by Soraya Lane
“So you need to convince him that you’re a goddamn monk where his sister’s concerned, okay?”
A monk? Now that would be an impossible task. “Why?”
“Because he just walked off the job before, Brother. And if we don’t get these three-year-olds started under saddle soon…”
Nate had no idea Sam had been scheduled to work on the ranch. They’d used him in the past when they needed him, but Ryder and Chase dealt with anything ranch related. “I’ll deal with it.” Fuck. “He’ll cool off soon; it just surprised him, that’s all. He’s probably around seeing Faith again now that I’m gone.” He didn’t know if that was a good idea or a very, very bad one. As much as he hadn’t wanted Faith staying in his house, the thought of her going pissed him off, too.
“He’d better be just letting off some steam. We haven’t been breeding these horses just to have them as goddamn paddock ornaments, and I need his help. I need him here yesterday, so whatever the fuck you have to do to get him back and focused, do it.”
“Don’t lecture me, Ryder.” Nate was getting pissed off. “I’ve got an appointment now, but I’ll call you later.”
They said good-bye as Nate pulled into the entrance to the hospital. Every time he arrived it scared the crap out of him. Give him a raging bull, an unbreakable horse, a husband whose wife he’d screwed, hell, there was nothing on this planet that really scared him shitless, but looking up at the hospital looming in front of him … He pulled into the lot, parked his car, and took a sip of his now lukewarm coffee. Hell. Clay King had summoned Nate to his bedside, told him not to tell his brothers, and now here he was about to face the one man in the world he admired above all else. No amount of bravery was ever going to prepare him for losing his grandfather, and the fact that he’d called for him, rather than just waited to see him that evening, told him something was wrong.
Nate locked the car and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked. He entered the building, nodded at the receptionist he passed on his way in, and headed for the elevator. Within moments the doors were opening on the correct floor, and less than a minute later he was standing outside his grandfather’s private room, the suite that was as comfortable as any hotel room now that they’d spent time making it feel like home for him. But it was the fact that it might be the last room he ever saw that always sent a gut-deep stab of pain through Nate.
The staff on this floor all knew him well, which was why he’d been able to pass through the hall undisturbed. If he had it his way he’d have them reporting directly to him, but Clay wasn’t ready to be babied and hadn’t allowed it.
“Granddad?” Nate said his name quietly, not wanting to startle him in case he was sleeping. The room was filled with sunlight, more like a pretty bedroom than a hospital space, with flowers and photos adorning almost every surface, a lamp from home on the bedside table for him to read under at night if he had the energy.
A hand rose in the air, slowly but surely, followed by a croaky voice. “Nate.”
He took another deep breath and crossed the room, reaching to help his granddad sit up in the pillows. It only seemed like yesterday that he had been coming home for a week here and there in between treatments, proud as hell to be meeting Ryder’s wife and then even attending Chase’s wedding. His brothers had sure made the old man happy when they’d settled down. Clay loved the way his granddaughters-in-law fussed over him, too, seemed to enjoy the extended version of their family.
“How you feeling today, Granddad?”
“Like I need a damn strong whiskey. You have one for me?”
Nate settled on the big armchair beside him and leaned forward, slipping his hand into his jacket pocket and taking out a small silver flask. Chase and Ryder might not have been so forthcoming, but Nate didn’t give a damn.
“Here,” he said, unscrewing the lid and raising it to his granddad’s lips for him to take a sip. “Just a little.”
“Good boy.” The words were strained, his grandfather breathless even on oxygen.
“The others would kill me, but who the hell am I to deny you, huh?” Nate couldn’t see the point in not letting the old man have a little of his favorite drink. He had weeks or less to live now that the cancer had spread like wildfire through his body—what would a few sips do now?
“Glad you’re here, son.” Clay reached for Nate’s hand, his movements slow, but Nate clasped it and held on tight. A lump formed in his throat, one he was unfortunately getting used to, and he swallowed it away.
