Love All Out - Part 2 (A Stepbrother Romance)

by Ward, Alice

  I stomped out of the stables and this time, James didn’t follow me.

  ***

  Over the next few days, Daddy and Renee showed no signs of slowing down with their wedding plans. On Monday, Daddy had all the furniture from his bedroom and the living room moved to one of the staff cabins. On Tuesday, he took Renee shopping in Grand Junction. On Wednesday, delivery men filled the house with new furniture. Renee officially moved in on Thursday.

  The house was filled with her bubbly sweetness and I felt like I would drown in it if I didn’t escape. I welcomed her to the ranch one last time, and then set off for James’s cabin.

  I took long, deep breaths of the fresh mountain air as I followed the path that connected the main house to the staff houses behind it. James had moved in to the same cabin he and Renee had lived in after his accident. Daddy signed a plot of land over to him as well, but I was certain he’d never build on it. I kept telling myself that the engagement would be over soon, and my life would get back to normal.

  James stepped out on his porch as I neared the cabin. He had on tight Wranglers, boots, and his white cowboy hat. His bare, chiseled chest gleamed in the sunlight. The site of him made me forget the reason behind my visit.

  James stared at me for a moment. His lip curled up in a cocky grin when he realized I was distracted by his body. “Hey there, Willow. Did you come to help me get settled in? I’d suggest we christen my new place, but as I recall, we’ve already done that.”

  My eyes darted to the ground and my cheeks burned hot with embarrassment. “I had to get out of the house… our parents are acting like teenagers,” I mumbled.

  “And you came here? Isn’t Matt down at the barn?” James pressed. “I’m flattered.”

  “Don’t be,” I quickly replied. I put one hand on my hip and used the other to shield my face from the sun. I looked up at James, careful not to drop my eyes below his chin. “I wanted to check in and see if you’ve talked to your nana.”

  A proud grin spread across his face. “As a matter of fact, I have. Brace yourself for some unexpected company at dinner.”

  “Tonight?” I asked, suddenly flustered.

  James nodded. “Come inside and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  I followed James into the cabin and took a seat on the recliner. He was still half naked, and I didn’t trust myself to be close to him, despite what had happened at the rodeo. James fetched two beers from his refrigerator, passed me one, and took a seat on the couch. I crossed my legs and looked at him with raised eyebrows, waiting for his explanation.

  James popped the cap off of his bottle, took a long drink, and then began. “I called Nana on Tuesday after I woke up and saw the ‘for sale’ sign in my yard. We had a nice long talk, and then I casually mentioned that she should take down my new address. I acted like I thought Mom had already told her everything. Needless to say, Nana Claire wasn’t happy. She and Grandpa Dave couldn’t get away from home until today. They should be here in a few hours.”

  My stomach fluttered and my heart raced in my chest. Suddenly, I wasn’t sure that bringing Nana Claire to town was a good idea. I rolled the beer bottle between my hands and rocked the recliner back and forth.

  “Willow… are you alright?” James asked. I stared at the floor, unable to tell if he was concerned or frustrated.

  “I don’t know, James… it kind of feels like we’re ambushing them…” I hesitated.

  “We agreed that this was for the best,” he reminded me. “And we’re not ambushing them. My grandparents are allowed to come see me whenever they want. If Nana wants to share her opinions on Mom and Cole’s engagement, so be it.”

  I took a sip of my beer and tried to calm my nerves. I wanted to believe that James was right but, deep down, I knew he was just rationalizing what he wanted to do. “I don’t know…” I said again, twirling my hair nervously between two fingers.

  “You can’t even stand to be in the same house with them, Willow,” James pointed out. “You came down here because you needed to escape. Have you seriously already forgotten about that?”

  Dread filled my stomach as I thought about the love fest going on back at home. I hated the thought of causing Daddy any pain, but I couldn’t live with him and Renee.

  “You’re right,” I agreed with a sigh. “On the walk over here, I was thinking that if something doesn’t give soon, I’ll have to find a contractor and build my own house. And I can’t exactly afford to do that right now. Unless I take out a loan against the land and horses… which I don’t want to do.”

