Stella

“Now this here picture…” Mr. Wylder lifts his reading glasses and squints.

We’re in the gigantic kitchen slash family room seated on the oversized distressed leather couches. Everything in this house is oversized––not only the men.

As soon as we brought Mr. Wylder home from the hospital, he made a beeline for the photo albums and called me over. I didn’t realize people still kept photo albums. Apparently this one does because he pulled out three of them. Judging by his colorful remarks of every picture he’s shown me, he’s taken it upon himself to embarrass Dane as much as possible. And truth be told, I can’t say I’m not enjoying it.

The object of ridicule is at present emptying the entire contents of the fridge because, God knows, he can’t go an hour without eating.

Mr. Wylder holds up a picture of a young boy, around five, wearing a straw cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and…nothing else. I’ve never seen a more even tan.

“This is the time…” He turns his attention to his son, whose expression can only be described as pained. I bite my bottom lip hard enough to almost break skin. “You remember, Dane? When I told you to stop playing with your pecker and then you went about tellin’ anyone that would listen that Woody Woodpecker was livin’ in your shorts. ’Member that?”

“You never let me forget it,” his surly son responds.

Mr. Wylder’s attention swings back to me, mischief written in the fine lines fanning out of the corners of his dark-blue eyes. “Asked the checkout girl at the supermarket if she wanted to see it. Played with his pecker all the time back then. Didn’t like to put no clothes on either. He was always takin’ ’em off––”

“For shit’s sake, Dad!”

“Time to cut back on the cussin’, Dane. Can’t be doin’ that around the baby.” Mr. Wylder winks and I laugh. A dimple pops up on his left cheek, along with a smile.

He turns the page and my eyes immediately go to a picture of the same young boy being held by a young blond woman. Tall, shapely, eyes like a cat. In her tight jeans and tank top, she’s more stunning than any supermodel.

“Hmm,” Mr. Wylder says while his smile slowly melts. “That’s Dane’s momma.”

He stares at the picture with undisguised longing.

“She’s gorgeous,” I gently offer.

“Hmm.”

“I can’t imagine any man not being taken with her.”

“And that there was the problem,” he quietly confides. He puts the picture back in the album and points the full force of his attention at me. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to know you’re in Dane’s life, Stella. Both you and the baby.”

My stomach sinks. There may as well be a neon sign above my head blinking, liar, liar, pants on fire, and an arrow pointing at me.

“If anything ever happens to me…” He clears his throat while mine begins to close, crammed with guilt. “His sister’s got a family. I don’t want––” He huffs out, clears his throat again. “I don’t want him to wind up like me…you know, alone.”

Throat swelling, eyes brimming with tears, I fight the urge to lower them in shame. I like this man. I really like him. The thought of betraying his trust kills me.

“I worry about him,” Mr. Wylder admits, hiding his discomfort behind a weak smile. “I’m glad he’s found someone that genuinely cares for him and not all the other nonsense, if you get my meanin’.”

Peering thoughtfully into my eyes, he pats my knee twice and stands. “What are we havin’ for dinner?” he asks his son.

“Shit on a shingle,” says the chef.

“Well…can’t say I haven’t had that before,” Bill mutters back.

Oblivious to the quiet conversation that happened a moment ago, Dane looks up from whatever he’s dicing or cutting or preparing. As soon as his gaze settles on me, he frowns.

“I need some air,” I mutter and make a swift exit without waiting for a reaction or a reply.

With Tinker as my escort, I march out of the front door and step into magic hour, the sky painted in jewel tones, the temperature already cooling as the sun gets ready to set in the distance. The hollow knock of boot heels against the wooden porch catches up with me. Low and behold, I have company.

“Stella.”

“I can’t do this.” Without a pause, I cross the gravel driveway on my way to the barn. “I feel gross lying to your father. I’m mortified of what he’ll think of me if he ever finds out. I should go back to New York.”

“You’re calling an audible now?!”

My feet skid to a stop, kicking up dust. Pivoting, I direct my confusion at the man who spoke. “In English would be good. Spanish works too.”

