by Amy Vastine
No kidding.
Not that Justin could talk.
Boyd’s sober expression deepened when his gaze shifted to Justin. “I’ve been hoping to catch you. As you know, your mother and I’ve been courting.”
“Is that what you call a con these days?” Justin challenged, staring hard at Boyd.
“Justin!” Brielle hit him with her death-by-glare expression, and he felt a pang of guilt. She always caught him at his worst. Would she ever see his good side?
Did he have a good side?
Boyd held up a hand. “There’s a lot of history between our families, Ms. Thompson. No apologies needed. Still. I love Joy and, for some reason, she’s decided to take pity on this old cowboy and love me back. I’m hoping to ask for her hand, but I won’t do it unless I have the support of all her children, since I know how important that’d be to her. It’s important to me, too. I promise to make her the happiest woman, to cherish her as she deserves and to always take care of her.”
“With what money?” Justin spit with bubbling frustration. “Hers?”
Brielle’s mouth dropped open, and her disappointed expression cut him deep.
Boyd lifted his chin, staring down from his imposing height. “I won’t deny we’ve had our challenges at Loveland Hills, but I’ve always provided for my family—and I’d never touch a dime of Joy’s money. Her heart’s all I want. And her hand.”
“Right.” Justin schooled his tense face back to neutral and forced his shoulders to relax. “Then sign one of those things, uh, a prenup, and prove it.”
Boyd crushed his hat between his hands. “You think I haven’t offered? When I was feeling her out about the general topic, she vowed marriages were not business transactions.”
Yep. That sounded like his sentimental, softhearted ma.
Justin watched the last of the sun slip over the horizon and wished he could chase after it. He wanted to escape this tangled moment, extinguish this anguished day.
Boyd stepped closer and cocked his head. “Would you consider thinking on it some?”
A muscle in Justin’s jaw pulsed as he ground his teeth. “No.”
Boyd’s face fell, softening Justin a touch.
“Besides,” Justin added, “I’m not the only holdout.”
Boyd donned his hat and cupped the brim into a C shape. Despite his polite smile, his expression was one of pain, the kind you couldn’t stop with aspirin. “That’s true. Though I’m grateful for Jack, James and Jared’s support. Hoping, in time, I can convince you and your sister to change your minds, too.” A fleeting smile twisted his lips. “Everyone deserves happiness, especially your ma. Y’all have a good night, now.” He tipped his hat then climbed the hospital stairs with a slight hitch in his step.
Justin gaped after Boyd’s broad back, mind in overdrive. Jared caved?
Now only he and Jewel stood between his mother and the biggest mistake of her life.
Brielle cleared her throat. “He’s right. Everyone deserves happiness.”
He stared into her beautiful green eyes, and his heart constricted. “But they don’t always get it.”
A rushing family jostled them on their way into the hospital while a driver honked at a waving woman in a wheelchair.
“Let’s go over there.” Brielle pointed to a large duck pond farther down the hospital’s front lawn. “I’m not ready to head back yet.”
A couple of minutes later they stood on the grassy embankment, their hands brushing, the slight contact seizing him with a hard, hungry need to hold her, kiss her and forget everything but the incredible feelings only she aroused.
“What are you afraid will happen if your mother marries Boyd?” Her voice startled a pair of geese who took to the sparkling water with indignant squawks.
Justin watched the V-shaped wake trailing behind the paddling birds. “She’ll get her heart broken. It took her years to smile again after Jesse’s passing. It wasn’t until Javi and Sofia showed up that she became herself. I don’t want to lose her again.”
“Ah.” Sofia tucked her skirt and knelt on the grass.
“What’s that mean?” he asked, joining her on the soft, cushioned ground. Above, squirrels scurried and chittered on an oak’s branches, sending missiles of acorns thudding to earth.
“You don’t want to lose her to the Lovelands.”
