by M.A. Stacie
Needing the fresh air and the breeze to cool her down, Libby opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch. She gripped the wood fence, her knuckles turning white, and took some deep, slow breaths. The man was here because he had problems—he lived his life to excess, and that should be warning enough. Nevertheless, she couldn’t stop recalling what he’d done for her and Levi. He couldn’t be all bad if he’d search for a missing child.
Libby had experienced life with someone rotten to the core. She hadn’t known that when she’d met Chase, in fact he’d been the complete opposite. He’d charmed her, bought her extravagant gifts, and swept her away on a wave of romance. Libby had fallen for him easily, but over time, his true self began to appear.
Libby shuddered, her hot skin cooling as memories of Chase assaulted her. Closing her eyes, she fought to bury them. It would do no good to rehash the past now. It would serve no purpose but to bring a dark sadness where there was utter joy. She had promised herself years ago that Hunter’s Hollow was a fresh start. It wasn’t a place to dwell on past mistakes. Maybe that could be true for Taylor, too.
Her temperature rose again at the thought of his name. She should have kissed him, should have just gotten him out of her system. If she had, she might have felt less uptight, fidgety, and in need of an outlet.
“Blue?”
Libby stilled, taking a moment before she turned. Taylor walked through the open door, now wearing a pair of dark jeans. The top button was unfastened, teasing her with a flash of dark hair. As his bare feet hit the porch, he pulled a T-shirt on over his head.
“I think you should go back inside,” she said, trying to keep her tone even.
Taylor ran his hands through his dark hair, pushing it away from his eyes. “What would be the point in that, when you’re out here?”
“Don’t mess with me, Taylor. I don’t have the time or the energy to play your games.”
She turned toward the stables. A ride would burn off some energy and calm her a bit. She needed some time alone—time to regroup after the intensity between them.
“I’m not playing. I want to talk to you.” He cleared his throat. She felt him behind her. Close. It sent her system into freefall again, and no amount of self-conviction could stop it.
“Tay—”
“Just hear me out. Please?”
He rested his hand on her shoulder. Libby shrugged it off and moved to sit down on the old bench in the corner of the porch. “I’m listening.”
He stood in front of her, scrubbing his face with his hand. “Did you ever promise someone you would keep their secret?”
Cautiously, Libby nodded, disliking where this conversation had started.
“Even though the secret wasn’t so terrible?”
“I’m not sure I understand what secrets have to do with what went on with us upstairs,” she said.
Taylor glanced across the fields, chewing his bottom lip. “Ask yourself how our . . . interaction started.”
Libby tried to recall past the haze of arousal to where it had begun. “I was looking for Levi.”
“And?” he prompted, lifting his T-shirt up at the side to scratch his hip.
Libby gulped, the sight of his toned skin causing her throat to constrict. “I came upstairs. I thought I’d seen him dash up there. I was sure I’d heard him talking to you.” Taylor stayed silent, and Libby worked through her thoughts. “Oh!”
“Yeah? You understand?”
His smile turned her to mush. Damn him.
“He was there. With you.”
Taylor’s grin grew wider.
“And he asked you not to tell me? Why?”
“No clue.” He pointed to the space next to her. “Can I?”
“If you must.”
Taylor sat down, his arm pressing against hers. Unable to deal with his closeness, she inched away, putting what little space she could between them. He didn’t comment on her reaction, only leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
“You looked a bit like a deer in the highlights when I mentioned a secret.” His voice rumbled over her body, revving her hormones into alert.
“We all have them,” she said. “Though we don’t want the world knowing about them. Especially people we barely know.”
“Or barely like?”
“Correct.” Libby paused, trying to understand why he was talking to her. “What’s going on? Have you decided you need a friend?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I don’t.”
Libby smiled, flicking her hair over her shoulder and twisting her body toward him. “You could have fooled me. You were spitting fire on your first day here, hating everyone who came close to you. But I see a change in you already.” She ignored his scowl. “It’s only small. Just one little thing here and there, but I see it.”
