“What time is it?” Luke asked, buttoning up his shirt. It was hard to read his expression in the dim light, so Leah didn’t bother.
She trudged to the kitchen and popped a coffee pod into the machine and placed a mug under it. “Nine-thirty, it’s still early.”
Torn between asking him to stay and hang out or pushing him out the door, she opted for humor. “So that was nice.”
He didn’t respond, instead turned to look out the window as lights flickered through it. “Someone’s coming. Expecting company?”
Heart thudding, she hurried to the front windows and peered out. Of course being so dark outside, she couldn’t see much more than the vehicle’s headlights. “No. I’m not.” She turned to him. “Do you mind waiting a bit, just until I see who that is?”
“Not at all.” He remained standing, making the wait awkward.
“Want some coffee?”
“I’m good.”
Finally the vehicle stopped and she watched as a familiar man climbed out. Her ex-husband, Gary, stared at Luke’s truck before turning to the house.
“Shit. Great.” Leah looked up at the ceiling and then to Luke. “It’s okay. No need to stay.”
Without a word they walked out through the door together. Luke walked down the stairs and straight to his truck without bothering to even acknowledge Gary’s presence.
Gary on the other hand, followed Luke to the truck. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
When Luke turned to him slowly, alarm bells rang in Leah’s head. Hopefully Gary wouldn’t do something stupid and provoke a reaction. She hurried to her ex.
“It’s none of your business who my friend is. What are you doing here?”
Very slowly Gary pulled his gaze away from Luke, who finally got into the truck. Once he settled into the drivers’ seat, Luke continued watching as if to make sure she wasn’t in any trouble.
“I came to talk. But it seems you’ve been entertaining.” Gary glared toward Luke. “Who the fuck is he?”
It was best to intercede and keep from any drama or worse. “He’s my neighbor.”
Gary didn’t seem convinced but shrugged and finally walked toward the front door.
Leah lifted a hand to say goodbye to Luke. The cowboy started the truck blinding her with its lights. What the hell was it with men? It’s not like she owed either of the assholes any kind of explanation. Especially not Gary, who’d cheated on her not once, but twice. That she knew of anyway.
Walking in front of her ex, Leah returned to the coffeemaker and grabbed her cup. Too annoyed to offer him one, she went about adding sugar and milk to it. “What do you want to talk about? Next time please call me first, don’t just show up.”
“Would I have interrupted something if I’d showed up earlier?” Gary walked around the front room looking around as if hunting for clues.
She gave him a droll look.
“I came to discuss our divorce agreement. I want to renegotiate the settlement of our house. You make enough money you don’t need to get half of the sales profit. You’re just doing it to get back at me for what happened. Before going to the lawyers and having you blindsided, I thought talking in person would be a better option.”
Afraid she’d throw the hot coffee at him, she lowered the cup to the counter and glared at the idiot who waited with a bored expression.
“I allowed you to continue to live in the house and complete any needed repairs in exchange for us splitting the profit when we sold it. The house goes up for sale and now you want to renegotiate? How interesting.” Leah lifted the cup to her lips and sipped the now tepid liquid.
Gary let out a huff. “Look, I am not here to fight.”
“Then get the fuck out, because if you think I’m going to agree to you keeping all the money, you’ve lost your damn mind.”
“Why do you have to be such a bitch,” Gary said through gritted teeth. “You make way more money than I do...”
Leah had heard enough. They’d had the same argument over each piece of property from the cars to a damn boat she’d not wanted to buy in the first place. “You’re wasting your time with this discussion. You have no idea what my income is and it’s no longer any of your business. I’m tired of this song and dance. Have your lawyer contact mine.” She rushed to the door and yanked it open. “I’m not an idiot. I know the property values have risen and the house is worth a lot more than we paid for it. So unless you want me to push the infidelity issue and line some pockets to screw you over like you deserve, I suggest you drop this. You’ll get half, which is way more than a dog like you should get.” She motioned to the outside with her head. “Leave now, or I’ll call the police.”
