Page 20 of Broncos and Ballads (Healing Springs Ranch #2)

Brock crossed to his dad, hugged him, and pulled up a chair so that he was right beside him.

Dad had lost his hair from all the chemotherapy, his face was thinner, and his body seemed frail.

But his color was good, his mood happy, and his energy decent.

He wanted to get up and do things for himself, but every time he so much as put a foot on the ground, Kinsey was there ordering him to take it easy and promising him that if he was careful today, she’d let him up for a while tomorrow during the birthday party.

The rest of the family came and went, a happy hub of activity.

Brock’s nephew Wyatt was the most excited to see him and brought out the guitar Brock had bought for him to show off all he’d learned to play over the past month.

Tyler joined them and caught him up to date on all the latest ranch happenings.

Emberly visited but didn’t stay for long since she still had party details to finalize.

The only one missing was Dustin, and he was in Russia for an executive protection agent assignment that he couldn’t say anything about.

Through it all, Brock could sense his dad’s eyes upon him, trying to see inside him more deeply. What was Dad hoping to find? The truth about Venus?

What was the truth? Brock didn’t even know anymore. All he knew was that he was having a harder and harder time keeping his thoughts from returning to her, even against his best efforts.

After they cleared away the remains of the steak dinner Anson, their housekeeper, had made, Tyler shuttled Wyatt off for a bath, and Mom sat down in the kitchen nook to help Kinsey with wedding planning.

Dad had returned to his recliner after dinner, watched the sunset, and now had his eyes closed.

Brock had taken the chair next to him again.

Silence settled over the great room, and Brock leaned his head back and stared up at the high ceiling beams. Like it or not, his mind jumped immediately to Venus. Where was she tonight, and what was she doing?

Dad released an exasperated sigh. “You finally gonna tell me about this new gal of yours?”

Brock didn’t move except to crack a grin. “That took you long enough.”

“Reckoned you’d say something by now.”

“Reckoned you’d bring it up by now.”

His dad chuckled.

Brock sat forward. He hadn’t wanted to talk about Venus with his dad, but he’d also known he wouldn’t be able to avoid the conversation forever. He’d already gotten some teasing about her, but he’d batted away most of the pitches thrown his way without having to say much.

He couldn’t do that with Dad. He’d have to say more.

The question was, how much more? And the second question was like it—how much should he reveal about his arrangement with Venus?

Should he at the very least confess that the relationship had been set up by their managers in order to help them both?

Doing so would cement his role as the bad boy of the family. He’d lose any remaining respect Dad might still have for him, and he’d prove he didn’t have what it took to join the ranks of strong McQuaid men who had been a part of the legacy of love.

On the other hand, what would it matter if he continued the charade? He and Venus had made it through one month together. They only had two more to go, and during those two months, he’d make sure he kept things lighter to prevent his feelings and attraction from getting tangled up.

His family wouldn’t ever meet Venus or see him with her. They could assume whatever they wanted, including that he was in love with her. In the end, it wouldn’t matter. He and Venus would go their separate ways, and his family would believe he’d failed at another relationship.

Because that’s what he was good at—failing at meaningful relationships.

“So,” his dad started again. “Are the news reports true? Do you love this woman?”

Brock hesitated. Even if he tried to deceive his dad, he wasn’t sure he could. His dad had always been incredibly perceptive, seeing past the walls to the truth.

His dad sat forward, his expression suddenly earnest. “You do.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I could tell from the photo I saw.”

Brock pushed up from his chair, strode toward the wall of glass, and then stopped and stared out. The darkness of the night prevented him from seeing much, but the moon overhead was large and bright, and even the sight of it reminded him of Venus and the new song he’d been writing.

Would everything always remind him of her?

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. The ache inside swelled swiftly, along with the need to see her again as he had that early morning with the moonlight spilling over her hair and face.

“Does she feel the same way about you?” his dad asked.

“No. Her feelings are definitely not the same.” At least he could be honest about that. Whatever he was feeling toward Venus, she didn’t reciprocate.

His dad was silent, probably wondering what Brock wasn’t telling him—that she was in love with her best friend and wanted to marry him but couldn’t because he was engaged to someone else.

“She’ll get there eventually,” his dad said quietly and with an assurance that did nothing to assure Brock.

“I’m not holding my breath.” Venus wouldn’t get there . She wanted to be with Reed.

Brock had never been the kind of man who went around trying to win over a woman who loved someone else, and he didn’t plan to start now. The simple truth was that Venus was off-limits. She wasn’t an option for him.

