by Dara Girard
Cecelia handed him the keys and watched him open the car and pop the lid. “I wanted to do it on my own. I felt so stupid after the Jeep fiasco. I’ve been using Brooke’s car for errands, but I needed to replace my Jeep. I know it looks bad from the outside, but so did Royal Thunder when you first got him here, and through your tender care and attention, he’s doing great now.”
“What happened to the money you got from the car manufacturer?”
“My sister needed help with her mortgage and my brother needed a new transmission, plus I always like to have extra money put away in case of an emergency.”
Jameson looked under the hood. “Cece, if this thing were a horse I’d have to take it out and shoot it.” He slammed the hood shut. “And I’d shoot it twice. I don’t want to see you in this again.” He folded his arms. “How much did you pay for it?”
“I’m not going to tell you because you’ll only make fun of me.”
“I won’t make fun of you.”
Cecelia shook her head. “I’m still not telling you.”
“At least give me a price range.”
She shook her head again.
“Can you tell me?” Brooke said.
Cecelia thought for a moment then whispered something in Brooke’s ear. Brooke looked surprised then chagrined. “Okay. Let me see what we can do.”
“How can I do anything if I don’t know what price range you’re looking for?” Jameson said.
“I’ll help you,” Brooke said.
“I want something used and dependable,” Cecelia said, looking hurt.
Jameson opened his mouth to respond, but Brooke shot him a glance that stopped him. “You can trust us.”
* * *
“So how much did she spend?” Jameson asked as he and Brooke drove to a dealership outside of town.
“Promise you won’t tease her if I tell you?”
“It’s that bad?”
“What do you think?”
“I hope she spent less than a thousand.”
Brooke sighed and stared out the window.
“Two thousand?”
Brooke rubbed her nose and still refused to look at him.
“Three?” Jameson said in a grave voice.
Brooke lightly tapped his leg as she would an agitated horse. “You don’t want to know.”
“Yes, I do,” Jameson said, pounding the steering wheel. “I want to know how much she paid and the name of the bastard who sold her that piece of crap so that I can start making him walk a little funny.”
“I do, too, but she feels bad enough, so don’t make her feel worse. Let’s just get her a new car and forget this ever happened. How long will it take before we reach the dealership?”
“We’re not going to a dealership. The car’s already been bought. I had a friend take care of things. It will arrive tomorrow.”
“I thought you didn’t have any friends.”
“I said I have few friends.” He shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder if you ever listen to me.”
Brooke looked around. “Then what are we doing out here?”
“Going for a drive. I thought it would be nice if Cecelia thought we really made an effort.”
“Sometimes I forget you’re a Broward and that your reputation and money make life easy.”
“Sometimes.”
“Most times.”
“My money and reputation didn’t make your sister stay,” Jameson said in a low voice.
Brooke fell silent, not knowing what to say, bewildered that he would even bring up the subject.
“There are a lot of things I can buy and other things I can’t. It’s those intangible things that make everyone equal.”
“You have the respect of your ranch hands, the loyalty of your house staff and the love of your family. Not many men could say the same.”
“And what about you?”
Brooke’s heart rate quickened. “What about me?”
She noticed his knuckles become white as he gripped the steering wheel. “Never mind,” he said in a harsh voice. “I shouldn’t put you on the spot like that. I don’t even know why I brought it up. I could have proved my point another way. The last thing I want is for you to feel sorry for me.”
“I don’t,” she said, feeling a little breathless. “Do you feel sorry for me?”
Jameson shot her a glance. “Why would I?”
“Because of the situation I put you in.”
“Your father did that, not you.” He released one grip on the steering wheel. “What we’re doing makes sense, so don’t feel guilty about it.”
But she did feel guilty and saddened that he still saw her as an obligation. But she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “So where are we going again?”
“Nowhere in particular.”
“Then can I drive?”
“Sure.” Jameson pulled over to the side and they switched places. Brooke was surprised by how quickly he’d given over control. Most men hesitated in similar situations. They drove in silence for a few miles, and when Brooke glanced over at Jameson he was fast asleep. She smiled, pleased by his trust in her. She had once dated a guy who acted like a driving instructor every time she was behind the wheel. She liked Jameson’s show of faith in her, or perhaps he was just too tired to complain.
“Are you going to keep staring at me or start looking at the road?” Jameson asked, his eyes still closed.
Brooke released a dramatic sigh. “And here I thought you weren’t going to complain about my driving.”
“I’m not complaining about your driving.” He opened his eyes and looked at her. “I just want to know what you’re thinking. Are you unhappy about something?”
“No. I didn’t mean to stare, but I couldn’t help it. I thought you were asleep. You looked so peaceful.”
He laughed. “And I usually don’t?”
