by Amelia Shea
After watching them walk to the truck and get in, she turned her attention back to Grey. His eyes softened and he stepped forward before halting against her hand, which shot out in front of her.
“Whoa! You’re not coming in my house. Anything you gotta say can be said right where you are.”
He sighed, gazing down at her hand on his chest. Returning her stare, his face softened.
“Fine. I know you’re upset, I’m sorry. I was at the auction and we got back on the road later than expected. I did try calling but there’s no reception in the hills. When I finally did get through, it went to voicemail. I’m sorry I’m late but we can still go grab something to eat.” His eyes glanced down her body. “If you want to get changed.”
She looked down at her T-shirt and shorts. She had relented about thirty minutes prior to the inevitable fact he was going to be a no show. She had changed from her little white dress and sandals into her worn shorts and tee.
Her eyes rose slowly to meet his, and she inhaled a breath and released a cruel laugh. “Do you really think I would go out with you now? You must think I’m stupid, am I right? Yeah, sure, Grey, let me go get back in my dress and heels and let you take me out. So what if I waited for you,” she leaned into his face, held up her fingers, and shouted, “for two hours.”
“Look, I explained, darlin’, and I apologized.”
She clenched her teeth. So what? He apologized and now she was supposed to accept it and go get changed? Who did he think he was? This was a test. He had purposely stood her up and now he wanted to see if she would still go out with him. A cruel trick. She considered calling him out on it, but what was the point? He’d deny it. If he thought he could play with her, he picked the wrong girl. She chose to take her bottled up anger and unleash on him.
“Don’t you dare call me darling. Yeah, you apologized. Newsflash, asshole, I don’t accept, you’re not forgiven, and if you don’t leave this porch in two seconds I’m gonna find the gun that I don’t know how to use and shoot you in the ass.”
Britt grabbed the door and started to close it, but a large boot stopped it. “Britt, I said I was sorry. I understand why you’re upset but don’t you think you’re overreacting? I explained what happened. No sense in going off all half-cocked. I’m here now.”
Excuse me? Britt stared in awe at Grey. Was he so blinded by his own arrogance he just thought she would be okay with him showing up two hours late with an apology and then she’d just forgive him? Maybe that’s the way it worked for his local girls, but not this girl. This guy was good. Trying his best to make her believe his story. She wasn’t some dumb love-struck girl. She knew what he was doing. No way would she fall for it.
“You’re either stupid or delusional. I don’t know which, and honestly, Grey, I don’t care.”
“Wait a minute, why are you being so goddamn stubborn? What has gotten into you?”
Britt started to laugh. “Oh my God, are you serious? You stood me up.”
“I didn’t stand you up, I was late.” He spread out his arms. “I’m here now.”
“Is that the story you’re sticking to?” It was her way of calling him out. She waited for him to admit standing her up had been the plan all along.
“My story? What are you talking about, it’s the truth.”
Fire, burning hot lava. She could feel the heat spread over her face. If ever there was a moment when her ears would blow steam, this was it. He’s here now? She crossed her arms, aware of his gaze flickering to her breasts. Take a good look, Grey, ’cause that’s all you’re going to get.
“Fine, if that’s your ‘truth.’” She held up her hands and made the quotation marks gesture. “Then, I’m just supposed to be thankful you decided to show up hours late and be grateful you’re here now?”
His back straightened and his eyes peered darkly into hers. It was exactly what he expected. Of course, he would. With his looks and charm, he could have anyone. Britt was sure this wasn’t the first time he stood someone up by the way he acted. He apologized, but it wasn’t fully sincere. He expected her to accept it and go get changed.
Her eyes scrolled down his body. Tall and fit, muscles protruding from his shirt. His dark hair combed neat, even his goatee was trimmed to perfection. His eyebrows dark as his almost-black hair, and those mesmerizing blue eyes. This man was gorgeous, maybe the hottest guy she’d ever met. Amazing how all the beauty in the world could turn someone ugly by an arrogant attitude.