  James nodded. “I don’t blame you. Its better this way, I promise. If I really thought my mom and Cole were right for each other, I’d stay out of it. But in the long run, we’re saving them from making a terrible mistake. And who knows? Maybe when all of this is over, you and I can finally…”

  My heart skipped a beat as James’s voice trailed off. He cleared his throat and glanced nervously towards the window.

  Finally…? Was he going to say we can finally be together? I can’t get my hopes up again. That can’t be what he meant.

  “We can finally…?” I asked softly.

  James turned to me, but couldn’t look me in the eye. “Nothing… I don’t know what I was going to say. Just forget about it.” James tossed his hat onto the coffee table, grabbed a white t-shirt from the arm of the couch, and pulled it over his head. He glanced down at his phone, and I knew I was being dismissed.

  “I should go back to my house for a while,” James said as he rose from the couch. He left the Stetson on the coffee table and covered his chestnut hair with a ball cap. I stood and followed him to the door.

  “Mom made me a list of things that need repaired before it sells,” he continued as we stepped outside. “If I don’t get started, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  A horrible thought crossed my mind and panic pounded in my chest. “Will you be back before your grandparents get here?” I asked quickly. The idea of being on my own with Daddy, Renee, and formidable Nana Claire made me want to run into the mountains and hide.

  “I’ll be back in plenty of time,” James assured me. He paused at the landing of the porch steps and put a gentle hand on my arm. “Look Willow, I can tell you’re having second thoughts about helping me. If you don’t want to be a part of this, I understand. But please, don’t get in my way. I really do believe that calling my grandparents was the right thing to do. If anyone can remind my mom of what she and Dad had, it’s them.”

  It dawned on me that I wasn’t the only one on the porch who desperately needed someone to remember their lost parent. I slipped my hand into his and looked him directly in the eyes.

  “I won’t get in your way,” I promised. I gave his hand a light squeeze and then walked down the steps. I was halfway back to the main house when I heard the engine of James’s truck start. I turned and watched him drive off the property.

  Of course he needs to be around Gus’s parents. Regardless of how their visit goes, he’ll feel better after he spends time with them… just like I felt better after Dallas and I talked about Mom.

  I turned back to the house and remembered that Daddy and Renee were busy redecorating. I didn’t feel like weighing in on where the new couch should go, so I bypassed the house and set off for the thoroughbred barn. I took my time and let James consume my thoughts.

  What was he going to say after “finally”? Am I crazy to hope that he wants to be with me?

  A realization hit me and I stopped dead in my tracks.

  Matt was right about me. I don’t love the idea of Daddy and Renee getting married. But the main reason I wanted to split them up was because I want to be with James. What if the same is true for him? Maybe breaking up the engagement is James’s way of fighting for me. And if that’s the case, there’s no way I’m going to stop him.

  “Willow, are you okay?”

  I looked up and saw Matt leaning against the barn door. “I’m fine,” I answered with a reassuring smile. “I was
just daydreaming.”

  He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “You were standing in the middle of the driveway and staring off at nothing. I was starting to worry you were having some kind of seizure.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Ha ha,” I said as I stepped into the barn. I walked towards my office and Matt followed.

  “I’ve already done all of today’s chores, unless you want to bring the horses in from the pasture,” Matt told me.

  I pushed open the office door and shook my head. “Let’s leave them out for a few more days. The spring grass will be good for them. Is the intake stall ready for Locomotion? Daddy and I are going to Sterling tomorrow to pick him up.” I took a seat behind the sturdy plastic table that served as my desk. The room was small, just three hundred square feet. The walls were lined with racks of vetting supplies, and a mini-fridge stocked with vaccinations and bottled water sat in the corner. I rolled my chair to the fridge, grabbed two bottles, and tossed one to Matt.

  “The stall’s ready for him and the Murphy’s vet emailed a copy of his Coggins test,” Matt said as he sat down across from me. “Everything’s in order for tomorrow.”

