by Leah Braemel
She crawled back up his body, covering him, the oil on his skin slicked her body in an erotic slide.
Instead of mounting him right away, she caught his mouth with hers. Used her lips and her tongue to soothe him, let him know he wasn’t alone. She captured his moan, one that came from deep in his soul. A cry for relief, for sanctuary. For pleasure.
She rocked on him, sliding his sheathed cock through her folds until his fingers dug into her thighs in a wordless plea. Bracing her arms on either side of his head, she lifted her hips and positioned him at her entrance.
His gaze caught hers, held it, the blue of his eyes almost black in the dim light. In a long slow glide, she lowered herself over his shaft until his hips cradled hers. His groan echoed through her chest, matching her own.
Pleasure rippled through her at the way his eyes unfocussed, enough to make her forget the pinch of his fingers on her hips. A shift of position, a tilt of the hips and he hit the right spot. Allie rocked forward, eliciting yet another deep groan.
The slow pace she set didn’t last long, Ben grew impatient and held her in place, surging into her in deep thrusts, the head of his cock finding just the right spot to send Allie toppling over the edge. Her body grasping his shaft, he shuddered and thrust once more deep within her, holding her still. With a shout, he bucked, his muscles taut, shuddering with his release.
* * *
Allie slumped onto Ben’s chest, both of them gasping for breath, their bodies coated in sweat and oil, making it hard to stay on top of him without sliding off.
“God. I didn’t think I had it in me.” His eyes closed, Ben let his arms fall to his sides. “Holy fuck, that was fantastic.”
She rolled off him, a frown creasing her forehead. “I didn’t think this through. I should have done this before you climbed in the tub. Now we’re both going to need to shower to get all this oil off.”
“So we’ll wash the sheets tomorrow.” He pulled her down to his side, and wrapped himself around her like a blanket. “You know you could hire yourself out as a masseuse. You’ve got magic thumbs.”
“Thanks, but I like the diploma I have.” Her breath caught in her throat. And that was the problem wasn’t it? If only she worked at the Gulp ‘n Go or some big box store where she punched in her hours and could come home, a job, not a career. But she’d worked too hard—owed too much—to give up all her schooling and walk away.
I can’t stay here. I can’t give up everything to be a farmer’s wife.
That’s what she should say. But she didn’t. She couldn’t.
He snuggled closer, and buried his face into her shoulder. “You’re the only good thing that’s happened to me this year, Allie. I have to confess it threw me for a loop when you first came back, but I’m real glad you did.” His breath was hot on his skin, and his body relaxed against her.
They lay there, curled together, as one by one the candles guttered. Only one still burned when Ben whispered, “Love you, Allie” against her back.
Oh fuck. Oh fuck fuck fuck. He did not just say that. She forced her muscles to stay pliant, her breathing deep and regular.
How the hell did I let this happen? We were supposed to be keeping this light, no commitment. She buried her face in the pillow. Her legs twitched, as if they wanted to crawl out of bed, down the stairs and race home, hide in the closet. And cry.
But she couldn’t leave, and she couldn’t cry as much as she wanted to. Not after the day he’d had. The issues he still faced. They’d become friends again, as well as lovers. She couldn’t hurt him like that. She’d have to be here when he woke up in the morning, put on a sunny face as if nothing were wrong. Then in a week, because Kathy had said the company might still be on the hook if Gabe decided to sue for part ownership, she’d have to return and sit through the meeting with Gabe.
After that, she’d file her report, and that would be the end of the case. She’d have no reason to come back to Bull’s Hollow after that. And she doubted he’d be able to get away to Houston often either.
That would be the end of them.
