Page 25 of Wrangling Nash

In an instant, all the attraction, empathy, and feelings I had for Brooke vanished. I had never understood how someone could shift instantaneously from profound love to intense hatred for a person until that moment. When I looked over at her still on the floor, I felt nothing. It was as if a switch had flipped in my heart. Perhaps it was confirmation that the uneasiness I had been feeling recently wasn’t misplaced.

“How long?” I asked, my voice steady and calm.

She looked back at me and whispered, “Six months.”

I nodded, walked to the back where our room was, pulled out a bag, and began to pack my things. My sudden indifference towards her and Mark was so profound that I found myself not caring anymore about what I’d just witnessed. It was surprisingly eerie just how calm I felt amid encountering such a disturbing scene.

Brooke, however, was still clinging to something. She hastily put her dress back on, kicked Mark out, and ran into the back room as she grabbed my arm in an attempt to stop my packing. “It meant nothing, Nash. Please believe me that it was just about the sex.”

“Let go of me, Brooke.” I stated firmly but calmly.

“Please don’t go, Nash. What about your job with the city and the life we have here together?”

“We have nothing anymore. We’re done,” I snapped, brushing her arm off and disregarding the rest of my belongings strewn throughout our apartment before I stormed out the door.

And that was the day I realized that a woman who loved the city, would never be satisfied with a cowboy from the country.

Chapter 21: Jovie

Present Day

It was Friday, marking the end of my third week at the ranch and I was once again working with Wylie.

He had eased up a bit during our second week together where most of the week was spent diving into the marketing and sales strategy for the crops and livestock on the property – his forte. Wylie excelled at negotiating with vendors and handling purchases, making him the go-to guy for auctions. And though Wylie still liked to get a rise out of me, he and I were getting along surprisingly well, and I was enjoying his company. At least I knew I could always count on Wylie to tell me how he felt. Unlike Nash who I couldn't seem to read since our steamy encounter last week.

As our Friday evening wrapped up, we returned to the house to find Gloria unloading bags full of groceries onto the counter.

“What’s all this?” Wylie asked.

I grinned, “I gave Gloria the evening off as a thank you for taking such loving care of my grandfather's house. And in appreciation of you and your brothers’ assistance over the past month, I thought I'd make a taco bar for dinner. I invited Clay and Nash too.”

Wylie leaned down to kiss my cheek with a big grin, “Did I ever tell you that you’re my favorite neighbor? We might just need to keep her around, Gloria,” he added, winking at our housekeeper, who chuckled.

“I’m going to hit the shower, but you’re welcome to join me, Jovie. Wouldn’t mind seeing what other skills you have.”

Rolling my eyes, I replied, “Dinner will be ready in an hour, Wylie.”

Gloria tended to the pool while I completed unpacking the remaining groceries she had purchased. Once I finished, I organized the taco toppings into various bowls and arranged them on the kitchen island. While saying goodbye to Gloria and wishing her a pleasant weekend, I faced away from the door as I seasoned the meat and added it to the pan, breaking it up and stirring it thoroughly.

About ten minutes later I heard a door open, and assumed it was Wylie coming back out after his shower.

“That was a quick shower. I hope it was because you were thinking about Lana and not me while you were in there jerking off,” I teased over my shoulder.

The figure who’d entered behind me stopped abruptly, as I heard a bag drop to the ground. Turning around, I expected to find Wylie, but it was Nash, and his eyes were much angrier than I had anticipated. At that same moment Wylie exited from the guest bedroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still damp as he used another towel to dry it.

“Oh, hey little bro.” Wylie said nodding in Nash’s direction.

Nash’s eyes shifted between me and Wylie as I stood frozen with the taco meat spatula suspended in the air. Wylie finished drying his hair as he looked back and forth between us.

“Weird energy in here, guys.”

Nash snarled, “Can you at least put some clothes on, please?”

“What fun would that be?” Wylie retorted, rolling his eyes, and heading back into the bedroom. Thankfully, Clay entered through the front door seconds later providing a distraction so that I could turn my back to Nash again and scoop the meat into a bowl while avoiding his piercing gaze. I placed it on the counter and greeted Clay with a hug.

“You’re the best,” Clay said, kissing my cheek, and working to assemble three large tacos. Nash hadn’t yet moved, still standing by the door, silently observing our comfortable dynamic. I wondered if he thought there was something more going on between myself and his brothers.

And why would he care if there was? Aren’t I just another girl from the city?

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