Chapter 5

 

 

“I don’t understand why we’re going to another man’s house for dinner,” Kyler grumbled beside Monica as she directed him to Tebow. “Who is this guy?”

“Joseph McCoy is an old friend of mine, I’ve photographed several times for stories. He used to be quite the adrenaline junkie until a dirt biking accident took him down. He and his brothers own a rather large ranch, and damn near run the town.” Monica noted Kyler’s clenched jaw and languidly added, “His wife, Cady, and daughter, Angela, are his entire world these days.”

Kyler’s gaze shot to hers and then back to the road ahead. “He’s married?”

“Yes, Cady was his physical therapist. She helped him learn to walk again after the accident. She’s an angel; you’ll love her.” Monica pointed out the correct driveway, and Kyler turned in.

“All right, but it still feels weird. Did you tell them I was with you?”

She nodded. “Of course, in fact, Joseph told me if I didn’t bring you along, he’d come get you himself.”

Kyler climbed out the truck and came around to her side. “Why’s he so protective of you?”

She shrugged. “I’m pretty sure he’s like that with all the women in his life these days.”

Immediately, she stopped moving and shook her head. “No, that’s not true.”

Kyler gave her a funny look as they stood on the circular drive in front of the McCoy house.

“After I left Seattle, I went and did the job I was hired for and then came here to Texas. I was struggling with my decision and a broken heart. The McCoy family welcomed me, and I’ve been friends with them ever since. In a way, they’re the family I never had.”

Kyler nodded. “Like the guys back on the ranch are to me.”

With an exhale of relief, she smiled. “Exactly.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

“I couldn’t go in the house without you knowing what you’re facing. Joseph knows how much you affect me, and I don’t think he liked the idea that you tracked me to Texas.”

“So what? He’s going to lecture me? Give me the third degree?”

The front door opened, and Monica murmured, “Something like that.”

Joseph stepped on the front porch, two of his brothers, Aron and Isaac, close on his heels. The three McCoy men were an impressive sight as they gave Kyler matching hard stares.

“Hey guys, I didn’t know you were coming to dinner too,” Monica called out, moving ahead of Kyler to greet the brothers with hugs. She’d gone out with Isaac a couple of times a long time ago, but there’d never been a spark of anything more than friendship between them. These days, the man only had eyes for his wife, Avery.

“You look good, Mon. It’s been awhile,” Isaac said, kissing her cheek. “Who’s your friend?”

“Kyler, these are three of the six McCoy brothers, Joseph, Aron, and Isaac. McCoys, this is my…” she hesitated, and reached for Kyler’s hand, the touch of his callused fingers reassuring her. “…boyfriend, Kyler DeWitt.”

Joseph’s eyes widened minutely, then he held out his hand to Kyler. “DeWitt, welcome to our home.”

The greeting was polite, but frigid, and Monica began having doubts about bringing Kyler to dinner.

“Thank you. Monica has been telling me about you,” Kyler spoke just as firmly. Monica watched the two men shake hands, silently wincing at the white knuckles between them.

“Funny, she hasn’t mentioned you,” Aron grumbled, taking a turn squeezing the life out of Kyler’s hand. “How long have you two been together?”

Monica’s cheeks burned as her eyes met Kyler’s, but he gave her a confident smile and said, “I’ve been in love with her for years. I just had to wait for her to come around.”

His response seemed to ease the tension in the other three men who exchanged looks before each nodded in understanding. Joseph clapped Kyler on the shoulder. “There’s always one in every pair. With me and Cady, I was the hardheaded asshat who couldn’t see daylight through a donut hole. Thank God, she stuck it out.”

“I almost let her slip through my fingers,” Kyler explained. “But she made the mistake of letting me back in, and there was no way I was giving her up again.”

The guys looked to Monica for more of an explanation, and she gave them the cliff notes version, realizing quickly how childish her past behaviors sounded. Kyler was one hell of a good man to take her back and still love her after all she’d put him through. God, she’d sent him spiraling into addiction and he still wanted her. What if she messed up and set him off again?