Chapter Nineteen
Sitting in Randy’s office a week later, Ben flipped through the notes he’d made during their meeting. Allie leaned over to point out the passage he was looking for. The subtle coconut scent of Allie’s shampoo filled his senses, making understanding his writing that much harder. Instead of meeting him at the ranch as he’d suggested, she’d insisted on meeting here even though she would have had to pass right by the ranch. Did it mean anything that she wouldn’t stop by and drive in with him? He rubbed his chest in an attempt to ease the ache that had set up. She’d pulled away from him—she’d put a distance between them the morning she left for Houston. Not just physically, but like what they’d done the week before, the promise to stay with him hadn’t been given. Where he’d been asking for the rest of their lives, she’d obviously only meant that night. If he’d realized she’d misunderstood him, would he have admitted he loved her? It had been a knife in the chest as he’d waited to hear her say it back, only to hear a soft intake of a breath followed by silence. Maybe he shouldn’t have pretended to fall asleep to give her an out, but damn it, he had pride too.
“What did the agricultural appraisal come in at?” she asked, not looking at him.
“Just under forty million, including land, cattle and the buildings as well as the equipment.” The writing on the pages in front of him blurred. He rubbed his eyes, and blinked twice. “It’ll take some doing but if Gabe wants to be bought out, we can swing it.” Barely. He and Jake would be mortgaged to the hilt for the rest of their lives, but barring any unforeseen events, they’d be able to pass the ranch onto their children.
“And you’re sure you want to do this?” Randy’s tone reminded him so much of his father’s he half expected to look up and see his father sitting across from him. “It is the morally right thing to do, but it doesn’t mean you have to do it. I’m just making sure.”
“We’re sure,” both Ben and Jake answered.
“All right then. Let’s do this.” Randy lifted his phone and asked if Gabe had arrived yet.
When Randy instructed his receptionist to show him to the back, Ben blew out a slow breath and squared his shoulders. He clenched his fists and released them. You’re doing the right thing. But would it signal the end of the Gradys’ ownership of Bull’s Hollow?
“Just remember to give him some time to accept everything,” Allie reminded him. “Imagine how you’d feel to learn your mother had never told your father you existed and then given you away.”
He squeezed her hand, glad that she’d come for the meeting, though he got the impression she might have had to as part of SSTGs case. Whatever was going on in her head, he wouldn’t press her. If he did, she might turn tail and run away. Play it cool, like you never spilled your guts to her that night.
The door between the reception area and the office area creaked open, drawing Ben’s attention back to the reason they were together today. Ben’s lungs burned as he held his breath. Play it cool, yeah, right. When the rest of your world’s about to plummet around you.
Sheri’s voice trilled down the hallway, her light voice mingling with Gabe’s deeper tones.
All the mental preparations Ben had made swirled in his gut and turned to acid the moment Gabe appeared in the doorway, his green baseball cap in his hand. His gaze flickered between the three of them, lingering on Allie the longest, a frown crinkling his forehead, before settling on Ben.
Ben and Randy rose, Randy gesturing to a chair opposite him. “Come in, Mr. Larson. Take a seat.”
Apart from his deer in the headlights expression, sweat beaded on Gabe’s forehead and trickled down his temple.
“Am I being fired?”
Oh shit.
“No!” Jake blurted. “Everything’s fine. Trust us, okay?”
“Why don’t you sit down and hear us out?” Allie suggested.
Suspicion still clear in his eyes, Gabe nodded stif
fly and chose a seat across the table. Once his brother was seated—how weird was that?—Ben took his own chair.
“All right, now everyone’s here,” Randy said, taking his seat beside Ben. “Let’s get to the point of why you are here, Mr. Larson. Mr. Grady tells me you know of the recent allegations by Tank Panola that he bought part of Bull’s Hollow?”
“Yeah. What’s that got to do with me?” Gabe’s expression turned thunderous and his hands curled into fists. “Has that lyin’ ass Panola tried to implicate me in his damned scheme? Because I didn’t have anything to do with whatever he’s trying to pull.”
Great. If he was already defensive, being told he’d been lied to wasn’t going to help. Before Ben could say anything, Allie took over. “Mr. Panola’s signed a quitclaim admitting he lied about the land purchase so the case is closed. But his claim instigated an investigation into the possibility of George or Edward Grady having fathered another child.”
His fists were the only part of Gabe that relaxed. “Still not gettin’ how this involves me.”