  “Thanks for taking care of everything, Matt. You can go home for the day if you want. I’m just going to catch up on some emails before I go back to the house.” I unlocked my desktop to validate my lie. In all honesty, I didn’t want to be anywhere near the house when Renee was reunited with her in-laws. I hoped to slip in unnoticed once the drama was in full swing.

  Matt rose to his feet. “I’d argue with you, but I have a hot date tonight,” he said, his lips curling into a sly grin. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “Probably not, Daddy and I are going to get on the road pretty early. Have fun on your date, and be ready to spill all the juicy details when I get home on Sunday.”

  Matt gave me a wink. “You know I will. Have a safe trip, Willow. Call me as soon as you get home.”

  Matt left the office, and I wondered which one of us would have the better story to tell when Sunday finally rolled around.

  ***

  Two hours later, I was still hiding in my office. I had no idea what was happening back at the house and I was in no hurry to find out. I returned a few emails, confirmed our reservations at The Sterling Inn, and browsed through the newest edition of Racehorse Digest. I was in the middle of an article about the crackdown on blood doping when I heard Renee’s voice in the barn.

  “Willow…? Willow, are you in here?”

  I took a series of deep breaths and accepted the inevitable. “I’m in the office,” I called out. I locked my computer and made my way to the door. I opened it to find Renee waiting on the other side. She was wearing tight jeans and one of Daddy’s flannel button-ups tied off at the waist. The sight of her in Daddy’s clothes was irritating and I felt a little less guilty for what was about to happen.

  Renee greeted me with an exaggerated smile. “There you are! We haven’t seen you all day. Your father and I were starting to think you’d run away from home.”

  I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “I was just catching up on some work. I have a lot to get done before we leave for Kentucky,” I explained as we made our way out of the barn. I shot a hopeful glance to the driveway, but no unfamiliar cars were parked near the house.

  Damn it, they’re not here yet… and I don’t see James’s truck either. This is a nightmare. He promised he’d be back before his grandparents showed up.

  “You seem nervous, Willow. Is everything all right?” Renee asked as we walked up the driveway.

  “Everything’s fine. I’m just tired,” I told her. “Is everything okay at the house?”

  “Oh yes. I just wanted to find you because dinner’s almost ready. Have you seen James? He’s not at his cabin, and he’s not answering his cell.”

  “He told me he was going back to your house to get started on that repair list you made him,” I told her. I shot a desperate look to the main road and was relieved to see James’s truck turn on to the property. “Look, there he is now.”

  Renee followed my gaze and let out a sigh of relief. “Perfect! We can all eat together while everything is still hot.” She squinted her eyes and a troubled look crossed her face. “Did James mention anything to you about bringing friends over?” she asked.

  I remembered my promise to James and feigned ignorance. “He didn’t say anything to me about it.”

  As the truck moved closer, Renee’s body tensed and the color drained from her face. “Oh my God,” she whispered. She took a deep breath and turned to me. “Willow, will you please go get your father? Tell him we have surprise guests.”

  “Of course.” I darted into the house and then slowed my pace and casually walked into the kitchen. Daddy was at the table drinking a glass of wine.

  “Hey there, pumpkin,” he greeted me with a smile.

  “Hi, Daddy.” I crossed the room and kissed him on the top of his head.

  I am so sorry for everything that’s about to happen. I just hope James is right and, in the end, it’s all for the best.

  “Renee wants you to meet her outside. James is home and he’s brought some people with him.” I poured myself a glass of wine as I relayed the message.

  Daddy lifted a curious eyebrow. “Did you see who they are?”

  I shook my head. “I couldn’t see very well. He’d barely turned off the main road when Renee sent me to get you.”

  Daddy pushed his chair away from the table and rose to his feet. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and we walked outside together. James and his grandparents leaned against his truck. Renee stood in front of them, her back to us, and fidgeted with her hands as she spoke at rapid fire speed.

