Brayden : A Beckett Brothers Novel Book 1 (The Beckett Brothers) by Susan Fisher-Davis (2)

Brayden swallowed and stared at her. “What?”

“Julie made it quite clear to me that you told her you and I weren’t involved, and never would be.”

“We aren’t involved and we won’t be again. But I never told her that. What I said was that I didn’t get involved with employees so she needed to get it out of her head or find another job. How the hell did you two end up talking about it?”

“She played the school bully before I left for lunch.”

“What?” His brow furrowed as he looked at her.

Melissa waved her hand and started to leave. “Never mind. Enjoy your lunch.”

“Is there going to be problems between you and Julie?” Brayden asked her, setting down his burger and wiping his hands on a napkin.

“I’m not the one who has a problem. She does.”

“Do you want me to fire her?”

“You’d do that?” she asked surprised that her opinion mattered that much.

“Your job here is more important than hers. I’m sure I can replace her.”

“But not me? How sweet.” Melissa laughed when he snorted. “No. She’ll get over it or she won’t. We don’t see much of each other over the course of a day.”

Brayden nodded. “All right. Thanks again for the burger. Oh, I forgot to ask you—did you by chance leave the back gate by the corral open?”

“No. I haven’t been out there. It was open—when? ”

“Yeah, Nico told me he found it open this morning, and I meant to ask you earlier but forgot all about it until now. I’ve asked everyone and everyone else says they didn’t leave it open. It doesn’t make sense to me. Someone had to leave it open.”

“Well, honest, Brayden, it wasn’t me. I know better. Maybe whoever did leave it open just doesn’t want to feel your wrath.”

She smiled as she left his office and closed the door behind her. It amazed her that she could stand there and hold a conversation with him when all she wanted to do was climb across the desk and straddle him—while they were both naked.

****

Brayden finished his lunch and tossed the bag into the trash as he walked from his office. He had some work to do. He wanted to move a few horses to the pasture before all of the grass was gone. He walked to the other barn and saddled a horse. He hadn’t realized until now how anxious he was to get back into the saddle. The day out with Gray hadn’t been long enough.

Nico came out from one of the stalls and approached as he tossed a blanket onto the back of the horse before lifting the saddle on next.

“Hey boss. Heading out?”

“I’m going to move some horses up into the north pasture. I’ll probably have you and Logan bring them back tomorrow. Also, I want you to let me know if you find that gate open again…in fact, let me know about anything unusual, suspicious, you know.” Brayden tightened the cinch, and glanced at his employee.

“Yes sir.” Nico handed him a walkie-talkie. “Call if you need me.”

“Will do. Let everyone know where I am,” Brayden said as he mounted the horse.

Nico saluted and walked back into the stall. Brayden trotted the horse from the barn to the gate and without dismounting, opened the gate, rode through, and then closed it again. The group of horses he was moving was in the lower pasture and just about all of the grass was gone. They needed to find a fresh area to graze. He nudged the horse into a gallop and grinned as the wind whipped into his face, but he didn’t care because it was exhilarating just to let the horse run.

The sun shone down from a cloudless sky on a beautiful late September day. The temperature was higher than normal, but Brayden knew that usually meant colder weather was moving in soon. It could easily snow in late September in Montana. Having grown up in Hartland, he knew what the weather could bring but then again, he didn’t really care how much snow came, as long it came. He was looking forward to it. Being in that cell had him missing a lot of things other than his wife. Snow, rain, wind, and sunshine were just a few things most people took for granted. He knew he never would again.

As he came over a rise, he spotted the horses. The three of them raised their heads and looked at him, then proceeded to go back to eating. Brayden smiled and rode toward them. All he had to do was get the stallion to go and the mares would follow. Too bad women weren’t like that. They certainly had a mind of their own and most of them wouldn’t follow a man just because he expected them to. They’d probably go the opposite way just to be difficult.

Melissa popped into his head. Yeah, she’d definitely go the other way, especially if he told her to follow him. The woman was trouble with a capital T, and he’d love to be with her again but he knew that would just cause problems. Problems he didn’t need. Damn, the sex had been so good though. Damn it! Now his dick was growing.

“You’re an idiot, Beckett,” he muttered for what seemed the umpteenth time and shifted in the saddle.

Reining his horse to a stop, he unhooked the rope from the saddle and made a lasso then tossed it over the stallion’s head. He chuckled when the horse looked at him and then continued to eat.

“Sorry, buddy, but we’re moving up to higher ground. You’ll thank me once we get there.” He nudged his horse and tugged on the rope. The stallion followed and the mares trailed behind him.

Brayden glanced up to the Glaciers. They were breathtaking. He reined the horse to a stop and narrowed his eyes. It was then he saw they had snow moving over them, which meant snow was coming soon to the sanctuary. Wondering if he should just take the horses back, it only took a moment for him to decide to do just that. He wasn’t sure if it was a fast moving snow or not but it could quickly move down from the mountains and he didn’t want to leave the horses out here. Sighing, he led the horses back toward the barns—better safe than sorry.

He rode into the yard, dismounted, and tied the reins to the rail then led the stallion to the corral. Opening the gate, he led the stallion in with the mares following behind. Brayden closed the gate and turned to get his horse only to see Melissa striding toward him.

“You’re back already. Is something wrong?” she asked him.

Brayden jerked his chin toward the mountains. “The mountains have snow moving over them and I wasn’t sure how long it would be before the snow moved in here. I’d rather not leave the horses up there if it’s going to snow.”

Melissa turned and shaded her eyes to look to mountain range then turned back to him. “Good idea. Snow moves in fast when you can see it on the mountains.”

“It can for sure,” he said.

“Yes. Tessa told me about it. She’s lived here for quite a while. We were talking about how beautiful they are but she said if you see fog, it’s more likely snow and to get ready.”

“Exactly right, but I am anxious to see some deep snow.” He stared at her and she stared right back. He cleared his throat and untied his horse then led him into the barn.

“Brayden?”

He halted but didn’t turn around. “Yes?”

“I’d love to be with you again.”

He spun around. “No.”

“You know you want me again, and it was good—real good. Why not enjoy each other?”

“Melissa—”

“I’m being forward I know, but I don’t care.”

She stepped closer to him and he backed up a step. She moved closer, stood on her toes, and put her lips to his ear. “You know where I am if you change your mind.”

She flicked her tongue against his ear then walked around him and disappeared into the barn.

Brayden swore as he watched her disappear. Son of a bitch!

He’d never met a woman like her. She made no bones about wanting him. She went after what she wanted and he was on her radar. She was right. He wanted her too. What could it hurt? Her. I could hurt her. He wasn’t interested in a relationship. Been there, done that was beginning to be his mantra. He’d been hurt beyond belief when he lost Maisy.

So what…you’re going to be alone for the rest of your life?

“Yes,” he muttered as he led the horse into a stall.

****

Melissa mentally groaned. She couldn’t believe she’d told him she wanted to be with him again. She’d never been so forward in her life, but then she’d never wanted any man more either. Sex had never been that good with anyone else, and she wanted it again. What could it hurt? She wasn’t asking him to marry her, for God’s sake. She had a feeling he’d never be interested in marrying again because he’d been so in love with Maisy. She knew no one else could ever compare to her. Melissa was not going to try to compete with a dead woman…even if that dead woman had been her best friend.

What was the harm in wanting him? She entered the room Lucky was in to see him standing up in his cage, his tail wagging when he saw her. She was pleased that since Lucky had come to the rescue he’d put on weight and muscle mass. He was looking happy and healthy. Melissa really needed to talk to Brayden about keeping him and she supposed now was as good a time as any.

After touching Lucky on his nose through the crate, she left the room to look for Brayden and found him in his office.

“Do you have a minute?” she asked knocking on the open door.

He looked up from his paperwork and frowned. “Not if it has anything to do with what you said earlier.”

Melissa entered his office and took a seat across from his desk. “It doesn’t. I wanted to know if you would mind if I keep Lucky.”

“I don’t mind at all.”

“Thank you. I’ll give him a good home.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

“Thanks. I’ll take him home tonight. Right now, I have to check on the burros.” She walked out of his office and headed toward the stall where Dinky was. She opened the gate, entered the stall, and smiled when the little donkey trotted over to her.

“Hi, baby. How are you doing?” She laughed when he put his head against her chest and pushed her over so that she landed on her butt in the hay. She sat on the floor and rubbed his ears.

“That’s some friend you have there,” Logan said from the gate.

Melissa looked up and grinned. “I love this little guy. I could just hug him.”

“Lucky burro.”

“He gives unconditional love.” She laughed.

“I would too, if a woman who looked like you rubbed my ears.” Logan grinned at her.

“Oh, please. I bet you have women chasing after you all the time.”

Logan shrugged. “Sometimes, I like to do the chasing.”

Melissa got herself up from the floor, walked to the gate, and leaned against the wall. She stared at Logan. He really was a good-looking young man.

“Do you think a woman is too forward if she lets you know she wants you?”

“There are ways to let a man know you’re interested and there are ways to let a man know you’re interested.”

Melissa shook her head. “What?”

Logan laughed. “I like a woman to let me know she’s interested if I show her I am, but I don’t care for a woman to come on to me too strongly, if I haven’t given her any encouragement. Make sense?”

“Yes, but what if you’ve been with her then decided it was a bad idea, and she still lets you know she wants you?”

“Are you asking me because you’re curious or because you need advice?”

Melissa pursed her lips. “Both.”

“If it was a bad idea, did I tell her I thought it was?” Logan tilted his head.

“Yes, but the sex was really good.”

“Shit. Am I stupid in this scenario?”

Melissa burst out laughing. “No. Well, maybe.”

Logan chuckled. “Okay, let’s say it was good sex but I regretted it for some reason. I would feel awkward if she came on to me after I told her it shouldn’t have happened. I’d hate to hurt her, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.”

“So the woman should back off? I get it. I suppose it makes sense. I wouldn’t want a man to keep coming on to me if I told him it was a mistake.” She needed to work with Brayden and not let him know she still wanted him. It would be hard because it had been so hot between them, but she’d do it.

“You women have no problem letting us know when you don’t want anything to do with us. Then there are the few who won’t take no for an answer. Like I said, I like to do the chasing. Most men do.”

“There’s an old saying, a man chases a woman until she catches him.” Melissa smiled.

Logan laughed. “Perfect. I’m on my way out. See you tomorrow.”

“Sure. Have a good evening.” She smiled when he saluted and strolled away.

She now realized she’d been going about it all wrong. She needed to make Brayden think she wasn’t interested in him any longer. So no more telling him, she wanted to be with him or coming on to him. No more flirting. She’d do her job and pay no special attention to him. Right. She groaned. Easier said than done.

****

Brayden walked out of his office, locked the door, and then started to walk down the aisle of the barn only he couldn’t stop himself from looking back toward Melissa’s apartment. Was she in there or with one of the burros? He grinned. She did love those little guys. Especially Dinky. He was surprised she hadn’t asked if she could have him too.

As he passed the room Lucky was in, he heard her voice and stuck his head in the door.

“Taking him home?”

She spun around with a wide-eyed expression and a loud gasp. “You scared me.”

“Sorry.” Brayden couldn’t stop the grin. “How can I scare a woman who goes to investigate when she thinks she sees someone in the barn at one in the morning?”

“I didn’t think I saw someone. I did. You.”

“But you didn’t know it was me.” He shook his head. “You were lucky it was though.”

“You’re right. I have no idea what I would have done if it had been someone else.” Melissa smiled at him.

“Are you all right out here alone?”

“Have you seen the locks Glen put on my door?”

“I have, but I also know you left the door unlocked when you were taking a bath one night.” He smiled when her cheeks turned pink.

“You know, a real gentleman wouldn’t bring that up, especially one who said that night was a mistake.”

“I’ve been in prison, sweetheart. I’m no gentleman.” He stared at her for a long moment but she looked away. “Goodnight, Melissa.”

“Goodnight, Brayden.”

He strolled away wondering why on earth he’d brought up that night. Now he would think about it all fucking night. Idiot!

Chapter Nine

 

 

Brayden led one of the horses out to the corral and smiled when he saw snow flurries dancing through the cold air. It probably wouldn’t amount to much but he loved seeing it and he couldn’t wait for winter to arrive so he could see some deep snow. People complained about all types of things and snow was one of them but if ever they were locked up, and not allowed outside, they’d be just like him and love seeing everything.

“It’s snowing,” Melissa said as she came outside.

“Yeah. It’s great, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. I happen to love snow. People think I’m crazy.”

“I don’t think liking snow is why they think you’re crazy.”

“Hey!”

Brayden chuckled. “Couldn’t resist.” He glanced toward the driveway when he saw a car pulling in then looked to at Melissa. “Are you expecting someone?”

“No, and Julie never mentioned anyone coming out. But then, she barely speaks to me.”

Brayden gritted his teeth. “She needs to get over whatever it is she has against you.”

“It doesn’t bother me.” Melissa looked at him, but he let it go.

After putting the horse in the corral, he then waited for the car to pull to a stop. He watched as the driver’s door opened and a man stepped out. Brayden grinned and strode toward him.

“James,” Brayden said as he stuck his hand out.

“Brayden. Son, it’s good to see you.” James pulled him into a hug.

Brayden slapped him on the back as he hugged him. “It’s good to see you too.” He turned to Melissa and waved her over.

She ran to James and hugged him. “It is so good to see you, James.”

“You look lovely as usual, Lissa. It’s wonderful to see you, honey.”

“Let’s take your luggage inside and get you settled.” Brayden moved to the back of the car when James hit the trunk release on the key pad.

“Are you sure it’s all right for me to stay with you? I don’t want to impose.”

“You’re not imposing. I suggested it, didn’t I?”

“You did.” James smiled at him.

Brayden turned to Melissa. “I’ll be back out once I get James settled.”

“Sure. I hope we can talk soon, James, and I hope we’ll be working together.”

“It would be lovely to work with you. Have a good day, hon.”

****

Melissa watched as Brayden led James into the house. James was such a sweet man, and she’d always liked him. He was tall, with blond hair streaked with silver. A very good-looking older man, probably in his mid to late fifties, yet still considered a young man. She hoped it worked out and he would be working here. It seemed like he and Brayden still had a good relationship despite the fact one of his daughters killed the other one over him. For the man to support Brayden even after he’d been convicted of killing his daughter was amazing.

Brayden had said his mother in-law was sure of his guilt. Why hadn’t James been too? They must have had a good relationship the entire time Brayden and Maisy had been married and James knew how much Brayden had loved his daughter.

Poor James. It seemed like he’d gone through hell himself. His daughter murdered, his son in-law convicted of the crime, his other daughter then charged with the crime, and then his wife divorcing him because of all of it and then later, passing away. Melissa was amazed that the man could even function and all of it happening within a five-year period. It would drive any sane person crazy. She shook her head. What a mess.

Taking a deep breath of the cold air, she entered the barn to work on one of the horses they’d brought in two days ago. The horse was in terrible shape and she wasn’t too sure this one would make it, but she was going to do her best to make sure it did. The mare had a colt that was just as bad off. She fed her baby but it was draining on her, and the colt wasn’t getting as much nutrients as it should. Logan and Nico were taking turns bottle-feeding the colt.

Melissa entered the stall to see Logan feeding the colt. He looked up at her and smiled.

“He’s a hungry little bugger.”

“Looks like it. I hope Mama makes it.”

“She’s been eating some oats,” Logan said.

“Good. I had to feed her intravenously when she first came in.”

“Can I help?” Julie asked from beside her.

Melissa glanced over to her rather surprised at the offer. “Of course, the more…the better.”

Julie smiled at her. “Great. I’m bored in my office. Not many calls today. Some days are crazy and others just drag.”

