Chapter Six

Matt

There didn’t seem to be enough wood to cut. He still had the heartache on his mind and buried in his heart. She didn’t know the damage she’d done to him, but Ryan did. He had just come into the cabin and took off his shirt to wipe the sweat off his chest and face when he heard someone knocking. He hoped to fuck it wasn’t Ryan. Whipping the door wide open, he was pleasantly surprised to see Candice standing at the door in a pair of jeans and a puffy black coat that had seen better years.

“What are you doing here?” He growled, looking up and down at her. Matt wanted her here, but not if she was with his brother. There was no way he could deal with their relationship.

“I wanted to talk to you.” He let her in and closed the door, only to catch a glimpse of Ryan’s car in the driveway.

“So, you brought Ryan with you? He’s lucky the axe is out back,” he snarled, reaching for the front door again.

“Stop that,” she hissed, pressing her hands to his bare chest. The pleasure raced up his body like he knew it would. Their eyes met, both feeling the connection. It was a look of longing that needed to be sated.

“Don’t tell me to stop shit, woman,” he muttered, closing the gap between them. He moved in so close that her back hit the door. Raising his hands and planting them on the door beside her head. “I’m going to kiss you and I don’t give a fuck what he has to say about it,” he confessed, dropping his head and pressing his lips to the woman he loved and lusted for. She parted them slowly, letting him slip his tongue into her mouth. Mentally, he felt like a win when she allowed it. The kiss continued to intensify physically, emotionally it couldn’t get more intense. He pulled her head back by her hair. “You’re done with him. You’re mine now. You’ve always been mine.”

“You owe him an apology.”

Stopping the kiss and backing off her, he hissed, “The fuck I do. He did the shadiest shit a brother could do.” Matt ran his hand through his hair, frustrated with this situation.

“No, he didn’t. I don’t know what you think was happening between us or why you assumed that, but we’re not together and would never be.”

“What the fuck was he doing touching your face and planted between your thighs?” he asked, closing the distance again and asserting his dominance. She pressed her hand on his bare chest, sending pleasure through him almost making him forget what he saw.

“If you’d seen what happened a whole thirty seconds earlier you would understand that it wasn’t what you think. I tripped and hit my head on his desk so hard I was dizzy afterward. He was worried and helped me up onto his desk. He was checking to see if I needed a doctor and if I cracked my skull.” She lifted the cotton hat off her head and at the center was a dark bruise with a small welt. Matt felt like a dick immediately, he hadn’t taken care of her like he promised he’d do from the moment he saw her.

The overprotectiveness washed over him and he pulled her up and into his arms. “Oh shit. Are you okay?” he asked, carrying her to the sofa. She started to shake in his arms, so he held her tighter.

“I’m going to be fine. High heels aren’t my thing it seems,” she laughed. It was something he found so sexy. I could listen to her laugh all day, he thought.

“I think you look perfect in them.” He growled against her ear, wanting to do so much more, but afraid to push it. They didn’t know each other, and apparently, they had so much to talk about before he planted his baby in her. That was what he had planned when he got back. Wanting her secured to him, he was going to fuck his baby into her before Ryan could make his move. Now it seemed like it was irrelevant. Part of him needed to apologize to Ryan, yet another part told him he didn’t fucking owe nobody anything. Ryan made it seem he was doing everything he could to keep them apart. Matt thought it was because he didn’t want to lose his assistant. He talked about Candice on every call, and Mara said that Candy was all over Ryan that night.

“You should have seen me all week, then you wouldn’t say that. Ryan said I looked like a newborn calf.”

“That sounds like Ryan. Did he drive you here?” As much as he loved having her here, the idea of Ryan staying was too much.

“Yes, he’s on the phone with someone called July. They were arguing and he’s planning to go after her.” Matt knew there was something going on between them before she up and quit one day. Just a note without a goodbye.

There was a knock on the door and Matt sat Candice on the sofa before getting the door. Ryan stepped in and set her suitcase down. “Sorry to interrupt, Matt, but I got to piss before I hit the road.” He looked at Matt’s shirtless frame. “Damn, you work quick. I got in here just in time.” Matt pulled his brother into a hug.

“I shouldn’t have jumped the gun.”

“No. Trust me when I say I get it.” Ryan smiled and clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Excuse me, I’ve got to go piss. I need to get the jet for Dallas.”

“I’ll call to have it ready,” Matt said, picking up his cell on off the table.

“Good. Thanks,” Ryan said, walking to the general bathroom down the hall. Candice was sitting on the couch looking nervous and a bit out of place. Matt couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“This is Matthew Kane. Ryan Kane will need the jet in two hours to Dallas.” As soon as he got it straightened out, he moved back to the sofa to sit with Candice.

“Sweet Candy, I want to kiss you, but if I do again, we’re going to be naked in bed in a minute.”

“You make it sound like a bad thing,” she tossed back. She took off her coat and gloves because it was warm inside. Matt tried not to stare at the menial task that had no sexual intent behind it, but was turning him on.

“It is with Ryan here,” he growled.

Ryan stepped back into the room and said, “I’m out of here. Wish me luck. Her father’s a fucking cowboy.” He raised his brows and shook his head.

“Run off with her and have the jet ready for takeoff.” Matt wasn’t joking, he should have stolen Candy the moment he first saw her instead of leaving her to Ryan.

“That may be the way to go. Have fun you two, and I expect some nieces and nephews. Godfather status.” He winked and walked out the front door.

 

Candice

Ryan had left them alone and the tension in the air was thick with need, silent apologizes, and unspoken promises.

“I’m sorry, Candy. I shouldn’t have let my jealousy get the better of me. That won’t happen again.”

“I hope so. I hope you never have a reason to doubt me,” she said, pulling his head down for a gentle kiss full of heart. She’d fallen in love with him in what seemed to be an overnight decision. 

He took the surprise kiss and laid her down on the sofa. Leaning over her, he stared into her blue eyes. She loved the look on his face. It said so much and she wanted everything. She pressed her hand to his bare chest knowing that it brought out the animal in him. “Make love to me.”

“Always.”

He stood up and grabbed her hands, pulling her to her feet. He winked before she was off her feet and cradled in his arms. She let out a giggle before he whispered, “I’ve been wanting to do this since forever.”  She melted completely in his arms.