  “I know I should have called you… I would have called you… everything happened so fast and we just got settled in…”

  Daddy cleared his throat and Renee jumped in surprise. She turned to us and I watched her face instantly relax as she met Daddy’s eyes. She smiled at him and her voice steadied.

  “Cole, Willow, I’d like to introduce you to some very important people. This is Dave and Claire Parker. They’re James’s grandparents… Gus’s parents.”

  Daddy didn’t miss a beat. He crossed the driveway and greeted the couple as if he’d been expecting them.

  “Dave, Claire, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” he said. Daddy shook Dave’s hand and then Claire’s, all the while wearing his most charming smile. “Willow and I have heard so much about you. It means so much to me that you could visit.”

  I gave Dave and Claire a nervous nod. My palms started sweating, making it difficult to hold on to my wine glass. I made a fist around the stem and stared down at the ground.

  God, I’d give anything to be anywhere but here.

  “It’s nice to meet you too,” Dave replied. Dave was tall and lean, with salt and pepper hair and James’s soft chocolate eyes. He looked to his wife, who was still fixated on Renee.

  Nana Claire looked nothing like how I’d expected. She was a small but hardy woman, with stubby fingers and short, mousy hair that had been teased and sprayed around her head like brown cotton candy. Her face was free of makeup and she wore jeans and a t-shirt emblazoned with the Sweetwater High Mascot. She instantly struck me as a woman who had no patience for bullshit.

  Dave wrapped his arm around Claire’s shoulders, and she finally turned away from Renee. She looked up at Daddy with critical eyes. “It’s nice to meet you, Cole. I wish I could say that Dave and I had heard a lot about you as well, but sadly that isn’t the case. My daughter in-law failed to mention you when I talked to her last month.” The disdain in her voice hung in the air long after she stopped speaking.

  Renee’s eyes darted around nervously, but Daddy remained completely calm. “I’m afraid that was probably my fault,” Daddy told Claire. “I insisted that we take things slow and not make a big deal out of our relationship. And then I realized I was being a fool, and things have moved so quickly since. The important thing is that you’
re here now, to celebrate with us.”

  “Amen,” Dave said with a smile. Claire’s face softened a bit around the eyes, but her lips remained in a tight frown.

  “Dave, Claire, we were just about to have dinner,” Renee told them. “Please, won’t you join us?”

  Claire turned up her nose. “I’m not hungry. I lost my appetite when I saw the ‘for sale’ sign in your yard. I remember when Gus built that house…”

  Renee flinched and Daddy cut Claire off mid-sentence. “I have an idea,” he announced. “If you’re not hungry, why don’t you let me give you a tour of the place? I’d love to show you the lots Willow and James are going to build on. And you can see all of our spring babies.”

  Claire raised an eyebrow. “The lot James is going to build on?”

  Renee looked up at Daddy, beaming with pride. “Yes, Cole knows how important it is to me that James feels at home here, so he gave him a ten acre lot up near the mountains.”

  Dave and Claire looked impressed. “I’d like to see that very much,” Claire agreed.

  I shot a quick glance to James. He stared down at the ground with his arms crossed over his chest. It was obvious to both of us that Daddy was going to charm his way around the obstacle we’d thrown at him.

  Daddy turned to Renee. “Sweetheart, why don’t you stay here and see to the food? The ATV only has room for four. James and I can show them around, and then we can all sit down and catch up.”

  “That sounds great,” Renee agreed. She turned to Claire. “You’re welcome to stay the night, either here or back at the old house.”

  Claire pursed her lips. “We have reservations in Durango. I didn’t want to put you out.”

  “You know better than that, Claire,” Renee said firmly. It was the first time I saw Renee stand her ground with her mother in-law. “I’ll have coffee and dessert ready when you get back. If you change your mind about the hotel, you’re welcome to stay here.” She turned to Daddy and kissed him full on the lips before walking back to the house.

  James led his grandparents to the ATV while Daddy gave me a quick hug. “Make sure Renee’s okay,” he whispered in my ear.