“Anytime you’re bored, come see me. I could always use an extra hand.” Melissa smiled.

“I appreciate that. I do have the phone with me, so I won’t miss any calls.” Julie held the phone up.

“Works for me.” Melissa moved toward the gate. “I’ll check back in a while. I want to look in on the mama horse.” As she left the stall, she wondered what that had been about, because Julie had smiled at her. Actually smiled at her. Will wonders never cease?

****

A month later, snow arrived for good this time, and came down heavily. It was late-October and bitterly cold. Melissa wore her coat, hat, and gloves as she checked over the horses in the corral. The wind was harsh enough to take her breath away.

“Couldn’t you guys be inside? It’s freezing out here,” she muttered.

“Are you bitching about the snow?” Brayden asked from outside the corral.

“Not the snow. The cold! The damn wind is a real bitch.”

“It is a little windy today. Probably dropping the temp below zero.”

“I think you’re right.” She finished checking the horses and walked to where he stood. “How’s James doing?”

“He loves it. I’m glad you suggested I call him.”

Melissa smirked. “Even though I did it for spite.”

“That reminds me. You and Julie seem to have moved past the bitchiness.”

“Excuse me? I wasn’t the one being a bitch. But yes, we have. I actually like her. She loves to help. Actually, I think she has the hots for Logan.”

“Logan? I’m heartbroken.” He placed his hand over his heart.

“Yeah, ya are.”

Brayden grinned at her then sobered as he stared at her.

“What? Do I have something in my teeth?”

“No. You look beautiful and it pisses me off.”

“Why?”

“Because it would be easier not to want you…if you weren’t so beautiful.”

“Julie is beautiful. Do you want her?”

“Not at all.”

Melissa grinned. “I’ve decided not to chase after you, Brayden Beckett.”

“I’ve noticed.”

Placing her gloved hand on his cheek, she looked up at him. “But if you want to chase me…I just might let you catch me.” She turned to enter the barn.

“Melissa, wait.”

Stopping in her tracks, she turned to face him. “Yes?”

“Another gate was left open. This time, one at the back of the first barn. Any ideas?”

“Someone is forgetting to close them. It wasn’t me, but I suppose you asked everyone again?”

“I did and no one admits to it. I just don’t get it.”

“We’ll just have to start making sure they’re all closed before going home at night. Maybe you and I should do it since we’re here.”

Brayden nodded. “Sounds good. I’m not jumping on anyone yet but I think it would also be a good idea to assign someone to check them, and then you or I will check before we end our day.”

“All right. I’ll see you later. You know where I am.”

****

Christ! She made his dick hard. All she had to do was look at him and he was ready to go. Why don’t you just go for it? What could it hurt? Besides her? Yeah, that was reason enough.

Brayden took a deep breath and entered the barn to see her heading into a stall. He followed her in and he must have made a noise because she turned around to look at him.

“I don’t want you to get hurt, Melissa,” he practically growled.

“I’m not asking you to marry me for heaven’s sake, Brayden. We’re two consenting adults…who happen to have really great sex together.”

Clenching his jaw, he strode toward her and stopped inches in front of her. “I’m not the kind of man you need. I won’t fall in love with you.”

“Am I asking you to? What makes you think I’d fall in love with you? Do you think you’re so irresistible? Maybe I wouldn’t be hurt at all. Maybe you would because I am irresistible.” She smiled at him.

“There are complications in every relationship and there are too many in this one already.”

When she stepped closer to him, he had to take a step back and he watched as a smirk lifted her lips.

“Whatever you say, Brayden. I have work to do. Excuse me,” she said as she moved to go around him.

“You’re pushing me.” He grasped her arm in his hand.

“I’m not doing a damn thing. You said you didn’t get involved with employees. You made it abundantly clear you never will so I’m just staying away from you, but you can’t seem to stay away from me.” She jerked her arm from him and walked out of the stall.

“Son of a bitch,” Brayden muttered as he put his hands on his hips, tilted his head back, and stared up at the ceiling.

She was right. He couldn’t stay away from her. Since she’d started ignoring him, he made sure he was near her whenever he could, and he hated to admit that he couldn’t stay away. At night, he’d lie in his bed and think of her under him or above him. The sex had never been that good before, and that was the thing really pissing him off. He couldn’t admit, even to himself, that sex with Melissa had been better than it had ever been with Maisy and in his heart, he was betraying Maisy if he did. Life was so unfair. To have the love of his life taken from him was bad enough, but to admit that another woman made him crave her more than he had his wife was so surreal. It shouldn’t be this way. Maisy was the love of his life. Wasn’t she? Then why did he want Melissa so much? Was it just the sex or was it the woman?

“Brayden?” He turned to see James staring at him.

“Hey, James. Is there a problem?”

“Not with me, but you look like you have one.”

Brayden grinned. “Not really.”

“Now, why is it I don’t believe you?” James cocked his head to the side.

Brayden shook his head. “It’s not anything I can’t work through.”

“I don’t know how you’ll work through it, if she’s working here.”

Startled by his father-in-law’s astute observation, Brayden pretended not to know what he meant. “Who?”

James laughed. “You think I can’t feel the tension between you and Lissa?”

“We rub each other the wrong way is all. She’s a good vet though.”

“Rub each other the wrong way? Is that how you see it?”

Mentally shaking his head, Brayden knew he’d rather not have this conversation with his father in-law. He wasn’t sure what James was getting at, but he wasn’t about to find out.

“I have work to do. I’ll see you later,” Brayden said as he walked away only to hear James chuckling behind him.

After entering his office, he booted up the computer. A few people were coming tomorrow to look at the ponies. They sounded like nice people when he spoke to them on the phone and another man was coming later today to look at one of the horses. Things were running well at the rescue, better if he could just work around Melissa without wanting her.

He ran his hand around his nape and knew that wasn’t going to happen since he couldn’t stop wanting her. Even if he went an entire day without seeing her, he still wanted her. His damn dick had other ideas. Just go for it! Why the hell not? She was willing and he wanted her like no other. Damn it! He wanted her now. He stood up so fast that his chair hit the bookshelf behind his desk.

The door opened and she was there. “Are you all right? I heard a noise as I was passing by.”

Brayden stared at her while he took deep breaths trying to douse the rising arousal coursing through him. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, she let out a gasp. She had to see the heat in them. He stepped around the desk, strode toward her, and stopped within inches of her.

“I can’t do this anymore. You’re driving me insane,” Brayden murmured as he cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes then he dropped his gaze to her lips. When they parted, he knew he was a man dying of thirst and only she could quench it. He lowered his lips to hers and took them in a deep kiss.

Melissa’s hands touched his chest and then moved up to his shoulders and around his neck. She moaned into his mouth and his cock stood up. He pushed against her.

“I need you so much. I can’t stay away any longer. If I don’t bury myself deep inside of you, I think I’ll die.”

“Brayden,” she groaned.

“Tonight. Tell me I can come to you tonight,” he said against her lips.

“Yes. Yes, you can.”

Moving away from her, he walked behind the desk. “Get out of here.”

“Brayden?” She sounded confused and he didn’t blame her, because he was feeling rather disoriented too.

“Just go. I’ll see you later. I’ll be over at seven.” He kept his back to her until he heard the door close then he blew out a frustrated breath, and collapsed onto the chair.

****

Melissa quickly walked down the aisle of the barn with no destination in mind. She wasn’t sure what made him change his mind but she sure as hell wasn’t going to question him. She’d be ready for him tonight and she’d take what she could get with the man because she’d lied to him when she gave him the impression she wasn’t interested in falling in love with him. If he had any idea she’d been in love with him for years, he’d bolt. There was too much sexual tension between them not to act on it, and she couldn’t forget the night they’d spent together or how much she wanted it again. He was a fantastic lover. She shivered thinking about being with him again. She entered Dinky’s stall and the little donkey hurried to greet her.

“Hi, baby. How are you feeling today? Let me check you over,” she murmured. Dinky nudged her with his head and almost knocked her over making her laugh.

“I think he has a crush on you,” James said from the gate.

Melissa smiled. “I have one on him too. I love this little guy. I know I’ll just hate it when someone adopts him.”

“Maybe you should keep him?”

She laughed. “I can’t do that. I’d end up keeping all of them if I could, so I won’t even start with one.”

“How’s the dog doing?”

“Lucky is wonderful. He’s such a good dog.” Melissa straightened up and looked at him. “How about you? Are you enjoying it here?”

“Yes.” He cleared his throat. “I really like it here.”

“I’m so glad you and Brayden kept in touch.”

“That poor man spent five years in prison because of my daughter. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”

Melissa touched his hand. “James, it isn’t your fault at all. Tara believed she was in love with Brayden and he with her.”

“I know. It’s just that when your children do things, it reflects on you.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute. You’re a good man. I’ve known you for years and Brayden thinks the world of you. Otherwise, I don’t think you’d even be here.”

“Brayden is a good man.”

“Yes, he is. This rescue is amazing.”

“I don’t mean what he’s doing here. He’s a good man, inside, and he needs a good woman.” He stared at her.

Melissa shook her head. “Oh, no, don’t go there. He doesn’t see me that way.”

“Well, he should. You’re right here in front of him and I’m not so old that I don’t know what it’s like to see two people attracted to each other. He needs a good woman. He thinks he’ll be alone for the rest of his life but he’s too young for that, and I know Maisy wouldn’t want that for him and you know it too.”

“I agree. She loved him so much,” she said softly wondering if Maisy would approve of her for Brayden.

James patted her hand. “She did. Just go with the flow. See what happens. Make him see what he’s missing.”

“He still loves Maisy.”

“Yes, but she’s gone. She would be the first person to tell him to move on.” He glanced around. “I’d better get to work.” Then he disappeared down the aisle.

Melissa didn’t know what to think. James loved Brayden like a son. Should she ask for more from Brayden? Make him talk about some kind of future for them. Yes, she had told him she wasn’t looking for a relationship either but she did want one, and she wanted it with him. No man had ever affected her the way he did. All she had to do was to think of him and she wanted him. So many nights she’d lain awake in bed thinking of him and been so tempted just to go to him. Just go into his house, walk down the hallway, and into his bedroom. Too bad he’d quit sleeping in the barn then all she’d have to do was open her door, walk to him, and get into his sleeping bag with him. She couldn’t suppress the shiver thinking about tonight. That man is going to get a night he’ll never forget.

As she started down the aisle of the barn, she heard a vehicle stop at the entrance. Melissa turned to see two tall cowboys step out from a pickup truck. She was sure her mouth dropped open a little because they were both heart stopping gorgeous. She walked toward them curious about who they were and what they wanted. They both wore Stetsons sitting low on their foreheads and aviator sunglasses covered their eyes. She was mentally swooning as they sauntered to her.

“Hi, can I help you?”

“Yes ma’am, we’re looking for Brayden. Is he around?” one of them asked her.

“I believe he’s in his office. Do you have an appointment with him?” She stared up at him and it dawned on her that he had to be one of Brayden’s brothers when he removed his sunglasses. He had the same amazing blue eyes. She glanced to the other one and saw he did too. “You’re his brothers, aren’t you?”

“Yes ma’am, I’m Gage and this is JD, or Jesse, whichever you prefer,” he said grinning.

Oh, yeah. It looked like all the Beckett men were gorgeous. Melissa smiled and stuck her hand out.

“I’m Melissa Conroy, the vet here. Nice to meet you both. His office is the first door on the left right past the stalls.”

“Thanks. We just got home so we need to see him,” Jesse said grinning.

“I’m sure he’ll love seeing you.” Melissa smiled again then walked away as they headed for Brayden’s office. This would be a good reunion for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Ten

 

 

The door to Brayden’s office opened and he was ready to tell whomever it was to get out because he had way too much on his mind right now. He glanced over and grinned when he saw his two younger brothers enter the room. He stood and strode around the desk. Gage pulled him into a hug then JD did the same.

“Damn, it’s good to see you, Brayden,” Gage said grinning at him.

“Same to you two…I’ve missed you all so much,” Brayden said smiling. “Damn, JD, you’ve really grown.”

“You’ve seen me when I visited you. I wish I could have seen you more though,” Jesse said.

“Yeah, I’ve seen you but it’s not the same as being able to actually hug you. I can’t get over that you’re a man now.”

“You’re saying I wasn’t a man at twenty-four?”

“Hell no, you weren’t. You’re not one now either,” Gage chimed in.

Brayden shook his head and laughed as he watched JD and Gage push each other.

“Are you two ever going to grow up? Gage, you’re thirty-one and JD, you’re twenty-nine now.”

“Nah, we have too much fun together, right, JD?” Gage reached over and tipped JD’s hat off his head.

JD swore as he picked his hat up. “I’m not the one having trouble growing up.”

Gage laughed. “Why should I want to grow up? Where’s the fun in that?” He turned to Brayden. “So let’s have dinner tonight.”

“Uh, I can’t tonight, but we can get together in a few days. I’m anxious to get to Clifton and have more of Connie’s burgers.”

Gage stared at him then nodded. “Sounds good then. Hey, the vet here—Melissa Conroy—she looks familiar. Do we know her?”

Brayden didn’t like the stab of jealousy hearing Gage ask about Melissa. “She was Maisy’s best friend.”

“That’s it. She was at the trial, wasn’t she? So how’d she end up here?” Gage asked him as he folded his arms across his chest.

“Yeah, you saw her when she was at the trial. Well, she was out of work and James suggested her to me.”

“James is one hell of a nice guy. Not many father in-laws would stick with a son in-law accused of killing his daughter,” JD piped up then frowned when Gage elbowed him.

“Naw, you’re right. He’s here too, actually. I hired him as ranch manager and he loves it. Come on, let’s go inside the house and we’ll talk a bit but then I have to get…back to work.” Brayden led them from the room. He didn’t see Melissa anywhere as they headed for the house. The snow was coming down harder and he knew his brothers wouldn’t stay too long due to that.

Later that evening, Brayden strolled hesitantly down the aisle of the barn to head for Melissa’s apartment. “You are out of your fucking mind,” he muttered trying to talk himself out of meeting her.

This was so wrong on so many levels. Nothing good could come of this. Nothing good, but sex. Damn good sex. He was just going to tell her he’d changed his mind. It was better this way. He’d rather tell her to her face than just not show up. With that decision made, he knocked on her door.

Only, when the door opened, all coherent thought left him as she stood there looking at him. She was exquisite. Her long dark hair fell softly around her shoulders. She usually wore it in a ponytail when she was working so now she looked softer—sexier, if that was possible. Her brown eyes sparkled as he ran his gaze over her. She looked so good in a tight white tank top and cut-off jeans that he wanted to feel her long, shapely legs wrapped around him as soon as possible. He moved his eyes up to her lips and she parted them slightly. Damn! He reached for her, pulled her up against him, and took her lips in a deep kiss. To hell with telling her that he’d changed his mind because he hadn’t.

Melissa pulled back from him. “Come in. I can make dinner.”

She turned from him, but Brayden wrapped his fingers around her wrist. “I don’t want any fucking dinner. I want you.”

Making her give a quiet squeal, he picked her up, kicked the door closed and carried her to the bedroom.

After placing her on the bed, he lay down beside her and she gazed up at him. His heart beat faster when her brown eyes darkened with desire as she ran her fingers down to the bottom of his T-shirt. It fluttered with what, he didn’t know when she pulled it off over his head then tossed it to the floor. He liked how she took charge. He liked a lot about Melissa Conroy. So why couldn’t he admit that? At least to himself.

He watched her as she leaned forward and kissed his chest.

“Melissa,” he growled. He wasn’t sure how much he could endure before he embarrassed himself in front of her. He couldn’t remember wanting any woman this much, not since Maisy, and possibly even more than he had her.

