Page 34 of Seized by the Lawman

“Like hell there isn’t. I don’t understand the anger.” He wasn’t paying attention to her. He climbed behind the steering wheel and reached out to grab the handle, but she slipped between him and the door, crossing her arms over her chest.

“What the hell are you doing?” His pinched expression could have scared away the bravest of men, but Melly wasn’t one to scare easily, at least not by a man she knew had a warm heart.

“What’s wrong with me? Don’t you mean what is wrong with you, Nix? You’re acting like a scolded bear. Are you angry because I choose not to feed my fears?” He ignored her and turned his cheek to stare through the front window. She could see a muscle in his jaw clicking. “This is childish,” she huffed.

“And you not taking this seriously is childish too.”

“Are you angry because I took a slap at lawmen? That they’re paranoid?”

“I don’t want to talk about this. I’m leaving.” His hands were tight on the steering wheel, about as tight as his jaw.

“Not until I get a grasp on what I said that has turned you upside down.”

A tense second passed and then he turned to look at her, his pensive glare bearing into her. “Want to know the truth? Fine. I don’t think you’re ready to take leadership of this place, Melly. Up until this point in your adulthood you’ve lived like a spoiled child. You’ve gone from one playboy to the next. Even quit college to pursue being a reality star. Look where that got you. Maybe your dad is right. Maybe this is a bit too much for you and you should let him sell the place and you move back to your bubble.”

His harsh words sliced through her. “Is that how you feel?”

“I’m not finished. I believe all this is your way of rebelling against your dad. Possibly because you have daddy issues, or you just simply don’t like someone telling you what to do. I mean, I get that, but I’m seeing your MO. When someone truly cares for you and worries about your safety, you pull out the I’m-a-big-girl-and-can-take-care-of-myself attitude. I hate to inform you, sunshine, but everyone needs a helping hand. I see you also like to make people feel two feet small because they care for you. Losing two mothers must have been hard, I can’t even fathom, but when are you going to stop blaming your father for whatever he’s done to piss you off and quit comparing every man you come across to him? Carson isn’t going to—”

She blinked. “He’s not going to what?”

He blew out a long breath. “Never mind.” He started the engine to the truck.

“He’s not going to what, Nix?” Her heart pained and her stomach turned. She could barely process his words. “Not going to sign this land over to me?”

Nix didn’t respond. He didn’t even look at her.

Although he didn’t tell her what he meant, she had a feeling she knew. He planned to tell her father that she wasn’t ready to take on the ranch. That couldn’t happen. She couldn’t lose this chance to get her life together, provide a stable home for her child. Anger embedded itself in her bones. Not thinking of the consequences of her actions, she crawled across his lap, her hips got stuck between his body and the steering wheel, but she managed to tug her way into the passenger seat. This definitely got his attention.

“What are you doing?” he pushed through tight lips.

“You didn’t answer my question. What won’t my father do?”

“Get out.” He reached across her and pushed open the passenger door. “I’m going home.”

Melly slammed the door shut. “Not until we discuss this. You can’t say something and then pretend you didn’t.”

“Fine. Have it your way. Shut the door.” Once she did as he demanded, he slammed the gear into reverse and pulled out of the driveway, kicking up rocks. “Better put that seatbelt on too.”

She did. A part of her thought she was being silly, that she should ask that he stop and let her out, but the bigger part, the side that was bound and determined to influence him that she could run Shy Brooke stayed, refusing to let him tell her father anything negative. Once they were on the main road, she shifted to look at his steely profile. “I don’t think it’s fair for you to pass your judgement on my lifestyle. Do you think you have that right because Dad asked you to watch me?”

“I feel I have the right to tell you what I think because you pulled me into your crazy, wild life by sleeping with me and Carson pulled me into this because he wants me to help you, but Lord knows, that hasn’t been an easy task. For over a week I’ve been stuck on your ranch, walking around with a headache and a desire to kiss the spunk right out of you. Damn, woman! I’ve divulged to you twice now that I have feelings and you laugh.”

“Shall I apologize and make you feel better? Sorry that you got stuck on my ranch with me and your life is turned upside down. Why didn’t you just tell my father no? No one forced you!”

He chuckled but it was cold and disheartening. “Maybe because some people actually can look outside of their own selfish bubble.”

“Are you suggesting that I’m selfish? Oh, that’s nice. Think what you want, but you can’t blame me for you being here,” she said indignantly. “My dad drew you into this. He’s had his hand in everything until the only thing I could do was go completely against his word. If I let him, he would pick everything in my life from my career to my boyfriend…” she sucked in a breath as if the realization came to her. “Oh. My. Heavens. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” He looked at her and their gazes met.

“What?”

“I don’t know why I didn’t figure this out before. This is a ploy from my father to fix us up. It all makes sense. I wouldn’t even put it past the man that he knew we spent the night together.” She slapped her thigh. “I suspected something like this, but now it makes sense.”

“That’s crazy. He saw that you needed someone to show you the ropes and I was…well, available.”

She laughed hard. Maybe a bit dramatic, but it came to her like an almost completed puzzle. “You don’t know my dad like I do. He won’t stop at anything to find a man to marry me. And you, well, of course, you’re just like him.”

Nix growled. “Not only do I think you’re wrong about him trying to play matchmaker, but what does that say for you? You do find me attractive. So, if you’re dad and I are just like, then maybe you appreciate and respect him, and his profession, more than you’d like to own up to.”

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