Page 13 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
Quinn’s smile only widened. “What do you say, brother?”
What could he say? Admit he’d raced here the moment he discovered Ciara’s return? Share he was already imagining things he had no right imagining? Reveal this was indeed the woman who inspired his first vacation inovera decade?
His brothers may frustrate him, but their arrival was timely. They provided a reminder of who he was, the responsibilities he bore and what he had become. He played the role his father once held, caretaker of the business, the ranch, Davey, and to a smaller extent Quinn and Spencer. To accomplish that, he had to become his father.
It was why he would never be one in real life.
It was why he’d purposely destroyed the relationship that could have meant everything. Why a woman like Ciara, crafted of joy, kindness and pure sunshine, could never be his. And why he’d broken her heart, made her believe he didn’t love her when she was the single light in his darkness. Making her hate him was the only way to stop her from loving him. As for his emotions… they must remain in the darkness.
Ciara deserved a fairy tale life, with a doting husband and perfect family. As a child, she shared dreams of the future she envisioned, yet even back then, he couldn’t be that person. No one deserved a husband or father made of stone, a man who couldn’t show his emotions, a man who didn’t have time to eat dinner with his wife or teach his son to drive, to watch his baseball games or tuck him in at night.
To say, even once, that he loved him.
Because like his father, he was incapable of it.
“I’m glad you’re here.” Rowan folded his arms across his chest. “I have some manure that needs shoveling.”
Quinn whistled. “Such challenging words from the stoic Rowan Byrne. What happened to the unflappable commander?”
Ciara happened to him. She’d returned to his life mere hours ago, yet she’d already unbalanced his carefully scripted world. She’d always had that effect on him. “Ciara, these are my brothers: Quinn, Spencer and Davey. They help me run the family ranches and breeding programs. Spencer also works with computers.”
Ciara smiled warmly at Quinn and Spencer, before turning to Davey. Familiar tension rose, as it always did whenever a stranger met his youngest sibling. People didn’t realize how much a funny look or a simple stare could hurt the sensitive man. His disability didn’t mean he lacked emotion, and it definitely didn’t mean he misunderstood when people treated him differently.
Yet as Ciara gazed at Davey, her smile only grew. “Rowan didn’t tell me he had such a handsome brother. You must be the popular one.”
Davey flushed with pleasure. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said politely.
“The pleasure is mine.” She gave him her full attention. “I look forward to spending time with you.” She looked to the restof his brothers. “With all of you. How long are you planning to stay?”
“For a while.” Quinn tipped his hat. “We’re here to help.”
“Although I don’t want to shovel manure!” Davey wrinkled his nose. “Pee-ew.”
Before Rowan could assure him he’d been joking, Ciara spoke first, “Don’t worry, Davey.” She winked. “Rowan already said that was his favorite job.”
His brothers snickered. A horse neighed. Ciara laughed. “But we’re going to need some help washing the horses.” She pointed to a pile of soft cloths and brushes in the corner. “You’re welcome to help if you’d like.”
Davey brightened and turned to Rowan, who gave a quick nod. “That would be awesome.”
“Awesome.” Ciara gave a thumbs up to the youngest sibling. The she turned to Spencer, and her gaze turned speculative. “You may deserve to shovel manure.”
He chuckled, drawled in smooth tones, “I’m happy to help in any way I can.”
Then Ciara smiled at his brother. Which was annoying.
And he smiled back. Which was really, really annoying.
The fact that it was annoying was also... well, annoying.
“Why did you claim Rowan doesn’t take vacations?” She lifted a hand. “He said he took one last week.”
Uh-oh.
Spencer frowned, then his lips curved up. “Are you counting the double root canal?”
Darn.“It wasn’t work.”
“You can’t be serious.”