“You’re talking bullshit.”
Libby snickered. “You think?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do. I have enough friends, and the reason I’m here is because I have to be, not because I want to be. So you can stick your damn sermon.”
“I wasn’t giving you one.” She reached out to put her hand on his thigh but, thinking better of it, she moved it back to her lap. He annoyed her, but even she could see how much he was struggling. No matter how much he denied it, the man needed someone to talk to. “Why are you like this?”
“Like what? Honest? Because that’s what I am. You just don’t know me.” There was no malice in his voice, only acceptance.
“For some reason you’re angry. You’re so pissed at the world you can’t see beyond it. I can tell you don’t even notice the way you feel. It’s a way of life to you now. Not everyone is going to hurt you, you know.”
He stood abruptly. “You’re right.”
Libby stood, too, happy he understood. Her happiness was short-lived.
“You’re absolutely right—it is a way of life to me now.” His lip curled. “I don’t expect anything from anyone. That way they don’t disappoint me when they fuck with me.”
“You’re so cynical.” Libby lifted her hand and rested her palm flat against his back. His muscles bunched underneath her touch, and she expected him to shrug her off. He didn’t get a chance, because Josh came through the front door, smiling. His eyes narrowed, and his gaze shot between her and Taylor. Embarrassed, Libby moved away and dropped her hand to her side. Josh was staring at her, she could feel it.
“You look very pleased with yourself,” she said, brushing off his questioning looks.
“That I do. I was just talking to my brother.”
Taylor coughed and raised his head before quietly asking, “My dad?”
“Of course, you dumb mule. I only have the one brother.”
“And? From the smile on your face it looks like good news.”
Libby sat back down on the bench. Looking at the two men from this distance, she could see the family resemblance. She hadn’t noticed it before, but their stance was the same, along with the broad, muscled shoulders. Josh might be in his sixties, but the ranch work kept him toned. She could see the same distinct jaw on both of them, strong and sharp. She wondered if Taylor’s father looked similar, too.
“It seems we have something to celebrate,” Josh said.
“Oh fuck,” Taylor spat. “Clara’s pregnant, isn’t she? There will be no getting rid of the poison princess now.”
Josh slapped Taylor on the shoulder, his expression stern. “Calm it, boy.”
“Get off me.” Taylor tore his arm away. “That damn woman—”
“May well be pregnant. I have no idea. And so what? Your father’s happy. But that’s not the news, so shut up and listen.”
Taylor mumbled to himself like a petulant teenager, and Libby stifled a giggle. Sometimes he reminded her of Levi. Their temper tantrums were almost identical.
“Go on, then,” Taylor said.
Josh clapped his hands together. “There’s going to be a wedding.”
“Who?” Taylor snapped as Libb
y asked the same question with less venom.
“Kyran.” Josh looked at Libby. “Kyran’s Taylor’s brother.”
Libby stood and went to hug Josh. “Oh, that’s fantastic. Great news, Josh.”
“It is. Never thought that boy would settle down. He always seemed to be looking elsewhere.” He wrapped his arm around her waist.
“He’s not a boy,” Taylor said. “And even men with a wandering eye get fixated sometimes.”
Josh chuckled. “That’s a very good way of putting it.”
“No, it isn’t.” Taylor paced the porch. “I thought she was a quick fling.”
“Obviously not,” Josh said. “Now, I have to go into town. Maybe I can find a little gift to send to Kyran and his lady. Anybody need anything?”
Libby shook her head and waved him goodbye. She turned her attention back to Taylor, who still appeared nervous. “What’s going on? Isn’t it good news that your brother is engaged?”
“No, because now he has a reason to beat me black and blue.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You wouldn’t.” He glared at her and groaned. “Remember earlier when we talked about secrets we don’t want others to know? Yeah, this is one of them. I wasn’t very nice to Dale—Kyran’s girlfriend. In fact, I took advantage of her when she went out of her way to help me. I thought it would be forgotten when Kyran moved on to someone else.”
