“Brayden. Son, it’s good to see you.” James pulled him into a hug.
Brayden slapped him on the back as he hugged him. “It’s good to see you too.” He turned to Melissa and waved her over.
She ran to James and hugged him. “It is so good to see you, James.”
“You look lovely as usual, Lissa. It’s wonderful to see you, honey.”
“Let’s take your luggage inside and get you settled.” Brayden moved to the back of the car when James hit the trunk release on the key pad.
“Are you sure it’s all right for me to stay with you? I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not imposing. I suggested it, didn’t I?”
“You did.” James smiled at him.
Brayden turned to Melissa. “I’ll be back out once I get James settled.”
“Sure. I hope we can talk soon, James, and I hope we’ll be working together.”
“It would be lovely to work with you. Have a good day, hon.”
****
Melissa watched as Brayden led James into the house. James was such a sweet man, and she’d always liked him. He was tall, with blond hair streaked with silver. A very good-looking older man, probably in his mid to late fifties, yet still considered a young man. She hoped it worked out and he would be working here. It seemed like he and Brayden still had a good relationship despite the fact one of his daughters killed the other one over him. For the man to support Brayden even after he’d been convicted of killing his daughter was amazing.
Brayden had said his mother in-law was sure of his guilt. Why hadn’t James been too? They must have had a good relationship the entire time Brayden and Maisy had been married and James knew how much Brayden had loved his daughter.
Poor James. It seemed like he’d gone through hell himself. His daughter murdered, his son in-law convicted of the crime, his other daughter then charged with the crime, and then his wife divorcing him because of all of it and then later, passing away. Melissa was amazed that the man could even function and all of it happening within a five-year period. It would drive any sane person crazy. She shook her head. What a mess.
Taking a deep breath of the cold air, she entered the barn to work on one of the horses they’d brought in two days ago. The horse was in terrible shape and she wasn’t too sure this one would make it, but she was going to do her best to make sure it did. The mare had a colt that was just as bad off. She fed her baby but it was draining on her, and the colt wasn’t getting as much nutrients as it should. Logan and Nico were taking turns bottle-feeding the colt.
Melissa entered the stall to see Logan feeding the colt. He looked up at her and smiled.
“He’s a hungry little bugger.”
“Looks like it. I hope Mama makes it.”
“She’s been eating some oats,” Logan said.
“Good. I had to feed her intravenously when she first came in.”
“Can I help?” Julie asked from beside her.
Melissa glanced over to her rather surprised at the offer. “Of course, the more…the better.”
Julie smiled at her. “Great. I’m bored in my office. Not many calls today. Some days are crazy and others just drag.”
“Anytime you’re bored, come see me. I could always use an extra hand.” Melissa smiled.
“I appreciate that. I do have the phone with me, so I won’t miss any calls.” Julie held the phone up.
“Works for me.” Melissa moved toward the gate. “I’ll check back in a while. I want to look in on the mama horse.” As she left the stall, she wondered what that had been about, because Julie had smiled at her. Actually smiled at her. Will wonders never cease?
****
A month later, snow arrived for good this time, and came down heavily. It was late-October and bitterly cold. Melissa wore her coat, hat, and gloves as she checked over the horses in the corral. The wind was harsh enough to take her breath away.
“Couldn’t you guys be inside? It’s freezing out here,” she muttered.
“Are you bitching about the snow?” Brayden asked from outside the corral.
“Not the snow. The cold! The damn wind is a real bitch.”
“It is a little windy today. Probably dropping the temp below zero.”
“I think you’re right.” She finished checking the horses and walked to where he stood. “How’s James doing?”
“He loves it. I’m glad you suggested I call him.”
Melissa smirked. “Even though I did it for spite.”
“That reminds me. You and Julie seem to have moved past the bitchiness.”
“Excuse me? I wasn’t the one being a bitch. But yes, we have. I actually like her. She loves to help. Actually, I think she has the hots for Logan.”
“Logan? I’m heartbroken.” He placed his hand over his heart.
“Yeah, ya are.”
Brayden grinned at her then sobered as he stared at her.
“What? Do I have something in my teeth?”
“No. You look beautiful and it pisses me off.”
“Why?”
“Because it would be easier not to want you…if you weren’t so beautiful.”
“Julie is beautiful. Do you want her?”
“Not at all.”
Melissa grinned. “I’ve decided not to chase after you, Brayden Beckett.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Placing her gloved hand on his cheek, she looked up at him. “But if you want to chase me…I just might let you catch me.” She turned to enter the barn.
“Melissa, wait.”
Stopping in her tracks, she turned to face him. “Yes?”
“Another gate was left open. This time, one at the back of the first barn. Any ideas?”
“Someone is forgetting to close them. It wasn’t me, but I suppose you asked everyone again?”
“I did and no one admits to it. I just don’t get it.”
“We’ll just have to start making sure they’re all closed before going home at night. Maybe you and I should do it since we’re here.”
Brayden nodded. “Sounds good. I’m not jumping on anyone yet but I think it would also be a good idea to assign someone to check them, and then you or I will check before we end our day.”
