Page 20 of Forbidden Secrets
Chase looked worn-down, the charming demeanor from the bank absent.He wore a sport coat over a button-down shirt open at the collar, his hair slightly mussed.
She gave him a quizzical look.That hadn’t been an apology.
It occurred to her that neither Mateo nor Keeley had greeted Chase even though they’d all been at Sierra High at the same time.
Chase wasn’t looking at Melanie, his flat stare instead focused on Gage.Gage tracked Chase’s grip on her shoulder.He rose to his feet, forcing the other man to step back and release her.
Gage’s calm exterior was deceptive.She had no idea how she knew, but his long, lean body was primed and ready for a fight.Melanie looked from one man to the other.The undercurrents swirling between them felt deep enough to drown in.
“Landry.”
“Bradford.”
“I heard you’re leaving the FBI.A high-pressure job like that isn’t for everyone.At least it’ll no longer be your job to harass people for a living.”
Her gaze flew to Gage.He was with the FBI?Why was she not surprised?His response over the guy in the truck now made sense.But what did Chase mean about him harassing people?
Gage flicked his glance at her before returning his attention to Chase.“We try to limit our harassment to criminals.”
There was an unmistakable flash of anger before Chase’s mouth twisted into a sneer.“Guess it’s a step up from playing ranch hand.Gives you more money to burn drinking at a bar.”
“At least having a beer doesn’t make me a mean drunk.What’s your excuse?”
Chase’s cheeks reddened.“I don’t need a fucking excuse.Come on, Mel,” he said abruptly.“We’ll get a booth.”
Trying to make sense of the exchange, she slipped off the stool.That the two men detested each other was clear.“I’ll see you later, Gage.”
“Yeah.”
She moved across the floor with Chase, and Melanie felt Gage’s gaze on her back as surely as a touch.And his wouldn’t be unwelcome.
***
Gage sipped his beer.It irritated the shit out of him that Melanie was with Chase Bradford.
Their rivalry had started not long after Gage arrived at Lone Pine Ranch.He and Shane had been at Easy Money the night Bradford—drunk and loud—exploded at his then-wife.When the asshole backhanded her and split her lip, Gage and Shane had stepped in.Bradford took a swing at Gage.He’d easily dodged it and hit back, catching the other man with a solid punch that had broken his nose.
Bradford had hated him ever since.
The man was an asshole, plain and simple.Especially with women.Too bad being a jackass wasn’t a crime.But bank fraud was.
True to form, Bradford had assumed Gage was a ranch hand, and adopted that smug, condescending air he reserved for anyone he thought beneath him.
Gage would be lying if he said it hadn’t been satisfying to show up at the bank earlier that week, badge visible on his belt and Glock in his shoulder holster, and hand Bradford a target letter from the FBI.
The guy had gone beet red, sputtering with outrage as he demanded Gage’s credentials—because apparently anyone could flash a fake badge.Gage produced his ID without so much as a smirk, then calmly informed Bradford he was now the subject in an active investigation and was required to preserve all evidence.
The weapon at Gage’s side might’ve been the only thing that kept Chase from taking another swing.Or maybe it was the memory of that broken nose.
From there, Gage had gone straight to the Bradford estate.George Bradford opened the door mid-phone call—probably talking to his son—and took the envelope without a word, then shut the door in Gage’s face.
Gage moved to a booth across from where Melanie and Chase were seated.It kept her in his line of sight.
Gage sipped his beer, watching Melanie try to look interested.The waiter took their drinks order and left bar menus on the table.Bradford had spread himself across the seat with his arm along the back and his legs spread wide.It was a dick move to show dominance and authority.
He was talking effusively with big hand gestures.Probably thought Melanie was hanging on his every word.The waiter brought their drinks, white wine for Melanie and, since Bradford had made sure everyone could hear him order, top-shelf scotch for the asshole.
Watching Chase wine and dine Melanie like he didn’t have federal heat bearing down on him, Gage couldn’t help but wonder.Maybe Bradford was trying to distract himself with a beautiful woman.Or maybe he had another motive entirely.
