Page 63 of A Temporary Memory

“No glove, no love,” Eliot added.

Oh.

Oh,shit. My world slowed on its axis. Wilder’s expression mirrored what I felt. Protection? When was the last time I bought condoms? Goddamn, it’d been years. Where would I even— No fucking way was I getting condoms anywhere in the county. Talk about gossip spreading like wildfire. The widower bought rubbers and had a hot nanny. What was two plus two?

I saw the same questions play through my brother’s features. He hadn’t thought about getting laid since Sutton left him, either, and from the sick tint to his features, he didn’t like thinking about sleeping with anyone else.

Get it together and win her back, idiot.

But my advice didn’t help me. Fucking condoms.

Eliot elbowed Austen. “I think we need to teach our big bro about the birds and the bees.”

“Fuck right off.” My face was hot. Goddammit, I didn’t blush.

Austen studied me, that stupid grin glimmering under the surface. “You keep talking about fucking—”

I growled and stomped toward the entrance of the barn. The laughter of kids could be heard, and I shot a warning glare over my shoulder. No more talk of fucking or Tova. She was playing in the backyard with the kids, and while the barn was a good hundred yards away, I couldn’t have her knowing how nosy my brothers were. I didn’t want her to regret joining us.

“Cody,” Eliot said, stopping me short. “It’s nice to have you back.”

“I’ll be home in a little over six weeks.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Eliot glanced around but didn’t move closer to me. “It’s what Austen said. You haven’t been the same since you came home with Meg.”

I stalked toward him, shame branding my steps. “What are you saying?”

Wilder and Austen inched closer to Eliot, but that didn’t stop the bastard from running his mouth. “I’m saying I know you loved her, but you changed for her.”

“She gave up a lot to be with me.”

“You gave up a lot to be with her,” he shot back.

Austen moved between us. I wasn’t going to hit my brother—any of them. Probably.

“We know she moved here against her will, and she wasn’t happy,” Austen said quietly. “But the decision was hers as much as yours. You don’t need to punish yourself for the rest of your life over it.”

I wasn’t.

Was I?

I gave them all a sweeping glare before I marched out of the barn. Was I more annoyed that my brothers touched on a major source of guilt? I had gotten married and couldn’t make my wife happy. I’d been willing to change only so much for her happiness.

Or was I upset over the sensitive topic they probably didn’t realize they touched on? I was acting like my old self, but in a couple of months, I wouldn’t have my kids because I couldn’t make them happy. And Tova was moving somewhere she could have a life, and that wasn’t Buffalo Gully. I was coming home at the beginning of August. Alone.

* * *

Tova

The guys had gone late yesterday working cattle. Tonight was almost as late, but they planned to have a cookout to commemorate being done.

I found the whole ranch life fascinating. Green surrounded us, but the landscape wasn’t a manicured sprawl. I didn’t know what the native or invasive plants were in Montana, but the lawn surrounding the house wasn’t plain old grass. Dandelions dotted the yard and lined the ditch, along with what Ivy called wild morning glories. Grayson called it bind weed. Either way, we braided a few flower crowns out of the stuff.

I enjoyed the glimpse into Cody’s life before Crocus Valley and into the rest of his family.

The polos and slacks Grayson had on in Crocus Valley were only a portion of his wardrobe. His closet in Buffalo Gully was packed. I asked if he attended private school, and theduh, no, it’s Buffalo Gullylook the ten-year-old had given me was impressive.

Ivy didn’t own a single piece of denim, yet the guys wore it like a second skin.

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