Lost in her own thought, she was distracted from the guys chatting around her until Cady stepped out the front door with one hand on her curvy hip. “Are you guys just going to stand around shooting the breeze all evening, or are we going to eat?”

Monica smiled at her friend. “Hi, Cady! You look wonderful.”

“And you’re as beautiful as ever, Monica. Who’s your friend?” Cady eyed Kyler with a lifted eyebrow.

He quickly stepped forward to introduce himself, and she shook his hand.

“Well any friend of Monica’s, is a friend of ours. Please, come inside and eat before it gets cold. Fritters aren’t good cold,” Cady scolded, wagging her finger at her husband and his brothers. Joseph just grabbed it and kissed the tip affectionately.

“I’d never miss out on your pork fritters, love.”

Together the group enjoyed a late evening of gossip, banter, and friendship. By the time they were leaving, Monica was feeling satiated and sleepy, but happier than she could remember being in years.

“I like the McCoys,” Kyler said as they left the ranch and headed toward town. “They’re a lot like the Crawley Creek clan.”

“Yeah, I guess they are,” Monica agreed. “They’ve been through hell together and come out stronger for it. I admire the way they’ve grown tougher with each fight.”

Kyler laced his fingers with hers and kissed the back of her hand as he drove. “I think that’s what a family is supposed to do. Support each other through all the low spots, and celebrate when things are good.”

Monica turned to face him, taking in the sad smile that curved his lips slightly. “I should have done that for you. Back in Seattle. I should have let you in instead of running away.”

He nodded, but remained silent.

Her mind was tumbling through all the emotions that had bombarded her over the last week, and she heard herself begin to speak.

“I could mess this up again. I’m not exactly a ‘smart bet,’ you know? When I feel trapped, I tend to just find a way to escape. I’m not good at talking about things, or explaining how I feel, and I’ll never be able to explain how I think. I might hurt us both.”

Kyler pulled the truck to the side of the highway and put it in park. Turning, he grabbed her jaw and brought her face to his for a gentle kiss. “You could. Or I could. Or we could mess this up. It’s possible. Hell, anything is possible. You know how I know that?” He paused and she shook her head, tears burning her eyes. “Because you’re here with me now. We met thousands of miles away from here, yet somehow fate brought us back together and gave us a second chance. I don’t know if it’s luck or a damn miracle, but I’m not about to let you talk yourself into running away again.”

“I’m not—”

He gave her a firm look. “You are. Tell me, Mon, what has you so scared? Are you afraid I’ll beat you, like your father?” His face was ashen, and horror filled her stomach.

“No! Never! I know you would never physically hurt me.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “What if I mess up, and say the wrong thing. What if I hurt you, and you feel the need to start using again? I’m scared that I’ll become so attached to you, and then…you’ll leave me.”

“I chased your sexy ass to Texas, woman. I’m not leaving unless you force me to.” He said with a harsh chuckle, “And my demons aren’t yours. I alone am responsible for diving headlong over the cliff’s edge. Don’t ever blame yourself for what happened after you left Seattle. I can’t promise you that I’ll never have the urge to use again. I’m an addict, and if there’s ever been an ugly side of me, that’s the worst.”

“You’ve already seen me at my worst. I hurt you just because I was afraid of getting hurt,” she said, sniffling.

“Well then, I’d say we’ve cleared the bad and the ugly out of the way, let’s move on to the good.” He kissed her nose, and moved the truck back on the road. “By the way, when we go back to the North Dakota, you’re going to have to meet my mama. I told her I was going after you, and I’m pretty sure her eyes filled with visions of baby bottles and booties.”

Monica laughed through her tears. “Oh Lord, we’ve still got a long time before we’re ready for that, but hopefully, I can make her like me.”

“Baby, you don’t have to make anyone like you, but I know she’s going to love you. Just as much as I do.”

Monica beamed with the warmth, feeling his love tamp down all the crazy, hysterical what-ifs that had been running through her brain. They might not have it all figured out, but all that mattered was they would figure it out together.