She pushed him to his back. “I want to go over every inch of you, Brayden Beckett.”

“I’m not sure I can take that.”

Melissa laughed softly. “You will and you’ll like it.”

Brayden hissed in a breath as her fingers trailed down his chest. “I’m sure you’re right about that.”

He watched as she moved her hair off one shoulder and leaned down to kiss his chest again. When she ran her tongue around one of his flat nipples sending a shiver down to his balls, he grabbed fistfuls of her hair and wrapped it around his hands. Her hand ran down his stomach making his skin quiver and react in goose flesh as she unsnapped his jeans. She sat up and looked down at his cock straining against his zipper, and then shifted her gaze to his face. She smiled as she crawled off the bottom of the bed, and removed his boots and socks. Then she moved up between his legs and slowly lowered his zipper.

Brayden held his breath when she reached into his boxer briefs and wrapped her hand around him.

“You, Brayden Beckett, are devastatingly handsome. I love the way you feel.”

“Melissa…” He had no idea what he wanted to say only that he wanted to say something.

She removed her hand and once again slid to the bottom of the bed. Once there, she pulled his jeans and boxer briefs off then dropped them to the floor, all the while smiling at him. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she pulled her tank top off over her head and slowly removed her shorts and panties before drawing a low gasp from him, when she stood naked in front of him.

“Come here,” he growled and held his hands out to her.

“I’ll get there in time,” she whispered with what he could only describe as a sly grin then moved between his legs to press kisses on his thighs before running her tongue across his balls.

Brayden jerked as she wrapped her hand around his hard cock and licked the head. She raised her eyes and looked at him as she placed her mouth down over him and sucked. He groaned long and loud. When she laughed with her mouth still over him, he just about came, right then, and there. The vibration rippled through him drawing a deep moan from deep in his chest. She stroked her hand along his hard length as she continued to suck on him. Damn, she was good.

“Son of a bitch!” Brayden had to stop her because he wasn’t going to last. “Melissa, stop.”

“No.”

He sat up and tried to pull her off him, but she pushed at him without removing her mouth.

“Please,” he begged, gritting his teeth trying not to give in to his body’s desire.

“Please what? Please stop or please finish what I’ve started?” She licked slowly along his full length.

“Damn,” he groaned. “Please, finish what you’ve started.”

“Relax. I’m going to take care of you.”

She put her mouth back down over him and sucked his length while she fondled his balls. The feel of her mouth on him was driving him insane. She sucked harder on him while she stroked her hand up and down his hard cock.

Clenching his jaw, Brayden knew he was too close and a deep groan tore from his chest as he jerked up and came. Harder than he’d ever had in his lifetime and his orgasm seemed to go on forever. Collapsing back onto the pillow, he tried to catch his breath.

Melissa crawled up his body, kissing her way up, her breasts caressing his heaving chest until she reached his face where she lightly kissed his lips. She caressed his damp forehead, and he liked her gentle touch more than he wanted to admit so he grabbed her hand as he fought to calm his body.

“Are you all right?”

“Hell no.” He half-laughed only because he still couldn’t catch his breath.

Melissa burst out laughing. “Well, you’d better get all right because we have all night ahead of us.” She rolled away to lie beside him.

“I’m kind of hungry now actually,” Brayden said, grinning.

“Of course you are. No problem, I put some steaks out. How do you like yours?”

“Medium rare.” He rolled toward her and kissed her. “That was amazing. Thank you. I’ll definitely give back later.”

“Damn right, you will. I’ll go make the steaks.” She got out of the bed and pulled his T-shirt down over her head. “You’ll need your strength.” She winked and left the room.

Brayden blew out a laugh. And you were going to tell her you weren’t staying. Idiot!

Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he searched for his jeans. When he found them, he pulled them on then tossed his boxer briefs to the side of the bed. Then he walked out of the bedroom, down the hall and to the kitchen. Leaning against the doorjamb, he folded his arms and watched her. His T-shirt barely covered her ass. He grinned thinking that if she reached for something…

She spun around to smile at him. “Do you want a baked potato?”

“If you do.” He shrugged.

“Sure.”

“Where’s Lucky?” Brayden glanced around.

“Outside. Could you let him in?”

Brayden pushed himself away from the doorjamb, walked to the back door, and opened it. Lucky came running in, glanced at Brayden then ran for Melissa. He skidded to a halt in front of her.

“Hi, boy. Did you behave while you were out?”

Brayden smirked as he looked at the dog staring at her with adoration in his eyes and he suspected that he probably looked at her in very much the same way. Wow, he suddenly realized he was in way over his head. He never thought he’d feel this way again and he wasn’t at all happy about it. It tore him apart to think he could be close to falling for another woman. No woman should ever replace Maisy.

“Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll let you know when dinner is ready.”

Brayden stared at her and then gave a terse nod. Here was his chance to back away, to beg off dinner, and get the hell out of here. He knew wouldn’t though. Hell, he knew he’d be staying all night. No matter how much he knew he should leave, he already knew he was staying.

****

Huffing out a breath when he left the room, Melissa worried he was thinking of leaving. She’d seen that look before. Damn it. Why couldn’t he just admit they were good together? She had to admit she wanted more though. She wanted his love.

Every day she spent with him here at the rescue, the more she wanted him. She realized now she shouldn’t have taken the job when he called. She’d just gotten to the point in her life where she knew it was time to move on because she knew she’d never have him. He’d loved Maisy so much. Of that, she was sure and she didn’t expect him ever to stop having feelings for Maisy but she was a living, breathing woman who loved him. Only could he ever love that deeply again? Those beautiful eyes of his held such sadness and she wanted to make it all disappear if he’d only let her. Would he even let her close enough to try?

After pulling the steaks out of the oven and the potatoes out of the microwave, she turned to call out that dinner was ready, half expecting to find he’d already left but as miracles go, she ran smack into him. She laughed and leaned back.

Brayden was still here, and he smiled at her before lowering his lips to hers. She moaned when he deepened the kiss. When he pulled back, she stared up into his eyes.

“Your eyes are so sexy. They’re really beautiful.”

“Thanks. Yours are too. Especially when they darken to almost black with desire.”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she stood on her toes, and tugged on his bottom lip with her teeth. “How hungry are you?” she whispered against his lips.

“Are you talking food?”

She laughed. “Yes.”

“Well,” His hands ran down to her ass and he cupped it in his hands. “As much as I hate to admit it, I am starving for food. Right now. But with you being naked under my shirt, I could quickly change my mind.” He lowered his face to her neck and nibbled.

Melissa leaned her head back. “Brayden, we will never get to those steaks if you don’t stop.”

He raised his head and stared into her eyes. “All right. Let’s eat. The sooner we eat the sooner we can get back to bed.”

“Deal.” She led him to the table. She set his steak and baked potato in front of him then watched him dig in.

“This is good,” he said after putting a piece in his mouth, chewing, and then swallowing.

“Thanks. I can cook. I’m not just a pretty face,” she said laughing.

“You sure as hell aren’t. Tell me what you’ve been doing since…”

“Since I finished college, you mean. When I met you, I was just beginning school. I don’t know if you know or not, but my parents are vets and own a hospital in Texas.”

Brayden set his knife and fork down. “Yes, I know. So why are you here?”

“I refuse to work with them. They thought I’d work there without even considering talking to me about it. They surprised me when I graduated with my own office at the hospital. I was so angry. I never wanted to be under their thumb.”

“I can understand that. So, what happened?”

“My mom and I got into a big argument about it. She said she knew I’d come crawling back to them. When I told her I had found a job, she hung up on me. She got past it though but when she heard I was let go from the hospital, she called me and told me my office was still waiting for me. I told her I wasn’t interested. She got very angry and told me I’d regret not working at the best animal hospital in Texas. I know she loves me but I’m thirty years old, I don’t want my parents’ help. Mom was appalled that I decided to come to Montana, although Dad said he was proud of me.”

“Do you like it here?” Brayden cut into his steak.

Melissa nodded as she put a bite of steak into her mouth and chewed. “I do like it here. I really enjoy it, although it about kills me when I see the abused and neglected animals come through here.”

“Hartland is a nice place.”

“It was a culture shock for me coming from Texas. So…have you seen many of your friends since you’ve been back?” Suddenly, she was desperate to change the subject off her reasons for coming to Montana.

“Some. Most everyone here never doubted me. It’s funny that my brother is a cop.”

“I’d like to meet him sometime.”

“Gray’s a great guy. He was really pissed at the condition of the horses and Lucky from that ranch.”

“Any man who loves animals is always good in my book.”

Brayden laughed. “I think it was a good thing the man was gone. I think Gray would have hauled him in.”

Melissa laughed with him. “I bet. That’s good though. No one should get away with neglecting or abusing animals or children.”

“I agree.” Brayden stared at her.

“How did you end up in Texas?” Feeling somewhat embarrassed, by the way he was staring at her, she dropped her eyes from him as she felt the blush move into her cheeks.

“I was in Texas to buy horses from a guy I went to school with here. When I got to his ranch, Maisy was there looking at the same horse I was interested in.” He shrugged. “We started talking and I think I fell for her that very day. We started dating and I decided to move there to be with her.”

“She really loved you so much,” Melissa whispered.

“I felt the same about her.”

“I know you did.”

“I got lucky. I liked James the minute I met him too.”

“I think he appreciated how much you loved Maisy.”

Brayden cut his steak and speared a piece. “Yeah, I think you’re right. My mother in-law, however, never did like me.”

“Why not?”

“She thought Maisy deserved better than a horse rancher.” Brayden shrugged. “Maisy loved me and that went against her mother. Carla had been disappointed in her daughter’s choice of a husband, but she loved the attention from the wedding. Even though my parents had more money than she did, I wasn’t good enough for her baby. I think it sent her over the edge when Tara was found guilty of Maisy’s death because it came out that she loved me too. It wasn’t long after that she divorced James because he had always believed in my innocence. Then she passed away a short time later.”

“Tell me about your family.”

“I have the best family anyone could want. My parents are great people. My mom inherited money from her father after she married Dad. Although, Dad does well too—he buys real estate and flips it by selling or renting it out. He’s made a killing at it. My great-grandparents were oil rich in Texas. My grandparents inherited that land then sold it and moved to Montana because my grandmother always wanted to visit here. Once here, they fell in love with Hartland and so bought land here then started their family. They had raised Angus beef for years but decided to retire, sell the cattle, ranch, and travel. They both died three years ago within a month of each other. Each of us inherited a good bit of money from them. Everyone, except me, bought about five hundred acres and built homes. You already know Ash grows feed and Gray’s the sheriff.” He shrugged. “Well, JD and Gage bull ride. Gage also steer wrestles and together, he and JD own Beckett Boots.”

“Seriously, Beckett Boots?”

“Yes. It’s something they wanted to get into years ago. They own a huge factory, just outside of town that employs a lot of people from Hartland and nearby towns. Although, the family is rich, all of us did our own things to make our own money. JD is the best bull rider on the circuit. He’s made millions a few times over. No one is better. He had some competition from the Callahans, but Roark is the only one still competing, and he sure gives JD a run for his money. You know I raised and trained cutting horses when I lived in Texas. The ranch Maisy and I owned did great, but it all fell apart when Tara killed her.”

“Are any of them married—your brothers?”

“Gage is, but he’s separated now. Maggie left him about two years ago. I don’t think Gage is over his wife yet, but he covers it well. Grayson was engaged at one time but when he brought her here, she hated the town and when he told her he was running for sheriff, she gave him an ultimatum—her or being the sheriff. You can see how that turned out.”

Things grew quiet and they continued to eat in silence. Once they finished, together they cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. While she wiped up some final things, Brayden moved to stand behind her. He kissed along her neck and collarbone then pulled the shirt away from her shoulder and nipped at her skin making her shiver. His fist wrapped in her hair and he tugged her head to the side and bit at her neck. Melissa moaned. He spun her around and took her lips in a hard kiss then he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them.

****

The sun shining down through the skylight woke Brayden. He opened one eye and then quickly closed it. Damn. Why would anyone want a skylight above their bed?

Rolling to his stomach, he pulled the pillow over his head. Since it was Sunday, the rescue was closed until Monday and unless someone made a special appointment, no one came in on Sunday.

Stretching out on his stomach, he tried to go back to sleep but he was wide-awake now. He groaned, rolled over, and tossed the pillow aside. Swinging his legs out of the bed, he reached for his boxer briefs and jeans then pulled them on. He had no idea where his shirt was but since Melissa wasn’t in the bed either, he suspected she might be wearing it. The thought made him smile.

He walked to the door, opened it, and meandered down the hallway toward the kitchen. He could hear the radio playing. Stopping in the doorway of the kitchen, he grinned when he saw her dancing while frying bacon at the stove—in his shirt. She had the radio up loud so he was pretty certain she didn’t know he was there. She certainly had some moves. His groin tightened when she swayed her hips in time with a Randy Houser song.

When she turned around, she spotted him and immediately stopped. Her cheeks turned pink and he thought she looked adorable.

“Don’t stop on my account,” he said with a big grin. “I’m enjoying the show.”

“I hope you know I don’t do that for just anyone.”

“Damn good thing. Something smells good.”

“I was going to wake you once it was ready.”

“How the hell could anyone sleep under a skylight anyway?” he muttered.

“Are you always this grouchy in the mornings?”

“I’m not grouchy. I was just hoping to sleep a little longer since someone had me up late, but that damn skylight woke me.”

Melissa smiled at him and huffed. “Have a seat and I’ll feed you. I happen to love my skylight.”

“You would,” he grumbled as he dug into his breakfast. His cell phone rang. He always had the rescue’s calls forwarded to his phone during nights and on Sundays. “MERAS,” he answered.

“I’m in town and I’d love to come see one of your horses I’m interested in today if that’s possible,” a male voice said in his ear.

“We’re actually closed on Sundays but I’m sure I can make an exception. When could you be here?”

“An hour?”

“That’s fine. Just pull up to the center barn. I’ll make sure the gate is unlocked. Thanks.” He put the phone back into his jeans pocket. He looked at Melissa. “Someone’s coming to look at one of the horses.”

“That’s good. We’re doing good getting them adopted.”

“Yes. Part of that is due to you getting them in good health again.”

“Will you need me here?”

Brayden raised an eyebrow. “Not at all.”

“I’m going to town to get some things. I might be back before he leaves but I think I’ll call Tess to see if she can meet me for lunch.”

“All right.”

They ate their breakfast together then cleaned up. Retrieving his shirt and wishing he could stay a bit longer, Brayden kissed her before pulling his shirt on and walking out the door to head for his office.

Brayden entered the office and booted up the computer, and it was then he realized the man hadn’t mentioned about what horse he was interested. That wasn’t strange but it helped to know what animal to get ready for someone to meet.

He glanced up when Melissa tapped on the window and waved to him. He smiled and waved back. She really was a wonderful woman, and he wouldn’t trade last night for anything. He was not going to deny himself of being with her again, but it couldn’t go any further than just sex. It just couldn’t. He wasn’t real sure how he was going to make Melissa see that things weren’t going to go anywhere with him but he had to. No one could ever replace Maisy. Right?

Startled out of his thoughts when someone knocked on his door, he looked up to see James. Brayden waved him in.

“James, what are you doing out here today?”

“I was heading to town and thought I’d see if you wanted to go with me.”

“I would but someone is coming out to look at a horse. He should be here soon.”

“Oh. I didn’t know you had any appointments today.”

“I didn’t. He called this morning. Said he was in town, so I told him to come on out.”

“Do you want me to stick around?”

“You don’t have to but I appreciate the offer.”

James saluted and walked out. Brayden had about a half hour before the man showed up so he walked down the aisle of the barn to go home and take a quick shower.

