Page 263 of Steamy Ever After

“You’re wrong. No matter how much time passes or space you give me, I’m not going to change my mind. Bye, Brodie.”

Once he was out the door, she closed it behind him, locked it, and rested against it. She needed to get the hell out of this house, but everywhere she thought to go would be a place she’d been with him. If she drove north, she’d pass Piedras Blancas. If she went south, she wouldn’t be able to think of anything other than the day she’d spent with him. Same thing if she went east, but her boys were east. That’s what she needed, time with her boys.

There was a bag in her closet, packed and ready for when she decided to stay at her parents’ guesthouse. She did it often enough. So, she grabbed it, went out the door to the garage, and got in her car.

When she passed the turnoff she and Brodie had taken the night before, she accelerated. When she reached the turnoff for Adelaida Trail, she contemplated going a different way around so she didn’t have to pass the gates of Butler Ranch, but that was silly. She could drive by. It wouldn’t affect her.

BRODIE

He gave his horse a hard nudge, and she knew what it meant. His sweet little chestnut Morgan loved to run as much as he did. He’d named her Baroness when he bought her, and only Brodie would call her little. She was over sixteen hands, with a compact build and strong-as-hell hindquarters.

When he took her over the hills and out to the pasture near the front gates of the ranch, he glanced up and saw the little black BMW fly by and the long blonde hair of the woman driving it.

The car had to be going seventy, at least. It could handle the curves of the road at those speeds without any problem, but he still didn’t like Peyton driving that fast. He had half a mind to return Baroness to the barn, hop in his car, and follow her. No doubt she was headed to the sanctuary of her parents’ ranch.

Instead, he slowed his horse. Last night had been the best sex of his life, and that was saying something. It was more, though. When he’d told Peyton she was his, he’d meant it.

Something had spooked her. Regardless of what it was, he wouldn’t allow her to keep her distance for very long. The connection between them was real. It was powerful and undeniable.

“Wish you’d come to me, older brother,” Brodie said to the sky. “I’ve never needed your advice more than I do right now. As much as you may think she needs me, I need her more.”

PEYTON

“Mom!” Finn raced over and jumped into her arms, wrapping his legs around her waist and linking his feet behind her. “You’re here! Grandpa’s at Stave, working ’cause you’re sick. Are you feeling better?”

“I am feeling better, now that I’m here.” She tousled his hair. “I missed you, kiddo.”

“Missed you too, Mom.” He let go, and his feet hit the ground. “You stayin’ for dinner? It’s almost ready.”

“Sure am.” Peyton could smell the aroma of her mom’s Santa Maria-style tri-tip.

“Hi, darling girl. Are you feeling better?”

She stepped into her mother’s arms and rested her head on her mom’s shoulder. Peyton got her height from both her parents, along with their long, thin, Germanic facial features. Her high cheekbones and long wavy hair, she got from her mom alone.

Her name was August, for the month of her birth, and Peyton couldn’t imagine a more fitting name for her. Jamison was named after her dad, and while Lang chose Finn’s name, Peyton loved it too.

“I’m okay. Weird dreams.”

Her mom wrapped Peyton’s arm in hers, and went in the opposite direction of the house. “Tell me what’s going on, Peyton. I know it’s more than a weird dream.”

“I’ve been spending time with Brodie Butler.”

“I see.”

“What does that mean?”

Her mom smiled. “Nothing.”

“It’s so weird.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Come on, Mom. You have to admit it is.”

Her mother kept walking without speaking until they came to the prettiest spot on the ranch. The view of the valley always took Peyton’s breath away.

“I’m going to tell you something you may not like.”

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