“Our investigators discovered that twenty-nine years ago Edward Grady had an affair that resulted in the birth of a child who was given up for adoption.”
“Do not tell me you think that kid’s me.” Disbelief was heavy in Gabe’s tone.
“We’re fairly positive, but a DNA test is still required.” Allie pushed her investigator’s report across the table. “As you’ll find in that, the child was given up for adoption in Houston the same as you, at the same hospital as you, and his adoption was arranged by the same charity that arranged your adoption. Your adoption was the only one the organization handled that month, let alone that day.”
Gabe shoved the report back across the table without opening it. “Bullshit.”
He jumped to his feet, paced from his seat to the door and back again, stopping to glare at Jake. “Tell me this is a joke.”
“No joke,” Jake said quietly. “Would it be that bad to be my brother in truth, instead of just best friends?”
“No way am I buying into this.” Gabe’s chin jutted out and his expression hardened. “If Ed was really my father, why the hell wouldn’t he tell me? He sure as hell had enough time.”
“He didn’t know either.” Ben leaned forward, his heart aching for Gabe. His father had always loved him; he couldn’t imagine being rejected by two fathers. “But he was looking for you. It’s all in Allie’s report.”
“I’ve spoken to your birth mother, Gabe,” Allie said, her voice gentle, almost apologetic. “She confirms that she signed the adoption agreement with Kevin and Martina Larson.”
“Of course, a DNA test will be best to confirm it,” Randy added, “Once we get the report back confirming you are in truth Ben’s and Jake’s half brother, we’ll go from there.”
“Go from there? What the hell do you want?” He stared at Jake hard. “Are you afraid I’ll sue you for ownership of Bull’s Hollow? Is that why you’ve called me here and had your lawyer drop this bombshell on me? Instead of...”
“Instead of what?” Jake frowned. “Inviting you over for a beer and saying, ‘Hey, Gabe, guess what we discovered today?’”
“Give me a paper to sign and I’ll relinquish any claims.” He resumed pacing again, stiffer than he’d been before. “If I’m not good enough for Ed Grady to acknowledge as his son, then none of you are good enough for me either.”
“We’re not asking you to give up anything, Gabe,” Ben said. “We want to cut you in as an equal partner of Bull’s Hollow. A real member of our family.”
“Your family.” Gabe sought out the safety of the chair once again, though his fingers drummed on his knee. “You want me as a partner? In Bull’s Hollow?”
“Yes.” A month ago, there was no way Ben would have considered giving up even an acre of Bull’s Hollow, but cutting Gabe in—his own flesh and blood—left him no qualms at all. “It’s what Pop wanted.”
“Bullshit.” But the expletive came out softer this time.
“Our father didn’t know your mother—your real mother—was pregnant when she left,” Ben continued. “When he learned Denise—that’s your real mom—had given up his kid, he went looking for you. The day he was killed, he was driving in to see Randy to make a new will to make sure you were included. So here we are, trying to make things right.”
Gabe stared at his hands. “How do you know that he wanted me?”
“Our investigators found a couple of posts Ed Grady made to some online adoption connection forums just before he died.” Allie reached over for the file he’d tossed back and flipped to a page, turning it for him to see the screen shots her private detective had provided.
Gabe’s hands trembled as he picked it up. “Birth father seeking a child given up for adoption by Denise Molina. I had no knowledge she was pregnant at the time or I would have kept you myself.” He blinked rapidly and swiped a thumb beneath his eyes. “There were times when I first came here I used to pretend Ed was...” he cleared his throat and finally looked for a long moment at Jake before turning to Ben. “You really are my...”
“Brothers?” Jake supplied. “Yes.”
His throat clamping down with the emotion filling the room, Ben pushed back his chair. He walked along the table and held out his hand. “Welcome to the family, Gabe.”
* * *
Allie picked up her purse as Jake and Gabe hugged. She didn’t dare look at Ben. If she did she’d be too tempted to tell him she loved him too. He hadn’t said it again, but there was an awkwardness about him today. As if he were avoiding her gaze too. Maybe he regretted what he’d said. Her chest tight, she made her way to where Randy Freeman stood watching. “Thank you for looking after them today. I’m glad they’ve hired you back.”