“You can’t leave me. Band of brothers!”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“We’re a team. No man left behind!”

“You’re getting weirder by the second. First, we’re not on the gridiron. And second, if you’re saying what I think you’re saying, it’s no child left behind. And you are no child––most of the time.” I mutter the last part, though judging by the v between his brows he heard me all the same.

“Birds of a feather stick together?”

“Dane––” I’m beyond exasperated. “Now is not the time for your antics.”

“Okay, look––” He turns serious in a heartbeat, shedding the mask that makes everyone believe he doesn’t have a care in the world. Taking hold of my arms, he pulls me closer. So close I’m forced to tip my head back to watch his face and I do nothing to stop him. Questionable decision but I’m chalking it up to being cold and seeking warmth.

His eyes bore into mine and I almost sway into him as a warm blast of body heat wraps around me. With it comes his scent. He smells so good it’s criminal. Like great sex and sunshine and laundry detergent. Or pheromones. Or whatever it is that turns smart, self-respecting women into sex starved nymphos. Dratted hormones. Freaking biological weapons.

“I’ve never seen him this happy.” As an opening gambit, it’s a pretty good one. One sentence and I’m already starting to go belly up. I can feel it. Shame on me.

“The last time I saw him remotely this happy was six years ago, when my sister had her daughter. Before that it was the Super Bowl and that was eight years ago. I’d like for it to last a little longer.” He breathes out a tired exhale, his concern-filled eyes holding mine captive. “Is that too much to ask?”

I can’t say no to him when he lays it on me like that. I can’t leave my man behind. Oops. Strike that, I can’t leave this man behind, this man. He’s not mine. I need to remember that.

I divert my line of sight over his shoulder but he won’t let me get away. He crouches, meeting me face-to-face.

“Don’t leave…please?”

It’s the supplicating look that fells me, the desperation in his voice. I can’t disappoint him. Not when he places himself at my mercy, making himself vulnerable in a way I’m sure almost never happens. In all likelihood if I were to let him down now, it would never happen again.

“I’m not leaving,” I mutter begrudgingly.

His expression softens with relief. Then he smiles, quickly reverting back to his usual cheerful self.

“Band of brothers?”

I laugh. It’s impossible not to around him. With an eye roll and a quick headshake, I say what must be said, “Birds of a feather stick together.”

* * *

Dinner was a team effort. Dane cooked stir fry chicken. I made the fresh guacamole and threw together a mixed salad. His father toasted the bread, and dinner was served. Levi, it seems, was to provide the entertainment. He walked in carrying a guitar.

“You play?” I ask him as the men finish clearing the table and I begin loading the dishwasher.

“Stella, you’ve got to hear my boy sing,” Bill tells me as he gets comfortable in his leather chair by the fireplace. “Most amazing voice––better than Vince Gill in my opinion.”

“Better than Vince Gill” must be high praise from Bill. At the comparison, Levi smirks at me. I have no idea who Vince Gill is and my curiosity is now piqued.

I steal a glance at Dane, who’s leaning against the fireplace, and find a smile on his face that tells me there’s a lot more to this story.

“Will you play something?”

Shrugging, Levi turns bashful. “Sure. Anything you wanna hear?”

“You choose,” I tell him. I close the dishwasher, walk over to the couch and get comfortable. Meanwhile, Levi retrieves the guitar and sits on the ottoman, testing out the strings.

The couch dips as Dane sits next to me. His arm stretches across the back and his eyes fix on his brother as if the answers to the universe rest on Levi’s lips.

“This little tune is by ,” Levi tells us with a soft smile. Then, closing his eyes, he starts playing.

Levi West lost in song is a breathtaking sight to behold, his voice deep and soulful and set-your-panties-on-fire sexy. This man was born to sing.

Seated in the armchair across from me, I watch Mr. Wylder’s eyes get wet. He catches me and smiles. He doesn’t look away. He doesn’t hide his open show of emotion. He wears it proudly on his sleeve. If I thought the world of this man before, he just catapulted himself into superhero category.