****

A few hours later, Melissa entered the diner and weaved her way through the tables to get to the booth in the back where her friend was waiting. She slid into the booth and smiled at Tessa.

“You sure have a big grin on your face,” Tessa said with a chuckle.

“Oh, please. I’m just in a good mood is all. Have you ordered yet?”

“Waiting on you. Good way to change the subject.” Tessa laughed.

Connie came over and handed them menus then filled their water glasses and left them alone.

“I’m having a burger. I can’t come in here and not have one,” Tessa said as she set the menu down.

“Same here.” Melissa picked her water up and took a sip. She noticed Tessa staring at her. “What?”

“You tell me. You seem happier than usual. So what’s going on? Tell me.” Tessa leaned across the table.

“I slept with Brayden,” Melissa whispered.

Tessa gasped. “Wow. And so was it good?”

“Oh. My. God. It was fantastic. I want more.” Melissa laughed.

“I’m happy for you. Nothing better than fantastic sex.” Tessa sighed. “I do love my man.”

Melissa laughed. “You must have fantastic sex too then, because you have such a look of satisfaction your face.”

“Sam Garrett is the love of my life and I can’t get enough of him. Poor man barely gets any rest.” Tessa laughed. “Now you have a man too.”

“He’s not mine. I wish he was though.”

“You never know…he might be yet.”

“I do know. I just don’t have the right to explain it to you. You’d have to hear it from Brayden.” Melissa took a deep breath. “Let’s eat and then go shopping.”

Tessa stared at her for a long moment, making Melissa wish she could talk to her about Brayden and Maisy but then Tessa nodded. She was a good friend. The women finished their lunches and then headed down Main Street to shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eleven

 

 

The following week, the business end of the rescue was slow due to the weather. The snow fell heavily and covered the ground. At the end of each day, Brayden would have dinner with Melissa then they’d have sex, but he’d always leave to go home to sleep. Since James had moved out and found himself an apartment in town, Brayden was alone again. He knew he could have Melissa come to the house but right now that was too much for him even to think about, and too much like a relationship.

Sitting at his desk in the barn, he worked on the books. He glanced up when he heard the door open. Melissa entered the room.

“Hi,” she said as she took a seat. “Hey, I forgot to ask, what ever happened with that man who came out last Sunday?”

“He wants one of the horses and...um…Dinky.”

“He wants Dinky?” Melissa nibbled on her bottom lip.

“Yes, but I told him he wasn’t up for adoption.” He grinned when he heard her sharp exhalation. “I know how much you love him and I’m not even sure I’m going to let him take the horse. He seemed a little shady to me.”

“Thanks, Brayden. If you’re not sure about this guy, just go with your gut on it then.”

“Last night, I checked all of the gates and they were closed, but this morning Logan told me one was open again. I think we may have a problem with someone coming onto the property, though I don’t know how they’re getting in since the main gate is always locked. They could be climbing the wall, but for what purpose? Nothing’s ever been stolen. Who would go to all that trouble just to open a gate?”

“It doesn’t make sense, does it?”

“No. I may call Gray about it later.”

“Good idea…uh…” She started to say something then stammered. He narrowed his eyes at her.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing really. I was just wondering if you’d like to go to the dance at the town hall Saturday night?” She smiled at him.

“You’re asking me to a dance?”

Melissa shrugged. “Sure. It will give me a chance to meet some people. There’s one the third Saturday of every month.”

Brayden picked up a pencil and tapped it on the desk. She was asking him to a dance. He shook his head. “That’s like a date. We’re not dating.”

Immediately, he knew by the look on her face that he’d said the wrong thing. Only it was the truth.

“No. God forbid you’d actually want to date someone.” He knew he’d hurt her and the thought hit him in the gut.

“Melissa…”

She slowly stood, placed her hands on the desk, and leaned across it. “Never mind. I just thought you’d want to see some friends because you are constantly holed up on this ranch. You rarely leave it. Or is it the fact that people will see you with me and think we’re an item?”

Brayden stood.

“We are not dating,” he said through clenched teeth.

“What is it we’re doing then, Brayden? Just fucking?”

Swearing under his breath, he glared at her. “What do you want me to say?”

“Tell me it isn’t just sex for you anymore.”

He combed his fingers through his hair. Fuck! He hated pissing off a woman. Was she right? Was it more than just sex? His eyes met hers and he shook his head. “I can’t say that because that’s all it is.”

She straightened up and narrowed her eyes at him. “Not anymore it isn’t.”

Melissa walked out of the office and slammed the door behind her making him flinch. Brayden was surprised the glass didn’t break or at least, crack. She was definitely pissed off.

He sat back down and wanted to throw something. You knew better! Yes, he did. The minute he saw her, he knew to stay away from her. Son of a bitch! He wanted to go after her but he couldn’t. It was only sex and she needed to see it as such. He had never promised her anything. In fact, he’d made it clear from the beginning he wasn’t interested in a relationship with her. She’d made it abundantly clear how much she wanted him almost from the start and he did his best to let her know it was to be nothing more than a working relationship. So then, why did you have sex with her?

“Hell if I know,” he muttered as he stood and moved to the window where he looked out at the Glaciers. Snow was so heavy he couldn’t see the tops. He placed one hand on the window and the other on his hip. He just hoped he hadn’t pissed her off enough to make her leave.

****

Melissa practically marched down the aisle of the barn. Never had she been angry enough to want to hit someone, but she’d come damn close to doing just that in his office. How dare he? She entered her apartment and slammed the door then flopped down onto her sofa. She angrily wiped the tears away. Damn that man! It was more than sex to her and he knew it. The pain in her heart was almost unbearable. What was wrong with him that he couldn’t admit they have something?

He needed to let someone into his life again. Yes, he lost his wife and spent five years in prison, but he was alive and free again. She knew now she was wasting her time with him because he’d never change and he didn’t want to because he was safe staying away from loving someone again.

Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure she could do this anymore. How was she going to be around him—day after day—all the while knowing he didn’t want her?

She quickly sat up. That was wrong. He did want her. He just couldn’t admit he wanted her for more than sex. How could sex be that good between two people who didn’t feel something for each other? Damn. Maybe for men it was easier. Maybe he didn’t feel anything for her other than someone to dance with between the sheets. But they worked together. How did he think that was going to go now? Was she looking for too much?

Well, you did tell him you weren’t going to fall for him.

Groaning, she put her hands over her face pushing back the tears, but then jerked when someone knocked on her door. Pushing herself up, wiping her eyes as she walked to the door, she peered through the peephole, and was disappointed to see Julie. She was hoping it was Brayden. Taking a deep breath, she pasted a smile on her face and opened the door.

“What’s up, Julie?”

“Can I come in?”

“Sure.” Melissa opened the door wider to let Julie enter. After she closed the door, she leaned back against it and watched as Julie looked around the apartment. She pushed away from the door and walked to the sofa. “Please…have a seat.”

Julie smiled at her and took a seat in the chair. She stared at Melissa so long that she almost started to fidget.

“Are you all right?” Julie asked her.

Melissa raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I’m fine. Why?”

“You’re not fine. I saw you storm out of Brayden’s office and I swear I saw steam coming from your ears.”

“We just had a disagreement.”

Julie laughed. “A disagreement? Come on, Melissa. I know you and I didn’t get off on the right foot, and that’s my fault. I hate competition in anything, and you’re a beautiful woman. I was hoping Brayden would like me, but I saw the way he looked at you. There is a lot of sexual tension between you two and I suppose I was jealous.”

“And now you’re not?”

Julie smiled at her. “I like Logan. A lot.”

“Logan’s a good guy.”

“Don’t change the subject. What’s going on with you and Brayden?”

“Nothing. Really. There might’ve been but not now. He’s so hung up on his past, he won’t let anyone in, and I’m tired of trying.”

“What’s in his past he can’t get over?”

Melissa shook her head. “I can’t tell you. He’ll have to.” She stood. “I need to get back to work. I appreciate you stopping by.”

“Wow. Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry.” Julie grinned. “I get it. You don’t trust me, but maybe one day you will, and we can be friends.”

“It has nothing to do with me trusting you or not. It’s Brayden’s place to tell you about his past, not mine.” Melissa smiled.

Julie sighed. “Okay. Let’s go back to work then but please, know I’m here if you want to talk. We women know how pigheaded men are and sometimes we just need to make voodoo dolls and stab them all night.”

Melissa laughed. “If only that would work.”

Julie giggled. “It’s probably better if it doesn’t. I might stab a part I’d want to use at a later date.”

They walked out of Melissa’s apartment laughing and stopped when they saw Logan, Nico, and Brayden standing in the center of the barn staring at them with frowns on their faces. Julie and Melissa looked at each other and then laughed even harder.

As the day went on, Melissa stayed away from Brayden and it seemed like he avoided her as well. She hated the thought of what the night would bring. Other nights, when she was alone, she was fine because she knew she’d be with him again but now she knew she wouldn’t, and she just didn’t know what to do. She loved the job but how could she stay here and work with him.

You’re an idiot! You never should have gotten involved with him.

At six that evening, she entered her apartment and locked the door behind her. Lucky ran to her and she let him out the back door. She prepared his food then let him back inside while she headed for the bathroom to soak in the tub. She was tired and worn out and hoped she was tired enough to fall asleep without wishing Brayden was with her, and holding her.

Melissa leaned back in the tub with bubbles up to her nose and steam lingering in the room. Lucky lay on the floor beside the tub with his head on his paws. All of a sudden, he jumped up and ran from the room. Melissa sat up and looked out the open door but all she could see was the light from the lamp on her bedside table.

“Lucky, come here, boy.”

When he started barking, she stood and pulled the towel off the rack, stepped from the tub, and quickly dried off. She pulled her pajama bottoms on and her T-shirt over her head and walked out of the bathroom. Lucky was still barking and it sounded like he was in the living room. Melissa listened but didn’t hear anything over his barking. She tiptoed to the living room and turned on a light then grabbed Lucky’s collar. He stood staring at the door, growling, and the fur on the back of his neck was standing up.

Melissa peered through the peephole but the barn was dark. Lucky’s growl deepened and he stood stock-still. His reaction sent a chill down her spine, and made her breath catch in her chest.

“What is it?” she whispered.

He glanced up at her and back to the door. She backed away from it.

She shouldn’t be afraid. No one could get onto the property unless the gates were open, only she knew for an absolute fact that Brayden always made sure they were closed and locked every night—unless they scaled the wall as he’d mentioned. They’d also started locking the barn when she’d moved into her apartment. So unless someone did scale the wall outside and crawled in one of the windows that sat up high in the hayloft, no one was getting inside. Only something was wrong because she was scared. Lucky never barked or growled at anyone or anything. He didn’t take his eyes off the door as he continued to growl. Someone or something must be out there.

Melissa pulled him back from the door and found her cell phone on the kitchen counter. She quickly punched in Brayden’s number.

“Beckett,” he answered.

“Brayden,” Melissa whispered.

“Melissa? What’s wrong?”

“Lucky won’t stop growling at the door. I’m too afraid to open the door.”

“Don’t. I’ll be right there.” He disconnected the call.

Melissa moved to her sofa and took a seat to wait for him. It was probably nothing but she was very scared for it to be nothing. She couldn’t seem to stop shivering so she pulled her legs up under her and stared at the door. Even though she expected Brayden, she almost jumped out of her skin when a knocked sounded at the door then she heard his voice.

“Melissa? It’s me, open up.”

She ran for the door and peered out then opened it. He came striding inside, bringing the cold with him, and then he spun around to face her.

“Are you all right?” he asked her looking concerned.

“I…uh…yes, I think so.”

“You didn’t hear anything?”

“No, but Lucky never does that. He just kept staring at the door and growling.”

“I’ll go check it out. I wanted to make sure you were all right first. Can I take him with me?” He nodded toward Lucky.

“Yes, sure.”

“Lock the door behind me.” He signaled the dog and walked to the door with Lucky on his heels. Melissa closed it behind them then locked it before moving back to the sofa to wait.

****

“All right, Lucky. Show me what you heard,” Brayden told the dog then followed him through the barn.

Lucky was definitely on to something sniffing with determination all around the area. What did he smell? Or who? It seemed very unlikely that someone would be on the ranch because the gates were locked and it just seemed like a whole lot more trouble than it was worth to scale the wall. After all, it was a ten-foot-high brick wall. Who, in their right mind, would climb over it and for what reason? Perhaps a disgruntled owner of one of the rescued animals?

Suddenly, Lucky tore off down through the barn to the door and barked. Brayden ran behind him and opened the door. Lucky ran out the door but stopped in the yard. Snow was softly falling but there were no footprints, other than Brayden’s own when he ran over from the house.

“Come on, Lucky.” Brayden had the dog follow him back inside the barn and headed toward the back door. He pulled it open and with the yard lights on, he could look over the freshly fallen snow. No footprints out back either. Brayden blew out a breath and saw it form into a puff of air. He wasn’t sure what Lucky had heard but whatever it was, it was nowhere around now. He led him back to Melissa’s apartment and knocked on the door.

“It’s me, Melissa.”

The door opened and she allowed him to enter. He stopped inside the door and stared at her. The fear on her face was evident and his heart ached knowing she was scared.

“Did you see anything?” she asked him as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

“No. There are no footprints out there either. It could have been a bird or something.”

She nodded. “I suppose. It’s just I’ve never heard him growl or bark like that.”

“He’s a good watchdog. It could have been anything, but it wasn’t a person.”

“Thank you for coming over. I’m sorry I bothered you.”

“It was no bother. Don’t hesitate to call me about something like that.” Brayden had to look around for a distraction or he’d pull her into his arms. “Will you be all right now?”

“What if I said no?”

“I could stay for a little while. Until you feel safe, that is.” He turned to look at her.

“I’ll be fine. If you’re sure it was nothing.”

Brayden couldn’t take his eyes off her breasts. He could see her nipples through her T-shirt and he mentally chastised his thoughts because it was wrong. So very wrong to stare but he couldn’t help it because he knew how they tasted. How they responded to his touch. He closed his eyes and mentally groaned. He had to get the hell out of Dodge before he did something stupid.

“I’m sure. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He yanked the door open and walked out then pulled the door closed behind him. Taking a deep breath, he walked down the center of the barn and out into the yard. He decided to check the other barns before going home. It wouldn’t hurt. He entered the larger of the two and flipped on the lights then looked around. Nothing was amiss, so he headed to the other barn and went through the same routine. If anyone did break in, he was sure the center barn was the one they’d be most interested in since it held all the medicine for the animals. He was pretty certain no one was going to break in to try to steal an animal. That would be a little difficult to do without a truck of some sort. However, some people would look for any type of drug, including veterinary. He didn’t know how the drug situation was in Hartland, since he’d been gone for so long but a drug addict would try anything to get a high. Even, going so far as to steal medicine, from an animal hospital. He’d give Gray a call tomorrow and talk to him.

As he turned to head out of the barn, he decided to check the back gates again. He’d checked them earlier and they’d all been closed. Coming to a stop, he swore when he saw the gate open on the corral. He knew he’d closed it earlier. He was positive. Walking quickly to the other one, he saw it was also open. Damn it! Whoever was doing this knew that if the animals were in the corrals, they’d be able to get out and wander the property. If they got to the higher pastures, they could be in trouble from predators looking for food. Since wolves didn’t hibernate, they could be out looking for food and a small horse, pony, or burro could be taken down easily by a pack. Glancing around, he saw footprints but it was snowing so heavily, he knew they’d fill up quickly if he tried to follow them. He trudged through the snow and walked up the steps to his backdoor then stomped his boots to remove the snow, and entered his kitchen.

