Page 43 of Beat of Love
She gave a raw laugh. “No shit, Sherlock.”
“What happened today?”
It took a beat for her to answer. “He drove into townlastnight, stayed over at the hotel, but didn’t bother totellus. After arriving here, security escorted him, which is normal protocol for first timers because the ranch is a maze of buildings, but itannoyedhim to be treated like a common criminal. When I told him the twins were at practice, which he would’ve known if only he’d fuckingcalled ahead, he accused me of keeping his kids from him. It deteriorated from there, during which Amelia stormed out.”
There was so much to unpack in her rant, but two things struck him. One, the underlying pain and bewilderment in her tone (not unlike Amelia’s), and secondly— “How long have you lived here?”
“A year.”
“And today is thefirsttime he set foot on the ranch?” he asked, incredulous. “Is he so far up his own ass that it took him ayearto see where his children, his own flesh and blood, live?”
Pushing back from the rail, Brandy-Lyn straightened. “Yep.” The “p” hung between them. “The last time he came here, they met in town.”
“Why’d you marry him, Red?” he whispered, taking a half step closer, the tips of his boots breaching the shaft of light. This near, her flowery scent teased his nose, stirring his libido.
Danger, danger.Time to go, Trick.
Instead of hauling his ass off her veranda, away from her far too alluring presence, he leaned his hip against the railing and folded his arms.
Twisting, she mirrored his stance. “None of your damn business.”
He sighed and looked down, and the sight of her bright toenails (gleaming in the light beam and perfectly matching the stars on her pajamas) peeking out from the open-toed blackcotton slippers brought a quirk to his lips. He’d never had a thing for toes but …
He recalled the gravity of the situation and hauled back his thoughts from veering into carnal lust. This …thinghe had for Brandy-Lyn was futile. And he was becoming far too invested in the lives of her kids. But he couldn’t stop himself from continuing the conversation. “Maybe. But I’d like to know.”
“Why?”
Why, indeed? She was off-limits. His brother’sex. Taboo. Yet at that moment, none of that mattered. “Because Ilikeyou, Red. And I like your kids. What I do not like is seeing any of you upset.”
“We arenotyour responsibility,” she whispered.
She’s right. Just walk away, Trick. Now.
But his feet remained rooted to the floor, flouting common sense. “Today he involved me. And Red, the thing is … Iwantto be involved.”
His declaration hung between them, laden with an underlying meaning, an invisible thread reaching out, seeking a favorable answer from her.
The darkness could not hide the answering heat in her shimmering stare.
His heart leaped.
But then she shook her head. “This” — she gestured a hand between them — “is not happening. You need to go.” She spun away and stomped to the end of the veranda, once again staring out into the night with her hand braced on the wooden rail.
“Red—”
“You’re Sullivan’sbrother. There can never be anything between us.”
She’s right.
Yet he lingered, loath to walk away.
“Just go,” she muttered, urgency lacing her words.
Listen to her, Trick, old man. You’re tainted goods. Anaddict. Brandy-Lyn deserves everything good in her life, andnotanother moron bringing her nothing but sorrow.
“You’re right,” he said, backing away. He reached the steps and made himself walk down. Instead of choosing the shorter route back to the Main House that would take him past her, he turned right and walked off into the dark.
11
