaking wet as he worked on the broken pipe under the sink. Thankfully, he’d caught it before the room had flooded too badly. After a quick trip to the hardware store, he had the pipe repaired and the mess cleaned up just as everyone started showing up.

  He rushed upstairs to change into dry clothes and was surprised to see Darla standing just inside the doorway at the base of the stairs when he came back down.

  He’d been slightly shocked to see her the other day since he’d heard that she’d moved to the city shortly after he’d taken off himself. Rumors were going around that she’d been in rehab, but rumors had also swirled around that she’d married an eighty-year-old millionaire and had taken all his money and was living in the south of France.

  He had to admit that she was looking a lot better than the last time he’d seen her. She’d stopped dying her hair the washed-out bleached blonde and had let it grow out to just below her shoulders. Now it was a more natural sandy blonde color.

  She looked healthier than before too. She’d put a little weight onto her previously almost anorexic build. The biggest shocker was how modestly dressed she was in jeans and a blouse.

  They hadn’t left things on a good note. When she’d tried to talk to him, he’d done everything he could to avoid her since he hadn’t wanted to fall for her traps again. Looking back at their relationship, he knew that being with her had contributed to a lot of his own crazy attitude in the past.

  Taking her arm, he pulled her out the door in hopes that she hadn’t already caused any issues.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, glancing around.

  “I was hoping we could talk.” She followed him out front.

  “I’m kind of busy today,” he said, dropping his hand from her arm.

  She took a deep breath and nodded. “I can see that. I’ll just head inside…”

  “No.” He stopped her. “This is a private party.”

  Her eyes narrowed slightly. “I know, and I was invited.”

  He couldn’t hide his surprise. “By?”

  Darla smiled. “Your sister.”

  “Like hell you were.” He remembered how Dylan had felt about Darla when they’d been dating. The last thing his sister would want is his crazy ex-girlfriend around for her daughter’s first party.

  “We bumped into one another at the grocery store the other day,” Darla said easily. “She mentioned that you were throwing the party and invited me.” She started towards the door again. “If you don’t want me here, I suggest you take it up with Dylan.”

  She walked back inside, and he wondered just how bad things were going to go with her around.

  Chapter 14

  Mel watched from inside as Brent talked to the pretty blonde woman out front. She tried not to let her jealousy spike, but the truth was, it stung seeing the spark of something between them.

  But people were shuffling into the place quickly, and she didn’t have much time to dwell on it. The blonde came in some moments later and sat at the bar, while Brent went to talk to Dylan, who was sitting with Bella at the center table.

  She disappeared into the back room and helped out back there until Brent came and found her almost an hour later.

  “Got a moment?” he asked her.

  “Sure.” She dusted off her hands and followed him into the office.

  “First off, I wanted you to know that Darla is here,” he said, his voice going low.

  “Okay.” She thought back to the blonde and felt her heart kick twice in her chest. She’d been jealous before, but knowing that the woman was Brent’s ex hit her even harder.

  His arms wrapped around her, then he bent his head and kissed her.

  “You have nothing to worry about,” he said against her lips.

  “Yeah.” She relaxed. “I wasn’t worried,” she lied.

  He chuckled and then kissed her again. “How are things going back here?”

  “Smooth. TK and her crew are on it. I’ve just been standing around watching them work.”

  “You should come out and enjoy the party,” he suggested. “Dylan’s been asking after you.”

  She didn’t want to tell him that she felt strange being around his family and friends. Especially now that she knew who Darla was.

  “I think…” She started to make an excuse as to why she shouldn’t go out front, but he stopped her by kissing her.

  “Just come out front for a few moments. It would please my sister.”

  “Alright,” she agreed. “For a few moments.”

  When she stepped out front, she was thankful that it appeared that Darla had already left. Mel scanned the room twice just to make sure.

  Brent pulled out a chair near his sister’s seat for her to sit down on.

  “Want some food?” he asked her.

  Since she hadn’t stopped for lunch yet, she nodded as he sat next to her. Brent waved Jennifer over, and she took their orders.

  “How are
you enjoying your party?” Mel asked Dylan.

  “It’s the best.” Dylan smiled over at her. Bella was fast asleep in Trey’s arms while he talked to his mother, Gail, and Kristen’s mother, Trisha. The two women seemed extremely friendly and spent most of their time laughing and playing with their grandkids.

  For the next hour, she lost herself in conversation and even had a chance to hold Bella after the baby woke up and ate.

  Mel realized it was the first time in her life that she’d held a baby so young and small. How many times in her life had she believed that, by her age, she’d have a family of her own?

  She hadn’t realized her eyes had watered until a teardrop fell on Bella’s head. Embarrassed, she quickly wiped her eyes and glanced around to see Dylan and Brent watching her. Feeling foolish, she handed the baby over to Dylan and excused herself. She headed upstairs to wash her face.

  When she walked back out of the bathroom, Brent was there waiting for her.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, concern in his voice and eyes.

  “Yes, just needed a break,” she said, trying to sound lighthearted.

  He reached up and took her shoulders. “You don’t have to hide from me,” he said softly.

  “I’m not hiding.”

  “No?” His eyes searched her own.

  She shook her head. “Not really. I’m just…” She sighed and figured she’d open a little more to him. “That was the first time I’ve held a newborn. It just got to me.” She shook her head.

  His eyebrows shot up. “The first?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I don’t know many people who have kids.”

  “Well, then you need to get back downstairs. There’s a bunch of the little rug rats running around,” he said with a smile. “I was about to take them out on the back porch and help them make s’mores. Want to lend a hand?” He stilled. “You do like kids, right?”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “I do.”

  His smile matched hers. “Good.” He reached down and took her hand. “Then help me out. I’m seriously outnumbered.”

  For the next hour, she helped Brent outside with all the kids and ended up holding Clare McGowan, Tyler and Kristen’s oldest daughter, on her lap while the little girl made a mess with chocolate and marshmallows. The almost-five-year-old’s favorite words were how come and why, which Clare replied to everything Mel said. Still, she enjoyed her time with the kids and when the party was growing to an end, she realized she was more exhausted than she’d been in years.