Kiss Me Cowboy (Cowboys of Crested Butte Book 3)

by Heather Slade

  Lyric shook her head and looked over at Bree. “You’re so wrong, cowboy. Bree is interested in everything you have to say.”

  The interview hadn’t exactly gone the way Jace expected. Instead of Bree asking him about bronc riding, Lyric went in a completely different direction, asking him whether he believed twins had a connection unlike other siblings.

  “When was the first time you realized you knew what your brother was thinking?” she asked.

  Jace wished Bree wasn’t part of this conversation. He didn’t mind sharing this stuff with Lyric; she was a twin. She understood in a way Bree never would.

  “I don’t know, exactly, it was always that way. Not so much that I knew what he was thinking, it was more what he was feeling.”

  “Do you know what he’s feeling now?” Bree asked.

  He did, but he wasn’t sure he could put it into words. Conflicted, but it was so much more than that.

  He shrugged. “Not really.”

  “Did you and Tucker ever talk about it—knowing how the other was feeling?” she asked.

  “All the time,” he laughed. “Especially when we met your sister.” Why had he said that?

  “You both love her, don’t you?”

  That question took him by surprise. Based on how often Bree tried to kick him out of Blythe’s life, he doubted she knew the depth of his feelings for her sister.

  “We do, but not in the same way.”

  “It’s exactly the same way,” she murmured.

  She was probably right, but he’d already said more than he wished he had. Bree had enough ammunition that she never hesitated to use against him. Her acknowledging his love for Blythe made him feel more vulnerable than ever.

  “What if he never comes back?”

  “I don’t know, Bree.”

  “Do you think he knows how you’re feeling? About Blythe, I mean? Do you think he knows you’re in love with her?”

  “I’m sure he does.”

  “How do you do it?” she whispered.

  “What choice do I have?”

  “You could leave, too.”

  “Never.” It was that simple. He’d never leave. He’d promised Blythe he’d be there for her and the baby, and he would be. It didn’t matter if she pushed him away, he’d just keep coming back.

  “You got another question for me, or are we finished here?”

  “One more, Jace. What if he does come back?”

  How could he answer that question? He missed his brother so much he ached. He also ached for Blythe. Even if Tuck did come back, his damage would come with him. Tucker would always hold a part of himself back because of what happened on Thanksgiving all those years ago.

  “Jace?”

  “We’re done here.” He stood and walked away.

  Tucker dreamed about Blythe almost every time he closed his eyes. The more he drank, the weirder his dreams got. They were becoming illogical, jumbled up things he couldn’t understand.

  He still dreamed about another woman, but she and Blythe melded together, becoming the same person. After the accident, he understood why.

  “I can’t go home,” Blythe told Bree a couple of days later.

  “Why not?”

  “You know how Mom gets. She’s driving me crazy.”

  “I could try to smooth things out if you want.”

  “No, I want to move in with you and Lyric.”

  “You do? When?”

  “Now, Bree. Aren’t you listening?”

  “Okay, sorry. Let me rephrase. Would you like to go straight there, or go home and pack?”

  “Let’s go tell Lyric, and then go home and pack.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” they heard Lyric say when she walked into the house in the glen.

  “Jesus, Bullet. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Lyric motioned that she’d just be a minute.

  “I can’t help you with this one, bro. You’re on your own. I warned you the last time I wouldn’t intervene again. I gotta go, my roommate’s here. I’ll talk to ya later, Bullet.”

  Lyric tossed her phone on the counter and put her head in her hands. “Sorry, that boy just works my last nerve. What’s up, girls?”

  “I want to move in.”

  “Oh, yeah? That’s awesome. I’ve been thinking about this. Let’s get me moved, and then we can go get your stuff.”

  “Why are you moving?” Bree asked.

  “I’m not movin’ out, just movin’ rooms.”

  “Why?” Bree asked again.

  “The room I’m in shares a bathroom with the room we aren’t using. Blythe should have my room.”

  “My turn,” Blythe laughed. “Why, Lyric?”

  “We gotta start thinkin’ about settin’ up a nursery.” Lyric shook her head and pointed at Blythe. “She’s pregnant, so she gets a pass. But damn, Bree, for somebody so dang smart, you sure are slow about certain things.”

  “I just love her, don’t you, Bree?” Blythe had learned a while ago, it was best to just go along with whatever Lyric suggested, even if it seemed crazy. In the end, her ideas were always good ones.

  “Don’t just stand there, come help me.” When Blythe got up, Lyric pushed her back in the chair. “Not you.”

  “What are you doing?” Jace asked when he walked up and saw Bree and Lyric carrying boxes to Lyric’s car.

  “Movin’ Blythe to Palmer Lake,” Lyric answered.

  “Why?”

  “She’s ready.”

  “But she’s going to have to move again.”

  “What are you talking about?” Bree’s arms were full of clothes still on their hangers. She looked back and forth between Jace and Lyric, who were both standing empty-handed. “Could one of you open the door for me?”

  “Of course, sorry.” They both moved in the direction of the car at the same time. Lyric stepped back and let Jace open it.

  “Why would Blythe have to move again?” Bree asked.

