Page 7 of Stalked at Rescue Ridge

Kade was up, across the room, and in the guy’s face in two seconds flat. “Is something funny to you?”

“Actually, bro,” Beau said without flinching, “it is.”

Fists clenched at his sides, Kade fought the urge to knock Beau into next week. He’d been in control of his temper since he could grow hair on his chest. This dude pushed the limits. The cocky smile said he enjoyed pushing buttons. Kade needed to chill.

Besides, he had surveyors coming in an hour, and he needed to finish this meeting so he could get on with plans to sell the place. Kade didn’t want a dime from the sale, but Chloe needed the money to bring up Grayson. They’d be able to move out of the shoebox trailer into a house and put away plenty of money for Grayson’s education.

“You might not have expected me, but I’m here to stay,” Beau said. “And I’m looking forward to getting to know my brothers and sister and divvying up responsibilities so we can finally run this ranch as a family.”

What the hell?

Before Kade flew out of his chair a second time, Chloe had a hand on his arm.

“Can I speak to you out in the hall?” she asked. Pleaded was more like it.

Kade clenched his back teeth so hard he thought they would crack. “Fine.”

2

Bree pulled onto the shoulder next to the gate leading down the drive to the Sturgess ranch. She checked the time for the umpteenth time. The lawyer meeting should be in full swing at this point. Arrive too early, and Kade might see her and slip out the back door.

Would he, though?

The man had no reason to be in the same room with Bree again. No desire to boot. Those were facts.

She exited the vehicle. Her thoughts became clearer when she walked.

Should she climb back in the driver’s seat, bang a U-turn, head home, and forget this whole thing?

Would Kade leave town the minute this meeting was over?

Odds were good that was exactly what he would do. He’d been honest with her about hating Saddle Junction and his family’s ranch. There wasn’t anything here for him, he’d said. If it weren’t for his sister, he wouldn’t come back ever again.

Those words stung even now.

Kade had asked her why she’d stayed. What did her answer matter at that point? It was clear to her that he hadn’t wanted anything more than a few days of great sex. Despite promising herself she could walk away from her childhood crush, she’d caved when he’d turned on the charm.

What could she say?

Loving Kade had been as easy as breathing air, but one weekend had changed her life forever. She glanced down at the basketball-sized bump that had become her belly. Was she ready to be a mom? Nope. Did she have a choice? Nope. This seemed like a good time to remind herself that she always met challenges head-on. And who was ever ready for the responsibility of a baby?

Exhaling a slow breath, she rubbed her bump. “Hey, kiddo. Are you ready to meet your daddy?”

“Calm down,”Chloe pleaded.

“I am calm,” Kade said.

Chloe’s fisted hand went to her hip. She’d walked all the way out to the barn with him. “Is that why your nostrils are flaring, and I can almost see steam coming out of your ears?”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

“Is it?” she asked.

Kade issued a sharp sigh. “Are you telling me that you’re not the least bit upset about someone walking into the house claiming to be an heir at the reading of Beaumont’s will?”

“I don’t know what to think,” she admitted. “Our father was a real—”

“Asshole,” he said, cutting in.

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