“I came home every time you called, Rex.”
Rex’s nostrils flared. “No, you didn’t.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I called you a few weeks after you went to school and said I couldn’t do it.” Rex’s eyes shot darts; every word was laced with venom. “Hugh was pulling away, and Savannah had disappeared for the weekend with her friend. I didn’t know what to do.”
“What? When?” He vaguely remembered a call about Savannah. It seemed like a hundred years ago. “Was that the time when you said Savannah went to a party and you couldn’t find her? I left my date and went back to my dorm and called every one of her friends’ parents. I was going frigging crazy looking for her from a million miles away, and you called me a few hours later and said she was back home, that her friend had lied about it to get her in trouble.” Treat took a breath and tried to bring his anger down a notch. “I thought it was fine after that.”
Rex huffed, rage simmering in his eyes. “Nothing was fine.”
“How could I have possibly known? I was a kid, too, Rex. What would you have had me do? Quit college? Give up everything Dad said I had to accomplish? Is this what you’ve held over my head forever? Isn’t this exactly what I apologized for last night?”
They stared at each other, posturing, silently banging chests and measuring feathers. And then, with the force of a bullet train, Treat realized what this was really about. Rex was younger than Dane, but even as kids, after they’d lost their mother, Rex had watched over Dane just as Treat had. And when the pressures of trying to be something neither he nor Treat could became too great, he’d fall apart and Treat would put him back together. It’s no wonder you felt abandoned. And no wonder I felt like I abandoned you.
“Boys!” Hal’s stern voice broke their match. “You want to blame someone? Blame me. I wanted Treat to excel. He was too academic and had too much to accomplish in life to run the ranch. He’d have had me buying up more ranches by the time he was fourteen if I’d let him, and maybe if I had listened to him, we’d all be even richer. And, Rex, you were born to ranch and you know it. The day you started walking, you wanted to follow me all over this place. You’d sit with me while I ran the finances and rode with me on nearly every ride. The ranch is a heck of a lot of responsibility, and I don’t blame you for resenting your brothers—all of them—for taking off.” He put a hand on Rex’s shoulder and spoke calmly. “But, son, I gave you the same choice I gave them. How many times did I say, ‘Go out there and get your own ranch, or find something else that you want to call your own?’”
Rex looked away.
“When I’m talking to you, son, you keep your eyes on mine.”
Rex met his gaze. “I didn’t want my own ranch. This is family. This is where Mom is.” He slid an angry look to Treat.
To a stranger, the two angry men staring each other down would mean fists were going to fly. But Treat knew what they looked like to his family. Two brothers fighting to find their way back to each other.
His father placed a hand on each of their shoulders and said, “Now that you’ve had your say, let me tell you how it’s gonna be. You want to blame someone for all of this? Blame me. I’m the one who led you all those years. Grief is a terrible and powerful thing. I thought you’d each grow out of missing your mama, but that was a fairy tale. If anyone knows that, it’s me, and I’m sorry. We all did the best we could.” He looked around the table, and then he settled compassionate eyes on Rex and Treat. “We did better than any family could. If Treat had stayed, I’d have felt guilty for not cutting him loose. And, Rex, you’ve always been the cowboy, not the rodeo clown. I guess I always knew you could handle it, and yes, I knew you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, but you were unwilling to part with it.”
Rex’s gaze shifted away.
“I’m sorry,” Treat said to both of them. “I was a kid trying to keep my own head above water. It’s true I abandoned everyone because I felt guilty, but, Rex, you have to believe that if I had known you felt that lost, I’d have come running back. After Savannah came home, I figured it was just more of the same confused, angry kids that I’d left when I went away to school.”
Rex continued looking away for the longest time, and when he finally brought his attention back, it was his father’s eyes he met, not Treat’s. “Sorry I ruined the afternoon, Dad. I’ve got to go check on Hope.” He headed for the barn.
