Page 18 of Long Hard Ride
“Try me.” I top my hamburger with a bun. “Maybe I like possessive.”
He takes a sip of his beer. “This isn’t a joke, Brooke. This isn’t kid stuff, and I’m not a boy. If you keep tempting me like you did this morning, there won’t be any going back.” He sets his glass down with a clunk. “But trust me when I tell you that I’m happy I was your first.”
I’m not as fucking flabbergasted as I should be, because I know by now that Shane is stubborn as hell. And he knows how to put up a fight. I grit my teeth and hold his stare. There’s a vulnerability about him I haven’t noticed until today.
Is it possible? I try to decipher the emotions hiding behind his eyes. Is it possible that my caveman is worried about himself? IsShaneafraid of being hurt?
A rap on the front door startles me. I turn to the sound, momentarily frozen. We never get any company out here. It’s the first time I’ve even heard anyone at the door. “Expecting company?”
“No.” Shane scoots out from his chair. “And it’s late for anyone to be showing up out of the blue.”
I follow behind him as whoever it is knocks again.
“Stay back.” Shane grabs a gun I’ve never seen before out of the console by the door and tucks it in the back of his pants. “Might be best if you keep out of sight until we know who the fuck it is.”
My heart drops to the floor. I never needed a gun to answer my door in Chicago. But then again, my city isn’t full of batshit-crazy people like West Palomino. I take off to the hallway and stay tucked around the corner where I can still see into the living room.
Shane opens the door, and before he can say a word, a pretty woman with brown hair storms in. “When were you going to tell me?” she fumes, propping her hands on her slim hips. She’s wearing jeans and a Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt. “Well?”
Shane isn’t at all concerned. He obviously knows her. “Lovely to see you, Jenny. Come in.” He lays the sarcasm on thick. “Oh, right, you’ve done that already.”
I sneak out from behind the corner.
“You’re married?” Jenny’s mouth hangs open. She crosses her arms and taps her foot, looking like she’s ready to blow her top. She scans the living room and locks eyes on me.
“Uh, hey, I’m Brooke.” I give an awkward smile and wave a few fingers.
“What in the goddamn fuck?” She gapes at me and then swings her gaze back to Shane. “Are we the last to know? You didn’t tell me or Ryder or Chase, and just went out and... got married?”
“There’s a little more to it, Jenny.”
“And I had to hear it from Pastor Michael? There I am picking up mac and cheese at Slow Mo and, shit, Shane. I’m at the checkout counter, and he tells me he wishes there were more people at theceremony.” She starts pacing. “Of course, I don’t know what the blazes he’s talking about,” Jenny barks, “so like an idiot, I ask, ‘What ceremony?’ And the pastor says, ‘You know, thewedding.’ A fucking wedding? Really, Shane? You didn’t even think to call your own fucking sister?”
Jenny points to me. I straighten, a little freaked out I’m being drawn into this mess. “Is she your goddamnwife?” She catches herself. “Sorry, I don’t mean anything against you.”
“No problem,” I mutter, wishing I could fade into the woodwork. “I get it. It’s a lot to take in.”
Shane shrugs, seeming completely unperturbed. “Well, now you’ve got that little tirade out of your system, why don’t you take a load off? It’s not what you think, Jenny. You’re missing a big part of the puzzle.”
“Please come in,” I say. “Join us for dinner. We were just sitting down.”
Jenny eyes me cautiously. “Well, I guess. If that’s the only goddamn way I’m going to get any answers around here.” She grumpily follows us into the kitchen. I grab another place setting while she slides into the chair between Shane’s and mine.
“Jenny, this is Brooke. Brooke, the raving mad bull you just heard is my quiet little sister, Jenny.”
“Nice to meet you, Jenny,” I say as nonchalantly as possible. I can see Shane is tiny bit rattled, but he isn’t worried sick, not in the least. The only thing that’s different about him is his forehead. It’s creased.
I chuckle to myself, even though I shouldn’t. It’s kind of fun to see Mr. Control Everything off his game for a change. “Potato salad?” I ask brightly, side-eyeing Shane before passing Jenny the bowl. “It’s my mom’s recipe.”
Jenny hesitates before accepting my offering. She gives me a confused smile, as if she’s holding back from doing something else, like holler at her brother again.
Shane clears his throat. “Brooke is Chuck Carlisle’s granddaughter.”
“Oh.” Jenny’s face softens, and for the first time I notice how pretty she is. She’s one of those natural beauties, with clear peaches-and-cream skin and sparkling green eyes. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she says sincerely. “I didn’t know your grandfather well, but I know he was a great man, and a real treasure in Shane’s life.”
“Yes. So, Chuck was worried about what would happen to Brooke when he died.” Shane nods. “Worried about keeping the ranch in the family.”
I’m relieved he doesn’t mention my ex, Steve. “Bottom line—we wanted to give my grandfather peace of mind when he died. And we each get a hundred thousand dollars and a hundred acres if we can stay married for six months.”
