Page 41 of Trails of Temptation

I narrowed my eyes as I threw back another mouthful of coffee. “What about?”

“How long I mean to keep her hired on. He’s got a buddy he wants to introduce her to, I guess. Said he wants to ask her on a date and needed to know her schedule.”

“That’s not going to happen,” I snapped.

Grant nodded. “Yeah, I know. I told him to take it up with Keely. It wasn’t my business.”

Fury ripped through me but I kept it contained as Grant continued, “He asked if Keely is planning on staying here, and I said yeah. Moira wants to get back to work, that was always the plan, but bedrest has really taken it out of her. She’s bored. We’ll need help with the baby and that’s what I told him.”

It sounded a whole hell of a lot like Pete was fishing for information. Had he caught on?

“Moira’s due date is in a week,” Grant continued with a sigh. “She could have that baby any day now.” He paused and ran his hand over his face. “I can’t have Pete starting to come around asking questions. I told him he needs to talk to his sister about her plans, not me.”

“What reason did he give you for even asking about it, other than some guy wanting to ask her on a date?”

“I don’t know, but he doesn’t seem comfortable with her living up here. That was pretty clear from the beginning. When I asked him if Keely had plans for this summer and wanted a job here, he tried to arraign it so she was living with him, or in town. That’s not what we needed, so when Keely took the job, the deal was she lived here, with us, in my house. Under my protection.”

“What—”

“Pete knows something was up with you guys two summers ago,” Grant warned. He looked tired, like the phone call had taken everything out of him. “I think that’s why he’s being paranoid.”

“He acts like he has some claim to her—”

“I wholly believe he thinks that,” Grant cut in, kicking off the stall with his arms crossed over his chest. “Look, George, I can’t have him coming up here raising all kinds of hell. I understand the situation you’re in, but you have to tell him.”

“Keely asked me to wait.”

“For what?”

“I don’t know, but this is her brother. He’s my best friend, so I’ll be the one to tell him. But, Grant, I have to listen to her. I have to honor her wishes. She wanted some time to just… be together, and that’s what I’m giving her.” I stepped toward him, my hands raised in surrender. “I gave you my word that nothing bad would happen on this ranch when I took this job. I’ve fought for this place at every turn. You’ve trusted me with your home, and your business, and even your son the night Moira was attacked. I need you to trust me when I say I have this handled. Pete thinks he’s tough. He’s protective of her because of the way their family got thrust into the spotlight when their dad’s affair came to light. But I love her.” I loved her. I did. The words felt… right, coming out of my mouth.

“If Pete comes here looking for a fight, I’ll give him one, but no one else is going to be involved. Not you. Not the women. Just me,” I concluded.

Grant nodded, but his expression was grave.

I knew Pete was his friend too, and I hated that Grant was now stuck in the middle of this. This was why I’d pushed Keely away at first. This was the exact situation I was trying to avoid.

“Pete isn’t like Kirk,” I added. Grant’s eyes flashed with fury at the mention of the man’s name. The man who’d fathered his stepson. The man that had broken into their house and assaulted his wife with plans to drown both Moira and Day in a nearby lake.

“I know. It doesn’t make this any less… grating.”

“I lost my wife,” I breathed, my hands falling to my sides. “I lost my wife too soon. I loved her. I really did, but I’m not the same man I was when I married her almost two decades ago. I tortured myself since then, okay with being alone. I’m not okay with it anymore, Grant. If Pete is the only thing in the way of being with a woman who… who completes me? Who owns not only my heart but my soul? Well, fuck, I have it easy.”

Grant smirked, relaxing a bit. “This is the most I’ve heard you speak in the years I’ve known you. I didn’t know you were such a sap.”

I waved him off, shaking my head. “Keely is the love of my life, but I won’t let our relationship hurt you, your business, or your property.”

“I’m more worried about you and Keely.”

“I know.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and exhaled deeply, going over the plan I’d started formulating about a week ago.

“I have the day off tomorrow. I’m going to go into town and talk to him, man to man. Show him the ring I bought.”

“Ring?” Grant cut in, his eyes lighting up. “George, you’re going to propose to her?”

“Yeah, I am. Not now, but soon. After things are settled with Pete and with Moira and the baby. I should have made it clear how I felt about her two years ago. I feel like I’ve lost time.”

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