Treat took a step toward him, but his father held him back. “Leave him. This is how Rex operates. You remember this pattern, don’t you? He’ll work out his frustration. It’ll take time, but now you know what’s what. It may not be today, and it may not be next week, but at some point this’ll come out in the wash.”
Treat sat at the table, but he couldn’t eat. He knew Rex would eventually come around. There was no avoiding it now that Treat was home. He might buy a place nearby, and he might have to travel and set up an office, but he wasn’t going to abandon anyone ever again. And he was done waiting for Max. It was time for him to set his future in motion.
“Sorry I was such a jerk when I was a kid,” Dane said.
“You were just a kid.” Treat pushed to his feet again. “I’ve got to go take care of something.” Without another word from his family, he headed into the house.
A few minutes later, he was in the car, pulling down the driveway when Rex rode up on Hope and stopped in his path. Treat slammed on the brakes and jumped from the car. “What are you doing? Trying to get Hope killed?”
Rex settled Hope from her startled shuffle and said, “I know all that crap you said back there. I’m not an idiot.”
“No. You’re not,” Treat said.
They stared each other down again. Treat had a feeling they’d be doing that a lot.
“Just like you’ve been carrying that baggage around with you all these years, so have I.”
Treat nodded. Honesty was difficult, and he wasn’t about to get in Rex’s way.
“I know you didn’t abandon me. Or Mom or Dad. I get that,” Rex admitted. “The truth is, I wouldn’t have wanted you to give up what you were destined to do. I was just…”
“As messed up as the rest of us?”
Rex held on to Hope’s reins, and Treat had the overwhelming urge to hug him, but he was afraid to move. Rex had a shell that was thick as a brick, and Treat knew just how much this breakthrough meant to their relationship, which might not be anywhere near normal for years to come, but this was a start.
Rex nodded. “I’m glad you’re home, but I’m still running the ranch.”
“Okay.”
“You’re far from in shape for this kind of grueling work,” Rex said gruffly. “It’ll take you months to get back up to speed—physically anyway.”
“Agreed.” Every muscle in Treat’s aching body could attest to that, though it was his pride that was taking a beating at the hand of his kid brother.
“All right, then.”
“All right.”
“Where are you going?” Rex backed the horse from in front of the car.
“I’ve got to get my girl. I’ll be back to help with the evening chores.”
Rex nodded. “Take your time, bro. Believe it or not, I’m glad you’re staying.”
Treat ran a hand down the side of Hope’s face and swore he saw his mother’s beautiful reflection in the horse’s eyes, a smile of approval on her lips.
Chapter Thirty-Two
MAX SURVEYED HERSELF in the mirror one last time. Her hair was shiny and full. The skinny leather pants she wore might not be perfect for showing up at a ranch, but they were perfect for getting Treat’s attention. She told herself that chaps were leather, so her pants weren’t so far off. Although the knee-high, stiletto boots were definitely not appropriate, which made them perfect. She wanted Treat to stand up and take notice of the changes, and sexual awakening, she felt bursting from within.
She turned to the side to inspect her silhouette. Kaylie was right abou
t the push-up bra. Who knew her boobs could look so perky? Or that a bra could make her torso look longer and slimmer? Wow, she could actually pull off hot.
Max tried her best to remain upright on the heels, but as she reached for the doorknob, her confidence began to fade. I look ridiculous. He loves how I look no matter what I wear. What am I doing? What was her goal? Treat. No, he wasn’t her goal. Being the woman he deserved was her goal. Being whole, accepting the sides of herself she’d thought she had to ignore for so long. She wanted Treat to see her as an unbroken woman and to know her past no longer owned her. Even if there might be times she slipped up or became insecure, she wanted him to see the confidence she held now. And if he wanted to go to Thailand, she’d find a way to be there with him.
She opened the bedroom door, and a bright flash sent her reeling backward as Kaylie snapped a picture.
“What the…?” She’d been so wrapped up in getting ready that she’d forgotten Kaylie was waiting for her.
