Page 27 of Burning for the Truth

Ivie says my name. “Briella, I’ll talk to Sterling. And you know Lucy will talk to Tate. I understand where you’re coming from about needing them to loosen the reins so to speak, but please try to go easy on them. They love you so much, just like we do”—she motions between her and Lucy—“we all watched you break, and we never want to see that happen to you again.”

“I love you too, all of you.” I wink and add, “Save me a cupcake. I’ll be back to get in my kisses from Aria too.” I smile at the two women in my life I know I can trust with anything before heading off in search of Dean.

I spot him instantly, leaning on his truck. When I reach him, he doesn’t say a word. “What did you hear?” I ask softly.

He shuffles his weight back and forth on his feet a few times and keeps his expression glazed. “Nothing I wouldn’t have guessed myself. I know your heart belongs to Drew. And I know you have no intention of trying to move on with the likes of me.”

I don’t like this side of Dean. He’s almost resigned and it’s like he’s accepted defeat. My heart suddenly feels like it’s being squeezed with the thought of what Ivie and Lucy hinted at before. Dean might be as broken as me. We both might need saving, but how can two broken souls be the ones to save each other?

I move closer as his haunted, stormy gaze meets mine. I take his face in both of my hands. “Dean, don’t you dare put yourself down. You’re one of the best men I know. And don’t try to understand a broken heart. Trying to understand the timeline of a broken heart is like trying to understand why rain won’t come when you want it to, but only when you’ve all but given up hope that it will. It’s in those desperate moments before prayers are answered things become clear. Things will become clear again. When we least expect it.”

He takes me in his arms and pulls me flush against him, kissing the top of my head as he rocks us gently from side to side. I breathe him in and see Sterling, Tate, and Hawk staring at us. I refuse to let whatever my relationship is with Dean, come between him and my brother. There’s been enough loss lately for everyone. I silently promise to somehow make things right between them, even if I finish breaking my own heart in the process.

Driving to Valley B after the encounter with Chelsea has me gripping the steering wheel. I know Sterling was trying to help by putting the idea of us dating in her head, but it’s definitely not helping. She’s a sweet girl who doesn’t need to be caught up with the likes of me. Not to mention she isn’t Briella. Time never seems to be on our side. In my heart I wonder if I could ever be good enough for her. Is there a chance in hell she might ever love me?

When I pull up at Valley B, I go straight into the house hoping that’s where she is. I was right, but the words I heard slip through her lips as I quietly entered crushed any hope that might’ve been blooming for us. She said she isn’t meant for me. She might not be meant for anyone because she misses Drew so badly. Guilt gnaws at my soul for having feelings for a woman who should be off-limits because oftwodifferent best friends; two different reasons.

I turn around before anyone sees me, but I allow the door to slam on my way back out. I make my way to my truck and stare blankly at the rolling hills of Valley B, deep in thought. How could she ever truly love me or give me a chance? She may not blame me for losing Drew,but I blame me. I should’ve been able to get him out. I should’ve pushed him out of the way. If she ever dated me, I’d be nothing but second choice and a grim reminder of what she used to have. I’m nowhere near the kind of man he was. He was…good. It’s not that I’m bad, but I’ve broken her heart before. I haven’t made the best choices when it comes to love.

When she follows me outside, the words she says, they make sense. I hear her. But part of me believes she’s only telling me what she thinks I need to hear. Still, I hold her like her words are meant for me, for us. Like somewhere under all the pain and sorrow we’ve felt in the last several months is something we can move on from…together.

She tenses slightly and I see Tate and Sterling headed our way. I kiss her head and release her so I can prepare for another round with them. If either of them decided to take a swing at me, especially Sterling, I’d let them. I know I’m a jerk for sleeping with her last night. But dammit, in that moment she needed me, and it felt right.

She turns to face them, standing slightly in front of me as if she can shield me from their wrath. Hawk trails a little further behind them as if he wants to stay neutral.