“No.” Britt let go of the door and folded her arms.
His brows cocked up. “No?” He appeared confused.
“Yeah. No, Grey. I’m not interested in this.” She gestured down his body. “You can find yourself a girl who wants to wait around for a guy who shows up late and gives some half-assed lame excuse, which could be true but is presented with no genuine sincerity. That’s not me, Grey. So, as I just said, no.”
His eyes glared and he stepped back from the door. Watching his face, Britt closed the door until he disappeared. She leaned back against the door, closing her eyes. So much for the sweet, rugged cowboy fling she was hoping to have. She hated the disappointment she felt.
Chapter Nine
Britt groaned loudly in her bed. Grabbing her pillow, she covered her head. Damn rooster. She had asked Lucas if he could find a good home for the rooster, deciding it was foe, not friend. He obviously thought she was joking until she asked if he knew of any good recipes for rooster stew.
He was quick to explain the benefits of the rooster. As guardian to the hens, the rooster alerted them of danger. Lucas said it made for a less stressful environment for the hens, knowing the rooster was there to protect them. He promised her in time, she’d learn to sleep through his morning wake up call. Fat chance.
She spent her morning grumpy but did her chores, and by eight o’clock she was almost done. She was feeding the chickens when Lucas’ truck rolled up. It was old and beat, but as he said, “No use spending good money to replace something if it ain’t broke.” He was wise beyond his years.
She squinted against the sun and threw up her hand. “Morning.”
He walked toward her, smiling. “Look at you, getting all your chores done early. Gonna make a rancher out of you yet, Britt.”
She snorted. “Yeah, well, I don’t know about that but I was hoping you could saddle up one of the nice horses for me.”
“Nice horses?”
“One who won’t kill me. Takes a while to learn how to ride, you know. Not all of us have been doing this since birth.”
He snickered. “Be a lot easier, you ride more than once a week.”
Britt rolled her eyes. He had given this speech every week for the last three.
“I’ll saddle up Minnie.” He winked and walked to the barn.
Britt finished with the chickens and headed to the trail where Lucas waited with Minnie.
“Need help getting on?”
“Nope, think I’ve got it.”
It took three tries but on the last one, she was able to get on. She waved to Lucas and headed up the trail. Lucas had said she should rename it Britt’s Point but she scoffed at the idea. The trail was steep, but Minnie took it slow, and ten minutes later she was at The Point.
She dismounted and tied Minnie to the oak in the shade and headed to the edge.
She stretched her arms over her head, taking in a deep breath with her eyes closed, and released it. Opening her eyes, she let the smile spread across her face. For the last month and a half, she’d come up here, waiting to look out over the land and feel nothing. But every time, she felt the ease of her body, the peace and clarity. She sat down, crossed her legs, and leaned back on her elbows, smiling.
Just like Cal said, she felt it. She was home.
»»•««
“What do you think she’s doing?”
Grey watched Britt sitting at The Point. Their land and Cal’s butted up at the pond, at the bottom of Gracie Point. He and Jasper had been out checking fences and roun
ding up the cattle to bring them across to their other pasture.
He almost didn’t see her, but the sun beaming against her blonde hair caught his eye and he couldn’t look away. She looked beautiful, sitting up at the point. She looked at peace.
“Don’t know,” Grey said.
He watched her lean back on her arms, dropping her head back.
“Tripp is convinced the only reason you tried to get with her was for the land.”
Grey shook his head. Of course that’s what his little brother thought. Although they all grew up in the same family, Tripp was raised differently. Tripp, born seven years after Grey, was real sick when he was little. Their mama fussed over him and the spoiling continued until it was too late. Grey and Jasper were guilty of coddling when it came to Tripp, too. He was smaller than most kids when he was little. It left him as an easy target. Grey and Jasper held zero tolerance for anyone picking on their little brother. Over time, it created a monster in Tripp, thinking he could get away with anything and his brothers would have his back.