“Not like that.”
And she meant it. Away from the ranch he seemed more relaxed, more accessible, less preoccupied. She had a crazy desire to keep driving to another state. To show him that life was about so much more than the BWB. She wanted to kidnap him and tell him how much she loved him and that, if he gave himself the chance, he could learn to love her, too. But she knew that was only a young girl’s fantasy and she was a woman now.
“You look more peaceful, too.”
“I do?”
“Yes. I guess we both have a lot on our minds.”
He was right and she knew that neither of them would tell the other what they were. She stared ahead and saw a large sign advertising free puppies.
“Did you ever get a new one?” Jameson asked.
“What?”
“When Radar died, did you get another working dog or pet?”
Brooke swallowed, touched. “I can’t believe you remember his name.”
“I also remember how sad you were.”
“I never thought I’d get over him, but slowly I did.”
“So did you?”
“No.”
“Would you like one?”
Brooke bit her lip. “I don’t think we should.”
“Why not?”
Because she didn’t want to buy something with him. Something that would remind her of their time together. “We’re both so busy.”
“A good working dog always comes in handy.”
“I don’t want a puppy and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She turned the car around and headed back in the direction of home.
Jameson sent her an odd look, and nodded. “Fine.”
Chapter 13
Cecelia squealed with the delight at the sight of her new car. Jameson had had the car dropped off in town, where he and Brooke could pick it up
and drive it to the house.
“I still think you should tell her the truth,” Brooke said, feeling uneasy with Jameson’s plan of deception.
Jameson handed her the keys. “She won’t accept it otherwise. She’s a proud woman and she’ll see it as charity.”
“And it’s not?”
“No, it’s a gift. She deserves it. I don’t ever want her worrying about her car again. I just need you to drive it to the house. If someone else does, she’ll get suspicious.”
“She has a right to be suspicious.”
“She has the right to a car that will last. Trust me.”
“I don’t like being devious.”
“Then let me be. You don’t have to say anything.”
And Brooke didn’t utter a word when Jameson brought Cecelia out of the house to look at the car. The moment Brooke saw the awe on Cecelia’s face she knew why Jameson had done it his way. Some of her uneasiness melted away.
“You two are the best,” Cecelia said. “I’m the luckiest woman in the world.” She ran her hand along the side of the car. “It’s looks brand-new.”
“It practically is,” Brooke said.
Jameson nudged her.
Cecelia patted her chest. “How much did you pay for it?”
“Just an arm and a leg,” Brooke said.
“What?”
Jameson stood in front of Brooke. “Don’t worry about the price. We had to bargain with the dealership, that’s all.”
Cecelia hesitated. “You’ve both done so much for me already. I really shouldn’t accept this.”
“But you will.” Jameson opened the car door. “Get in.”
Cecelia needed no further persuasion. She got inside and lovingly ran her hand over the steering wheel and dashboard. “It even has that new-car smell. What used car lot did you go to?”
“Jameson Auto,” Brooke said, darting from behind Jameson.
“What was that?” Cecelia asked. “Jameson what?”
Jameson covered Brooke’s mouth. “Brooke’s just toying with you. We went to some place out of town. I doubt you’d know it.” He lowered his voice to a whisper that only Brooke could hear. “I thought I told you to be quiet.”
She just blinked at him.
“Oh, it’s... Wait.” Cecelia squinted at the speedometer. “It’s hardly been driven.”
Jameson swore. “I knew I was forgetting something.”
Cecelia jumped out of the car and pointed at him. “You got me a new car!”
Jameson sighed. “You make that sound like it’s a bad thing.”
“But this is too much.” She slammed the car door shut. “I told you to get something used and dependable.”
“I used it, and Brooke thinks it’s dependable.”
Cecelia turned to Brooke, stunned. “You were in on this, too?”
“He forced me.”
“Yes, that sounds like him. I want a used car that I can afford. I already work for you I don’t want to feel like I owe you extra.”
“It’s a gift.”
“For what? Doing my job?”
“No, for being there for me when few people were. I know I don’t say much and when I first hired you I thought it would just be employer and employee. But you’re like family to me. While others kept trying to tell me how to run my life, you left me alone and didn’t judge me and you still don’t, and I appreciate that. I just want to thank you.”
Cecelia’s eyes filled with tears.
Jameson hung his head. “Don’t embarrass me by crying.”
“I can’t help it. That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
Brooke gently shoved him forward.
He turned to her, surprised. “What?”
“Go and give her a hug,” Brooke said under her breath.
“Really?”
“Yes,” she hissed.
Jameson hugged Cecelia. “Now stop crying.”
“I will, but next time don’t spend so much money. Just tell me how you feel.”
“You know I’m not good with words.”