“I can’t believe I married you.”
“I can’t believe you’re here asking for money after screwing every thing that walks.”
“You’re a bitch.”
“Yes I am. You’re an idiot.”
He stormed to his car and started it. When he put it in gear, the vehicle jerked forward before Gary realized he’d not put it in reverse. The loud grinding of gears made Leah grimace.
Watching her ex disappear into the night, she let out a sigh and leaned on the doorjamb.
What a night.
She looked up to the starry sky and immediately her thoughts went back to making love with Luke. Their lovemaking had been amazing, a slow race to completion and loss of control. He’d brought her to climax twice before taking his. Unlike the first time, this time had been different. He’d seemed more caring, almost as if he...
“Time to go to bed and stop being stupid,” Leah said out loud, walking inside and locking the door. The last thing she needed to do was romanticize anything between her and Luke.
It had been sex, pure and simple, nothing else.
17
“Who pissed in your Wheaties this morning?” Taylor asked from across the table. “All I’m asking is if you’ll go look at the cattle they’re selling. It’s not like you have anything else to do.”
So obviously since he was the one without a job, he was sent to do stupid shit. In the case of Toby and Taylor, it meant they could boss him around and throw shit work at him. “I said I’d go.”
“Look if you don’t want to, I’ll go tomorrow. I have contractors coming sometime today and the buyer for the horses will be here this afternoon.”
It was obvious by Taylor’s tone, his cousin was pissed about something. Usually it was hard to tell at which point Taylor lost his temper because the guy was a master of walking away.
Taylor looked down into his coffee. “I’m fucking tired man. I need time off.” Piss in the Wheaties seemed to be the thing that morning.
“No one’s stopping you. I can help out. Stop whining...damn.” Luke looked up at the ceiling willing Taylor to just leave the kitchen.
“Who is she?”
“What?” Luke scratched at his beard. “Who are you talking about?”
Taylor shrugged, his wide shoulders lifting and lowering. “Got a hunch a woman is what’s crawled up your ass. You’ve been an ass since the other night. Did you and Leah get into a fight or something?”
“Some guy came there when I was leaving. Seemed like an asshole.”
Yeah, so that wasn’t any kind of explanation. It was best to throw Taylor off and not make him think anything happened between him and Leah. It was a one-time...two-time thing, nothing else. She’d leave soon and other than some kind of accidental run in, he’d probably not see her ever again.
“What’d he look like? Older than us? About fifty? Kinda skinny?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s probably Gary, her ex. I met him a couple of years back when they were still married. He’s a weasel.”
Luke shrugged. Yeah he’d been ‘that guy’ and had waited up the road to see if the guy would stay. The ex had left less than fifteen minutes after getting there. By how fast he’d sped by, they’d not exactly had a good conversation. Luke had almost laughed. Leah could be a me
an one when she put her mind to it. But under the flawless veneer and persona of a distant aloof woman was a softer, kind woman, who’s laughter was musical and boy was she good in bed.
“... should have a few we can buy. The guy loves to haggle, so offer low to start.”
Obviously Taylor had mistaken his silence for listening. Luke leaned forward putting his elbows on the table. “What time does the auction start? I’ll get there early.”
* * *
Even before she spoke, Luke could tell he was about to get ripped in to. Fire blazed from Leah’s sharp gaze as she rushed to him. In a polo shirt and khakis, she didn’t exactly look the part of a rancher, but her expression would keep anyone from stating so.
“You asshole. You stole those cows from under me.” She pointed into the center of his chest. “Did you have to get those?”
He tried not to lose his temper. Of all the accusations, it was ridiculous that he’d have done anything of the sort on purpose. “I outbid everyone, I didn’t know you were one of the bidders.”
“Like hell you didn’t, you looked right at me.” She blinked back angry tears and turned on her heel.