After removing his hat and coat, he hung them up then pulled out a chair and toed off his boots. With something that sounded a bit like a cross between a groan and sigh, he walked to his bedroom to try to get some sleep. He was sure it was going to be a long damn night—especially after seeing Melissa in her T-shirt.

Fuck! You just had to tell her it was only sex. If you hadn’t, you could be in her bed right now.

Hell, now his dick was thinking about her too. He sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed his hands down over his face. Why couldn’t he stop thinking about her? Yes, she was beautiful and the sex was so good between them but couldn’t it be like that with any woman, and there were plenty of beautiful women.

Brayden fell back across the bed and stared at the ceiling. It was wrong to compare her and Maisy. He’d loved his wife and he never thought he’d ever want another woman other than her. Of course, if Maisy were still alive, none of this would matter because he’d be in Texas with her and not here on a sanctuary created in her memory. He was sure they’d have had children by now also. Only life wasn’t fair.

There wasn’t a person alive who hadn’t thought that same thing at one time or another. The cruelty of some people boggled his mind. He’d never had an inkling Tara thought herself in love with him. Sure, she would sit and talk with him and touch his arm when she’d speak with him, but she never made any kind of move on him. She was his sister-in-law. He thought everything was normal. Maybe if she had made a move or expressed her interest, he could have let her know he wasn’t interested then she would have realized he loved Maisy, and only Maisy. He’d been so angry the day she told him she’d done it all for them that he had to clench his hands into fists to keep from reaching across the table and strangling her.

Now, he found himself thinking of Melissa all the time. He could sit at his desk working on the books and she’d pop into his head then his damn cock would get hard. It took all his willpower not to go find her and bend her over a bale of hay. What was wrong with him?

Sitting up, he pulled his T-shirt off over his head then stood and opened the snap on his jeans, lowered the zipper and pushed them, and his boxer briefs, down off his legs. He pulled the covers back and slipped between the sheets. Clasping his hands behind his head, he stared at the ceiling.

Who had been sneaking around on the ranch? Brayden shook his head. Lucky had been ready to tear into something and now Brayden realized he should have taken him to the gates with him. Dogs had a terrific sense of smell and that dog knew someone had been out there. Someone had to be because there was no other explanation for the corral gates being open. It all had him shaking his head. What the hell was going on?

He was definitely calling Gray tomorrow. He’d have him take a look around for him. There could be evidence outside the gates and he wanted to know if someone had been out there too. He trusted Gray, and that said a lot since there weren’t too many people he trusted nowadays. After his attorney and the detectives who helped him get Tara, his list was short—mostly family. He did trust Melissa though, but he also trusted her to do her job. She loved the animals and taking care of them. He hoped he hadn’t screwed that up.

Brayden grunted and rolled to his side. If he didn’t stop thinking of her, he’d never get to sleep. His damn dick had other ideas though, so he knew he had a long night in front of him.

 

Chapter Twelve

 

 

Melissa checked over the horse with the foal. Both of them were doing wonderful, and the foal was running, playing, and getting healthier every day. The mare was getting stronger too. Once she’d gotten some weight on her again, she was able to feed her baby and soon they were both going to a new home.

When she heard someone enter the stall, Melissa glanced up to see Julie standing there. They smiled at each other. Perhaps we can be friends.

“It’s really snowing. I think I’m going to ask Brayden if I can leave early. I hate driving in the snow,” Julie said running her hand along the mare’s nose.

“Good idea. You know, we should have him fix up the apartment above the other barn just in case someone needs to stay here. The weather is so unpredictable at times.”

“I just wanted to ask if you needed anything before I go.”

“Nope. I’m good. Go home, if he doesn’t mind. The phones have been dead today anyway, and I can handle it, if it rings.”

Julie smiled at her. “Hopefully, I’ll see you tomorrow. I may see if Logan wants to leave early too.” She waggled her eyebrows.

Melissa laughed. “It would probably be best for everyone to leave if it’s that bad out.”

“It’s getting there. See ya later,” Julie said with a wave as she walked away.

Melissa sighed. She couldn’t ask to go home early since she lived here. She heard Julie talking with Brayden out in the barn and her stomach clenched just thinking of him coming into the stall. A shadow fell across her and she looked up to see him, and another man, standing there. As soon as she saw the man was wearing a khaki shirt with a badge pinned to it, she knew he must be Brayden’s brother, Gray. Of course, his good looks, and long legs encased in jeans helped with that conclusion too. Actually, he was extremely good-looking.

“Hello,” she said as she walked to meet up with the two men.

“How are you, ma’am?” the man asked her.

“I’m good. What brings you out on a day like today?”

“Melissa, this is my brother, Grayson. Gray, this is Melissa Conroy, the vet here,” Brayden said, introducing them.

“I hear you had some excitement out here last night,” Gray said smiling at her and she couldn’t help but smile back.

She shook his hand. “It was probably nothing.”

“I wouldn’t say, nothing, Doc. There are footprints outside the gate and tire tracks too.”

Melissa widened her eyes, suddenly feeling uneasy. “Tire tracks?”

“It’s hard to see where the tire tracks go, due to more snow and traffic on the road,” Brayden said. “But there were also footprints around the corral gates last night. I decided to check the gates when I headed back after I brought Lucky back to you and I saw the prints and gates open again.”

Melissa glanced at Brayden and frowned. “Oh, my God. I’m glad you didn’t tell me that last night.”

“Melissa, I don’t want you to panic. If it’s someone looking for drugs, they found out they can’t get in, and that’s a good thing. This place is locked up tight,” Gray said.

“Gray told me there isn’t much he can do except, keep an eye out. With the snow still coming down heavily, any prints and tracks will fill in quickly. We’ll just have to watch for anything unusual,” Brayden said, and Gray nodded in agreement.

“All right.” Melissa needed to convince herself to keep calm since she was the one out here in the barn by herself every night. She’d never had a panic attack but she felt like one was coming on. Her reaction must have set off a warning to Gray because he rested his large hand on her arm.

“You’ll be safe, Melissa. Just keep Lucky with you inside and the doors locked.” Gray looked at her and waited until she nodded.

Brayden stuck his hand out to his brother, drawing Gray’s attention. “I appreciate you coming out in this weather, Gray.”

“It’s my job. As long as no ice is involved, I can get where I need to go. You two have a nice evening and call me if you need me.” Gray put his fingers to the brim of his hat and strolled away.

Melissa watched him walk down the aisle then sighed and got back to work checking the horses over.

“What was that for?”

“What was what for?” she asked wondering why he suddenly sounded angry.

“That sigh?” Brayden’s lips flattened. He was angry, she thought. What did she do now?

“I was sighing because I’m worried about someone being around here at night,” she retorted, wondering if he’d thought she was sighing over Gray—not that the man wasn’t worth a sigh or a hundred, but this time it wasn’t the case.

Brayden glared at her and then stormed off. Well, what the hell was his problem? He didn’t want her but acted pissed off if he thought she was even thinking of looking at another man. Men were such idiots.

****

Brayden strode down the aisle of the barn and could kick himself for coming across like some jealous ass. He wasn’t jealous of Gray. He snorted. That was a fucking lie. He was jealous of any man Melissa looked at. What the hell is wrong with you? Gray’s a good man and your brother.

Entering his office, he took a seat behind the desk. When someone knocked on his door, he called out for whoever it was to come in, although he wasn’t in the mood for anyone right then. However, that all changed when Melissa stepped into the office with tears on her cheeks.

“Melissa?” He stood and started toward her with a strong desire to fix whatever it was that was wrong, but stopped by his desk to keep from taking her into his arms.

“Will you stay with me in my apartment? I mean, you can sleep on the couch. I’m just scared. Too scared to be alone. For a little while…”

“You’re rambling,” Brayden said as he stepped forward, his hands clenched to keep from reaching for her.

“I don’t want you to think I’m asking you to sleep with me.”

“I wish you would,” he murmured.

She raised startled eyes. “What?”

Unable to stop himself now, Brayden slid his hands around her middle and leaned down to kiss her. Her arms wrapped around his neck without hesitation. When someone cleared their throat from the doorway, they jumped apart. Brayden looked over top of Melissa’s head to see James standing in the doorway.

“James…” Guilt made it so that Brayden couldn’t meet his father-in-law’s eyes.

James held his hand up. “No need to say anything, Brayden. I had a feeling something was going on with you two.”

“I’m sorry.” Brayden wanted to crawl under a rock. The guilt he felt squeezing his heart.

“Why? You’re a grown man, Brayden, and single. I love you like a son and personally, I think you need this in your life. It’s time to start living again, son.” James glanced at Melissa then back to Brayden. “I just wanted to let you know I was leaving. Have a good evening.”

Brayden was sure his mouth dropped open when James walked away. He glanced down at Melissa to see a blush staining her cheeks. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. I’m just sorry he saw that.”

“It’s fine. Melissa.” He knew he was trying to reassure himself as much as her.

“You don’t sound so sure.”

“I…” He shook his head. “It’s just that he’s Maisy’s father.”

“I get it. I’m going to my apartment. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I thought you wanted me to stay with you?”

“You have to want it too,” she said as she walked away.

An hour later, he stood and stretched. It was almost closing time. He left his office and entered the barn then strode down through the center aisle to tell everyone who was still around to go home. The snow was still coming down heavily and accumulating quickly. He stopped and looked out the barn window. It was beautiful.

Sliding the doors open, he just listened to the quiet. The snow fell softly with the only sound being the flakes touching down. He looked up and all he could see were the big fat flakes falling from the sky.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Melissa said from beside him.

“Yes. Do me a favor and never take this for granted.”

“I won’t. It’s so quiet that you can actually hear the snow falling.”

“Yeah, I know. I love it. All of it. Snow, rain, sunshine, everything. I thought you were heading home?”

“I’m going to go check on Dinky first then I’m going home.”

Brayden placed his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her close then kissed her forehead. “I want to see you later.”

Melissa placed a hand against his cheek and kissed the other before walking away. He wasn’t sure if that was a yes or no, but he hoped it was a yes. He smiled thinking of her with that silly little donkey. He really should just tell her to keep Dinky as her own. She loved that little burro and it seemed the feeling was mutual.

****

After showering, and changing into her tank top and lounge pants, Melissa fixed herself dinner then sat on the sofa and turned the TV on. A fire roared in the fireplace and the smell of burning wood filled the room. The snow was still falling and she wondered if Brayden would show up. He’d said he wanted to see her, but she couldn’t say anything in response. She was tired of throwing her heart out there only to have him fail to show any interest in reeling it in. She understood his reluctance, she had loved Maisy too, but Brayden needed to get past it. He was alive and free, and it was time to get on with his life.

Easy enough for her to say, she supposed. She couldn’t imagine what he’d gone through being in that prison for five years. Shivering, she shook her head and tried to imagine going to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. It had to be one of the scariest things ever to have happen. Five minutes would be unbearable. How had he managed being there for five years? Still, she just wished he’d quit running hot and cold with her. One minute he wanted her, the next he didn’t. He obviously had a war going on inside him but only he could pick the winning side.

So lost in her thoughts, Melissa gave a small scream when someone knocked on her door. She tiptoed to the door and looked out the peephole to see Brayden standing there. With a great sigh of relief, and her heart pounding in her chest for another reason now, she opened it. He stomped his booted feet and removed his hat to wipe off the snow from the brim. Then without even a greeting, he came striding in and stopped in the living room. Closing the door, she leaned back against it and ran her eyes over him. He turned to look at her and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from groaning. The man was simply the best-looking thing on two legs. He even beat out his brother, Gray, in her opinion.

“Brayden?”

“I told myself I wasn’t coming over here. You didn’t seem to want me to.”

“What makes you say that?”

“When I said I wanted to see you tonight, you didn’t answer me.”

Pushing herself away from the door, she walked toward him. “I always want to see you.”

He took his coat off then laid it, along with his hat, on the back of the sofa. “Do you?”

“If you don’t know that by now, you never––” Her words were cut off when he took ahold of her arms, pulled her against him, and took her lips in a deep kiss.

It happened so fast that at first, she didn’t react but then she wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him back. His tongue entered her mouth and she touched hers against it. He groaned making her smile and he pulled back from her.

“What are you smiling about?” he asked as he ran his lips down her neck making her shiver.

“You groaned.”

Brayden laughed. “You make me groan all the time. I need you now.” He walked her backwards until she came up against the door. He lifted her shirt off over her head and tossed it aside. She pulled his off, her hands going to the buckle of his belt, which she unhooked and then slowly lowered the zipper, all the while staring into his handsome face.

“My dick’s so hard, I’m not sure you’ll get that zipper down,” he murmured against her lips before burrowing his face in her neck. When she tugged it down hard, he hissed in a breath and jerked back. “Don’t scare me like that. You could have caught something.”

Melissa laughed. “I’d make it feel better if I did.” She gasped when he reached between them and pushed her lounge pants down. When she stepped out of them, she kicked them across the room. Brayden dropped to his knees in front of her.

“I have to taste you,” he said as he pressed kisses against her trembling belly before moving down to her strip of curls.

She placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself on suddenly unsteady legs, and pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. The anticipation was killing her. She leaned her head back with a long moan when his tongue moved through her curls. He pulled her slit apart with the pads of his thumbs then leaned forward and sucked on her clitoris. She clutched his hair in her hands.

“Brayden...please,” she begged, for what she wasn’t sure…more of what he was doing…his heart, perhaps.

He leaned back from her and looked up at her. “Please what?”

Melissa moaned and shook her head back and forth. “I need…”

“Need?” His tongue flicked against her making her gasp. “What is it you need, Melissa? Tell me. What?”

“You’re slowly killing me. Please.”

When he chuckled, she pulled his hair. “Okay, baby.” He sucked on her clitoris and slowly inched two fingers into her and moved them against her G-spot.

Melissa couldn’t catch her breath as her orgasm rushed over her and she screamed his name. He removed his fingers and moved back from her. She looked down at him to see him sticking his fingers into his mouth and sucking on them then he stood and laid his forearms on either side of her head and pressed his lips to hers. She could taste herself on his lips and she started to slide to the floor but he picked her up, and carried her to the bedroom. She had planned on giving back but right now, she could barely move.

****

Brayden was sure he was dreaming. What a great dream, he thought smiling. Melissa had her mouth on his dick and he was growing as she sucked on him. When her teeth rubbed against his growing cock, he woke up with a start then glanced down to see her head bobbing up and down.

“Shit,” he muttered, because it hadn’t been a dream at all…it was better.

“Not the response I was hoping for,” she whispered.

“I thought I was having one hell of a dream.”

“Do you want me to stop so you can go back to sleep?”

“Hell no.” He wrapped her hair around his hands.

“Good,” she murmured then put her mouth down over him again and sucked.

“Melissa, damn…you’re driving me insane.”

“Payback is a bitch.” She sucked hard on him and took him deep into her mouth.

Brayden arched his hips and groaned. “I’m not going to last if you keep at it that way.”

“I can stop for a while.” She laughed around him.

“Please don’t.”

She didn’t. When her hand cupped his balls and massaged gently, he almost shot off the bed. She pumped her hand up and down his hard length while her other hand massaged his balls, always keeping her mouth on him. He arched his hips, threw his head back, and growled when his orgasm hit him hard. He fisted his hands in her hair and pumped his hips as he came. He tried to catch his breath as she crawled up his body and kissed his lips.

“Are you all right?” she whispered against his lips.

“I’m not sure.” He wasn’t. All he knew right now was that all of this just felt right.

