by T. J. Kline
A pounding at the door interrupted her thoughts. “Who is it?” Liz sighed. She wasn’t in the mood for visiting with anyone, unless it was Scott.
“Liz, let me in.”
Great, she thought irritably. Scott’s little weaselly brother. “What do you want, Derek?”
“I want you to let me in.”
“Fine,” she said. “I’m coming.” She swung the door open, blocking the entrance. “What?” Liz arched a dark brow, hoping to intimidate the younger man.
At his full height, Derek was taller than Scott but not yet as broadly built. Given time and hard work on the ranch, he would fill out as Scott had. But there was a broodiness that surrounded Derek, especially when Scott was around. Liz didn’t know him as well as Scott or Jen did, but she could recognize sibling rivalry; she could see that Derek wanted to move out of Scott’s shadow.
“I want to know what’s going on. Why didn’t Sydney and Scott come back with everyone else?”
Liz rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that they’re together, does it, Boy Wonder?”
Derek put a hand on either side of the doorway, his biceps flexing against his t-shirt, and leaned toward her, narrowing his eyes. There was nothing overly threatening about his pose, yet Liz held her breath as his coffee-colored eyes slid from her face to her waist before meeting her gaze again.
“Guess your plan wasn’t as fool-proof as you thought,” he goaded. “I’ll just handle this on my own.”
Liz ignored his taunts and left him standing at the door. “Nothing is ever fool-proof.” She flashed a vicious smile his way. “Especially where you are concerned.”
Derek narrowed his eyes and walked through the door, shutting it behind him and advancing on her. Liz refused to cower. It wouldn’t be the first time a man had hit her, but if Derek tried he’d be sorry.
“We had a deal. You take care of breaking them up and I make sure to keep them apart.”
“Just how do you propose that I do that when they are at a rodeo? It would be different if he were here.”
Derek shrugged his massive shoulders. “I highly doubt that you’re above using that body of yours to get what you want. Use that, make him jealous. Do something or I will.”
“Jealous,” Liz murmured as she looked at her reflection again. “I can do that.” She spun to face Derek. “Any idea where I might find Kurt Willits? He might be just what we need around here to drive a wedge between those lovebirds.”
Liz knew that while Derek had never interfered with her relationship with Scott while they were dating, he was young enough to still idolize his older brother and old enough to know what had transpired between her and Kurt.
“Let me see if I can find his number.”
SYDNEY COULD FEEL Scott’s eyes on her as she stared out the window, pretending to be engrossed in the scenery whizzing past her. She’d been silent for most of the ride home, and Scott didn’t seem inclined to make conversation. She wasn’t sure what to say now that they were headed back to the ranch. The past weekend had woven a magical spell around them, and the thought of returning to the ranch with the trials she suspected were waiting for them there would only serve to sever the ties they had created.
Sydney knew that things would change as soon as they arrived at the ranch. There would be no privacy and too many eyes to witness any exchange between them. And she still wasn’t certain where she stood with Scott. He’d admitted to having feelings for her, but he’d never said where he thought those feelings were leading, if anywhere at all.
She jumped as Scott’s hand found hers on the seat. She felt the now-familiar rush of desire flood her chest and inhaled the scent of musk and leather that was his alone. She pasted a smile on her face before looking over at him, hoping that he wouldn’t look too closely and see the worry in her eyes.
“You okay, Sydney?” His voice was husky, and it reminded her of how it had sounded last night when they made love.
“Fine,” she answered quickly.
“Then why do you look worried?”
She couldn’t help the sadness that crept into her voice or the half smile that she mustered. “What would I have to be worried about?”
“Us,” Scott answered matter-of-factly.
Sydney met his dark gaze and read nothing but honesty in his eyes. She knew that her own eyes were giving him the only answer he needed and there was nothing she could do to hide the truth from him. Scott eased the truck to the shoulder of the deserted highway and turned it off. He turned and faced her on the seat.
“Nothing is going to change what we shared this weekend.” Sydney sighed and looked at their clasped hands. Scott tipped her chin up with his free hand. “Nothing.”
She gave him a faint smile and nodded. “Nothing,” she repeated, trying to convince herself but falling short.
“Okay,” Scott said as he reached for his cell phone, which was plugged into the dash of the truck. “You’ll see.”
“Who are you calling?”
“Mike. I’m going to have him saddle the horses and have them ready for us when we get there.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.”
LIZ RUSHED OUT of the ranch house and into the waiting arms of the blond Adonis on her porch. Passionately pressing their lips together, he held her tightly. When she finally separated from him, out of breath, she stroked his cheek with her thumb, her fingers running over the long scar that marred his cheek from his eye to his jaw. Liz loved the dangerous appeal it gave him.
“I knew I could count on you, Kurt.”
“Yeah, that’s me,” he drawled. “Reliable Kurt.”
Liz gave him a husky laugh meant to draw him in. “Let’s not push it.”
“Okay, sweetheart. This reunion is great, but you didn’t call me here to rekindle old flames.”