  “Don’t worry, I switched rooms. We’re ready for her,” Lyric answered before Jace could.

  “What are you talking about, Lyric?” Jace was ready to pound his head against the side of the house.

  “I moved out of the big room, the one that’s connected to the smaller one. It’s got a bathroom between them.”

  “She and the baby are going to live with me.”

  Bree was almost in the house when he said it. She stopped and turned around slowly. “What do you mean, they’re going to live with you?”

  “How many things can that mean, Bree?”

  He’d seen her mad but never as mad as she looked now.

  “What is with you? Have you ever, once, considered asking anyone else what he or she wants to do? Or are you in the habit of making decisions no one asked you to make?”

  “Blythe and I have discussed this.”

  “You have? And what did she say about it? Because, the last time I checked, she was the one who told us she wanted to move to Palmer Lake.”

  Jace stormed in the house, looking for Blythe. He found her sitting on the bed, crying.

  “What’s wrong?” He sank to his knees in front of her.

  “Why won’t he come home?”

  He wished he had an answer, but he didn’t. When he put his arms around her, she cried harder.

  “What have you done now?” Bree asked from the doorway.

  He ignored her.

  “Blythe, honey, what’s wrong?” Bree sat down on the bed, next to her sister and rubbed her back.

  “Tucker,” Jace spit out.

  “How could he have left without even saying goodbye?” Blythe cried.

  “I wish I could tell you—” Jace noticed Bree was crying too. “What’s wrong with you?” He cringed. That sounded worse than he’d meant it.

  Bree opened her mouth as though she was going to say something, but turned and left the room instead.

  “You shouldn’t be so mean to her,” Blythe whispered.

  “I’m not mean to her.�
��

  “You are. I’ve never seen you be mean to anyone, Jace, but you’re mean to my sister. She lost her husband a few months ago. It would do you good to remember that. You could be kind, you know.”

  Blythe wiggled herself free of him. “Go apologize.”

  The last thing he wanted to do was apologize to Blythe’s bitch of a sister, but he supposed he had to.

  Blythe shoved him. “Go.”

  He looked around the house, but didn’t see her. Just when he was about to go back and tell Blythe he couldn’t find her, he saw her huddled on a bench on the back deck. Her head was down, but he could tell by the way her body shook, she was crying.

  He opened the sliding door and crept out. “I’m sorry.”

  “Go away, Jace.”

  “Can’t do that. I made you cry, and I didn’t mean to. So, I’m here to apologize.”

  “You didn’t make me cry. Don’t give yourself that much credit.”

  If it were up to him, he’d go back in the house, but if he did, Blythe would be mad at him.

  “Come on, now,” he knelt down in front of her, put his hands on her arms, and pulled them away from her body. He kept pulling until her head rested on his shoulder. She didn’t wrap her arms around him, but she didn’t move away from him either.

  “What’s going on out there?” Lyric asked Blythe.

  “I’m not sure. Something Jace said made Bree cry, so I told him to apologize.”

  “I’ve been watching them for full-on five minutes, and she hasn’t stopped crying. Jeez, what did he say?”

  “I don’t know. She started to cry and ran out of the room. Were they arguing before he came inside?”

  “Yeah, but only about where you were going to live. She was harder on him than he was on her.”

  “Shh,” he whispered, trying to match his breathing with hers. “What happened in there?”

  “Leave me alone.” She pulled away and put her hands over her face.

  Jace put his hands on her wrists. “Bree, you and I don’t get along—that’s no secret—but whatever I said, I’m sorry for. I sure didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  “It isn’t you.” She tried to jerk her hands away, but he wouldn’t let go.

  “Then, tell me who it is.”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  “I’m makin’ it my business. Isn’t that what you always accuse me of, not listening to what anyone else wants? I want you to tell me what’s got you cryin’ so hard, and I’m not givin’ up until you tell me. I’m a stubborn SOB, and I’ll stay on my knees in front of you until you tell me. I don’t care how long it takes.”

  He moved her her wrists so he could grip both with one hand. He put his other palm on the side of her face and gently turned her head so she faced him. “Come on, tell me, so I don’t do it again.”

  “It doesn’t have anything to do with you. I already told you that. You don’t listen.”

  “Somethin’ I said set you off, so let’s get this out in the open. I’m giving you free rein here, darlin’. You’ve never held back on tellin’ what you think before. Have at it. I’m wide open. Give it your best shot.”

  That made her smile. At least he was getting somewhere. “Bree,” he looked in her eyes while his finger stroked her cheek. “Tell me.”

  When tears slid down her face, he let go of her wrists and pulled her into him.

  “We had a fight,” she said into his shoulder.

  “We always fight, darlin’. I didn’t think you liked me enough to cry about it.”

  “Not you. Zack.”

  Oh, shit. “What happened?”

  “He left, like Tucker. We didn’t…”

  “Go ahead, keep talkin’. Get it out.”

  “We apologized, over the phone. But…”

  Bree was crying again, harder than she had before.

  Jace slid one arm under her knees and put the other behind her back. As gently as he could, he lifted her up far enough that he could sit on the bench with her. As he lowered himself, he cradled her on his lap and wrapped his arms around her tighter.