Melissa laughed and lay down beside him. She put her head on his shoulder and her arm across his stomach. He held her tight against him and knew the minute she fell asleep. He was in so much trouble here and he didn’t know what to do about it. He wasn’t sure he could ever give her what she wanted. She was the type of woman who should have a family. Something he’d wanted once, but never wanted again. He’d had it once and lost it. Not just by losing Maisy, but by losing five years of his life in a place that didn’t inspire wanting to bring life into a world so harsh.

“What are you thinking?” she asked him softly.

“I thought you were asleep.”

“Almost. What’s going through your head?”

“Nothing. I––” He stopped when Lucky started growling.

Quickly getting up, he dressed then hurried to the living room. Pulling his coat on, he then put his hat on, and attached Lucky’s leash to the dog’s collar. He opened the door with the dog practically pulling him through it. Turning, he saw Melissa had followed him from the bedroom.

“Lock the door behind me,” he told her as he closed the door. He heard the latch click then let the dog lead him out through the barn.

Brayden opened the back door of the barn and walked outside with Lucky leading the way. Pulling his flashlight from his pocket, he shone it down at the snow. Footprints! And from the looks of them, they belonged to a man. Fuck! Now he’d have to call Gray and let him know someone was on the property. He followed them around the barn then they disappeared as they headed toward the gate. He pulled on Lucky’s leash to get the dog to follow him, headed back to the apartment, and knocked on the door.

“It’s me, Melissa.”

The door opened and he entered then leaned down and unhooked Lucky’s leash. When he straightened and looked at her, he could see the fear on her face. He walked to her and pulled her into his arms.

“I have to call Gray. There are footprints out there. Human footprints. That’s what had Lucky growling and barking at that night. We’ll just have to make sure the barns are closed up tight every night. No one can get into the barns, but we have to make sure they’re all locked up.”

“Oh, my God. Do you think it’s someone looking for drugs?”

“I don’t know any other reason they’d be around. I’m going to give you a gun––”

“I don’t want a gun.”

“I don’t care whether you want one or not. It’s just safer for you.”

“All right. I can shoot. My dad taught me.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Let’s go to bed.”

“I’m going to call Gray. Lock the door behind me.” He stepped away from her.

“Are you coming back?”

“Might be better if I don’t. I’ll see you tomorrow. Call, if you need me but lock the door.” Then he walked out the door.

The next day, Brayden strode down through the barn to check on the horses. Nothing seemed amiss. Everyone was gone since it was Sunday and there were no appointments scheduled. Gray had checked out the area last night but just like the last time, not much could be done as far as the footprints and tire tracks went because of the snow. His brother had been a little upset he couldn’t do more, but Brayden understood.

The rescue sanctuary was doing great. So many of the animals had been adopted and had good homes now. Maisy would be so happy about it. A lifetime dream of hers had come true. It was just too bad she wasn’t here to be involved with it. Mentally shaking his head, he told himself not to dwell on that but to remember she was watching over him, and loved what he was doing in her honor. It hurt to think how much he still missed her—every day—but now he had these feelings for Melissa too, and he hated that he did. He’d had the love of his life once upon a time but he’d lost her. He couldn’t be lucky enough to have another chance at real love. Or could he? No. Never could he be so lucky.

Taking a deep breath to push such thoughts from his mind, he started to head out of the barn only to stop and frown when he saw someone enter. No one was supposed to be here. He couldn’t make out who it was until he stepped closer to him then he recognized him as the man who’d come out to see a horse last week.

“Sir? You shouldn’t be here. We’re not open on Sundays without an appointment,” Brayden said moving toward him to escort him from the barn.

“I just wanted to look around again,” the man said as he glanced around.

“Look around? At what?”

The man didn’t answer him but instead started walking down the aisle of the barn. Brayden pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Gray as quietly and quickly as he could. He didn’t like any of this. Gray told him he was close by and would be right there. Brayden stuck the phone back in his pocket and kept an eye on the man as he peered into the stalls and talked to the horses. Brayden watched him and hoped Gray arrived soon.

 

Chapter Thirteen

 

 

Brayden blew out a relieved breath when he saw his brother’s SUV stop outside the barn. He hadn’t even considered that Gray might not be working on a Sunday but his brother hadn’t hesitated to get here and for that, Brayden was thankful. He noticed Gray’s SUV had a horse trailer hooked behind it.

Gray came striding into the barn and Brayden jerked his chin in the other man’s direction. When Gray stopped in his tracks, Brayden had a feeling Gray knew the man and it was confirmed when he spoke to him.

“Bart?” Gray said and the man turned toward him with a look of surprise on his face.

“Hello Grayson.”

“What are you doing here?” Gray folded his arms across his chest.

“Just looking around, is all. I’m not hurting anyone or anything.”

Gray looked at Brayden. “Bart used to own Lily’s Valley. He was sent to prison for a few years for vehicular homicide while under the influence.”

“My daughter lost my ranch,” Bart stated as he stared at Gray.

“It was because of what you did, Bart, and Crystal wasn’t capable of handling things for you. She’s as bad off as you are. No one wanted to deal with any of you after what you two did to that family.” Gray blew out a breath and leaned against the barn wall. “Bart tore a well-loved family apart when he decided to go for a drive while he was so drunk he could barely stand. He crossed the center line and killed a man who had two little girls and a loving wife––”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Bart shouted.

“It doesn’t matter! You did what you did and he’s gone,” Gray growled as he straightened up and glanced at Brayden. “Anyway, come to find out, Crystal, Bart’s daughter was also at the bar with him that day. Both drinking so much they didn’t know which way was up. The bartender at the bar even cut them off but that hadn’t been the first bar they stopped at. Crystal gave Bart the keys to her car then stayed in the bar when Bart left so to this town, and me, she was as guilty as he was. No one wanted anything more to do with Crystal because of it. She died a while back in a car accident while under the influence.”

Brayden shook his head. Sounded like a damn soap opera to him. “So now what, Gray?”

“Depends. Do you want to press charges for him trespassing?”

Brayden looked at Bart who was rubbing one of the horse’s noses. The man seemed lost to him. He’d been there too, so what could he do. Shrugging, he looked at Gray.

“As long as he promises to stay off my property, I won’t.”

Gray nodded. “Bart? You have to leave but if you come back onto this property or cause any problems here, I will not hesitate to arrest your ass.”

“All right, Grayson. I’m going. I just wanted to look around one more time. I won’t come back.” The sad looking man started down the aisle toward the barn doors.

“Hey Bart, how were you getting in at night?” Gray asked him.

“The fence is easy to get over on the west end of the wall. I know this ranch like the back of my hand,” Bart said then walked out of the barn, climbed into his truck, and drove off.

“I don’t think you have to worry about him again,” Gray said with a nod.

“I feel bad for him. He seems so lost to me.”

“I suppose he is. He used to be a good man but when his wife, Lily died, he started drinking. I’m surprised I didn’t hear about him being in town.”

“At least now we know how the gates were opened.”

“Yeah.” Gray grinned. “By the way, I brought you two horses that someone had called in. The owner’s been arrested for failure to appear in court and his girlfriend claims he stole the horses. Can you check to see if they’re chipped?”

“Sure, Melissa can anyway. She does the microchipping on all the equine that come through and she has the scanner to read chips too.”

“Good and since I’m here, think I can look at some horses? Sam told me Tessa’s birthday is coming up and I told him about the horses we took from Farrell’s ranch. He said if I was out this way to see if you still have the Appaloosa, since Apps are her favorite. If you still have him, he’ll come out to adopt him and I think I’d like to get a few as well.”

Brayden grinned. “I do still have him. Come on,” he said as he led the way through the barn.

****

Melissa walked through the barn after checking on Dinky and saw Brayden and Gray enter a stall. Grinning, she quickly moved to the stall and looked in.

“Hi Gray,” she said smiling at him.

Gray spun around. “Hi Melissa, how are you?” He was rubbing the Appaloosa’s nose.

“Good. You?”

“Great, thanks. I brought two horses in that are possibly stolen. Can you check them for chips? I’m also here for Sam. He wants to get this guy for Tessa for her birthday. She loves Apps and I’m sure she’d be happy if he adopted one from here.”

Melissa grinned. “I’m sure she would. She’s a sucker for animals. I’ll get the scanner and check the horses.”

Gray laughed. “Thanks, I appreciate that and if they’re chipped, I can probably find their owners. Yeah, Sam told me they have four dogs, two cats, and four horses. Sam had one dog already when he met her then she talked him into taking a dog she didn’t want to send to the shelter. Since then, she’s adopted two cats and rescued two horses. Sam said he wonders every day what else she’ll bring home.”

Brayden chuckled. “But he lets her do whatever she wants, doesn’t he?”

“Yep, and she knows it. Sam can’t tell her no.” Gray continued to rub the horse’s nose. “I’ll tell Sam he’s still here and I’m sure he’ll want to pick him up next weekend, if that’s all right?”

“That’s just fine. We’ll get the horse ready for him,” Brayden told him.

Melissa started to move out of the stall because she couldn’t be close to Brayden without wanting to throw him to the floor and straddle him. He smelled so good. But as she moved, he moved too.

“Why were you out here, Melissa?” Brayden asked her.

“Oh, I just wanted to check on Dinky. He seemed a little sluggish yesterday.”

“Is he all right?”

“Yes. I suppose he just had an off day.” Melissa looked up at him and their eyes met and held, until Gray cleared his throat. Melissa looked away feeling the heat come into her cheeks.

“Do you want me to back the trailer into the barn?”

“If they have halters, we can just bring them in,” Brayden said.

“They do. Let’s get them so Melissa can scan them. I hope they’re microchipped.”

“I do too. Let’s get them and we can put them each in a stall.” Brayden glanced at Melissa before motioning for Gray to lead the way.

“If Bart comes back, let me know but I doubt he will,” Gray said over his shoulder to Brayden.

“I’ll scan them when you get them in the stalls,” Melissa said as Brayden followed Gray.

“All right.”

She watched the two men walk to the trailer and if she hadn’t known they were brothers, she had no doubt she’d think they were related somehow. Their mannerisms were so very similar.

Melissa retrieved the scanner while they unloaded the horses. She hissed in a breath when she saw them because they were gorgeous animals. One was all black and the other was a big blue roan, highly spirited and she knew why—he was a stallion and absolutely beautiful. She followed them to the stalls with the scanner. Both horses stood still as she scanned them and wrote down numbers as they popped up on the screen. Turning around, she saw Gray and Brayden watching her.

“They’re both chipped. I’ll need to enter the numbers into the database to see who they belong to though.”

“Please do that and let me know. Once we’ve got the info, I’ll do what I can to track down the owner or owners,” Gray told her.

Nodding, she walked to her office and entered the numbers into the computer. After writing down the owner information, she headed out of the office to tell Gray what she’d discovered. She found him standing next to the stalls where the horses were, talking with Brayden.

“They’re both from the same place,” she said as she handed Gray the paper. “A ranch in Bear Canyon, Wyoming called Win’s Circle. The owners are Hannah and Wade King. There’s a number there too.”

“Great. I’ll give them a call. I’m sure they’ll want to pick their horses up.” Gray put his fingers to his hat. “Thanks.” Then he walked out of the barn.

Now she looked at Brayden and saw him looking at her so she smiled. She turned to return to Dinky but he stopped her.

“Melissa, can I come over tonight?”

Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t allow herself to think too much. “Of course.”

Smiling, he leaned in gave her a quick kiss then strode away.

Later that night, as they lay in bed, Melissa could feel him pulling away. Not physically, but emotionally and it scared the hell out of her. He had to feel something, didn’t he? How was it possible he didn’t? Lord, she hoped so because she wasn’t sure how much more she could take not knowing how this was going to go. How could she continue to work with him if he broke this off with her? Again. The on again, off again thing was wearing thin. He had to know her feelings for him.

She was startled when he moved away from her, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and started dressing. She watched as if it weren’t happening but when he pulled his boots on then stood to stomp his feet, there was a feeling of such dread wash over her that she feared her heart would stop.

“Where are you going?” she asked the sound of her words a croak around the lump in her throat.

“Home. I just need to…go.” He headed toward the door without any further explanation.

Melissa quickly got out of bed and pulled her robe on then followed him to the living room, calling out to him when he reached for the doorknob. “Brayden?”

“I’m sorry,” he said as he opened the door, then he walked out closing it behind him.

Melissa stared at the door in utter shock, then ran to it and wrenched it open. She looked in the direction she knew Brayden would be going.

“Brayden,” she shouted and saw him halt then slowly he turned to face her.

“What?”

Running to him, she stopped in front of him. “What? You’re asking me what? We were in bed together and everything was fine then all of a sudden, you bolted. You were thinking something before you walked out. What was it?”

He drew in a deep breath. “I was thinking that I can’t give you what you want. Not now. Maybe not ever.”

“How do you know what I want?”

“Tell me you don’t want this to go further. Look at me and tell me that, and I’ll go back into your apartment with you,” he said as he grasped her arms and pulled her close.

There was no way she could she tell him that because she did want it to go further and she wanted him in her life. For the rest of her life.

“Do you think Maisy would want you alone for the rest of your life?”

Brayden shoved her away from him. “Do not bring my wife into this,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Your wife is dead, she’s gone,” she shouted, the hurt and anger flowed from her as a feeling of dread washed over her that she couldn’t ignore this time.

“Shut up, Melissa,” he said and a muscle twitched in his cheek then he turned from her but she grabbed his arm and turned him back to face her.

“I won’t. It’s time you realized it. She’s gone. She’s been gone for five years now. Brayden you have to let her go.”

“Why? So you can move into her bed?” His head snapped back when she slapped him.

“How dare you? I loved her too. I’m done here. As much as I love you, I won’t try to be a replacement for Maisy. Find another vet too. You have my two week notice.”

Spinning on her heel, she ran back to her apartment and slammed the door behind her then ran to her bedroom, threw herself across the bed, and cried. Damn him! She was done, just as she told him. It was time to leave. Time to get away from him and never see him again. She’d go home to Texas and work at her parents’ hospital if she had to, but her time in Montana was over.

The next day, she worked with Dinky and tried not to cry over never seeing the little donkey again. There was no way she could take him back to Texas with her. She planned to call her mother tonight. As much as she hated to, she knew she’d have to but she knew her mother wouldn’t judge her. They only disagreed on not working together.

As the day wore on, she stayed away from Brayden, although it hadn’t been too hard to do because he was avoiding her too. She was in a stall checking a new horse when someone blocked the sunlight. She glanced up to see Julie.

“Hi, Julie.” Not in the mood for chitchat, she turned back to the horse.

“What’s going on? Brayden told Logan you were leaving and Logan told me. I thought you liked it here.”

“I do, but it’s time to move on.” She prayed Julie would let it go, but it was not to be.

“What happened between you and Brayden?”

Melissa cringed, and took a deep breath. “Nothing happened, it just won’t work between us, and I don’t want to be around him anymore. It will never go anywhere and I’d like to get married one day and have a family.”

“I’m sorry, Melissa.”

“It’s all right. I’ll get past it.”

“I don’t think you will but I’m around if you need to talk. Just know you’ll be missed—especially by Dinky. That little donkey loves you.”

“I know.” Melissa could feel her throat closing up as more tears threatened to fall.

“I’d better get back to work. Let’s get together before you go, okay?”

“Sure,” Melissa said nodding but she knew she wouldn’t spend time with anyone except Tessa, and she was meeting her for lunch tomorrow to tell her about her plan to leave. Melissa was glad when Julie left. She just wanted to do her job then be left alone.

That evening, she sat in her apartment, staring at the phone, knowing she had to make the call that would seal this horrible situation in permanence. She called her mother who told her to come back and they’d put her to work. What Melissa didn’t tell her was why she was returning to Texas. She didn’t know if she could tell her right now without breaking down. Maybe she could after she was home for a while but right now, it wasn’t possible. After grabbing a quick shower, she headed to bed, and before crying herself to sleep, she prayed she could make it through the full two weeks.