“I must admit,” Randy said, pulling her out into the hall, “I was surprised when Ben phoned. When he originally canceled our contract, he was adamant he wanted his uncle to represent him.” He quirked his head at her. “I know Ben’s loyal to his family, but I sensed he was upset with me personally. Has he said anything to you? Out of professional interest, now that he’s my client again,” he hurried to assure her.
“He felt you were questioning his judgment, especially when you visited his mother and undermined his decisions.”
A flush rose into the other lawyer’s cheeks. “I didn’t intend for my interest in him to be negative. I care about the boys, both of them, and Cissy is still having a hard time getting over Ed’s death. She was worried Ben was taking on too much all on his own. But I have to admit, I took great pleasure in telling Charlie Carter I was now his great-nephews’ representative. Charlie usually only stuck his nose into Bull’s Hollow business if it gained him something. Ed didn’t trust him as far as he could throw him.”
“How’d Cissy take the news about Gabe?” Ben’s emails had been sparse on details.
“I’m afraid Cissy pitched a pure Southern hissy fit when they told her.” Even though they were in the hall and Gabe wasn’t in sight, he lowered his voice. “She tried to get the boys to not tell Gabe. To shut him out. I’m sorry to say she even threatened to move off the ranch if Gabe’s true identity got out.”
Allie closed her eyes for a moment. Just what Ben needed, more drama. Maybe she should hang around a bit longer. No. It was better to tell Ben straight out. Get back to Houston and her regular life.
“Randy, we’re going back to the house to have a celebration.” Ben stuck his hands in his pockets. “Are you joinin’ us?”
“Will your mother be there?” Hope filled Randy’s voice.
He hadn’t been questioning Ben’s decisions, he’d been going out to see Cissy, Allie realized. Maybe Ben had an ally who could help bring his mother around about Gabe.
“Afraid not.”
Randy’s expression drooped. “Tell me she hasn’t moved out already.”
“No, but she’s not talkin’ to either of us either. She’s just shut herself up in that damned house and won’t come out.” Ben eyed R
andy speculatively. “Maybe if you come up, you could stop by and talk to her? Make her see our side of things?”
“I’m afraid the clients who have appointments booked with me this afternoon wouldn’t be happy if I suddenly canceled out on them. I’ll see what I can do to make it out this evening.” He held out his hand. “I’m glad to have you boys as a client again. I’ll have Sheri phone you when we have the new agreement drawn up. Now you tell your beautiful mother hello for me, will you?”
Ben raised an eyebrow. “I will. And thanks, Randy.” He turned back to the meeting room. “Gabe, Jake, let’s head back to the ranch. I’m thirsty after all this legal stuff.”
Leaving them to settle themselves out, Ben led Allie out to the parking lot where she unlocked her car.
“Legal stuff?” she inquired with a forced grin before she got in. “I thought you got off when I talked legalities.”
He swiped along the imaginary brim of his hat, which surprisingly he’d left in his truck for the meeting. “I’m just a cowboy used to brandin’ and ropin’ cattle. Heck, I have to count my stock on my fingers.”
She laughed at his exaggerated drawl, though she noticed his grin didn’t reach his eyes. “You the type who has to take your boots off to count to twenty, cowboy?”
“Yes’m. I can count to twenty-one without one of them magic calculatin’ thingumabobs.”
“Twenty-one?”
He quirked one eyebrow up at her. “Think about it. Ten fingers, ten toes and one...”
“Nose?” She laughed at his look of disgust. Not a ladylike laugh but one of those embarrassing snort-laughs that once had her covering her face in embarrassment. “I guess that means the A&M diploma for Agricultural Science hanging on your living room wall is a fake, same as your Aggie ring?”
“No, ma’am. I’m an Aggie tried and true. And proud of it.” His smile faded. “Thank you for coming with us today, Al. I appreciated it.”