Page 21 of Claiming What Is Mine

Chapter Eleven

Gabe

My turnsignal clicks as I wait for the oncoming car to pass. This is my last chance to change my mind before I turn onto the drive of the Still ranch. What are the chances I’ll even run into Meredith's dad? It’s the middle of the day for God’s sake; he’s sure to be out working. If I weren’t playing hooky right now, I know I’d be out on the ranch, somewhere. Calm down, everything will be fine.This was a good idea.

Meredith is going to love the surprise visit. Okay, Meredith will look back on this surprise visit fondly. Someday.

Probably.

The car passes, and the road is clear. Last chance—time to piss or get off the pot. I push the accelerator and turn the wheel. “No going back now,” I mutter as the tires roll onto the gravel.

I try my best to steady my heartbeat against the rumble of the exhaust as I ease towards the house. Why does this make me feel like a teenager, breaking a rule? Why should I even care what a grumpy old man thinks? I’m a grown ass man myself. I don’t need her father’s permission to show up and take a grown ass…err. A mature, adult woman out for the afternoon. She can make her own choices. And she did too, damnit. She chose me. And that’s what I’d say to him too. So back off, old man. Yeah. Just like that.

I almost have myself believing my bullshit—until I catch sight of, not only Meredith’s dad, Jim (as if that isn’t bad enough) but her brother, James too. They’re both in the driveway, ten feet or so from where I’m about to be, heads down, under the hood of a truck.

“Sh-it.” I smack the steering wheel as the word rolls off my tongue.

They clearly have their hands full, maybe they don’t have time to inquire about every person who stops by? Sure. That seems totally plausible. I put the truck in park and kill the engine. Defensively, I adjust the bill of my hat, re-forming the edges into a tight curve and then pulling it low before I open the door.

James looks up from the engine. “Afternoon. Something I can help you with?” He’s cordial enough, but considering we’ve known one another for the better part of twenty years, the formality of his words gives me pause.

“Afternoon.” I nod. “I was hoping to talk to Meredith. Is she home?”

His friendly demeanor fades. “Gee. I’m afraid she’s real busy.” He brings his stupid hand up to his stupid chin, swirling his stupid finger around as he pretends to think. “I’ll tell you what I can do. You give me the message, and I’ll see she gets it.”

Before I can open my big mouth and say something crass Jim moves behind his son, distracting me. “Wow. That’s kind of you.” I look to both men. “Do either of you have a pen and paper handy?”

James looks surprised by the question. “Sorry. I’m afraid I don’t.”

I drop my head slightly. “Shoot. It’s a pretty long message. Probably be best to write it down so you don’t forget anything.” I look to the house. “Why don’t I just knock and see if there’s anyone in there?” I turn and briskly walk towards the door. “Meredith?” I yell. “You in there? I need some paper and a pen if you have it.”

“Not so fast, Wilde. ” James scurries past me down the walk, while Jim does his best to keep pace behind us. “I tried to be polite, but let me be blunt. We don’t want you here. Meredith doesn’t want you here. You need to leave. Now.” James looks past me, apparently seeking reassurance from his father. What a tool.

“Gentlemen.” I step off the sidewalk and turn to get both men in my field of view. “I feel like we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. We’re all adults here.”

Standing to my right, Jim looks like he has something to say, but only scoffs.

I bring up my palms. “I assure you, my intentions are pure. I want to see Meredith. If she wants to see me, of course.” I pause to collect my thoughts. Neither of these men appear in-the-loop about our dating situation. “If she doesn’t, I’ll leave. No issue. So why don’t you both take a breath, back off a little, and maybe let the lady decide?”

James shakes his head. “Why don’t you take a hint and get the hell off our land,” he demands, as he grabs my shoulder.

A thousand thoughts race through my mind. Do I knock him on his ass for putting his hands on me? Is that grounds for an assault charge? I’m on their land, how does that work? Could I even be upset with the county sheriff, Cody, if he did arrest me? Will Meredith think I started this? I did show up unannounced. That last one tips the scales. If I get into a fistfight with one of her brothers and she blames me, it will ruin everything. I decide not to push the issue. “Alright, alright. I’ll go. Take it easy.”

James pushes me, shoving me away from the house. I spin on my heel and rear my arm back, rolling my shoulder. “Unless you want to lose it, take your goddamned hand off me,” I warn. I look him dead in the eye to make certain he’s aware it’s no idle threat.

Okay, I decided not to push the issue, but I have my boundaries.

James is not a small man. He stands well over six feet, besting me by two or three inches. Judging by the look in his eye, I’d say we both know I could take him in a scuffle nine out of ten times. I give him one in ten odds just to be fair. I mean, I could always trip over my foot, fall, and hit my head. Or something. Satisfied we’ve reestablished our boundaries, I turn back to my truck.

“Gabe?” Meredith calls from the doorway. “What are you doing here? And, why are you leaving?”

“We’ve got this under control, darling,” Jim calls back to his daughter. “Gabe made a mistake coming out here, is all.”

I stop again, this time to get a look at my girl. She stands in the doorway, her hair hastily pulled back in a bun with strands falling here and there, framing her face in the most adorable way. She’s dressed in fuzzy pajama pants, and a much-too-large-to-be-hers t-shirt, with a brown stain down the middle.

She’s perfection.

“Hey,” I say around James, who appears intent on obstructing my view of her, or perhaps, her view of me. “I thought I’d surprise you. Take you out for lunch.” I lift my arms to my sides. “Surprise.”

Her lips curl into a smile as she steps through the door. “Yeah. This is a surprise. You got that part right. On a technicality, anyhow.” She walks up behind her brother and pushes him out of her way. “Jesus, James. Enough already.” She levels a look at both men. “Don’t you two have something else you should be doing?”

Jim looks at his feet and then to his daughter. “Sweetheart. I don’t think, given everything else you have going on in your life…” he begins.

Meredith cuts him off. “I’m a big girl, Daddy. Thank you for your concern, but I think I’m capable of deciding who I talk to.” She jerks her thumb in my direction. “And if he steps out of line, I’ll yell for you to come and knock his block off.” She takes my hand in hers and winks. “Come on, let’s go inside where we can have a little privacy.”

I give James a condescending, fuck-youlook over my shoulder as Meredith leads me into the house.

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