“All right. I’ll see you later. You know where I am.”
****
Christ! She made his dick hard. All she had to do was look at him and he was ready to go. Why don’t you just go for it? What could it hurt? Besides her? Yeah, that was reason enough.
Brayden took a deep breath and entered the barn to see her heading into a stall. He followed her in and he must have made a noise because she turned around to look at him.
“I don’t want you to get hurt, Melissa,” he practically growled.
“I’m not asking you to marry me for heaven’s sake, Brayden. We’re two consenting adults…who happen to have really great sex together.”
Clenching his jaw, he strode toward her and stopped inches in front of her. “I’m not the kind of man you need. I won’t fall in love with you.”
“Am I asking you to? What makes you think I’d fall in love with you? Do you think you’re so irresistible? Maybe I wouldn’t be hurt at all. Maybe you would because I am irresistible.” She smiled at him.
“There are complications in every relationship and there are too many in this one already.”
When she stepped closer to him, he had to take a step back and he watched as a smirk lifted her lips.
“Whatever you say, Brayden. I have work to do. Excuse me,” she said as she moved to go around him.
“You’re pushing me.” He grasped her arm in his hand.
“I’m not doing a damn thing. You said you didn’t get involved with employees. You made it abundantly clear you never will so I’m just staying away from you, but you can’t seem to stay away from me.” She jerked her arm from him and walked out of the stall.
“Son of a bitch,” Brayden muttered as he put his hands on his hips, tilted his head bac
k, and stared up at the ceiling.
She was right. He couldn’t stay away from her. Since she’d started ignoring him, he made sure he was near her whenever he could, and he hated to admit that he couldn’t stay away. At night, he’d lie in his bed and think of her under him or above him. The sex had never been that good before, and that was the thing really pissing him off. He couldn’t admit, even to himself, that sex with Melissa had been better than it had ever been with Maisy and in his heart, he was betraying Maisy if he did. Life was so unfair. To have the love of his life taken from him was bad enough, but to admit that another woman made him crave her more than he had his wife was so surreal. It shouldn’t be this way. Maisy was the love of his life. Wasn’t she? Then why did he want Melissa so much? Was it just the sex or was it the woman?
“Brayden?” He turned to see James staring at him.
“Hey, James. Is there a problem?”
“Not with me, but you look like you have one.”
Brayden grinned. “Not really.”
“Now, why is it I don’t believe you?” James cocked his head to the side.
Brayden shook his head. “It’s not anything I can’t work through.”
“I don’t know how you’ll work through it, if she’s working here.”
Startled by his father-in-law’s astute observation, Brayden pretended not to know what he meant. “Who?”
James laughed. “You think I can’t feel the tension between you and Lissa?”
“We rub each other the wrong way is all. She’s a good vet though.”
“Rub each other the wrong way? Is that how you see it?”
Mentally shaking his head, Brayden knew he’d rather not have this conversation with his father in-law. He wasn’t sure what James was getting at, but he wasn’t about to find out.
“I have work to do. I’ll see you later,” Brayden said as he walked away only to hear James chuckling behind him.
After entering his office, he booted up the computer. A few people were coming tomorrow to look at the ponies. They sounded like nice people when he spoke to them on the phone and another man was coming later today to look at one of the horses. Things were running well at the rescue, better if he could just work around Melissa without wanting her.
He ran his hand around his nape and knew that wasn’t going to happen since he couldn’t stop wanting her. Even if he went an entire day without seeing her, he still wanted her. His damn dick had other ideas. Just go for it! Why the hell not? She was willing and he wanted her like no other. Damn it! He wanted her now. He stood up so fast that his chair hit the bookshelf behind his desk.
The door opened and she was there. “Are you all right? I heard a noise as I was passing by.”
Brayden stared at her while he took deep breaths trying to douse the rising arousal coursing through him. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, she let out a gasp. She had to see the heat in them. He stepped around the desk, strode toward her, and stopped within inches of her.
“I can’t do this anymore. You’re driving me insane,” Brayden murmured as he cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes then he dropped his gaze to her lips. When they parted, he knew he was a man dying of thirst and only she could quench it. He lowered his lips to hers and took them in a deep kiss.
Melissa’s hands touched his chest and then moved up to his shoulders and around his neck. She moaned into his mouth and his cock stood up. He pushed against her.
“I need you so much. I can’t stay away any longer. If I don’t bury myself deep inside of you, I think I’ll die.”
“Brayden,” she groaned.
“Tonight. Tell me I can come to you tonight,” he said against her lips.
“Yes. Yes, you can.”
Moving away from her, he walked behind the desk. “Get out of here.”
“Brayden?” She sounded confused and he didn’t blame her, because he was feeling rather disoriented too.
“Just go. I’ll see you later. I’ll be over at seven.” He kept his back to her until he heard the door close then he blew out a frustrated breath, and collapsed onto the chair.