“I understand what you see in her.”
Jasper’s words had Grey turning his stare to his brother in question.
Jasper laughed. “What? I may not be in the market for finding a woman but I can definitely appreciate the beauty of one.” He nodded his head in Britt’s direction. “And that one is beautiful.”
“Yep, she is.”
“You think she’ll give you a second chance?”
He had shared with his brother what happened.
“Not a snowball’s chance in hell.”
“Stubborn woman has a thing about being punctual?”
“Don’t know if it’s just that. After I told her why I was late, she asked if that was the story I was keeping to. Like I was lying. It was strange, why would I lie?”
Jasper shrugged. “You want me to talk to her, I’ll vouch for you.”
Grey snickered. “Something tells me you hold as much credibility as I do with Britt. Which wouldn’t be much.”
Her blonde hair swirled around from the breeze coming off the point. She didn’t move to brush it off her face. Most women would tie their hair back or don a hat to keep it all in place. Not Britt. The mass of blonde waves flew wild around her. He liked seeing her free.
“Gonna head back, meet ya at the stables?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.”
Jasper trotted his horse down past the pond. Grey stayed watching Britt, wondering what she was thinking. Hard to believe anyone who didn’t grow up around here could truly appreciate the land and all its beauty, but watching Britt at peace on the point…maybe she did get it.
She leaned forward when she spotted Jasper at the pond. She seemed to follow him until he was out of sight. He ignored the ripple of jealousy. Of course, she would watch Jasper so close to her land. She wasn’t looking because she was interested in his brother. He rolled his eyes at the thought. This woman brought out the caveman in him.
She stared past the pond and shifted to peer down at Grey. She must have sensed she was being watched. He raised his hand to his hat, lifting the brim in a greeting gesture. She turned her head quickly away. He watched her get up and walk out of sight.
He clicked his tongue, calling for Bullet, and started back down his property past the pond. With regret, though he’d never let her know it, he realized he had fucked things up with her.
Chapter Ten
“Mornin’.”
Britt looked up from her book, snuggled in one of the rocking chairs on the front porch. She smiled at Lucas as he approached the stairs. Putting down her book on the side table she’d snagged from a garage sale the week before, she grabbed her mug of now lukewarm coffee.
“What’s up?”
Lucas shrugged. “Morning chores. Gonna hit town, feed store called, the order is in.”
“Are you sure it’s actually gonna be there when you go?” Her eyebrows quirked up in question. Two weeks ago, Lucas had made the run to town only to find their order was no longer there. Someone had picked it up. This had been the second time it happened. She smelled a rat.
“I talked to Charles, told him only I would pick it up. Told me he’d let Larson know too. He feels bad about what happened. Still can’t figure out who got our order.”
Britt rolled her eyes. Yeah, Larson would be no help. She had come to find out exactly how much pull the Fords family had in this town. Seemed everyone was on their payroll, including Tripp’s best friend, Larson Krill.
“I know, I know. So, you want to take a break and ride with me?”
“Yeah, I could use a change of scenery.”
“Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?”
“Sure can, I’ll just go change and be out.”
Lucas nodded. “Great. Meet you at the truck.” He turned down the stairs and headed to the barn.
Grabbing her book, Britt opened the door and wandered upstairs. She’d gotten settled into her new place in the last couple months. She even came to think of it as home. She still kept the house as Cal left it and remained in his spare room. She walked through the doorway, dropping her coffee and book on the dresser. Pulling out a pair of shorts and tee, she glanced across the room. Her little white dress still sat in a ball in the corner. It was daring her to pick it up, but she chose to ignore it and leave it there as a reminder of what a jackass Greyson Fords was. The last time she had spoken to him had been when she closed the door on his face.
Tearing her gaze from the white, balled-up material in the corner, she changed her clothes.
She had been so angry at Grey, but part of her was hoping he’d try a little harder. He didn’t. He never called or texted, never came back on her ranch. The two times a Fords had issue with something she had done, it had been Jasper to stop by.
