Chapter Thirteen

Braden left the house before dawn, wanting to get as far away from Merrie and Leo as possible. Damn if he hadn’t been right about her being fickle, and even though he should have felt a small amount of vindication, hurt battered his heart. He’d had to listen to them last night and the memories of how Merrie had come apart in his arms, how tight her pussy had been around his dick, had crashed over him painfully.

To know that she’d gotten over him so quickly, that she’d turned her back so easily on him, cut him to the core and he tried to shake that off. He had no reason to feel such betrayal because he was the one who’d backed off. He was the one who’d given Leo the go-ahead.

He drove to the barn and parked, wishing it was as easy to turn off his thoughts. He planned to ride all day so he wouldn’t bump into either of them. Braden greeted his ranch hand, who had just begun to clean the stalls. Usually he’d help, but today he couldn’t. He needed to be out on the range, away from everyone.

He saddled his horse and mounted, then galloped off toward the eastern fields so he could check on the other horses. Crisp morning air filled his lungs and it helped settle his mind. How was he going to live with Merrie and Leo, who were now together? He felt sure he’d be able to bury his emotions deep but that didn’t mean he wanted to be slapped upside the head each time he saw her—or saw them together.

Of course, it was just a matter of time before Merrie headed to Cheyenne, back to the life that she really wanted. Friends, parties, men her own age—how could she not want all that? She was only twenty-three with her whole life in front of her. Once she got bored of ranch life, she’d be gone.

Just like Samantha.

Through the day, he checked his horses, ate a power bar at lunch and enjoyed the solitude that only wide-open spaces could allow. And he almost forgot about what had driven him out here to begin with. When twilight began to fall, he reined in toward the barn. He dismounted about half a mile away and walked his mount to cool him down. He spent a couple more hours finding odd jobs to do—anything to keep him from going back to the house. Eventually his stomach protested too much so he got back in his truck and drove home. The dashboard read a little past nine o’clock and all he wanted to do was eat, shower and sleep.

Lights glowed in the kitchen and when he went inside, Merrie stood cleaning up the kitchen surfaces. Just seeing her hurt his heart and he was half tempted to starve himself just so he wouldn’t have to face talking with her. What would she say? What would he say?

“Oh, hey!” she greeted, a warm smile not only gracing her lips but shining from her eyes.

“Hi,” he greeted coolly. “Is there any food?”

Her smile slipped and she regarded him oddly. “Yes. Let me heat it up for you. Sit.”

“Let me go wash my hands,” he said. He used the downstairs bathroom, taking a little longer than necessary to clean up. When he walked back into the kitchen, a plate full of meatloaf, potatoes and vegetables waited for him. Merrie sat in the chair to his right, a cup of tea in her hands.

He wished she wasn’t there. It was hard enough keeping his hands off her, let alone the temptation of her only a few inches from him. But when she smiled, he felt himself walking toward her like a moth drawn to a flame, helplessly caught in her heat.

He sat at the table and began to eat, doing his best to ignore her. Her fresh scent drifted over him and his dick stood at attention. Holy hell. How was he supposed to pretend she didn’t affect him?

“I haven’t seen you in almost two days,” she said, lightly touching his hand. “I’ve missed you.

Braden frowned and moved his hand away. He took another bite to give himself time from what she’d said.

“Didn’t Leo talk to you?” he asked after he’d swallowed.

“Talk to me about what?”

He sighed and rose, walking to the fridge to grab a beer. He twisted the lid off and downed half of it in one, long drink.

“You should eat more before you drink it all,” Merrie warned. “Otherwise you’re going to be tipsy.”

“Damn it,” Braden swore. “I never thought Leo was such a coward.”

“What’re you talking about? What’s wrong, Braden?”

“Where’s Leo?”

“He said he had some things to do at the office. Why? Hey, talk to me, Braden,” she stressed.

“This,” he said, gesturing between her and him. “Isn’t going to work.”

She flinched as if he’d struck her and it made him feel like a heel.

“I don’t understand,” she said, clearly confused.

“I told Leo I was stepping back,” he said quietly.

“You…what? What does that mean?”

“It means we had a fantastic night together, but we need to be practical. Leo has this idea that we can all be together, that you’re going to stay. And I know how impossible that is.”