“I couldn’t help it!” Kaylie squealed. “I wanted to come in so badly, but I knew you would never let me help you dress after letting me pick out all your clothes.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, Max, you are sinful! Look at you. Not that you need to dress like this, but look at you! No man could ever turn you away looking like that.”
She smiled at Kaylie’s supportive, overly enthusiastic comment. “Can I please carry you on my shoulder? I’m so nervous. What if he thinks I look ridiculous?”
“Max, take a deep breath, because I have a really important question to ask you.”
Max did as she was asked and blew her breath out slowly. “Okay, what?”
“Are you really ready for this?”
Max chewed on the worries she’d been trying not to think about. Was she making a mistake? No, she was sure she wasn’t. “My whole life I believed that compromising to make a relationship work would lead to resentment, but if Treat wants to change how he does business, that’s up to him. And if he doesn’t, then I’ll tell Chaz I need to telecommute.”
“What are you talking about? I was talking about the sexy clothes and the way they say fuck me senseless.”
“Oh.” Max looked down at her outfit. “I wasn’t talking about that. Am I ready to be fucked senseless? Yes, please, if it’s by Treat.”
“Clearly.” Kaylie smiled and said, “Now, what were you talking about? All relationships require compromise. You know that, don’t you? Who’s living where? Who’s watching the kids so one of us can do something else? Who’s on top? Who gets to finish first in bed—”
“Kaylie! I’m trying to be serious.” Max huffed.
“I know. I’m thoroughly confused right now, but just as long as you don’t have any reservations about his love for you.”
Max’s cheeks warmed. She put her hand over her heart and said, “He’d give up anything for me, and I want to show him I’ll do the same for him.”
“I hope I was never this swoony-eyed over Chaz, because you’re talking in tangents. Okay, go. I’ll lock up for you.” She glanced at the bedroom, which looked like it had thrown up clothes. “I’ll even unexplode your closet for you.”
Max kissed her on the cheek. “You’re the best.” On her way out the door, she turned back and said, “Thanks for asking me if I was sure. You’re a great friend.”
“Yeah, I’m the best,” Kaylie said with a toss of her hair. “Now get out of here.”
Max ran down the stairs in her stiletto heels like she’d been running in them all her life. Her mind clung to one singular goal—reaching Treat.
Chapter Thirty-Three
TREAT SPED THE whole way to Max’s apartment. Traffic was light, and he made it there in record time. He flew into the parking lot and took a cursory glance for Max’s car as he ran for the steps, taking them two at a time and feeling lighter on his feet than he had in years.
He knocked on her door twice, then twice more without waiting for her to answer. He had no idea what he’d say, but knew he’d figure it out when he saw her beautiful eyes.
Treat held his breath as the door swung open.
“What did you forge—”
“Kaylie?”
“Treat?”
He looked over her shoulder. “Where’s Max?”
A smile spread across Kaylie’s lips. “She’s heading toward your father’s ranch.”
“My father’s—”
“Yes! Go! She just left ten minutes ago. Go!”
He bolted down the stairs and then sped toward the highway.
BY THE TIME Max pulled up in front of Treat’s father’s house, she was so nervous she could barely see straight. She watched one of his brothers riding a horse across the field, toward the driveway. As he approached, she saw it was Rex, the one with the big muscles. Not that all of them weren’t cut from some incredibly sexy fabric that she’d never known existed, but Rex’s biceps were the size of footballs.
He pulled up on the reins as Max stepped from the car. She realized he was riding Hope and took that as a good sign.
“Max?” He ran an appreciative gaze down her body.
Ugh! She had forgotten what she was wearing, and now, with the swell of her breasts saying hello to the world and her leather pants leaving nothing to the imagination, she felt like a fool.
“Rex, right?” she asked.
“Yeah, that’s right. You just missed Treat. He took off to find you.”
“Me?” Oh gosh!
Rex shrugged. “That’s what he said.”