“And now he isn’t doing that, you’re concerned?”
“Hell yes! You should see my brother. If you knew what he did for fun, you’d be worried, too!”
“And that would be?”
Taylor waved her comment away with a flick of his hand. “My brother likes to box. Bare-knuckle. But that doesn’t matter. Jesus, my life just rolls from one fuckup to the next. I swear I’ll never get a break.”
Libby heard the exhaustion in his voice, but she didn’t feel sorry for him. After all, Josh had explained he was staying at the Lone Tree Ranch because of what he’d done to himself. Taylor had admitted moments ago that he’d treated his brother’s girlfriend badly, too. Still, she couldn’t ignore the sadness she felt for him. He seemed so confused, his mood flipping from one extreme to the other because he didn’t know how he should react.
“Maybe you need to make those good things happen to you.”
He snapped his head to look at her. “Another fucking sermon? Save it.”
“I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m not here to take your shit. I get that you’re upset, and I’m trying very hard to be understanding. I’m trying to be your friend.”
His demeanor relaxed a bit, and she was relieved. Then Levi dashed out the front door, pointed a huge water soaker at them, and yelled “Freeze!”
“Not now, Levi,” Libby said, gesturing for him to lower the pistol.
“Mom,” he complained.
“It’s okay. The little guy wants a war.” Taylor raised his arms and tensed his muscles to show off his biceps. “I can do that. But be warned—I kick ass.”
Libby’s jaw dropped. “Taylor! No cursing.”
Both of them ignored her as their shouts and squeals filled the air, and Libby had to duck out of the way of the water spray. Levi went wild, sending as much water in Taylor’s direction as possible. Her son laughed and, if she wasn’t mistaken, Taylor was having a little fun, too.
“I hit him! I hit him!” Levi cheered, jumping up and down in victory.
“No way, kid. My T-shirt is bone dry.”
“But I really did get you.” Levi pointed at Taylor’s face. “There’s blood and everything.”
Libby turned to Taylor as a trickle of blood spouted from his nose. He reached up and dabbed at the blood.
“Taylor, let me—”
“No. Don’t touch me.”
“Really, I’ll help.”
“No.” He pushed past Levi and stormed into the house. Libby was left on the porch, a shocked Levi looking at her with a combination of surprise and horror.
“Wh-what did I do?” he asked, shuffling over to her.
Libby enveloped him in her arms and kissed the top of his head. “Nothing, baby. Nothing at all.”
She feared Taylor’s addiction was far worse than Josh had led her to believe. She wanted to know more, wanted to know if she could help him. Her first stop would be Josh, and she wouldn’t stop asking until she was given the right answers.
Chapter 8
Taylor watched the red droplets of blood splatter into the basin. They distorted their shape as they joined the swirling water down the plughole. This was his fifth nosebleed in five days. The first one had happened while playing with Levi and the water gun.
At the time he hadn’t known what had startled him more, that he’d actually been enjoying himself with Libby’s kid, or that the nosebleed reminded him why he was there. By then he’d been able to forget the hunger and set aside the constant lethargy of his muscles. He’d felt like someone else—someone new.
Another drop of blood hit the sink, and he stared at his reflection in the mirror. In the last week his skin had begun to clear, and the dark circles underneath his eyes were fading. He was growing to like his new physique; his muscles were developing in places he’d only imagined. He no longer looked half-starved. Begrudgingly, Taylor admitted to himself that he liked it in Hunter’s Hollow.
Not that he would say it out loud.
He raised his head, trying to see the damage within his nostrils. Acceptance of what he’d done to his body was difficult, especially when he couldn’t see the evidence. Acceptance of what he was, however, was becoming far easier to deal with.