Her mouth dropped open and he read the surprise on her face. Slowly, she shook her head.

“What did I do wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said. “I just know how this is going to end and I’d rather not get my heart broken again.”

She blinked, her eyes huge in her pale face. “So this isn’t about seeing if a three way relationship could work. It’s about our age difference, isn’t it? You still think I want to leave.”

“Eventually, you will. Maybe not right now, but once this Axe person is caught, I’m pretty sure you’ll be itching for the twenty-something lifestyle.”

She surged to her feet and anger turned her cheeks red. “You condemn me for my age but out of the two of us, you’re the one acting immature.”

“Perhaps we should talk later—”

“Oh, no. You don’t get to hide.” Her face flared red. “We had something pretty incredible the other night and now you’ve decided I’m not good enough?”

“I never said you’re not good enough!”

“This,” she said, indicating the space between them, “tells me everything I need to know. You don’t get to fuck me then decide a relationship is too messy, not even if it’s a three-way relationship.”

He turned away and set his beer down then leaned against the counter and hung his head. God, he was confused. He wanted to pull her into his arms and beg her forgiveness but his brain kept warring with his heart.

“Braden, please don’t do this,” she whispered.

He straightened. “I won’t stand in your way with Leo. You both have my blessing, for as long as it lasts.”

“May I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” he said warily.

“When you were twenty-three, did you ever want to leave this ranch?”

He shook his head. “No, never.”

“Then how can you doubt me when I feel as emphatically as you did then?”

He pursed his lips. “Well played, Merrie. But you’re a woman. It’s different.”

“You’re a coward,” she spat. She didn’t even wait for him to comment. Instead, she spun and stormed away. A few seconds later, the front door slammed. Part of him wanted to go after her and beg her to forgive him for his stupidity and another part of him wanted to punch something until he bled.

But he didn’t do either of those things. He picked up his plate and dumped the rest of his dinner in the trash before washing everything. Then he headed up stairs and locked himself in his bedroom.

* * * *

Merrie sat on the porch swing and stared out at the night, unable to stop the tears flowing down her cheeks. Her emotions fluctuated from despair to anger. In fact, she was so mad she didn’t know what to do except sit there and cry.

She understood about being scared and wary when it came to trusting someone. Hell, her own mother often forgot she had a daughter that she needed to feed. When her mom had ended up overdosing on heroine, Merrie had been sent to live with her Uncle Clarence but he’d died the following year, leaving her alone again. She’d dated a lot of guys, hoping one clicked with her so she wouldn’t have to be alone anymore, only to realize they’d only wanted to screw her without any deeper feelings involved, thus earning her a bad reputation. Like mother, like daughter.

But she didn’t understand how Braden could turn his back so easily when she knew they had a deep connection. She’d seen the pain on his face, the longing in his eyes when he’d looked at her. And to hear him dismiss what they shared had really cut her to the quick.

Leo’s truck pulled into its spot and the lights flicked off. Leo stepped from the truck and sighed as he approached her.

“I take it he’s still being an ass?”

Merrie wiped her cheeks. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was hoping he’d stop being an ass. He doesn’t mean it, you know. He’s just scared.”

“Yeah? Well, newsflash—so am I. Having this type of relationship wasn’t in my plans. I’m sure they weren’t in yours either.”

He sat next to her on the swing and rocked it gently. “What happened?”

“Basically he gave me to you, which by the way, thanks for asking. I’m not a door prize, you know.”

“Give him a few days,” Leo said.

“And then what? We live happily ever after? I can’t do that if he’s always going to think I’m going to leave. The only reason to leave would be because of him! Doesn’t he get that?”

“I’m sorry, Merrie.”

She stood. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. In the beginning, I wanted to leave because I was petrified of Axe finding me. Then I stayed because I felt safe with you two. Now I have feelings for both of you and if one of you shuns me then I can’t stay.”

“Merrie—”

“If you don’t mind,” she snapped. “I’d rather be alone right now.”

She left him there in the dark and headed up to her room. She didn’t want one man over the other and she refused to put Leo in that kind of position. Damn Braden. It was just like a man to twist everything out of proportion.