****

The following week, Brayden stood in the barn petting one of the stolen horses when he heard a pickup pull up to the barn. He could see a horse trailer being pulled at the back. When the truck stopped, the passenger door flew open and a beautiful blonde haired woman jumped down and put her hand up to shade her eyes to look around. Brayden strode toward her and stepped out into the sunlight.

“Hi, I’m Hannah King. My husband and I were told our horses were here,” she said as she stuck her hand out in greeting.

Brayden shook it and smiled at her. Her blue eyes stared up at him. He nodded then turned toward the man striding around the truck. He stood as tall as Brayden and stuck his hand out with a friendly grin.

“Hello, I’m Wade King. We didn’t think we’d see our horses again. Can’t believe they ended up in Montana.”

“Brayden Beckett. Come with me and I’ll take you to them. How long have they been missing?”

“Just a couple of weeks and thankfully, they were the only two taken. Do you know who stole them?” Wade asked him.

“Not sure if the guy the sheriff took them from stole them or bought them from someone else. He’s not talking. I’m glad you had them chipped though. They look like good bloodlines.”

“They are. Blue Diamond is one of the best stud Quarter Horses around. Ellie’s Girl belonged to my mother before she passed and although she’s had a few foals, she’s no longer bred,” Hannah told him, and then she laughed when she saw the horses stick their heads over the stall gates and whiny at her.

She ran down the aisle of the barn to their stalls. Brayden heard Wade chuckle and turned to look at him, lifting his brows in surprise.

“I think they recognize her voice,” Brayden remarked.

“I’m sure of it. Hannah loves Ellie’s Girl and she was devastated when she came up missing. We haven’t figured out yet how they were taken, but we’re looking into it.”

“Beautiful horses,” Brayden murmured.

Wade glanced around. “This looks like a nice place you got here, Mr. Beckett.”

“Call me Brayden. Are you two planning to head home today?”

“We were but I think we’ll need to get a hotel room for the night, and pick the horses up first thing in the morning.”

“You are more than welcome to stay here. I have plenty of room.”

Wade looked startled at the offer. “You don’t have to do that. You don’t even know us.”

“I know good people when I see them and I doubt if your wife wants to leave here without her horses.” Brayden nodded his head in the direction of Hannah cooing at the horses and rubbing their noses.

Wade grinned. “I think you’re right about that and we’re both tired. We’re close to the Montana border but this was a long trip pulling a trailer. I’m sure we’ll both sleep well tonight. Thanks for offer. We’d appreciate it, if you’re sure.”

Brayden nodded then saw Melissa walking up the aisle of the barn. He watched her stop to speak with Hannah.

****

“Hi, I’m Melissa Conroy, the vet here. I’m glad we found your horses for you.”

“Hannah King. I am too. I never thought I’d see them again. Ellie was my mother’s horse before she passed away and when my dad passed away, she was given to me.” Hannah laughed. “Well, she was given to Wade, my husband…” She looked to the handsome man standing with Brayden. “…along with half the ranch. Then after a while, he finally gave her to me. It’s a long story but he has to be one of the most hardheaded men I’ve ever known.”

“I think he’s talking with another one,” Melissa said then nodded toward Brayden and Wade who were deep in discussion.

A moment later, they started toward the women. When they reached the stalls, Wade stopped in front of the roan stallion and rubbed his nose. The horse butted his head against the man’s chest making Wade laugh. When he turned to face Melissa, she was sure her mouth dropped open. From a distance, he was handsome but up close, he was gorgeous with his black hair and dark eyes. He was the same height as Brayden since they stood shoulder to shoulder.

He stuck his hand out to her and it took everything she had not to giggle as she shook his hand while Hannah introduced her. Then he turned those dark eyes to his wife and Melissa could see how much he loved Hannah. He gently touched her hair and she turned tear-filled eyes at him. Wade pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. Yeah, that was love. She glanced at Brayden and their eyes met, but he looked away. Damn.

“I, uh, have some work to do. It was nice meeting you both. I’m happy you got your horses back. Have a safe trip home.” She hugged Hannah and shook Wade’s hand again then tried to get the hell out of Dodge before she begged Brayden to say he loved her.

“Melissa?”

She forced herself to turn to face Brayden. “Yes?”

“Wade and Hannah are going to stay here tonight. Would you like to come over for dinner?”

Melissa was sure she was gaping. Had she heard him right? She wasn’t going to question it but instead, simply nodded. “Uh, yeah.”

“Good. We’ll see you at six.” Brayden nodded then she turned and walked away.

Would wonders never cease? He’d asked her to dinner. Well, the Kings would be there but he’d never invited her to dinner before. She couldn’t wait. Maybe she’d been wrong about Brayden, maybe…just maybe. Smiling, she headed to her office.

At six o’clock, she knocked on the back door of Brayden’s house then opened it and almost ran into Brayden on the other side.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“It’s fine. I didn’t know if you’d come in or wait.” He stepped back from her. “Come into the living room. Steaks are cooking. Medium rare?”

“Well done.”

“You’re cooking the flavor out.”

“Whatever.” She smiled when he chuckled.

“Good comeback. I didn’t notice how you cooked yours before.” He placed his hand at the small of her back and they walked to the living room. It was a good thing he was behind her so he wouldn’t see her blush. The last time they had steaks together had been at her place when they’d also had sex.

Wade stood when she entered the room. Cowboys and their manners always impressed her.

“Hello, Melissa,” Hannah said from the sofa.

“Hannah. Wade. Nice to see you again.”

“I’ll be right back, I need to check the steaks,” Brayden told them.

“Need any help?” Melissa asked.

“Nope. Shouldn’t be long.” Brayden left the room and Melissa blew out a breath then smiled when she saw Hannah staring at her with a smile on her face.

“So, how long have you two been married?” Melissa asked taking a seat.

“Just since July,” Hannah said smiling at Wade. “Might never have happened either, if Wade hadn’t come to his senses.” Wade chuckled and Melissa laughed. “I’d been in love with him since I was fifteen, but he always ignored me.”

“Hardly, duchess,” Wade said sliding his fingers through his wife’s hair.

“Then I kissed him when I was eighteen and he broke my heart by rejecting me so after graduation, I ran off to New York to become a photographer. Went home ten years later and when I saw him again, I knew I still loved him but he still didn’t want me. Stubborn man.”

Melissa watched as Wade winked at Hannah. “But her dad had other ideas. He split the ranch between us in his will. Very rocky start but as you can see, it worked out. Right, duchess?” Wade lifted her hand and kissed her palm.

Melissa inwardly sighed. To have a man love you like that would be amazing. Especially if it was the man you already loved. At that moment, the man she loved entered the room to tell them dinner was ready. Everyone stood and headed for the kitchen.

Once they all took their seats, Brayden served the steaks and baked potatoes. Conversation flowed as if they’d known each other for a long time. Melissa laughed as Wade told them some of the adventures the two went through before finally coming together. He told them that there were times he’d been torn between making love to her and spanking her. They were very much in love and Melissa had to blink back tears because she wanted so much to have the same thing in her life—with Brayden.

Once dinner was over, she got out of there as quickly as she could without seeming rude. She and Hannah agreed to keep in touch after which, Melissa left and walked home. Alone. Would she ever stop loving Brayden? No. There was no doubt about that.

****

Three weeks later, Brayden walked down the aisle of the barn checking the horses and glanced to Melissa’s closed door, but moved on past it and on out the back door. She wasn’t there. She was gone. He’d check the other barns then head to bed. Alone.

He missed her and he’d asked himself many times why that was if he didn’t have feelings for her. No, it couldn’t be. Could he really have that kind of deep love again? He’d found it once, so he knew what it was. You should have asked her to stay. You are such a dumbass, Beckett. Maisy is dead and gone. Melissa is a living, breathing woman who has told you she’s in love with you.

Damn, he’d royally fucked things up.

“Brayden?”

He turned when he heard Julie calling to him. “Yeah?”

Julie and Logan walked to him, stopping in front of him. “There’s a man on the phone about the ad for a vet,” Julie said, frowning at him.

He knew everyone missed Melissa and were not happy about him hiring another vet to take her place. To be honest, he wasn’t too happy about it either.

“I’ll take it in my office. Thank you.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she muttered as she turned and walked away with Logan following.

Julie had barely talked to Brayden in the two weeks Melissa had been gone. In fact, no one was really making conversation with him lately. Damn it, he knew they were unhappy about how things worked out, but they just didn’t understand.

He simply couldn’t get past the thought that in truth, he didn’t deserve another woman in his life. He hadn’t taken good enough care of the first woman who loved him so how could he take better care of another. Yeah, he knew it sounded stupid and he wanted to love and be loved just as anyone would, but he didn’t want to go through losing someone again. Losing Maisy had about killed him and as much as he hated to admit it, he felt so much more for Melissa. How would he survive if something happened and he lost her too?

You’ve already lost Melissa, you idiot!

Was it possible to love two women in one lifetime? How could Maisy have been, what he thought was the love of his life, if he felt possibly an even greater love for Melissa? God, he did love her but he’d been so cruel. He’d pushed her away so many times then pulled her back in only to push her away again. No wonder the woman left him. He ran so hot and cold with her that if it had been the other way around, he was sure he’d have gone nuts. Only, she hadn’t. She hung in there. She’d told him she loved him and yet he couldn’t say anything. You’re an idiot.

“You should have told her you love her, dumbass,” he muttered as he entered his office and picked up the phone to talk with the man about the position.

The conversation was brief, and after telling him he’d let him know about the position, he returned to the barn. He strode to her apartment, stopping in front of her door only he couldn’t move to open the door. Briefly closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he exhaled and reached out, turning the doorknob. The door opened and he stepped inside.

All of her furniture was still there and the apartment smelled like her. A light, floral scent that he knew came from her soap and shampoo. How many times had he buried his nose in her hair and smelled it? Walking to her bedroom, he pushed the door open then walked to the closet. Her clothes were gone and it was like a knife in his heart. He wasn’t sure if she was going to send for her furniture or not. When he entered the living room again, he saw Ash standing in the center of the room.

“Ash? What are you doing here?”

“It’s true then…you let her go.”

Brayden shook his head. He wasn’t going to argue the point. “I didn’t want to lead her on.”

“What a load of shit, Brayden. You’re in love with her. You lost five years of your life because of someone else’s selfishness. You were alone all the damn time. So now, you’re going to be selfish and do it to yourself this time. Do you want to be in another prison, one of your own making this time? Because you will be if you don’t go after her.”

“I’m scared, man.” He didn’t mind admitting that to Ash. He could tell his brother anything.

“Damn right you are, but you have to take a chance sometimes. I know you’re afraid you’ll lose her but, man, you already have. Only this time, she’s alive so you have a chance to get this one back. Don’t be a fool, go after her.”

“He’s right, Brayden.”

“James?” Brayden spun around to see him standing in the doorway.

“Everything Ash said, I agree with one hundred percent,” James said.

“I don’t know—”

“Bullshit, Brayden.”

Brayden raised his eyebrows in surprise since he’d never before heard James swear. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I’m calling your bluff, son. All you had to do was tell her how you feel.”

“Just how do I feel, James?” Brayden said with a sneer.

James snorted. “You love her and don’t bother denying it. I’ve seen you looking at her. What’s the problem? Is it because she was Maisy’s best friend?”

“No…”

“Then what?”

“I…uh…what would Maisy think about Melissa and me being together?”

James laughed. “I’m sure she’s looking down wondering what the hell you’re waiting on, son. She’d probably be happy to see the two people she loved most falling in love. I suspect she’d want Melissa for you as much as you do.”

“I don’t know, James, for some reason I feel like I’m betraying her even after all this time.”

“Well, you’re not. Not at all. She’s been gone over five years now and I know she wouldn’t want you to be alone just as you wouldn’t want her to be alone if you’d been the one to have died. She’d love you enough to let you go and she’d never want to be the reason you’re holding back. Now, you have to let her go and bring Melissa home where she belongs. You’ve been given a second chance at love, son. Don’t let this one get away. Grab it and hold on to it.”

“What if she won’t come back with me?” He swallowed hard with the fear that she wouldn’t.

“Convince her. She loves you. You have to make her see that you love her too.”

“Do it, Brayden. Go after her. James is right,” Ash said, squeezing Brayden’s shoulder.

Brayden took a deep breath and blew it out. “All right. Can you run the place for a while, James?”

“Of course. Now go!”

Brayden nodded and walked toward the door, but then turned back. “By the way, would you like to have this apartment? Whether she comes back or not, it’s yours if you want it.”

“I’d love it. Now, go!”

Brayden seemed rooted to the floor, feeling excited, scared, suddenly not knowing what to do first but he finally turned then walked out, and headed to his house to pack. After calling the airlines, he got a flight out first thing the next day. He hoped he could sleep tonight because the thought of seeing her again was making his gut ache.

The next afternoon as he stared at the front door of the animal hospital, Brayden took a deep breath, and exhaled, his breath fogging up the air in front of him. Snow flurries swirled around him, but it was nothing like the snow in Montana. Walking up to the glass door, he pulled it open, and entered the reception area. The receptionist glanced up at him then did a double take, and a smile lifted her lips.

“Hello there. Can I help you?”

“I’d like to speak to Doctor Conroy, please.”

“Which one?” She laughed pointing to the list of resident veterinarians working at the hospital.

Brayden grinned. “Sorry. Doctor Melissa Conroy.”

“Let me see if she’s available. Who should I say is here to see her?”

“Just a friend.” He knew if she knew he was here, she wouldn’t come to the waiting area.

“Lucky Melissa,” the receptionist muttered as she left her desk and walked down a hallway.

Brayden swiped his hand down his face and took a seat in the waiting area. This had to be one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Spending five years in prison was a piece of cake compared to facing Melissa after the way he’d treated her. The woman wanted nothing to do with him anymore and it was his fault, but he wanted her back. He needed her back. Stretching his long legs out in front of him, he leaned his head back against the wall, and waited.

****

Melissa sat in her office staring at the computer without actually seeing it. Whenever there was a lull in her work, her thoughts went to Brayden. She had to stop doing that. Suddenly, someone knocked on the doorjamb. Melissa smiled when she looked up to see Justine standing there.

“What’s up, Jus?”

“There’s a man here asking to see you.”

“A man?”

“One hell of a man—he’s tall, dark hair, and has the most amazing eyes…” Justine sighed.

“Blue eyes?” Melissa had a bad feeling even as her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.

“Yes. You know this hunk?”

“Unfortunately, I do. His name is Brayden Beckett. Please tell him I don’t want to talk to him.”

“Are you serious? He’s so gorgeous––”

Melissa put her hand up. “Trust me, I know how gorgeous he is, but we have nothing to say to each other anymore. Please, Justine, just tell him to go away.”

Justine sighed. “All right.”

Melissa placed her hands over her face and pushed back the tears threatening to send her into a crying jag.

Why was he here? If you’d go out there and talk to him, you’d find out. No!

He’d broken her heart already, and she refused to listen to him tell her he still loved his dead wife even one more time. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t be with him and compete with a dead woman. He loved Maisy, but not her. Never her. He made his point clear. Whatever he wanted, he’d have to get some other vet to do it.

****

Brayden quickly rose to his feet when someone cleared his throat. The man had him feeling damn uncomfortable as he stared at him, though he had no idea why.

“I have a feeling you’re Brayden Beckett,” the man said in an imposing tone.

“Yes sir.”

“I’m Doctor Blair Conroy—Melissa’s father. What are you doing here?”

Hell! Blair Conroy wasn’t happy to see him but maybe Melissa would be and could run interference. “I want…I need to speak to Melissa.”