Liz thought about trying to string him along. He would be a fun distraction while he was in town, but he couldn’t give her what she wanted: the ranch and Scott’s demise in her father’s heart. “Same old Kurt, right to the point.”
Kurt jerked her roughly to his chest, towering over her and grasping a handful of hair, forcing her to look up at him. “I’m happy to rekindle things with you, but I don’t think you would have chanced a meeting between me and your lover boy for that.”
Liz knew it was hazardous to rile Kurt. His temper had always been unpredictable. “You always could see right through me, couldn’t you?”
Kurt released her instantly and she almost lost her balance. “We’re two of a kind, you and me. We always have been.”
Liz caught herself and glared at him. “Come on.” She held open the front door. “Daddy is in the barn working, the others are in the north pasture, and Silvie took off to go to town. Let’s go talk in the kitchen before anyone gets back. You want something to drink?”
Kurt arched a brow. “What do you think?”
Liz rolled her eyes as she led him towards the kitchen. If she didn’t need his help—if he weren’t the most immoral person she’d ever met—she never would have called him. But he was such an ass to deal with. She pointed at the kitchen table as he pulled out a chair, stretching his long legs out in front of him and leaning back. She reached into the refrigerator and pulled out one of the cold beers she kept in the back, holding it out to him.
“So what’s the deal, Liz?”
“I need you to help me get Scott’s share of the company so I can sell it off.”
Kurt laughed as he took a swig of the beer. “Sure, no problem. I’ll just ask Scott and I’m sure he’ll hand it over.” He tipped the bottle in her direction. “Just how do you suggest I do that?”
Liz narrowed her eyes at him and arched a brow. “Don’t be a smartass.” She didn’t have time for him to play around. One of the hands could come back to the house at any moment.
“Okay, let’s say you can get Scott to give up his shares to you. What about Jen and Derek? They aren’t going to give you anything.”
Kurt shrugged. “Why do you want to sell this place all the sudden anyway? You think your dad’s gonna let you do that?”
Liz shook her head. “I’m doing this for him. The doctor told him to stay away from stress, and for him that would be this company and the Chandlers. He won’t say anything.”
“Why not just sell Scott your dad’s share?”
“Since when do you care about seeing Scott succeed?” Liz shot back. Kurt just rocked the chair onto the back legs and shrugged. “I want to see him beaten off that pedestal he puts himself on. The perfect Scott Chandler needs to see he’s not so perfect after all.”
Kurt chuckled viciously. “So is this because he dumped you, or is it some kind of ‘Daddy’ thing?” Liz glared at him. “Okay, both. So what do I get out of this proposition?”
“My undying gratitude?”
Kurt slid the empty bottle onto the kitchen table. “Your undying gratitude almost got me killed the last time I saw Scott. Not interested.”
“You always said you wanted to get your own revenge. Steal his girl.”
“Hmm . . . Who is this girl?” A faint smile played at his lips. Liz knew he loved a challenge, and no girl really stood a chance against him when he turned on the charm.
“Some rodeo queen Daddy hired to train horses.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure how she convinced him . . .”
“A name, dear. Give me a name.”
“Sydney something, I think. I only met her for a second, and she’s pretty forgettable.” Liz was bored with the turn of conversation. She didn’t want to talk about Scott’s little bimbo.
Kurt bolted upright in the chair, upsetting the bottle on the table. “Thomas?”
“Geez, Kurt,” she reprimanded. “Be more careful.” Liz reached for the towel on the sink to wipe up his mess.
Kurt jumped up and grabbed her shoulders roughly. “Thomas, Liz?” He shook her when she didn’t answer right away. “Is her last name Thomas?” he yelled.
Liz slapped at his hands, trying to push him away. “That hurts!”
“Answer me, dammit!”
She’d seen Kurt get angry at other people, but he’d never launched his attack her direction. For the first time, she was truly afraid of him. She liked to be in control of every situation, and he suddenly seemed uncontrollable.
“I think so,” she finally managed, still trying to unlock his grip on her shoulders.
“I’ll do it.”
Liz was curious what sort of person could elicit a reaction like this out of Kurt. “What the hell?” She rubbed the spots she knew would be bruised by tomorrow morning. “I take it you know her?”
“I guess you could say that.” Kurt nodded, fingering the scar on his face.
SCOTT PULLED INTO the driveway and headed straight to the barn with Sydney following close behind. He knew that her curiosity was probably killing her, but she would be happy for the distraction when she saw what he had planned.
“Come on, slowpoke,” he teased.
Sydney stopped in her tracks. “I’m not taking another step until you tell me where we are going.”
Scott walked back to her and slid his hands down her arms, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “Come on, princess. Don’t ruin my surprise.”
Scott felt the pulse in her wrist speed up and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She looked up at him, her eyes glowing with unspoken doubt. “Trust me.” Scott pulled her into the barn where Noble and Valentino stood, saddled and waiting patiently. Valentino whickered a greeting before she even came into view. “I guess that’s two of us eating out of the palm of your hand, huh?”
“Right.” She laughed at his teasing and he was thrilled that they could spend a little more time together, even if they did have to work during the day.