A rancher he recognized walked up to him. “Good luck making up with your girlfriend, she looks pretty pissed.”
“Not sure why she’s mad at me, I wasn’t the only one bidding against her.”
The guy’s eyebrows rose. “I reckon cause you and her... ya know.”
Luke frowned. “What are you talking about? How would you know what we are to each other?”
“Sat right behind you. Thought she kept looking at me, but then saw how she watched you the whole time. It’s obvious there’s a thing between you and her.”
Who was this clown, some sort of Hallmark movie character?
The man walked away whistling and Luke looked to where an angry Leah was talking to one of the brokers, her arms waving. Damn if she didn’t look cute as all get out. Not that he’d ever be allowed near her again.
Luke went to where she argued with a man who stood outside the pen where the good-looking cows he’d bought were. The red heifers seemed to watch the argument, their large eyes focused on Leah.
“You told me they were mine and then you went and sold them out from under me without letting me know.”
“Ma’am I’m not going to argue with you. Obviously, you’re not aware of how things work around here...” The poor guy looked to Luke for help. “Tell her.”
Leah swung to him and Luke managed to keep a blank look on his face. Barely.
“Don’t talk to me Luke. I know exactly how things work. Since I don’t have a dick between my legs, I’m instantly out.”
The guy held his hands up in surrender. “Like I said. I’m not arguing. The deal has been made, money exchanged.” The man walked backwards and then turned on his heel and hurried away.
“What do you want?” Leah seemed to be running out of steam, but he wasn’t about to underestimate her.
“Making sure you’re okay.”
The sound she made was something between a groan and a wail. “Seriously? Luke, I swear if you don’t step back, I’m going to hit you.” She stomped her right foot and stormed away.
The drive to Laurel Creek was slow as he trailered the cattle back. Half a dozen prized breeders and a bull. It would be a good start to a new herd. He’d purchased them for himself as he planned to stay there in Montana.
He’d not purchased the cows Taylor had wanted. He’d lost the bid on those. Taylor would have to haggle with the rancher on his own.
The long drive gave him time to think and consider what to do. He was tired of a pointless life, of days and nights in different towns. One of the things Doctor Sullivan had made him realize was that he needed to settle and put down some roots.
Hell at forty-five, he wondered if a rambler like him could do it. Settle down to what? Cows and land he supposed were a good start.
He pushed call on his phone and his father’s voice came over the speaker. “Hey boy, you all right?”
“Bought some cows and a bull today. I want to go ahead and build something. Set up a home on the land.”
There was a long silence and he wondered if his Dad was about to hang up. Although he’d never meant to hurt him, Luke knew his father didn’t trust him anymore.
“I’m glad to hear it. You sound different. I really want to believe you’ll stay, cause its time son. You’re not going to bring those boys back by blaming yourself you know?”
Luke swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. “I know...”
“Look. You know what part of the land is yours. Keep your little herd on Taylor’s land for now until you build something. Make sure you get a sturdy pen for the bull.” His father was enjoying giving him instructions and the sound of his voice slowly overtook the others that told him he didn’t deserve it, none of it. Shouldn’t plan for a future when he’d stolen theirs.
Deep down inside Luke knew beating himself up and not allowing for a good life wouldn’t help anyone, least of all the guys who’d died. But every single time he’d tried, the ending had been the same.
No, he didn’t blame fate, or bad luck, for failing so many times. It was all him. Luke was the master of self-sabotage.
“We expect you for dinner on Sunday,” his father said not leaving room for arguments.
Dust from the road flew up as a gust of wind swept across it. A bird flew across too close to the windshield and he couldn’t hit the brakes, not with a trailer behind him. The damn thing barely missed getting hit.
Luke’s breath caught and his vision blurred.
“Down to single digits Sarg,” O’Brien said with a wide grin. “Can’t wait to sink my teeth into a real burger. Wash it down with a cold beer.”