My little fighter speaks first. “If you’re coming to criticize and not listen, then turn around. I already told you my love life, no matter who I’m sharing it with, is none of your business. You can’t pass judgement on either of us, when we haven’t even examined it ourselves.”

Tate’s head drops in shame and Hawk appears like he’d rather be anywhere but standing here witnessing this. Sterling, however, doesn’t cower. He and Briella have the same stubborn tendencies. It’s not likely either of them will back down easily.

“Briella, I—” She cuts him off.

“No, there’s no excuse for you to treat your best friend any differently because he was with me.” As she talks, his face reddens, and he clenches his jaw. “I know you don’t want to think about me in that way, but I’m not a little girl who needs protecting.Youasked Dean to take care of me last night and he did.”

Sterling stares at me like he might strangle me with his bare hands as she keeps talking. “I’ve been so numb. He gave me what no one else has been able to. When Ivie came back into your life, I was worried about you. And you told me there were things I didn’t understand, but I needed to trust you.” She steps forward and takes Sterling’s hands brazenly. “I’m telling you the same thing. There’s stuff you don’t understand, but please trust me. And please don’t punish Dean in the process. He’s done nothing wrong.”

He pulls her into him, hugging her. When he lets her go, he looks to me solemnly. “I need a little time, but I’m not mad. Just…give me time to wrap my head around this.”

I don’t say anything, I simply nod and wonder to myself if it’s better to have him angry at me, or disappointed in me. I’ve clearly let him down. My head hangs as I watch him retreat. Tate glances at me and the look on his face is full of pity. He turns back to the barn and Hawk follows after giving me a slight nod which also conveys his sympathy for my situation.

Briella is all that remains after a few minutes. She gazes out over the expansive rolling hills of their ranch before settling her sight back on me. “Maybe you should give me a little time too. I’m safe here with my brother, so go and do whatever it is you’d normally be doing if you weren’t trying to babysit me.” Her words cut but I can’t deny her.

I can’t help myself. When it comes to Briella Brigg, I’m a fool. I can’t bear to walk away from her without one last kiss. And it very well may be our last. I pull her into me causing her breath to hitch. Her eyes widen in surprise and she glances from my eyes to my lips. Before I can talk myself out of it and be only her friend again, I press my lips to hers and she lets out a little gasp. I deepen the kiss and our tongues tangle in a fiery dance. Once we both come up for air, I kiss her forehead and open my truck door.

I don’t so much as cast her a glance as I leave—I can’t. But I can feel her stare on my truck as I pull out of the drive, and I know I just left my heart at Valley B Ranch. She wants time, I’ll give it to her. I got the message loud and clear. She needed to feel alive last night. I was convenient and that’s okay. I feel responsible for her losing the man she loves. If I could temporarily erase her pain even for one night, I’d do it again.

But she’s crazier than I thought if she thinks I’m backing off watching out for her. No matter what’s going on between me and her, someone is after her. We all know it and she knows it. What the guy said to her last night was a warning. He may not have been focused on her before, but he is now.

If I have to protect her from the shadows, it’s what I’ll do. I know all of us will do what’s necessary to keep her safe. Even if it means burning down everything I care about in the process.

A few hours later, Tate calls. “Hello?” I answer on the first ring.

“Hey, Dean. Thought you should know; Bree is headed to High Road Bar. She goes to see Brittney a lot these days, so I assume it’s why she’s going tonight. She made me and Sterling both promise to stay away. And Hawk won’t go because of Brittney.” He pauses and mumbles, “Still don’t know the story behind that.”

I think back to Sterling and Ivie’s wedding, and I agree, there’s a story there for sure. “So, I guess I’m up, then,” I remark flatly.

He pulls in a calming breath. “It would seem so. You okay, dude? You going to be able to handle this without—”

“Without what, Tate?” I ask through gritted teeth, irritated he thinks I’ll hurt her...

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