Page 26 of Embracing Hope

“Who’s that?” Isaac asked Keifer.

“Who?”

“The man talking to Hope.”

“That’s Wren. He’s an attorney here in town.” Keifer then pasted his gaze on Isaac’s profile. “You like her?”

He tore his attention off Hope and onto the young cowboy. “She’s an attention-getter.”

“Tread carefully, my friend.” Keifer scraped his nails down his jaw. “The Rose sisters are great people but also trouble.”

Isaac absorbed the warning, but it was too late to yield. He'd already sampled her, and he wanted—craved—more.

Seeing Wren place his hand on Hope’s knee sent a surge of acid into Isaac’s throat. Her smile faded a bit, and she seemed a bit uncomfortable. Ahh, she wasn’t interested. That brought relief to Isaac. Yet, why? The chances that he and Hope were anything more than a temporary good time were as likely as hell freezing over.

“Why are they trouble?” Curiosity got the best of Isaac.

Keifer took a long drink of his beer, swiped his hand across his mouth, and scanned to make sure none of the other men were listening. “My brother, Keller, is married to Freedom, which you might already know. I’m not one to put my nose where it doesn’t belong, and my brother and Freedom are made for each other. They are the happiest couple, but ol’ controlling Sam gave his daughters an ultimatum. They marry within the year or lose their claim to Sagebrush Rose Ranch.”

“You’ve got to be kidding, right?” Isaac had a hard time understanding the ridiculousness of the demand, but Keifer seemed like a man of his word. That played right into Isaac’s suspicions. Some major shifts were happening within the Rose family.

Journeying his gaze back to Hope, he watched her peel Wren’s fingers off her knee.

“Cowboy, you sure you don’t want to kick up some dust on the dance floor?” Tessa returned and was whispering in Isaac’s ear.

He didn’t take his eyes off Hope. “I’m sure.”

With a huff, she flounced away.

Isaac reminded himself that he wasn’t suitable for a relationship. He often struggled to sleep at night, plagued by bad dreams. What woman would want to share her bed with someone who might awaken her in the middle of the night, lost in a nightmare? It had been an accident that he fell asleep with Hope at the hotel. He never spent the night with anyone, but he had been wrapped up in her warm curves and how good she felt against him. He couldn't bring himself to ask her to leave.

He never made promises to anyone or made them believe he was more than he knew he was. Once upon a time, he might have seen himself with a wife and kid, but he was damaged goods. He preferred being alone because he liked a simple, uncomplicated life. Relationships meant responsibility, and Isaac didn’t want the burden.

Yet, there was something about Hope that challenged his beliefs— made him question his present and his future. There was an invisible fence within him. On one side, he wanted her like he’d never wanted anything. On the other, he had his past that reared its ugly head through nightmares and terrors, making him doubt his ability as a partner. To be with someone meant exposing all parts of himself, and he’d never spoken to anyone about the tragedy that changed him.

If Hope knew he was responsible for the deaths of the locals in that village, she wouldn’t look at him the same. She’d lose respect for him, and how could she not? He’d lost respect for himself that day and never regained it. Now, he moved through life more like a robot than a human. Wishing he could trade his life for those women and kids.

Isaac placed his empty bottle upside down into the ice bucket and pushed up from the table. He had no idea what he was doing, but sitting there like a knot in the wood didn’t settle well with him.

He edged up to the end of the bar and ordered another beer. He had a great spot to watch Hope while keeping his distance. He’d been doing his very best to control his desire for her, but it became more challenging each day in the small town. Jenna set two shots glasses down, one in front of Hope and the other in front of her female friend. Hope wasn’t playing games tonight. He watched her shoot the shot and wipe her fingers along her bottom lip, which triggered something in his gut.

If he had any logic, he'd avoid her at all costs and most certainly keep his damn hands off her delectable body. She deserved better than half a man. A damaged man, one who had boulder-sized guilt weighing on his shoulders.

Wren didn’t seem to take her subtle cues of ignoring him. He was leaning against her again. This time, he was whispering something in her ear. Her smile disappeared. Isaac had seen enough. He strolled up to the awkward twosome and the big boy lifted his chin, narrowing his gaze on Isaac as if he wanted to chew his head off.

“Can I help you?” Wren lifted his chin cockily.

“I don’t think so,” Isaac answered gruffly.

“Isaac, this is Wren.” Hope looked a bit out of sorts.

Glaring, Isaac had the man taking a step back.

Hope slid off the stool, and she became a wall between the two men. She might have sensed the growing tension. Isaac wouldn’t have inserted himself unless he was willing to see the issue through.

“See you around, Wren,” Hope told the man in a tone that left no room for argument.

Wren smirked, nodded at Isaac then shoved his way through the crowd.

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