“You’re getting ready to leave us, aren’t you, Granddad?” His voice sounded deeper, huskier, than usual, the emotion almost choking him as he tried to stay strong.
“I haven’t got long now, son, and I…” He stopped talking, breathing heavy. “I want you to see my will. I went over it one last time with our attorney today.”
Nate glanced over his shoulder when his granddad inclined his head, seeing a wad of papers stacked on the low table. “This it here?”
Nate reached for them, took a cursory glance over the top copy. “You don’t need to show me this. Whatever you’ve decided, it’s up to you, Granddad. We’ll all respect your wishes.”
“I’m proud of you, Nate. Proud of all of you…” Nate cringed as he listened to his grandfather’s struggle with his breath again. “But you’re the one I want in charge. You’re the one, Nate. Always have been.”
Nate frowned. It wasn’t that he wasn’t proud as hell that his grandfather put so much trust in him, but he didn’t want to cause a rift with his brothers. Blood ran thicker than water, and he wasn’t going to jeopardize their relationships for anything. He was already taking over as CEO of the company that owned all their landholdings.
“We’ve all inherited our thirds of the ranch already, Granddad. You don’t want to change that, do you?” Chase had already built his new house, was happy with Hope and running the ranch on a day-to-day basis, and Ryder had finally settled down. He was married and he’d transitioned from superstar rodeo rider to producing some of the nation’s top rodeo bulls faster than any of them had imagined. They were all happy with their own success and what they were achieving, and Nate didn’t want to ruin that.
“There’s a reason you got the main house and more land than the others, Nate.”
“Because I’m the eldest. You always said you wanted the eldest to inherit the main homestead.”
“I wanted you to have it so you could keep drilling for oil, son. You’re going to make this family even wealthier than I have, Nate; I know it.”
That made Nate chuckle. “Impossible. I’ll work damn hard to make sure we keep growing the business, but I’ll never accomplish what you have. I’ve stepped in at just the right time, so all I have to do is make careful decisions to keep growing what we have.”
Clay squeezed his hand, his fingers around Nate’s weaker than they’d ever been, but the meaning in his touch crystal clear.
“You make smart decisions. You’re impulsive but not hotheaded. You know what you’re doing because it’s in your blood.”
“Because I’ve learned from the best,” Nate murmured, wishing they weren’t having this conversation, wishing he had another decade before he had to be faced with losing the old man.
“You’re my heir, Nate. You will run the business, you will have the homestead, you will…”—he coughed and wheezed—“drill for oil, and you will have the final say regarding all of our property and businesses.”
Tears welled in Nate’s eyes, spilling over onto his cheeks as he stared into dark eyes the exact same shade as his own. It was like looking into a mirror, only one that showed him the man he’d be in fifty years’ time.
“If that’s what you want,” he said, quickly brushing the tears away, refusing to let his granddad see him break down, “then I’ll honor your wishes. I’ll keep all of our income the same, because I don’t deserve any more than my brothers, but the majority of the company’s earnings will be reinvested into property, into growing our portfol
io.” They all received a significant payment each quarter, and would for life, but Nate was more interested in building the business than taking more than he needed.
Clay’s eyes were filled with tears, too, the old man looking so weak in the hospital bed, nothing like his former big, imposing self. The long conversation had taken what little strength he had. “Your brothers are good, capable men, Nate, but every family needs a leader. Someone with vision and passion.”
Nate nodded and let go of his granddad’s hand, settling back into the armchair and feeling like he’d been hit by a ten-ton truck. Now that they’d settled business, it was time to make the old man laugh.
“You wouldn’t believe what happened to me today, Granddad.”
His eyes lit up. “A woman?”
Nate laughed and passed him the flask again. “It sure as hell was.”
* * *
Faith had spent the morning cleaning the house, which she didn’t want to admit wasn’t exactly her forte. Cooking? Sure. She didn’t even mind getting groceries so long as she had enough cash to buy what she wanted, but she wasn’t exactly used to wielding a mop and bucket. Give her a collection of art to admire—that’s what got her attention and held it.