“Mr. Beckett?” This came from the receptionist as she returned to her desk. “I’m sorry, but Melissa said you two have nothing to talk about.”

Brayden blew out a breath. He’d expected that but had hoped it would go different.

“All right. Thank you.” He gave Melissa’s father a nod, put on his hat, and left.

He was outside walking to his truck when he heard his name called from behind him. Brayden spun around to see Blair Conroy barreling down on him and he prepared for a fight.

“Look, I’m not sure what happened between you two, but my daughter’s been miserable ever since she came home. It took her days to even mention your name and how she couldn’t work with you anymore. Her mother thinks Melissa is in love with you. All I know is, I want my baby to be happy, and if you can do that for her, I’ll help you out. However, if you’re here for any other reason and you just hurt her again, I will personally escort you out of town.”

Brayden stared at him in disbelief. He’d expected her father to want to knock him into next week but instead, he was offering to help Brayden win Melissa back. “I’m not here to hurt her, sir, I swear I’m not. I love her and I know I screwed up. I want her back in my life. I want her to come home.”

He watched as Blair took a prescription pad out of his pocket and scribbled something on it. When he peeled off a sheet and handed it to him, Brayden frowned. “What’s this?”

Blair smiled at him. “Her home address. She’ll be there around six thirty this evening. There’s one condition to this, Brayden…”

“Yes, sir?”

“You bring her back to visit for Christmas next month.”

“Yes sir, I will,” Brayden said with a grin and shook the man’s hand.

“See you then,” Blair said as he started to walk back to the hospital.

Brayden stared down at the paper and then up again to see Blair Conroy entering the hospital. A grin split his face when he glanced at his watch. Three more hours. Taking a deep breath, he climbed into his rental truck and drove through town looking for a restaurant. He’d suddenly developed an appetite.

At six thirty, he parked in her apartment complex and walked to her door then knocked and waited. He’d never been more nervous in his whole life. This even beat out when he was waiting for the verdict to be read at his murder trial. He tried to calm his breathing before he hyperventilated.

“What do you want, Brayden?” Her voice suddenly came through the door.

“I want to talk to you. Please, Melissa. Open the door because I’m not leaving.”

A long moment passed and he thought she’d decided to ignore his presence, but then the door opened. She stared at him without a word. His heart slammed against his ribs as he looked into her gorgeous face, but he could see a profound sadness in her beautiful brown eyes, and she looked like she’d been crying. He hated that he’d done that to her.

“Why are you here?” She folded her arms across her chest in a most impatient manner. One he knew well from her.

“Can I come in?”

She dropped her arms as if highly annoyed then sighed. She opened the door wider to let him enter. He strode past her and then spun around to look at her, taking off his hat. She closed the door and leaned back against it.

“What is it you want?” she asked him. She wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

“God, you look so good.” He moved closer to her.

“Brayden,” she snapped and held up her hand to stop him in his tracks.

“I came to get you.”

“Get me for what?” She frowned at him.

“To take you home.”

“I am home. Please leave.”

“No. Not unless you come with me. Melissa…I-I love you.”

“What did you say?” she whispered, her eyes growing wide with what he could only imagine was disbelief.

“I said…I love you. I walked away from you, pushed you actually, because I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone and it was killing me to know that. I loved Maisy. She was my world. You know that. You know I loved her, and I suppose a part of me always will, but what I feel for you is more than any feelings I ever had for her. I hated having to admit that to myself. I suppose I didn’t want to tarnish what I had with her. I know it’s all because I lost Maisy too soon and I’m terrified of loving you then losing you some day, but I did anyway. There are all kinds of ways to lose someone and honestly, the thought of going through losing you to death scares the hell out of me but it happens to everyone, and I want whatever time we have on this earth to be together. I don’t want to be without you any longer. I don’t know how much longer I’d have been stubborn before I came after you, if it hadn’t been for Ash and James kicking me in the ass but I’m here now, and I really need you to come home with me. Please.”

“You said you would never return to Texas.”

“I said I had no reason to return and I didn’t, until you. If you want to live here, we can do that. I’m home wherever you are.” Brayden stared at her, his heart pounding in his chest. He watched her tilt her head down, and shake it. It was too late. He’d waited too long. He knew what she’d felt when he rejected her. It was a pain like no other.

Then she surprised him. She raised her face and tears streamed down her cheeks as she threw herself into his arms.

“Yes, Brayden, yes, I want to go home to Montana with you—to MERAS, with you. I love you so much, Brayden.”

Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her. “I love you too, Melissa…and Dinky misses you. He’s been sulking since you left, just as I have.”

“I’ve missed him too, but not as much as I’ve missed you.” She kissed him deep and hard.

“Will you need to give your parents notice you’re leaving?” Brayden moved his mouth along her jaw until he reached her neck.

Melissa laughed. “What are they going to do? Fire me?”

“Tell them you have a better job offer. One for the rest of your life. With me. I want to marry you, Melissa, and have children with you.”

“Sounds like a wonderful plan. I think our children will love growing up at MERAS.”

“I do too. Now, how about you show me around this apartment of yours? Starting with the bedroom.”

Melissa smiled at him as she took his hand and led him down the hallway to her bedroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epilogue

 

 

Brayden took Melissa’s hand and helped her up the two steps to stand in front of the priest.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered to her as he ran his gaze down over her white satin gown that hugged her curves in perfection. It was sleeveless and her cleavage had him salivating. She’d styled her long hair up in a bun with tendrils cascading down around her ears, and a veil covered her beautiful sweet face.

“And you look very handsome in your tux.” She leaned closer to him. “I can’t wait to get you out of it.”

Brayden chuckled. “Are you ready to do this?”

“Are you?” she asked him, tilting her head, and gazing into his eyes.

He swallowed hard and when he saw the love in her eyes, he knew he was. “You have no idea how ready I am, sweetheart.”

A tear slid down her cheek and he reached under her veil to wipe it away.

“That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.” She smiled at him.

Brayden squeezed her hand then looked at the priest and nodded. The ceremony began and Brayden and Melissa repeated their vows in steady voices. He never thought he’d be here again but once Melissa came back into his life, he knew she was going to be a problem but a good problem he’d just have to take care of himself. If someone had told him that falling in love with her was the way to take care of it, he would have laughed and told them they were crazy. He could feel her hand trembling in his so he rubbed his thumb over her wrist to calm her.

Once they exchanged rings, and the priest said he could kiss his bride, he lifted her veil and cupped her face in his hands then leaned down and took her lips in a deep kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she pulled him close.

Lifting his lips from hers, he gazed into her eyes. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too. I have since I first saw you.”

Brayden pulled back from her. “Since you first saw me? Really?”

She nodded and smiled. “When Maisy first introduced us. I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t help it. I fell in love with you right then.”

He kissed her again. “I never knew.”

Melissa laughed. “You weren’t meant to. But now I have you and I’ll make you happy every single day.” She leaned close to him. “In all kinds of ways.”

Brayden groaned and he heard Ash chuckle.

“You two need to stop the sex talk until you’re out of the church,” Ash whispered from alongside them.

Brayden laughed when the priest agreed so Melissa looped her arm through his and they turned to face the guests. Everyone stood and applauded.

Later, at the reception hall, Brayden had his arms wrapped around his wife on the dance floor swaying to I Cross My Heart by George Strait. As he listened to the words, he knew they were exactly how he felt about her and he was happy he’d picked this one. Kissing her forehead, he pulled her tighter against him.

****

Melissa laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes while the song played. Brayden had chosen the perfect song for their first dance. She hadn’t been sure letting him pick the song was a good idea, but he did a wonderful job. The song said it all about her feelings for him.

“You picked a great song. It’s exactly how I feel,” she whispered against his neck near his ear then kissed it.

“You doubted me, didn’t you?”

She could hear the laughter in his voice. “I didn’t know what to expect. I just hoped you didn’t pick something like Whiskey’d Up by Jason Aldean.”

“Hey, I like that song.”

“I know and that’s why I was afraid you’d pick it.”

Brayden laughed. “Give me some credit, darlin’. I happen to be a George Strait fan too. I thought this song said it best. Although, there were some nights after you left that I felt like the other song too.”

Melissa leaned back and gazed into his eyes. “I don’t care what song you picked as long as we danced it together as husband and wife.”

“I wouldn’t call what we’re doing, dancing, since we aren’t moving much and feeling you rubbing up against me has me wanting to drag you off to a closet.”

“I’m game if you are.” She laughed when he burst out laughing. “Why didn’t you ever tell me your middle name was Hamilton?”

“You never asked.”

“It’s unusual, but I love it.”

“It’s my mother’s maiden name. All of us have someone’s maiden name, either as a first or middle name.”

“Really? What are the others?”

“Ash’s first name is Ashford, after our maternal grandmother. Grayson is for our paternal grandmother. Gage’s middle name is Buchanan for our maternal great-grandmother, Jesse’s middle name is Dalton, for our paternal great-grandmother, and Dani’s middle name is Murphy for our maternal great-great-grandmother.”

“Fascinating, I love them all. It’s a good tradition to keep up.”

“We’ll have to start work on that then,” he said then chuckled when she blushed.

The song ended and everyone applauded again. Melissa curtsied and Brayden bowed making everyone laugh. She saw her dad walking toward her.

“May I dance with my daughter, Brayden?”

“Yes sir.” Brayden gave her a quick kiss then walked off the dance floor.

“I’ve never seen you so happy, honey.”

“I don’t think I ever have been before, Dad.”

“Brayden’s a good man. I knew when he came after you, he loved you.”

“You knew more than I did then.” She laughed. “I was so angry with him that I was sure he only came to tell me why he couldn’t be with me but needed me to do some vet job. He’s such a hardheaded man.”

“I’m sure you can get around that,” her dad said laughing.

“I love that stubbornness though, at times. Thank you for your help by the way.”

“My help? What did I do?”

“Oh, please. You told him where I lived and what time I’d be home.”

“I admit nothing.” They laughed together.

The song ended and they walked off the dance floor arm in arm. Melissa felt blessed that her special day was turning out so wonderful.

When it was time to cut the cake, Melissa stood and looked around for Brayden. She saw him standing by the door looking outside. Walking to him slowly, she wondered what he was thinking. She stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

“What are you thinking about?” she whispered near his ear.

“How lucky I am to have found love again,” he said and placed his hands over hers.

Melissa choked back tears. “I truly believe she’d be happy for us.”

“She is. I know she is. She loved us both so much. She used to tell me that you were more of a sister to her than Tara was and how she loved you so much. You were her best friend and she knew she could tell you anything. She trusted you.” He turned to face her and placed his hands around the nape of her neck. “If you were in love with me back then, do you think she knew?”

“No, at least, I don’t think so. She invited me over way too often if she’d ever thought it possible.”

“True. I’m glad you were her friend and that you loved her. I do need to tell you something though.”

Melissa stared up at him, suddenly terrified to hear what he was going to say. Was it that he’d never love her as much as he’d loved Maisy? No, it couldn’t be that because he already told her he loved her more. “What is it?”

“I often wondered what would have happened if I’d met you first—before Maisy. Anytime you were around, I had trouble keeping my eyes off you and though I’d never have cheated on Maisy, I did wonder about being with you.”

“Wow. We were both thinking about each other but didn’t want to admit it. I do love you, Brayden and I’m sure Maisy is happy for us too.”

“I have no doubt she is. As James said, she’d probably be happy to see the two people she loved most, together.”

Melissa lifted her lips to his and kissed him then tugged on his bottom lip with her teeth.

“Do you think anyone’d notice if we disappeared?”

Brayden hugged her. “We have the rest of our lives to disappear together, darlin’. Let’s go get some cake and have some fun. It’s our party, after all.”

She nodded. It was their party and she did want to share all of her happiness with friends and family. So, with her arm looped in his, they walked toward the table where their lovely cake was set up.

When a man stepped in front of them, Melissa frowned. She knew she’d met him in the line after the wedding but she’d met so many people, his name escaped her. She wondered what was wrong with her because to forget the name of a man this gorgeous was unthinkable. He had dark hair and beautiful light green eyes. She smiled when he hugged Brayden then turned to her.

“Melissa, you look absolutely stunning. I’m Bonner Gentry, by the way. I’m sure you’ve met so many people you don’t remember me from the receiving line,” he said smiling at her.

“I do admit it’s hard to keep up, but thank you so much for coming.”

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. It’s good to see Brayden happy again.”

“I agree and I’ll do my best to keep him this way for the rest of my life.”

“Time you found a woman too, Bonner,” Brayden said laughing.

Bonner’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Brayden. “No way in hell,” he said with a chuckle then he turned to Melissa. “I’m happy for both of you. Now, go cut the cake because I’m hungry.” He winked at her then walked off to take a seat at the table with Brayden’s friends from Clifton.

Melissa smiled when Tessa waved at her and smiled back at her friend. Sam sat beside her with his hand wrapped around the nape of her neck. The room seemed filled with couples in love. Melissa knew all the women she’d met would become her friends and she was looking forward to it. She laughed and took Brayden’s hand in hers as they walked to the cake table to cut the beautiful cake meant to give them luck as they began their life together. While Brayden moved around behind the cake, she took a moment to glance up as if to heaven.

“Maisy, the first girl is named after you,” she whispered then joined her husband behind the table where she placed her hand on his holding the silver knife. Everyone cheered as together they made the first slice into the confection.

 

**The End**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More books by Susan

 

 

JAKE, Men of Clifton, MT - Book 1

Every time I pick up one of Susan's books, I wonder to myself why haven't I just packed my bags and moved to Montana. This woman makes me dream of hot cowboys with no shirts. –– S. Pritt

 

GABE, Men of Clifton, MT - Book 2

Gabe is book two in the Men of Clifton Montana Series and as much as I loved Jake in book one, I do believe Gabe stole my heart. –– Jennifer Schultheis

 

BRODY, Men of Clifton, MT - Book 3

This author never fails! I have loved each and every one of Susan Fisher-Davis books! –– AFB

 

WYATT, Men of Clifton, MT - Book 4

This is my favorite story from Susan…OMG Hotness, that Wyatt. Sexy, sexy sexy is all I can say. –– Honey

RYDER, Men of Clifton, MT - Book 5

Containing all the elements of a perfect romance, Ryder is a book that is sure to capture your heart and warm it to the core. –– CA Knoble

 

RILEY, Men of Clifton, MT - Book 6

Who knew that I would fall in love with another sexy cowboy? –– T.L.S.

 

SAM, Men of Clifton, MT - Book 7

I LOVED this book and would recommend it to everyone who loves a hometown cowboy who knows how to keep his woman happy!! –– Rhonda

 

 

 

FIT FOR A KING

Another 5 star read from the brilliant Susan Fisher-Davis! I love a strong, sexy cowboy and Wade King is definitely that! –– Dawn

 

 

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS (a novella)

Kudos to Susan Fisher-Davis for this holiday romance! –– Gack

 

 

LUCAS, Bad Boys of Dry River, WY - Book 1

I flipping LOVED this ~~ the characters. Outstanding. So you wanna feel like you are jumping on a horse ready to ride. Let Susan take you there.

–– SassyLuvBugSusan

 

MONTGOMERY, Bad Boys of Dry River, WY - Book 2

The love scenes were so passionate and sexy!! I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book and this series!!! –– Brenda Gremli

 

COOPER, Bad Boys of Dry River, WY - Book 3

Love this book! –– Penny

 

LINCOLN, Bad Boys of Dry River, WY - Book 4

Lincoln is my new favorite Susan Fisher-Davis cowboy! –– Jennifer

 

DAKOTA, Bad Boys of Dry River, WY – Book 5

Absolutely loved it. I hope you love it as much as I did!!!—gpearson