Despite the sweltering heat combined with sand that managed to get into every crevice as they rode in the Humvee, the kid’s disposition rarely changed. Even on patrol, when walking in silence, O’Brien would look over and wink at a new soldier or flash his smile at another one who was scared shitless and on the verge of tears.
The loud boom came out of nowhere. One minute they were on the ground, the next Luke flew several feet from the vehicle and banged his head so hard he saw stars. Ears ringing, he half dragged, half crawled back to the smoking vehicle.
One soldier remained slumped over in the seat. He yanked the door open and dragged him to the side of the road, not bothering to check his pulse. He had to get to O’Brien... the kid was going home.
Heart thumping so loud it echoed in his dulled ears, Luke made his way back stumbling and falling hard onto the ground when his left leg gave out.
It was a struggle to get back up, but finally he hurried past another soldier who was obviously dead by the unfocused look of his gaze and found O’Brien. He’d been blown farther. He noticed his legs first ...one completely gone from the knee down, the other at an odd twisted angle.
“Hang on. You’re fine, you’re going to be okay.” Luke didn’t want to chance dragging him, but the fire under the Humvee worried him.
“I’m going to move you kid, this is going to hurt,” he croaked out meeting the young guy’s dull gaze.
Through the blood and sand, O’Brien’s gaze met his for a long moment. “I’m not gonna make it Sarg.”
A second explosion sounded and Luke fell over O’Brien. He had to protect the kid. He was down to single-digits...less than ten days.
The rumble of driving too close to the edge of the road brought Luke back to the present, just barely.
His lungs protested his lack of breathing and Luke shook his head in a futile attempt to clear his vision. Scared shitless he’d roll the trailer, Luke slowed and pulled over. His hands shook as he exited the truck and bent at the waist blowing out air in an attempt to keep from throwing up. A viselike grip around his chest grew so tight he fell to his knees. Damn, if he was having a heart attack, this would be the place that guaranteed death.
He’d not seen another car for at least an h
our.
These were the classic signs of a panic attack he decided, as his breathing finally slowed and the vice loosened. He let out long breaths, climbed back into the truck and fell back against the headrest.
Doctor Sullivan had instructed him on how to deal with these episodes, how to mentally work through them. It sounded silly to even try, but he did. Slowly at first he repeated the phrase to himself, and then again out loud.
“I am here for a reason. I matter. I matter.”
A tear slid down his cheek and he stared at the open land spread out as far as the eye could see. Montana was beautiful and damn it, it would be where he started living again.
“I deserve happiness. I am worth it. I matter.” Once again he repeated the words out loud, and as the tightness finally lifted, he slumped over the steering wheel and wept.
18
Clack. Clack. Clack. Had her heels always sounded like that? Every step toward her office made her want to run in the opposite direction. In a pantsuit and black heels, her hair up in a French twist, Leah was back in her element. At least that’s what she kept repeating to herself.
The meeting was important, the client was one of hers. Although ostracized from the company, they needed her there for one of the company’s most lucrative accounts. One she’d worked hard for months to acquire.
She’d been reviewing the files from the ranch and had spoken to the man several times. To the client, there wouldn’t be any indication she was not working directly for him.
At the last moment, Leah turned away from her office and instead went to her father’s.
The walk past the people she’d worked with for ten years made her heart speed up. To her surprise, the junior personnel pretended as if she’d just been there the day before throwing out a “Hey Leah” and a “Good morning”.
The lingering looks blanketed her back as she moved to where her father’s administrative assistant looked up with a warm smile. Unlike the rest of the staff, Ellen didn’t pretend everything was the same. “Hello Sweetheart, I’ve missed you.” The woman rounded her desk and hugged her. “I hope this is the beginning of your return,” she whispered in Leah’s ear, voicing the opinion that told her, Ellen had not agreed with her father.
Jaded: Luke: Laurel Creek Series Page 10