****
Melissa quickly walked down the aisle of the barn with no destination in mind. She wasn’t sure what made him change his mind but she sure as hell wasn’t going to question him. She’d be ready for him tonight and she’d take what she could get with the man because she’d lied to him when she gave him the impression she wasn’t interested in falling in love with him. If he had any idea she’d been in love with him for years, he’d bolt. There was too much sexual tension between them not to act on it, and she couldn’t forget the night they’d spent together or how much she wanted it again. He was a fantastic lover. She shivered thinking about being with him again. She entered Dinky’s stall and the little donkey hurried to greet her.
“Hi, baby. How are you feeling today? Let me check you over,” she murmured. Dinky nudged her with his head and almost knocked her over making her laugh.
“I think he has a crush on you,” James said from the gate.
Melissa smiled. “I have one on him too. I love this little guy. I know I’ll just hate it when someone adopts him.”
“Maybe you should keep him?”
She laughed. “I can’t do that. I’d end up keeping all of them if I could, so I won’t even start with one.”
“How’s the dog doing?”
“Lucky is wonderful. He’s such a good dog.” Melissa straightened up and looked at him. “How about you? Are you enjoying it here?”
“Yes.” He cleared his throat. “I really like it here.”
“I’m so glad you and Brayden kept in touch.”
“That poor man spent five years in prison because of my daughter. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
Melissa touched his hand. “James, it isn’t your fault at all. Tara believed she was in love with Brayden and he with her.”
“I know. It’s just that when your children do things, it reflects on you.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute. You’re a good man. I’ve known you for years and Brayden thinks the world of you. Otherwise, I don’t think you’d even be here.”
“Brayden is a good man.”
“Yes, he is. This rescue is amazing.”
“I don’t mean what he’s doing here. He’s a good man, inside, and he needs a good woman.” He stared at her.
Melissa shook her head. “Oh, no, don’t go there. He doesn’t see me that way.”
“Well, he should. You’re right here in front of him and I’m not so old that I don’t know what it’s like to see two people attracted to each other. He needs a good woman. He thinks he’ll be alone for the rest of his life but he’s too young for that, and I know Maisy wouldn’t want that for him and you know it too.”
“I agree. She loved him so much,” she said softly wondering if Maisy would approve of her for Brayden.
James patted her hand. “She did. Just go with the flow. See what happens. Make him see what he’s missing.”
“He still loves Maisy.”
“Yes, but she’s gone. She would be the first person to tell him to move on.” He glanced around. “I’d better get to work.” Then he disappeared down the aisle.
Melissa didn’t know what to think. James loved Brayden like a son. Should she ask for more from Brayden? Make him talk about some kind of future for them. Yes, she had told him she wasn’t looking for a relationship either but she did want one, and she wanted it with him. No man had ever affected her the way he did. All she had to do was to think of him and she wanted him. So many nights she’d lain awake in bed thinking of him and been so tempted just to go to him. Just go into his house, walk down the hallway, and into his bedroom. Too bad he’d quit sleeping in the barn then all she’d have to do was open her door, walk to him, and get into his sleeping bag with him. She couldn’t suppress the shiver thinking about tonight. That man is going to get a night he’ll never forget.
As she started
down the aisle of the barn, she heard a vehicle stop at the entrance. Melissa turned to see two tall cowboys step out from a pickup truck. She was sure her mouth dropped open a little because they were both heart stopping gorgeous. She walked toward them curious about who they were and what they wanted. They both wore Stetsons sitting low on their foreheads and aviator sunglasses covered their eyes. She was mentally swooning as they sauntered to her.
“Hi, can I help you?”
“Yes ma’am, we’re looking for Brayden. Is he around?” one of them asked her.
“I believe he’s in his office. Do you have an appointment with him?” She stared up at him and it dawned on her that he had to be one of Brayden’s brothers when he removed his sunglasses. He had the same amazing blue eyes. She glanced to the other one and saw he did too. “You’re his brothers, aren’t you?”
“Yes ma’am, I’m Gage and this is JD, or Jesse, whichever you prefer,” he said grinning.
Oh, yeah. It looked like all the Beckett men were gorgeous. Melissa smiled and stuck her hand out.
“I’m Melissa Conroy, the vet here. Nice to meet you both. His office is the first door on the left right past the stalls.”
“Thanks. We just got home so we need to see him,” Jesse said grinning.
“I’m sure he’ll love seeing you.” Melissa smiled again then walked away as they headed for Brayden’s office. This would be a good reunion for them.
Chapter Ten
The door to Brayden’s office opened and he was ready to tell whomever it was to get out because he had way too much on his mind right now. He glanced over and grinned when he saw his two younger brothers enter the room. He stood and strode around the desk. Gage pulled him into a hug then JD did the same.
“Damn, it’s good to see you, Brayden,” Gage said grinning at him.
“Same to you two…I’ve missed you all so much,” Brayden said smiling. “Damn, JD, you’ve really grown.”
“You’ve seen me when I visited you. I wish I could have seen you more though,” Jesse said.
“Yeah, I’ve seen you but it’s not the same as being able to actually hug you. I can’t get over that you’re a man now.”
Brayden : A Beckett Brothers Novel Book 1 (The Beckett Brothers) Page 10