His gaze returned to her breasts and Max cleared her throat. His eyes darted up to hers again. “Thank you,” she said curtly and climbed back into her car, vowing never, ever, to try to surprise Treat again. She was the worst at pulling off surprises. Her surprises needed to be preceded by a bright red neon sign alerting Treat—SUCKY SURPRISE GIVER COMING YOUR WAY! STAY PUT! She snapped on her seat belt thinking about the way Rex had ogled her. She’d come out looking to entice Treat, and now Rex probably thought she was a tramp!
Ugh! She jerked her car into reverse and slammed the pedal to the floor—she couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
She felt the impact that sent her flying chest-first into the steering wheel before she heard the crunching of metal on metal. No, no, no, no, no. Dazed and shaken, she blinked away her tears and saw the rest of the Braden clan running toward her car. What had she done now?
Rex yanked open the door. “Are you okay?”
“Is she okay?” Max heard someone yell.
“Get away from her.”
Treat?
“I’ve got her,” Treat said.
And then he was yanking Rex from beside her door and gathering Max in his arms. Treat. My Treat. Max registered voices, but she was too shocked from the accident to think beyond being in Treat’s arms.
“I’ll call an ambulance.”
“Wait. Let’s see if she’s okay first.”
“What happened?”
“Max?” Treat’s gentle voice was shaken. “Sweetness, look at me.”
She looked into his eyes as he helped her to her feet.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She saw his car behind hers, the front end smashed by the rear of hers.
“I think so,” she whispered. Then, amid the shock, the worry, and his family members pawing at her, unexpected words fell from her lips. “You said you’d love me through it.” What happened to my voice? Why am I whispering?
“What, sweetness?” Treat asked.
“You said you’d love me through anything,” Max said, a little louder this time. “I asked you, that night in Wellfleet, when I told you that if I got scared or insecure and my walls went up, I’d need you to love me through it.” Why am I crying? “And you said you’d love me through anything, Treat. Anything! You promised.”
“Uh-oh,” Dane said.
“Of course, Max.” He tightened his hold on her.
His siblings stared at her. His father watched him like a hawk. Max looked from Hal to Treat an
d then back again. She didn’t care if she was making a fool of herself, or if his father was sending him telepathic messages that she was a freak. She needed him to know how much his promise meant to her.
“Max, I always keep my promises. You must be really shaken up. Try to hear me, sweetness.”
“I hear you! You did what you promised, and it means the world to me that you loved me even though I was broken.”
“Broken?” Dane uttered.
Savannah shushed him.
“You’ve never been broken, baby. Not in my eyes.” Treat’s voice was a tender caress to her shaken-up heart. “And I know you worry, so please hear me. I’m not giving up my life for you. I’m not giving up Thailand or anything else.”
“I don’t understand.” Tears brimmed in her eyes.
“I’m rearranging how things are done, not giving them up. I’m coming back to help my father on the ranch—for a while, anyway—and I want to put down roots. But I don’t care where, as long as you’re with me.” He wiped her tears with a whisper of his finger across her cheek. “I slayed my demons, Max. All of them. Just like you did. We’re fated to be together.”
Max was shaking all over. She closed her eyes to try to calm herself down.
“Open your eyes, sweetness,” Treat urged. When he had her attention, he said, “The world can test us, but I’m not budging. It’s enough already. This is who we are. Treat and Max. Not Treat Braden and Max Armstrong, two separate people. It’s not you and me; it’s us.”
Us. She swiped at the river of tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to remember all the things she wanted to tell him. “I’ll travel.”
“What?”
“Whatever we need to do for your business. I’ll travel with you. I can work from anywhere.”
“Max, we’ll figure all that out,” he said.
Between her sleepless nights, the craziness of the last twenty-four hours, and the accident, she couldn’t think straight. Everything was blurring together. Treat loved her. He loved her! She was in his arms. This was real. This wasn’t a dream.
Lovers at Heart, Reimagined (The Bradens) Page 22