Page 12

For the last minute, he'd been mulling over the suggestion I offered of sticking around for a few days until we knew the ranch's, and his, fate. No way in hell would I tell him the other reason for me wanting to stay. He would flip the fuck out. Daddy hated Brenton back then, and no doubt hadn't adjusted his feelings toward the man these past few years. Because now, instead of being the older boy flirting with Daddy’s young daughter, Brenton was the man I’d signed a legal agreement with to never seek him out or be involved with again.

Funny, Brenton didn't even mention that tidbit today. Guess that was another blip of history he'd conveniently forgotten.

I rolled the cold glass between my wrists to try and calm my racing pulse. The man wasn't even around and I was still affected by him.

After taking the last sip of whiskey, I slid the glass to the middle of the table and stood to stretch out my lower back. “It's only for a few days, and I can help out around here too.”

“We don't need your help.”

“Maybe we do.” I glanced to Bradley, who sat on the couch playing on his phone. Dark brown eyes flicked up to meet mine. A bit of tension eased from my tight shoulders when I found his eyes bright, maybe slightly bloodshot but not glassy like they'd been for years. Getting my older brother addicted to their high-end drug was another reason Daddy hated Brenton and Caleb. Even though you couldn't blame the Graves boys too much considering Bradley used to be, and maybe still was, the guy you went to around here for anything illegal.

Ever since Caleb passed several months ago, I'd heard Bradley had cleaned up his act. Hopefully it stuck this time around.

Bradley shrugged and went back to staring at his phone. “Let her stay, Dad. After you fired those two boys last month, things have stacked up.”

“What?” I turned back to Daddy, who attempted to look engrossed in the new Cavender's mailer.

“Lazy-ass kids is what happened.”

Or they got tired of taking orders from your drunk ass perched in your leather recliner throne.

If I were a betting girl, I'd put money on that being the case rather than them being lazy.

“If you want to help around here, you could find yourself a husband like that friend Kyle of yours. Having another man around here couldn't hurt.”

“A man,” I deadpanned.

“More useful than someone like you.”

Ouch. Good to know being born with girl bits still disappointed him.

“Maybe one day,” I said back instead of all the pent-up hateful things I wanted to throw at him.

“Someday has come and gone, Rebeka. You spent all those years in school and now look where you are. No land, no husband, no family. Go out and get a good man, if you can find one at your age.”

Sharp nails bit into my palms. Dammit, what was I thinking? No way in hell could I stay there. Not with him, not back to this.

The door slammed at my back, and I stomped to the porch swing before falling into it. A degree, a place of my own, strong, confident, and still not good enough for him.

Never had been.

And he wondered why I ran straight into Brenton’s open arms all those years ago. What no one witnessed was the comforting, protective side B only showed me. The side that accepted me for me and listened night after night. There were never expectations, no judgments when we were together. Just us. Those late nights gazing at the stars, talking and laughing, we were free from our families. And maybe that was what I missed the most and had held on to for so long.

Even though I didn't will it, Daddy's words still stung. Deep down, I did want to belong to someone again. To have a partner in crime to share a life with besides Ryder.

Adjusting on the swing to look south, I scanned the main house and the few cars that still lined the driveway before focusing on their large ranch-style home. Loneliness gripped at my already aching heart. Who was I kidding? I didn't just miss the talks—I missed him. I’d missed him since the day he left. And today his touch and long looks ignited something long smothered inside me.

Thumb against my lips, I ghosted it back and forth as he had done. Just that simple touch, coupled with his hands against my cheeks, nearly did me in. How had I forgotten the sensation of my breath catching, the dip of my stomach like I was falling, the pounding of my heart against my chest so hard, so fast and loud that there was no way the rest of the world didn't hear it?

I was a fool to say yes to his request for help, but I wouldn’t fool myself into thinking I could say no.

So there I had it. Five days with the man to help him... oh hell, he never mentioned what he needed me to do. I should’ve pressed him for details, but at the time my hormones and mind had swirled like an F5 tornado, making simple thoughts impossible.

The porch swing squeaked as I pushed it back and forth with the tips of my toes against the floor. Hopefully I could help him and get closure at the same time.

From inside the house, Daddy’s and Bradley’s cheers and the noises of the TV filtered through the thin glass panes.

Pulling my phone from my dress pocket, I swiped the screen and opened an old text string.