Dad sat forward. “All the McQuaid men have had to work hard at winning the women they love. None of the winning was easy, and at times it seemed downright impossible.”

“This is beyond impossible.”

“She’s in a relationship with you, so there’s some hope.”

Brock couldn’t keep from letting his shoulders slump.

“I’m not supposed to tell you this,” Dad whispered. “It’s supposed to be a surprise. But she’s coming tomorrow and staying here for a week.”

Brock pivoted to face his dad, who was still in his recliner and was now watching Brock’s expression, probably expecting to see joy or excitement or anticipation.

But Brock felt none of that. The emotion pummeling through him instead was dread.

He didn’t want Venus visiting the ranch for their agreed-upon one-week vacation.

It was hard enough for him to be around his family and know he wasn’t living up to their expectations.

He certainly didn’t want to be around them with Venus and have to deceive them even more.

His dad’s expression remained hopeful. “If she’s coming to spend a week with you, that has to be a good sign, right?”

All it meant was that Harper had gone ahead and done as he’d threatened and planned the vacation without Brock’s input. What’d happened to Aruba or any of the other places on the list? Harper knew that he and Venus wanted to leave their families out of their fake relationship.

As soon as Brock was alone later, he would call Harper and tell him to change the plans and come up with a different vacation destination.

“What’s wrong?” his dad persisted.

“Just because she agreed to come doesn’t mean she’ll fall in love with me.

” In fact, his whole family might even catch on to the charade and expose him and Venus for their fake relationship.

Not that his family would tell anyone or expose them for their deception.

But Brock was tired of disappointing his dad.

And this would be an epic fail—the biggest yet.

His dad smiled. “You’ll work on wooing her all week.”

“Wooing?” Brock forced a smile back. “What are we, back in olden times?”

“You know what I mean.” His dad chuckled. “You’ll do what we McQuaid men are good at. You’ll win her over by showing her just how much you love her and want her and need her.”

The protest rising inside Brock halted. If his feelings were love—and he wasn’t admitting they were, not yet—then what if it was possible to win her over? Was it worth trying to use the week to woo her? To shower her with affection? To do everything and anything for her?

For a long moment, he let the possibility roll around inside him. Then he pressed a hand to his gut to stop the momentum.

He couldn’t try anything. At least, not until he knew where she stood in relation to Reed.

If she was still determined to be with Reed, then it wouldn’t be right to get in the way, even though he was half tempted to do so after Reed’s text this past week telling him not to get engaged to Venus.

Reed’s exchange had been rude, almost arrogant, and Brock had put an end to it with a quick “It’s none of your business, man. ”

Regardless of Reed’s interference, Brock didn’t plan to intentionally sway Venus and then have her eventually wonder if she’d made a mistake in choosing him over Reed.

“You might have a lot of hard work ahead of you, son.” His dad’s voice turned grave. “But think about the other option.”

“What other option?”

“The prospect of life without her in it.” Dad glanced in the direction of the kitchen nook, where Mom was still sitting with Kinsey in front of a laptop screen. “I can’t imagine a future without your mom. It’s impossible.”

Brock had always appreciated the way his dad loved his mom, as if the whole world revolved around her.

Dad was tender and sweet and sacrificial, loving her unconditionally and putting her needs above his own.

She blossomed in his presence because she knew she was his priority and the love of his life.

In return, she loved him back just as much.

It was a beautiful example of what marriage was supposed to be like.

Brock had long ago given up hope that kind of relationship would be his. As much as he longed to take his dad’s advice and apply it to Venus, he didn’t want to resurrect his hope only to have it crushed in the end.

Yep. Having Venus at the ranch was a bad idea. They needed to be in a place where they could keep their distance from each other but still pretend they were together.

Dad’s phone dinged with an incoming text. He glanced down at his phone, then smiled warmly at Brock again. “Looks like she’s already on her way.”

Brock’s muscles tensed. “I thought you said she was coming tomorrow.”

“She was planning to get a hotel in Colorado Springs for the night, but I told her if she wanted, she could stay here tonight. We’ve got extra rooms.”

“You’ve been texting Venus?”

Dad’s brows rose. “Is there something wrong with that?”

Brock kneaded the back of his neck and the rising tension there. He couldn’t protest, but he had to say something. “This isn’t a good idea.”

“It’s a great idea.”

“Dad, c’mon.” Brock released an exasperated sigh. “I’m not ready to have you guys interfering in my relationship with her.”

“Maybe it’s just what you need to get things moving along.”

It wasn’t what he needed at all. But he was stuck, and there was nothing to do now but make the best of the situation.