Levi’s eyes drift open, the color made even more arresting by the dim light of the Tiffany lamp. He points them at Dane and goose bumps race over my skin, a charge of awareness amplified by the music, the lyrics speaking more eloquently than I ever could.

I tried my best to fight the tide of emotion building between us, tried desperately to keep this thing contained and controlled. And still, he found the cracks, seeped in, and burrowed his way to my heart.

I continue to watch Levi out of self-preservation. I can’t bring myself to look at Dane. I can’t do it because I’m afraid of what I’ll find if I do. But more importantly what he’ll see in me.

That against my best efforts, I’m falling in love.

* * *

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the time Levi got done singing. Soon after, he went back to his place, a small house on the other side of the barn, and I went back to cleaning the countertops in need of a distraction.

“I’m turnin’ in,” Mr. Wylder announces. “I’m feelin’ more tired than usual.”

Sitting at the counter stool, Dane glances up from reading something on his phone.

“Get some rest, Dad. It’ll be a while before you’re feeling like yourself again.”

“You two stayin’ in your room, or the guest room?”

Dead silence. Not a peep out of Dane, and I don’t speak in fear I’ll say the wrong thing and accidentally spill the beans.

“Uh, yeah we’re in the guest room.”

“That’s what I thought. ’Kay then, good night.” Mr. Wylder claps Dane on the shoulder and walks out of the room.

“What do we do now?” I whisper-hiss.

Weary resignation is written on Dane’s face. He exhales tiredly, shoulders dropping. “I have to stay with you.”

“What!” I shout very, very quietly.

“My room’s two doors down from his. I have to pass it to get to the kitchen. He’ll know if I sleep in my room, trust me. The man’s got bat ears. Your room is on the opposite side of the house.”

“Oh.”

“Exactly.”

Fifteen minutes later, stepping into my bedroom with Dane close behind, I turn to find him braced against the closed door. The only way to describe his demeanor is that of an animal being led to slaughter. What the hell is his problem?

“This is your fault, you know.”

“I know,” he grinds out. His jaw clenched tightly.

I shouldn’t be hurt. I have no right to be hurt. Why should I care that he looks sick over the prospect of sharing a room with me. And yet, I am.

I grab the oversized t-shirt and head for the bathroom. I do my thing and return fifteen minutes later to find him sitting at the end of the bed with a look of dread on his face.

“I’m taking a shower,” he announces, not sparing me a glance as he moves past me and into the bathroom.

This is way above my pay grade. I don’t possess the necessary training to make sense of this behavior.

Twenty minutes later, I’m tucked into the cozy bed, reading glasses on, Delia’s latest manuscript on Dane’s iPad when he steps out of the bathroom.

Aaaand I instantly turn into Joan of Arc, burned at the stake. Except the heat doesn’t start at my feet. Noooo. It starts between my legs and spreads forth. By the time it reaches my face, there’s a veil of sweat above my lips. Not attractive.

A wall of finely sculpted flesh walks further into the room with only a scrap of towel to hide the extra good parts. There’s so much razzle dazzle to take in my mind locks onto one area. His abdominal muscles.

Mother of gee oh dee, what kind of torture must one endure to get those? So cut they don’t even look real. Mentally, I’m poking them with my index finger to see if they poke back.

Until something intrudes in the periphery of my vision. South of these spectacular ab muscles, the towel wrapped around his waist starts to rise. That’s when I hear a snapping of fingers. A large hand immediately comes into view and more snapping of fingers.

“Eyes up, Shorty. Or you’ll get more of a show than you bargained for.”

My gaze makes a swift trip back up to his face. His mouth is twisted in a grimace and his eyebrow arched.

He’s not happy I was looking…whatever. “Don’t look so scared. I pinky promise not to molest you.”

His eyes widen while his lips thin. “You know what, it’s still early. I’m gonna get a workout in. I’ll be back later.”

A workout? At 9 p.m.?