“I—” He snapped his mouth shut as the truth hit him square on the jaw. He didn’t want to lose anyone he cared about ever again…his mother or…
He studied Brielle’s strong profile.
Or Brielle.
He was falling for her, hard, and if he wasn’t careful, his mother’s heart wouldn’t be the only one broken. “I’ve already lost someone I love.”
Her fingertip traced his rough knuckles, quickening his pulse. “You won’t lose her.”
“She’ll move away.”
“Next door.”
Another acorn pinged on a rock and jetted into the water. “Cades live on the Cade ranch.”
“Doesn’t your brother Jack live across state?”
“Yes,” he admitted, stealing a glance at her.
“You and Jesse planned on traveling, climbing mountains, seeing the world,” she insisted, earnest. “You were okay leaving the Cade ranch then.”
He let the thought roll around in his head. Anything he felt during that time of his life had gotten shoved into a vault, its ten-foot-thick door slamming as soon as it went in, just in case something in there had any intention of crawling out. “That was with Jesse.”
“Nothing’s stopping you from going now.”
Nothing except his growing feelings for Brielle…and his loyalty to his brother.
He picked up an acorn and rolled it between his thumb and index finger. Then he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, making sure all residual feelings were under control.
“I won’t leave Jesse.” With a snap of his wrist, he flung the acorn far out into the middle of the pond. Concentric rings spread from where it dropped.
“Jesse’s gone, Justin,” Brielle said gently.
“He’s still here. Six feet under, but he’s right there beside Pa in our family plot.”
“I see.”
Did she? Silence expanded between them, a quiet understanding that loosened the pressure in his chest. Her willingness not to press, to back off and let him breathe and feel, shoved the truth from his heart. “I won’t abandon my brother like I once did.”
“But you’re abandoning the dream you two shared. Would he approve of that?”
He shook his head, thoughts swirling. “It’s not up to him,” he croaked.
“It’s up to you. How you live your life. How you honor your brother. How you find happiness again.”
“What about you?” he asked, turning the tables, needing to switch the spotlight, fast. “Are you happy?”
Brielle plucked a brilliant orange leaf beside her feet and twirled it by its stem. “I’m working on that,” she answered obliquely, no mention of the dog tags belonging to William Pelton. Would she ever trust him with her painful past?
“I hoped I’d find happiness when I moved out here. With the community against us, though, I suppose I’ll be leaving once they vote.” She shooed away a hovering fly.
“Carbondale’s a small town, and they don’t take easily to outsiders.” Justin shrugged. “If you spent time with the community, socially, they’d get to know you. They’d grow to trust you…listen to you.”
Her brows scrunched together. “We’re doing the open house.”
“How about meeting locals on their turf? There’s a Halloween parade on Friday. I could take you to it. Introduce you around.”
Her sudden, teasing smile made her eyes glow and his breath catch. “Because you’re the perfect person to help me socialize.” She smacked her forehead wi
th her palm. “Now why didn’t I think of that?”
“Hey,” he protested, enjoying her tweaking, his dark mood lifting. “I can be a charmer when I want to be.”
“Oh, yeah?” she challenged, leaning in.
“Yeah.”
Her face was so close their breath mingled. “Then it’s a date, cowboy.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“YOU LOOK NICE.”
Brielle turned from Fresh Start’s reception desk and smiled uncertainly at Craig Sheldon’s compliment. “Too much?” She yanked down the fluttering above-the-knee hem of her white angel costume while simultaneously holding up its neckline. The feat required intense focus, Olympic coordination skills and a blessed miracle. Was she a celestial being or a pole dancer in a halo, for goodness’ sake?
“She’s one hot angel.” Doreen blew a plate-size bubble then sucked it back in, the red of her gum blending with her bright lipstick. “Wish it’d looked that good on me.”