“Hello?”
Faith sat bolt upright, fingers tightening around her cup of coffee. It was a woman’s voice, one she didn’t recognize, and she rose to walk out into the hallway.
“Hello? Anybody here?”
“Hi!” Faith called back, locking eyes with a beautiful brown-eyed blonde. She had a toddler on her hip, with hair as blond as her mother’s but eyes the brightest blue.
“Sorry, I saw someone was here and I thought Nate must have been home.”
Faith tried not to bristle, hated how jealous she was over the gorgeous woman standing in the hall who’d walked in as if she knew the place well. So much for Nate not bringing women into his home.
“I’m, ah, Nate’s new housekeeper,” she said, turning to walk back into the kitchen to put her cup down. “Do you want to leave a message for him?”
The woman had followed her, her daughter on her feet now and tottering off unsteadily. “No, I’ll catch him later. I was going to ask him over for dinner, but now that he’s got you I guess he won’t be so desperate for a home-cooked meal. Don’t tell him I said it, but he’s been a lost soul without Mrs. T looking after him!”
Faith smiled as the child climbed up onto the sofa. “Your daughter is beautiful.” Faith hated that she was bristling over the thought that the child could be Nate’s.
“She loves her uncle Nate’s house, that’s for sure.” The woman smiled. “Sorry, where are my manners? I’m Chloe.” She held out her hand.
Faith took it, relief hitting her like a train head-on. Nate was the girl’s uncle? “Faith,” she said. “So you must be…”
“Ryder’s wife,” she said, going over to unsuccessfully grab the little girl. “And this is Rose.”
“Poor girl, having an uncle like Nate to keep all the boys away when she’s older.” Faith smiled. “I can just see him with his brothers, all lined up on the porch with shotguns.”
Chloe laughed. “Maybe, but right now she has both her uncles wrapped around her little finger, and her daddy, too. She’s lucky to be the only girl.”
“Can I get you a drink?” Faith was suddenly a whole lot more relaxed.
“You having a coffee?”
“I’ve just had one, but if it means I don’t have to clean for a bit longer then I’ll have another.” Faith was already starting to warm toward Chloe, especially now she knew she was Nate’s sister-in-law and not her competition.
She turned to put on the kettle again, pulling another coffee mug down.
“Do you work at Joe’s sometimes?” Chloe asked.
Faith grimaced. “Yeah. Well, I used to. Have I served you there?”
Chloe shook her head, a smile bracketing her mouth, eyes suddenly dancing like she was about to burst out laughing. “Not really, no. But I’ve just put two and two together. You’re Sam’s sister, right? Ryder pointed you out to me a couple of times.”
“Guilty as charged.” She raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I just can’t believe you’re in Nate’s house when he’s usually so…” Chloe shook her head. “It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Faith looked up, coffee forgotten. “Say it, what you were about to tell me. What is it?”
Chloe sighed and rescued Rose from the sofa where she was flapping her hands wanting to get down. “It’s just that he’s always kind of twisted in knots over you. Chase and Ryder like having him on about it.”
Now it was Faith laughing. “Nate all twisted up over me? Don’t be silly. I think you have the wrong girl.”
“I’m not,” Chloe said, leaning in to retrieve her coffee and grinning at her like they were co-conspirators. “And I shouldn’t have said anything; he’d kill me if he found out. But it’s true. The big, indestructible Nate King all in a knot over you. We all laugh about one night when we were out and he caught sight of you. Talk about rustling his feathers.”
Faith flushed; she could feel the heat hit her cheeks, and wished that she could believe what she was being told. “I don’t believe you for a second.”
They sat in silence for a moment, both blowing on their hot coffee and taking little sips while Rose kept herself entertained pottering around the living room that adjoined the kitchen. She’d pulled out some toys that Nate had obviously stashed away for her.