He doesn’t even wait for me to respond. He grabs his clothes in a hurry, and a moment later he’s gone. I know I don’t have a ton of experience with men but this can’t be normal behavior. This has got to be far from normal behavior.

* * *

The next morning I wake up to an empty bed and Mr. Wylder brewing a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen. He informs me that Dane and Levi went off to “fix fencin’” and won’t be back until late afternoon.

Dane left a note telling me to use his office if I needed to get work done and I took him up on his offer. They returned around six. I made dinner. We ate. And shortly afterward Dane was snoring on the couch.

“I don’t know. He’s acting so weird and skittish around me. I have no idea what happened but something did.” I switch the cell to my other shoulder and continue filing my nails.

“Hmm,” Del returns.

“That’s it? In your infinite wisdom on men, that’s all you have for me?”

“Is he sneaking out without you? You know––to hook up? Maybe it’s guilt. The broodmare’s at home while he kicks up his studly heels. Because if that’s the case I hope he chokes on it.”

The thought alone makes my stomach drop and my chest ache.

“I don’t think so. He’s usually so tired after working on the ranch all day he can barely get a word out at dinner and this is a man that never shuts up.”

“I’m going to need more info to solve this puzzle. Do some recon and get back to me.”

“Del…”

“Yeah.”

“What if he’s having second thoughts?” I murmur, voicing my biggest fear.

“He’s not. And if he is then we’re better off without him. Better to find out now than later.”

“We?”

“We all have your back. Al, me, your mom––even Tina and Will. You know that.”

She’s right. She’s absolutely right. I know that. I really do. It’s just that I was starting to really like having Dane around. He made me see things differently.

* * *

Dane

Two full days of ranch work and my body feels worse than it did when I was playing. I never hurt this much, not even by the time playoffs rolled around. Fact: ranch life is hard. All the more reason to convince my father to sell it. Not to mention how I’ve been working out lately. Brutal. But it’s either that or walk around pissed off all day with a hard-on.

Next to me Levi whistles along with the radio while we slowly drive the fence line. It’s already the end of September and still hotter than Hades in summer.

“When are you gonna tell the old man? Or do I have to do it?” Wiping my brow with the hem of my shirt, I turn and await Levi’s response. He makes a face and grips the steering wheel tighter.

“Can’t tell him now that he ain’t feeling good. Might set his recovery back.”

“He’s fine and you ain’t getting any younger. You intend to tell him you want to move to Nashville when you’re old as dirt?”

“I know,” he grunts, pissed at the situation if I’m reading him right. We both spot a hole along the barbwire fence and Levi parks the old Chevy pickup, the one my mother used to drive if I recall correctly. I hate this truck.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You ain’t foolin’ me, Dane. You’re so gone over that woman she’s making you crazy. Tell her and get it over with.”

Levi grabs the tools from the back of the pickup while I put on my hat and suede gloves. “I am not gone over no one. I do not get gone.”

Levi chuckles. “I don’t know why you fight it. She’s a good one. Shit, if I were you, I’d be jumpin’ through hoops to show her how I feel. Maybe then you can get laid and put us all out of our misery.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I throw my hat at him and he catches it. Smiling, he throws it back. Then he hands me the new wire and pliers and we get to work.

“It means you’ve been acting like a first-class asshole since you got here and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

His words give me pause. I have been a touch irritable lately. With the situation being what it is, untenable as fuck. She doesn’t wanna have anything to do with me, other than what we agreed upon, and I can’t stop thinking about her in every conceivable way…and in every conceivable position.

“What are you thinkin’ about?”

I stop cuttin’ and ripping out wire to see Levi wearing a smirk. “Nothin’. Take care of your own damn business, or I’ll take care of it for you.”

He smiles wider, starts whistling a tune. The whistling turns to singing.

I stop what I’m doing to listen. Dang, my brother sure can sing. “What song is that?”

“Passenger,” he tells me before he starts up again. “Only know you've been high when you're feeling low. Only hate the road when you’re missing home. Only know you love her when you let her go.”

Levi grins. I shake my head and flip him the bird.

“And you let her go.”