“Maybe there’s still time for me to change…”
Doreen traipsed to the bottom of the stairs wearing a white handkerchief masquerading as a nurse costume. Leaning on the banister, she barred Brielle’s flight. “You’ve got nice legs. Show ’em off for once. Besides, the only other costume I could loan you is my Playboy librarian outfit.”
“A playboy librarian?” Craig’s voice rose, skeptical.
“Yeah. See, it’s mostly just pages from books that are glued in, ah, strategic places. Real classy, though. Oh, and a bookmark.” Doreen twisted and pointed over her shoulder. “Goes right down there. You know. For modesty.”
“Right,” Craig drawled, chuckling.
Brielle shuddered and stared down at her bare knees, toying with one of the elaborate curls Doreen had arranged around her face earlier. Since Brielle had spent most of her life in sensible skirts, uniforms or fatigues, she’d nearly forgotten what her legs looked like. Smooth and not too knobby…was she being horribly vain in thinking they passed muster?
Would Justin think she looked pretty?
She squelched the question.
She’d spent too much time obsessing over it today as she’d prepared for their Halloween parade date. A shiver of anticipation danced up her spine whenever her dark rider came to mind, leaving her hot and cold and full of jitters.
At the stable, bad boy Justin had behaved like a gentleman, giving her space to make up her mind about kissing him again. Since then, whenever their eyes met, she heard the unspoken question between them. Did she want to kiss him again?
Yes.
Badly.
But what a person wanted and what they needed were often two different things, as her training had taught her.
Seeing tough Justin cradle his niece the other night had melted her through and through. His rough facade crumbled as he’d cooed to the newborn, his big heart out on his sleeve. Then, when he’d confessed his fear of losing people he loved, she’d understood it’d be wrong to toy with his heart, especially when she didn’t understand her own. She had a history of abandoning those who relied on her…to tragic ends. And Justin’s careless disregard for life already made him susceptible to rash decisions.
If anything happened to another person on her watch, especially someone she was developing strong feelings for, she’d fall, too…and this time her bootstraps wouldn’t be enough to pull herself up again.
William Pelton’s letter flashed in her mind’s eye.
Without you, I had no one else to turn to…
She shuddered. Too much blood stained her hands already.
Plus, if the community voted to revoke Fresh Start’s charter, she’d leave Carbondale and Justin for good. Disappointment whirled inside, a dark funnel. Better to keep her distance emotionally. Now she just needed to convince her yearning heart of that.
She jerked her gaze off her limbs, folded her arms across her chest then yanked them down again when they pushed her cleavage higher in the scoop neckline. Argh. She really needed to change. She turned back to Craig. “Do you have everything in hand for the night? Any last questions?”
“Where do you keep the vodka?” Craig deadpanned.
“Right next to the Jack Daniel’s, sheesh.” Brielle rolled her eyes, and Doreen giggled. “Seriously. Are you all set?”
“I’ve only read a third of your list—” Craig shook her ink-covered sticky note “—but I hope to finish before you return.”
“Okay. I get it. I’m being a mother hen. It’s just…we can’t afford even the slightest mess up, or we’ll lose whatever chance we have of winning the town vote.”
Craig saluted her. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll hold down the fort.”
She stiffened at the familiar gesture she no longer deserved.
“Nice hippie costume, Dr. Sheldon,” Doreen observed, chomping on her gum.
Craig smoothed a hand over his fringed suede vest. Wearing a tie-dyed scarf, a Have a Nice Day T-shirt, bell-bottom jeans and flip-flops, he exuded a laid-back chill Brielle envied. “Oh, I didn’t dress up.”
Brielle bit back a grin when Doreen momentarily choked on her gum.
And where was Justin? He should’ve been here fifteen minutes ago.
A loud gasp sounded, and Brielle’s gaze flew from a bug-eyed Doreen to a tall, masked bandit stalking across the entrance hall. His boot spurs clanked with each menacing stride. Wearing a black cowboy hat with a matching kerchief tied around his face and a pair of gleaming, holstered pistols in a cartridge belt, he resembled a Wanted: Armed and Extremely Dangerous poster.