Scott checked the gear in the pack strapped to the back of his saddle. Since Mike had gone ahead and set everything up for him earlier, he simply needed some provisions for their ride. “Okay, we have everything we need.”
Sydney mounted Valentino, and, to her credit, didn’t ask where they were headed. He wondered if she recognized the path out to the lake, where she and Derek had shared lunch right after her arrival. Scott looked over at her and marveled at how relaxed she became when she was on the back of a horse. It was as if nothing else in the world mattered any longer. She and the animal were part of the same body, sharing every breath and enjoying each experience with the other. Her joy was almost childlike.
“Want to stop and let the horses get a drink at the lake?”
“We aren’t staying here?” Her eyes shone brightly as she dismounted and led the stallion to the water’s edge.
Scott shrugged his shoulders, refusing to give her any hints. Dropping Valentino’s reins and letting him step into the cool water at the edge, Sydney twirled in place, laughing.
“I love this place.”
Scott chuckled at her antics. “Just wait until we get to where we are headed.”
“And that would be?” she said, trying to trick him into giving their destination away.
“Someplace where we’ll . . .” Scott stopped mid-sentence, looking out beyond the lake.
“What is it?” Sydney asked, moving closer to him.
Scott stared at the approaching figure until his mind registered the rider. He sighed and turned back to the horses. “It’s only Derek.”
“Derek? I’ve missed him the past few days.”
Sydney’s voice registered a little too much enthusiasm for his liking. A sharp stab of jealousy shot through him and he tried to shove it away. He realized that he usually didn’t feel jealous of any man, not because there was no reason to, but because he never let himself feel enough for any particular woman to warrant any possessive emotion. Scott hated the feeling, but couldn’t stop himself from slipping his arms around her waist and branding her as his as Derek approached.
“When did you guys get back? I never even saw the truck.”
“We haven’t.” Scott’s curt answer was meant to send Derek back to work. Sydney’s tight laugh was obviously an attempt to lighten the tension between the brothers.
“We just got back and Scott said he had a surprise for me, so we came for a ride.”
“Oh.” Scott didn’t miss the disappointment he heard in Derek’s voice, nor did he miss Derek’s glance at his arm draped around Sydney’s shoulders. “Maybe we can catch up over dinner then. You can let me know how the rodeo went.”
Scott arched a brow. Since when did Derek care how any rodeo went? “We’ll be gone for dinner too.”
Nice try, bro, but Sydney is mine.
Sydney and Derek both turned, looking at Scott incredulously, and he wondered if he’d actually spoken his thoughts aloud.
“Fine.” Derek mounted his horse and glanced back at Sydney over his shoulder, adjusting his baseball cap. “I can see I’m interrupting here, so I guess I’ll just be going.”
“Don’t worry,” Scott said as he slid his arm around Sydney’s waist and pulled her closer to his side. “She’s safe with me.”
Derek glared at his brother. “She’d better be.”
“You have something you want to get off your chest, Derek?” Scott challenged. Scott could tell his brother was fishing for Sydney to ask him to stay, but he wasn’t about to let it happen, not today. “Why don’t you just get back to work. I’ll make sure that Sydney’s in good hands.”
Derek shot a sad, pleading look toward Sydney before kicking his horse and taking off at a lope across the pasture. Scott pulled Sydney into his arms.
“Don’t you think you were a little bossy with him?” She shook her head. “What’s with you two?”
Now that Derek was gone, he could relish the feel of her in his arms, her body pressed up against his, causing a slow burn through his clothing. He felt his body ti
ghten in response to her breasts pressed against his chest. Scott smiled down at her and gave a husky laugh. “It’s you.”
“What’s me?” She tried to pull back, but he refused to release her.
“Derek’s jealous because he wants you but he knows you’re mine.” Scott pulled her against him, one hand caressing her back while the other found its way into her hair and tipped her head back.
“Somehow, I don’t think that’s it. Derek and I are just friends.”
“Wanna bet? Derek the lady-killer wants the one person he knows I won’t let him have.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Scott felt her tense up. He didn’t want to talk about his brother; he wanted to kiss her silly. To do that, he’d have to get where they were headed.
“Nothing.” He released her and headed to gather the horses from the edge of the water. He handed her Valentino’s reins and saw that she wasn’t happy with his answer. “Don’t get defensive, I just meant that you’re mine and I’m not letting you go anywhere.” He leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her pouting lips. “Come on, it’s not much farther.”
Sydney swung into her saddle. “Where are we going now?”
“To your surprise.” Scott checked his cinch and swung into his saddle. “You coming?”
“I’m right behind you, cowboy. Lead the way.”
SCOTT LED HER around the small lake and over a high hill to find a hidden valley. In the distance was a log home, towering over the terrain like a rustic castle. He directed her to a corral behind the massive house. Scott unsaddled Noble as Sydney followed his lead, removing Valentino’s tack and following him into the barn. Scott turned Valentino loose in the corral and put Noble into a stall.
“Come on.” Scott’s eyes shone with childlike excitement as he reached for her hand.