Jasper, the middle brother, was the quietest and more reserved. Even when he was complaining, he wasn’t nasty like Tripp, or angry like Greyson. He told her if there was one more issue, it would be Greyson who would be coming. He stated it as a warning. However, the next time the herd got mixed it was Jasper again.
She tried to block the strange disappointment she felt when she realized the truck coming up the driveway wasn’t Greyson’s. God, snap out of it. Be thankful it wasn’t the jerk’s.
She had been harsh with Grey the night of their date. She couldn’t shake the feeling he was genuinely sorry and she had been overly stubborn.
A few times she contemplated calling him, but she didn’t. Whatever they had was over. It was probably for the best. Being with Grey would be nothing more than sex. At this moment, she wasn’t sure she didn’t want more.
She finished getting changed and walked down the stairs, grabbing her bag on the sofa table before making her way to Lucas’ old truck. The thing was older than her and him combined and loud as hell, but he loved it. According to Sarah, it was his dad’s and Lucas couldn’t bear to part with it after his death. Britt could relate. She had plenty of her father’s things she wasn’t ready to get rid of.
“Ya ready?” Lucas asked, climbing into the truck.
“Yup, let’s go.”
The ride to town was about twenty-five minutes, provided no one’s cattle got loose and wandered into the road. That had happened three times and had added forty-five minutes to the trip. Country living at its finest.
“Got big plans for tonight?”
“If you call watching TV big plans then, yes, huge plans.”
Lucas snickered. “You got to get out more. Britt, meet some new people. I know I’m good looking but even this face would grow boring day after day.”
She smirked and turned to watch Lucas. “Why do I feel a set up coming at me?”
“Just hear me out. My buddy, Travis, is in town for a rodeo. He’s a rider and he’s staying with me for a few days. We should all go out, you, Travis, me and Sarah.”
“Sounds like a double date, Lucas.”
“What’s so wrong with a double date?”
“Ugh. W
e all saw how my last date turned out or did you forget?”
“I didn’t forget but Travis ain’t no asshat like Grey Fords.” He pulled onto Main and into a spot in front of the feed store. Turning to Britt he said, “Come on. Dinner and dancing at Steers. It won’t kill ya. You might even have a good time. Travis is a good guy.”
Britt exhaled an exasperated breath and relented. “When?”
“Tonight.”
Britt peered over at Lucas’s amused face. “Let me guess, you told him yes, didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Lucas!”
“What? Knew you wouldn’t have plans. Come on, even if ya don’t hit it off at least you get out of the house and Sarah will be there. I know you like my girl. Think of it as a free meal with an open ending.”
“Fine.” Britt didn’t have it in her to argue. She had spent the last weeks trying to learn as much about ranching as she could, and the idea of getting dressed up and actually having somewhere to go appealed to her.
“Great!” Lucas’s smile showed a massive amount of triumph. In return, Britt glared at him. As an only child, she’d often wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. She was getting the idea of what a brother would be like. She shook her head and smirked.
»»•««
“You gonna stare at her all day or go up and talk to her?”
Jasper had come up from behind Greyson so quietly he hadn’t heard him. Jasper had always been stealthy. His eyes never left the tiny cutoff shorts and tight blue top showing a sliver of a tan stomach. Her blonde strands were in a messy bun on top of her head, with wispy pieces flying freely. She was like a sexy cowgirl in her scuffed boots.
Ignoring the question, he raised the tailgate and locked it. As he walked to the driver’s side, a loud shout got his attention. Turning back to Britt and Lucas, who he had been watching since they started loading up their supplies from Charlie’s, he saw Travis saunter over to them.
Travis and Lucas had been friends forever. Both had grown up on the wrong side of town, but Travis got out. Hit the rodeo circuit right out of high school and had been doing it ever since. He’d made a name for himself around Montana and Wyoming. Greyson watched them shake hands, pulling Lucas in for a hug and a slap on the back. Guess they stayed in touch.