A shiver danced up her spine until brilliant hazel eyes gleamed at her.
“Justin?”
He bowed, pulled down his kerchief, lifted her hand to his lips and seared her flesh with a light, heart-stopping kiss. “M’lady.”
“Holy Wyatt Earp!” breathed Doreen.
Justin’s eyes dropped to Brielle’s toes and dragged slowly up the length of her body, his gaze a scorching caress, making her skin flush red-hot. Oh. My. He was gorgeous, all edgy, dangerous swagger, confidence oozing from every pore of his muscled flesh. He wasn’t just playing an ominous outlaw, he was one—a desperado who made women swoon and lesser men flee. Except beneath his hard exterior beat the heart of a tender, caring, sensitive man…layers upon layers that made her care more for him every day.
Was she falling in love with Justin?
“What’s your costume?” Doreen asked, avidly staring, chewing openmouthed.
“A Teletubby.”
Brielle chuckled. “You nailed it.”
“And you look beautiful.” His low baritone vibrated in the short space between them, bending the blood streaming in her veins.
“Thank you,” she answered breathlessly.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Craig called as they strolled to the door.
“That’s a pretty short list,” Doreen teased, and then the door shut behind them and silence descended.
“Will you be cold in that?” Justin asked when they stepped off the front porch, his eyes sticking to Brielle, wide and unblinking.
Her heart beat loud in her ear. “No. The weatherman said we’re breaking a record today. Warmest temperature ever measured in October.”
“It sure is plenty hot.” Justin mock leered at her, and she swatted him away, her hand lingering on his firm chest before she dropped it.
“We’d better get going,” she blurted, her words halting as she struggled to catch her breath. “The parade starts in a half hour.”
When Justin looped his arm in hers, she pulled away. “We’re not a couple in front of them.” She pointed to the lit Main Street down the hill.
Justin stopped and traced a finger down the side of her cheek. “What about in private?”
“Justin.” She sighed. “Things are complicated.”
He hung his head a m
oment then nodded. “Whatever m’lady wishes,” he teased lightly, yet she heard the bruise behind his words.
“It’s not that I don’t like you…”
“You like me?”
“Too much,” she admitted.
His eyes sparkled, and a smile lifted the edges of his kerchief.
“But you also scare me.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to lose anyone else I care about again.”
“Oh.”
She tore her gaze from his and resumed her trek. “How about we just have fun tonight and forget everything else?”
“Your wish is my command, m’lady.”
“And what’s with the ‘m’lady’ thing?”
“I promised to be charming. Men say that in romance books, right?”
“When did you start reading romance books?” Justin Cade, renegade cowboy, sensitive rebel, wounded bad boy and now a romance reader?
“Ma has a stack of them by her knitting basket. Jewel, Jesse and I used to act them out on rainy days.”
He fell silent and the houses they passed began to crowd one another, side yards disappearing as they turned into duplexes, then eventually businesses.
“That sounds like fun.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught his quick nod. Given the dark night, his large hat and kerchief, she couldn’t discern his expression.
“I always played the Viking or the pirate.”
“Sounds like typecasting to me.”
A deep chuckle rumbled out of Justin. “Suppose. Jewel always wanted to play the cowboys, which meant Jesse got stuck acting out the women mostly. Not that he minded. He’d pinch his nose with a clothespin, wear one of Ma’s aprons and swish around the room until we had to stop reading for laughing.”
“You were so close.”
“Always thought we were the luckiest family.”
“Good times are ahead, Justin. Now you’ve got baby Jesse…”
A truck festooned with orange and black crepe paper rumbled past on its way to join the parade. White fog belched from a smoke machine placed amid the elaborate graveyard constructed on its bed. Justin didn’t return the driver’s wave. “Uh-uh…we agreed to only talk about fun things.”