She playfully patted him on the cheek. “You do well enough.” She held up her new car keys. “Now let’s take this baby for a spin!”
* * *
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Brooke asked Jameson that night after dinner as they sat in the family room watching TV.
“Tell you what?”
“Why you bought a new car for Cecelia.”
Jameson shrugged, but she saw red stain his cheeks. “No reason.”
A grin spread on Brooke’s face. “You’re blushing.”
“No, I’m not,” Jameson said, rubbing his chin and keeping his gaze on the screen. “I just don’t like being fussed over.”
“I know why.”
He turned to her. “Why?”
“You’re a softy and you’re afraid that will ruin your reputation.”
“I’m not a softy.”
“Uh-huh. That’s why you pay for malnourished horses so you can nurse them back to health and buy new cars for your staff when you don’t have to.”
“Do we really have to watch this?” Jameson said, frowning at the image of reporters and cameras on TV preparing for Samara Lionne’s upcoming press conference.
“Yes. Aren’t you curious what she has to say?”
“I hope she makes it brief.”
Samara didn’t, but what she had to say was riveting. She revealed that in addition to purchasing several parcels of land in the town, she had purchased Wes Broward’s property and was in talks with Meredith Palmer to buy her half of the Palmer ranch. “I am fully committed to the town of Granger,” she said. “I understand that some locals would prefer to keep Granger low profile, and I would like to ask you, the press, to respect their wishes. I plan to hold a big party next month where you can take all the photos you want. Until that time, I hope you will respect the privacy of my new neighbors. Thank you.”
“I don’t like her interest in the Palmer ranch,” Jameson said.
“But she sounds sincere.”
Jameson nodded. “She doesn’t seem as bad as I thought.”
“I wonder if we’ve misjudged her.”
* * *
Brooke thought about Samara’s press conference the next day as she walked around the ranch looking for some new inspiration. She stopped when she saw a brown dog sitting near the stables. Moments later she saw Jameson come out of the stables and shake hands with Frank. Both men looked up at her and started to wave, then they must have seen the look of thunder on her face. Frank made a quick exit as Brooke marched up to Jameson.
“What is that?” she demanded.
“Do you really need me to answer that?”
“Yes, I do.”
“It’s a dog.”
“And what is it doing here?”
“It’s ready to work. It’s young and I’ll train it for—”
Brooke shoved him back hard. “You arrogant bully!”
Jameson stumbled back a few feet, more out of shock than the force of her weight. “What’s wrong?”
“I told you I didn’t want a dog! Did you have cotton in your ears or something?”
He frowned. “I thought you didn’t want the hassle of training a puppy.”
“And you think you know what’s best for me?”
“No, but I remember how much you cared about Radar and—”
“Thought you could replace him?”
“Stop putting words in my mouth. If you’d stop shouting and allow me to finish a sentence for once, maybe we can start communicating.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.” She turned.
Jameson grabbed her wrist and spun her around. “W
ell, that’s too bad.”
“I don’t want you buying me things. Flowers are fine, but nothing more. Forcing you to marry me was enough. I don’t want to feel beholden for anything else.”
“You didn’t force me to do anything, and I thought you said we were friends. Hell, we’re lovers and lovers can do things for each other.”
Brooke shook her head, frustrated. “You don’t understand. I don’t want anything that will remind me of—” She stopped before she said too much.
“Of what?” Jameson pressed her.
Of you! The thought of leaving him already pained her. She couldn’t bear having a dog that would remind her every day of what she’d lost. It would be like experiencing the death of Radar all over again. “Either send him back or keep him for yourself. I don’t want him.”
“Fine, I’ll keep him, but if you change your mind...”
“I won’t.”
Jameson gently jabbed her in the shoulder. “Stop interrupting me.”
She jabbed him back. “Then stop saying things that annoy me.”
“How can I know what annoys you,” he said, jabbing her again.
Brooke jabbed him harder. “If you’d listen, you’d find out.”
“I do listen. You just don’t make any sense.”
“I always make sense.”
“Are you still mad at me?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m going to really make you angry.”
“Why?”
Jameson started to back away from her with a grin on his face. “Because I got two.”
“What?”
Jameson began to laugh then saw the look on Brooke’s face and turned and ran so fast that his hat blew off.
She chased after him. Jameson was faster, but Brooke had more endurance. Soon the ranch hands began cheering them on. Those for Jameson shouted, “Keep going, man. Don’t let her catch you!” Those rooting for Brooke shouted, “You’re gaining on him. Don’t give up.”
* * *
Steven, drawn by the noise, joined the group. “What’s going on? Who’s that running from Brooke?” he asked Frank. “A new ranch hand that got on her bad side?”
Frank laughed. “No, that’s your son.”