  14

  Jace didn’t know how long they’d been on the deck, but Bree’s skin felt like ice. She’d finally stopped crying and was so still against him that he didn’t want to move.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  He closed his eyes. “Don’t be.”

  “You don’t like me.”

  “I like you more than you like me.”

  “That’s probably true.”

  His cheek rested against her hair. “You’re cold; let’s get you inside.”

  “Two more minutes?”

  “Tell you what, let’s make it five, darlin’.” Even though he couldn’t see it, he’d be willing to bet she smiled.

  “What’s going on?” Paige asked Blythe and Lyric who were still standing by the window.

  “I don’t know, but it looks like he’s gotten her to stop crying.”

  “Let me see.” Lyric moved so Paige could look out the window.

  “What is he doing? She hates him.”

  “Hate might be too strong of a word, Mom.”

  “Okay, she doesn’t like him.”

  “Fine line between love and hate they say,” added Lyric.

  “Huh,” Paige said again. “Wish we could hear what they’re talking about.”

  Five minutes passed, but Jace still didn’t want to move.

  He heard the door open and felt her body tense. It was Mark, who dropped a blanket on the bench, and then lit the outdoor heater, scooting it closer to them before he went back inside. With one hand, Jace opened the blanket and tucked it around her. She’d gone so still, he wondered if she had fallen asleep.

  A few minutes later, she woke up with a start. She tried to get up, but Jace wouldn’t let her.

  “What are you doing? Let go of me.”

  “Nope, not gonna do that.” He tightened his grip. “We’re gonna come to an understanding before I let you go.”

  “Here we go…”

  “Now, see what you do? You always assume the worst about me. I wonder why that is.”

  “Maybe because you’re so bossy.”

  “I don’t think anyone has ever accused me of bein’ bossy as much as you. I’m thinkin’ you take me wrong.”

  “You won’t let me get up. How should I take that?”

  He kissed her hairline, right on the edge of her forehead. “You could take it that I like holdin’ on to you.”

  “I doubt that,” she laughed.

  “Bree,” he breathed.

  “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t be so nice to me. I don’t deserve it.”

  “Ah now, I disagree. If anyone deserves to be treated nice, it’s you.”

  “Because my husband died?”

  “Nope.”

  “Then, why?”

  “’Cause I said so.”

  “You can’t come up with a reason.”

  Jace could come up with plenty of reasons, but he knew if he said any of them out loud, she’d think he was crazy.

  “I’m getting hungry.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Can we go inside now?”

  “As soon as you and I agree to a truce. No more fightin’. We’re on the same side, Bree. We both want the best for Blythe and her baby.”

  “Okay,” she whispered. “Truce.”

  He kissed her forehead again. For a moment, he considered holding on a little longer. The idea of letting her go left him feeling emptier than it should.

  Mark made linguine with clam sauce and had a bottle of wine open when they came inside.

  “We didn’t get very much moving done today,” complained Lyric.

  Blythe patted her hand. “We’ll finish tomorrow. There’s no hurry.”

  Jace and Bree moved away from each other and sat on opposite sides of the table.

  Jace sat next to Blythe but couldn’t take his eyes off Bree. How hard h
ad the last few weeks been on her? It was as Blythe said. He wasn’t mean to anyone, but he was always snapping at Bree. He was going to try not to lose his patience anymore.

  His resolve was short-lived when, a few minutes later, Bree was talking to Blythe again about moving.

  “We can go shopping tomorrow and pick out some things for the baby’s room.”

  Jace tensed and was about to say something, when he felt Blythe’s hand on his arm.

  “That sounds nice, Bree. I’d like that.”

  “Can I come, too?” asked Lyric.

  “Of course,” answered Blythe. “We could pick up some more furniture for the rest of the house, too.”

  Jace kept quiet; he was clearly outnumbered. He wasn’t sure how he was going to be much help with the baby if he wasn’t living with her, but they had time to figure it out.

  When he looked up from his bowl of pasta, Bree smiled at him. He smiled back. She won this round. That didn’t mean she was going to take the title.

  “I’ll follow you back to the house and help you unload,” he offered when dinner was finished.

  “That’s okay, we can handle it.”

  “Don’t be stubborn, Bree. Let him help us,” Lyric said.

  “I’m gonna stay here tonight. Is that okay with everybody?” asked Blythe. “In fact, I’m going to call it a night now,” Blythe yawned. “I’ve got a good book I’m in the middle of. Two or three pages in, and I’m sure I’ll be sound asleep.”

  “What’s it about?” Lyric asked.

  “You know—cowboys, romance…that kind of stuff.”

  “My favorite! Can I read it when you’re finished?”

  “Of course.” Blythe yawned again. “Good night, everybody.”

  Jace followed Bree to Palmer Lake. Forty-five minutes later, he had the boxes and clothes unloaded. “Do you want me to help unpack?”

  “No, we can do that. Thank you so much for your help tonight.”

  “I should go,” he said at the same time she asked if he wanted a beer.

  “Okay,” they both said, and then laughed.

  “Beer?”

  “Sure,” he answered. “I’d love one.”