“Taylor Reese,” he said to his reflection. “You’re a fuckup of the highest order. You’re a fucking mess.” He glared at himself, his hands shaking. “You are an add—” He coughed, unable to verbalize what he needed to. He tried again but got no further. The word would not leave his lips.
He had to get his shit together. He knew that now. But where the hell did he start? There was a line around the block of people he’d pissed off, and if he couldn’t even say the words, how could he move forward?
The bellow of his name followed by a knock on the bathroom door had him snarling. Could he not get a moment’s peace in this particular room?
“What?” he shouted, wiping the last trickles of blood from his skin.
“Need you to do me a favor,” Josh said and knocked on the door again.
Taylor tossed the soiled towel into the trash and pulled the door open, waiting for his uncle to elaborate on what the favor was.
The old man looked him up and down. He pointed toward his nose, rolling his eyes as he said, “You’ve still got some blood there.”
“Awesome. Just fucking awesome. I don’t even know why it keeps bleeding.” Taylor swiped at the skin underneath his nose.
“Sure you do. You’ve wrecked your nose with your ridiculous behavior.”
“It’s not wrecked,” Taylor said. “The doctor said it was just damaged.”
“And that’s not bad enough? Do you need more of a reason? You really shouldn’t—the nosebleeds explain themselves, moron.”
Taylor scowled, feeling chastised. “What did you want? Or was interrupting me enough?”
Josh chuckled. “Testy this morning, aren’t you?”
Taylor grumbled. He refused to be the butt of his uncle’s private joke.
“Oh, stop with the hormones and get over yourself. I need you to go with Libby.”
“Huh? Where? And why me?”
“Got somewhere else to be?”
“I was going to call Dad, actually.” He took a second to work out how to explain himself. “I think I could . . . shit, I think I’m ready—for help, that is.” He walked out of the bathroom and started for the stairs. His heart thundered against his chest as he wondered what Josh was thinking.
His uncle cleared his throat and followed him into the kitchen.
“What do you mean? Rehab? Because if that’s your way off this ranc
h, then you’re going to be real pissed off with your father’s response.”
Taylor shook his head and turned to face his uncle. “I don’t know what I’m asking for exactly. I just know . . . it’s time.”
Josh nodded, his lips pursed as he thought. “I need you to go with Libby into town and help with birthday shopping for Levi. I’ll call Jacob and see what he thinks.”
Taylor stifled a laugh. “The mighty Mr. Reese will think very little where I’m concerned. Thanks for the offer, but I should do it myself. If I don’t, he’ll only think I’m not serious.”
“And are you?”
“For fuck’s sake!” Taylor shouted. “You bitched and complained, moaned for me to admit what I am. Now that I’m here asking for help, you’re second-guessing me!”
Josh scowled. “Do you blame me?”
Taylor clenched his teeth. “I’ll call him myself. And did I miss the memo that made Libby’s kid my responsibility?”
“Cut me some slack. I can’t go with Libby, and she needs some advice and a bit of muscle.” He held out the keys to the truck and waved them in Taylor’s face.
“Why would she need advice? He’s her kid. I’m sure she knows him well enough to get him something nice.” He opened the fridge door, pulled out a carton of orange juice, and took a long drink.
Josh slapped the back of his head. Orange juice spurted from Taylor’s lips, dribbling down his chin and dripping onto his shirt. “What the hell was that for?”
“Use your brain before you engage your damn mouth. Libby needs advice because she’s buying him a bike.”
Taylor clutched his chest and gasped loudly. He stuck out his bottom lip. “You said Libby was buying the bike. You mean the birthday fairy isn’t real? I think you just broke my heart. Bad man.”
Josh’s lips pursed, but Taylor could see him fighting a smile. His eyes gave him away. “Stupid boy. Are you going to help her?”
“Do I have a choice?”
This time his smile spread fast, lighting up his face and making Taylor nervous. “Sure you do,” his uncle said. “You can either help Libby with the gift shopping, or you can muck out the horses. Every stable, along with the outhouse in the field.”