Page 37 of Embracing Hope

When he came home feeling like only half a man, he threw himself into ranch work. Each day was lived on autopilot as if he were a robot. He would read until he fell asleep at night, only to wake up and start the routine all over again. He had known Denise from his past, and they established a friends-with-benefits arrangement that addressed his needs. He had been devoid of emotion and desire—until Hope came along. She was a ray of sunshine breaking through the darkness.

He liked knowing that he still had some feelings. And possibly a sliver of desire to have his own family one day.

Growing up, he and his family had been close. They went on vacations, sat down in the evening at the dinner table and discussed their days, and had big holidays with family and friends invited. Back then, Isaac had been quite the playboy, yet he knew one day he’d want to settle down.

Dreams could change.

Now, he wanted to be alone.

Did he though?

He enjoyed spending time with Hope but wanted to get to know her better.

Now, just thinking of her, an image spliced his mind. Her naked body underneath him. Ripe and willing. Giving and wild.

His dick bounced and hardened again, and he wrapped his fist around the stiff appendage. Maybe if he pleasured himself, he could sedate some of the desire throbbing within him. He slid his hand over himself, squeezing harder and firmer until he felt sickened that it made him want to bury himself into her even more.

If he had half a brain, he'd call CJ and tell him fuck it. He was coming home. Let his brother take over from here on out. Yet, that meant Isaac wouldn’t see Hope again. That might be for the best, but could he actually bring himself to do it?

Pulling on his clean clothes, he took off downstairs searching for Hope. He finally found her outside, staring up at the dark sky.

“You see something?” he asked as he joined her.

She didn’t peel her gaze away. “Sometimes I stand here staring and realizing how small I am in the universe. How small my problems are compared to the bigger picture.”

“It certainly is a gorgeous view.” But he wasn’t referring to just the sky. Her skin and eyes glowed in the moonlight.

“Can I trust you?”

Her voice was so soft he wasn’t sure he heard her correctly. “Pardon?”

She then peered up at him, her expression somber. “Not to leak the information that I told you about Daddy’s cancer. The book. The marriage demands.”

“You can trust me.”

“Calling your brother wasn’t the first thing you did to pull the plug on this merger?”

He rubbed his jaw, his beard still damp from the shower. “Although I’ve made it clear that I don’t think this business deal is a good investment, I’m not lacking in compassion.”

“But you will tell him?”

That was the million-dollar question. “The real question is, if you and your sisters don’t want this merger and Sam…” He couldn’t form the words on his tongue. “What happens then?”

She crossed her arms over her waist. “I may not want the merger, but I believe that Daddy knows his business and wants this to happen. With that being said, I want what he wants.”

“Even marriage with someone you don’t love?”

One corner of her lips played with a smile. “You seem concerned about my relationship status. Wren is looking better by the minute.”

He felt the stab of jealousy in his dick. Why did he feel that emotion? He had no right to feel anything but wanting what was best for her. The truth was, thinking of another man touching her, hearing her soft whimpers of pleasure made him want to wring someone’s neck.

How in the hell did he get himself into his mess?

“I should go,” he muttered and stepped toward the door.

“Of course you should. If you can’t handle the heat, you should get out of the kitchen while you still can.”

Chapter Nine

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