“So what’s it like living in paradise every day?” Faith asked.
“Here?” Chloe smiled. “I guess it is paradise. I thought I’d be practicing as an attorney and spending most of my time in the city, but then Rose came along and there’s no way I could leave her. Not yet.”
Faith loved the way Chloe looked at her daughter, had always wished she’d had a mom who gazed at her so adoringly. “When did you graduate?”
“About a year before she was born,” Chloe told her. “So I worked in Dallas until I was about ready to pop. Nate’s been great in involving me in some work for the family, though, so I’ve still been able to keep my head in the game. Long may it continue.” She laughed. “And before that, I worked at Joe’s, and that’s where I met my husband. It must have been before you started.”
“I’ve only been working there over summer vacation,” Faith said.
Faith grinned as Rose came toddling over, arms outstretched and looping around her mom’s neck when she gathered her up and lifted her to sit on her hip.
“And that’s my cue to go. She’s probably ready for her nap,” Chloe said. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“My pleasure.” She was still stuck on the fact that Chloe had some crazy idea that Nate liked her. “Maybe I’ll see you again soon.”
“Yeah, if Nate doesn’t flip out having you in his house before I come past next.”
Faith couldn’t help grinning. “So you’d find it even more amusing if you knew I was living here for a bit?”
Chloe clamped her hand over her mouth, making an indecipherable noise. “You’re kidding me? Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“’Fraid not.”
“Now that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. Wait till Ryder hears.”
Faith leaned on the doorjamb until Chloe had disappeared from sight, staring out into the bright sunshine bathing over the surrounding fields. So maybe she wasn’t imagining the spark between her and Nate. She didn’t believe Chloe for a second that Nate was twisted in knots over her; hell, he could have any woman he wanted, so why the hell would he be all hot under the collar for her? But it was a nice thought, to think that he felt a simmer of something.
She shut the heavy front door and laughed to herself as she went back into the kitchen to tidy up. Nate into her? She’d seen the way he looked at her sometimes, the heat in his gaze, but there was a difference between that and what his sister-in-law had said.
Faith felt a pang
of desire, a hum through her body, but stamped the flame out. Could she let him touch her? Was she ready to have a man’s hands on her after … She gulped. She’d crushed on Nate all her life, trusted him with her life, but it was just too soon to go there.
“Faith!”
She groaned, standing dead still, hoping her brother wouldn’t notice her. He must have seen Chloe leaving and spotted Faith. Given the fact that she’d never even managed to evade him with her expert hiding when they were kids, hiding in plain view and hoping she was a statue probably wasn’t going to work.
“Faith!” he called out again, banging on the front door this time before pushing it open. Damn! If only she’d thought to turn the lock. “Faith?”
She turned, forcing herself to smile. Sam was her big brother, and he’d always been great, if just a little too overprotective. She couldn’t exactly ignore him.
“Hey.”
“Didn’t you hear me calling you?” he asked.
“I was just coming to the door,” she lied.
“Huh.” He kicked off his boots and folded his arms across his chest, his eyes narrowing as he gave her a look that spelled lecture. “We need to talk.”
“Come on then,” she muttered. “I’ll make us coffee.” By nightfall she’d be bouncing off the walls with the amount of caffeine she’d consumed.
“Nate coming back anytime soon?”
“Not sure; I don’t exactly have his schedule on me,” she said dryly.
“We’re talking about Nate King; you know that, right?” Sam grumbled. “You haven’t thought this through; he’s—”
“What?” she asked, spinning around to face Sam, planting her hands palms down on the counter. “Your best friend? The guy who always looked out for you when things were shit at home? The very same guy who’s always treated me with respect and never, ever tried anything inappropriate with me?” She sighed. “We’re talking about the same guy, right? Because that’s the guy whose house I’m crashing in, Sam. I’m here working for him; that’s it.” She didn’t point out that it was Nate who’d always kept him from doing anything stupid, like hauling him out of fights before things went too far.