Rancher's Deadly Reunion. Beth Cornelison
were shaking, and her thoughts spun like a dust devil. “I have to think about it. I just don’t know...”
“Can you give us an answer before you go home next week?” Josh asked.
“Joshua, your mother just said not to pressure her.” Their dad arched an eyebrow at the twins. “You just hit her with this. Give her breathing room.”
She flashed her dad a smile of thanks and fell silent again, thinking, stewing...and trying to suppress her body’s sensitivity to the man beside her. His every subtle movement or heavy breath, each side-glance or faint whiff of his scent managed to scatter her thoughts and throw all of her senses into a tizzy.
Finally, she said, “I need more detail. How far have you gotten working out fees and expenses, insurance, construction, logistics? There’s a million little things that could trip you up if you don’t have a well-thought-out plan.”
“I have to say,” Roy said quietly, “I agree with Piper.”
Zane and Josh were nodding.
“Of course,” Josh said. He launched into a deeper discussion of how the trips would be planned, how they would convert and upgrade the bunkhouse, and the contractors they’d talked to about rigging up a zip-line on the scenic property in the foothills of the Rockies that the family had inherited from the triplets’ grandfather. The adventure tours was the perfect use for the property that couldn’t be sold thanks to their grandfather’s wily will stipulations and bequests.
Zane took over when questions turned to financing, liability and staffing.
Piper had to admit, her brothers had given the idea a lot of thought, and their passion for the project was a vibrant, breathing presence in the room.
“Wow,” Piper muttered, when Zane finished speaking and cast his glance around the room.
“I’m proud of you, boys,” their father said. “You’ve put a lot of work in this, and I believe the idea has merit.”
Melissa said nothing, but the shine in her eyes and the wide smile she gave her sons spoke plenty.
Zane glanced toward the love seat. “Well, Piper?”
“It’s a lot to consider, dork.” She gave him a wry grin. “Give me a chance to process.”
“Any other questions?” Josh asked, shifting an expectant gaze from face to face.
“Brady,” Zane said after a few beats, breaking the silence, “you haven’t said anything.”
Brady grew still, then sitting forward and splaying his legs slightly, he propped his forearms on his thighs and pressed his fingertips against each other. His change of position meant his leg touched hers from knee to hip, and it took all her composure not to jerk away as if burned. But the heat of his body penetrated to her marrow and flowed deep into the dark spaces where she’d tried for years to lock away her memories of him, of young love and what could have been.
“Not sure it’s my place to weigh in,” Brady replied, and the low rumble of his voice vibrated in her chest, in her soul.
“We wouldn’t have asked you here if we didn’t value your opinion. You know ranching as well as anyone in the room, and you’ve gone rock climbing and rafting with us out at Grandpa’s property. We’re hoping you’ll be on our staff, help us get up and running.”
She held her breath, waiting for Brady’s reply, thinking of what it would mean to live close to him again, see him daily, if she accepted her brothers’ request. The thumping in her chest that echoed like a drumbeat in her ears had to be loud enough for Brady to hear. She balled her hands in her lap and fought to calm her ragged nerves. She’d come so far in her healing, in making a fresh start for herself. Or so she’d thought.
And now her brothers, whom she loved deeply and shared a special triplet bond with, wanted her to move back to Colorado. To be a part of a new and exciting project, part of saving the family ranch. To be included in a venture, a closely held dream for themselves and the family business. What would she have given in high school to have felt that kind of inclusion, to have believed she was as important to the ranch as her brothers?
Brady lifted a shoulder and said simply, “I like it. I’m behind you whatever you decide.”
“Great! Thanks, man,” Zane said while Josh beamed with relief. “Maybe you could help us persuade Piper, then?”
She shot a glare toward Zane that went ignored.
Brady turned his face to study her profile, and a prickly flush started on her neck and crept to her cheeks, sinking to her soul.
When he spoke, his voice was hushed, tinged with a note of sadness that arrowed to her heart. “I’m not sure I have any influence with her anymore. Can’t say I ever really did, truth be told.”
She met his piercing green gaze, and a fist of regret and grief clamped around her throat. “That’s not true,” she whispered for only him to hear.
“You sure about that?” he said, his voice pitched low to match hers. “I remember things differently.”
She drew and expelled a ragged breath. “This isn’t the time or place.”
“I agree.”
She tore her gaze away from his, masking her hurt and discomfort from her family with a trembling half smile and lift of her chin.
Brady was undeterred, whispering, “But since you seem to want to avoid me, we’ve never had another opportunity.”
“Stop,” she growled under her breath.
He heaved a weary sigh, and his shoulders slumped as he dropped his focus to his boots. “Later then.”
Later? No. Not if she could help it. She was so tempted to get back on a plane and flee the ranch for the safety of Boston, the safety of distance from Brady. But she’d come for her parents’ anniversary celebration, and she refused to leave before the weekend party. Standing up her parents, disappointing them was unthinkable.
The awkward expressions her family wore told her the exchange with Brady had not gone unnoted. Josh scratched his chin and rolled his eyes, while Zane clapped his hands together once and said, “Well, that’s the plan. Any other ideas or questions before we call it a night?”
Roy rose from his seat and jammed his hands in his back pockets. “If you guys want me to take a look at that business plan with you, especially as it relates to the activities happening on the ranch premises, the bunkhouse renovation and so forth, give me a holler. I’m glad to help where I can.”
Josh stepped forward to shake Roy’s hand. “Thanks. We appreciate that.”
Piper’s mother and father also stood and approached the twins, and Brady used the moment to lean closer, his breath warm against her ear. “We need to talk.”
Piper shoved to her feet and sent him a quelling glare. “No, we don’t.” Then softening her tone and digging for a tight smile, she added, “Thanks again for getting me at the airport today. Tell Connor I said good night.”
“Piper—” He reached for her hand, and she jolted at the warm scrape of his callused palm closing around her fingers.
“Good night, Brady,” she said firmly, although she heard the telltale crack in her tone. Pulling free of his grasp, she clutched her now-tingling hand to her chest and rushed from the den.
Her brothers had given her so much to consider, possibilities that she’d once longed for with her whole heart. If she’d felt she had a place here at the ranch after high school, would she have followed the same path, made the same choices she had back then?
Regret was a bitter pill, and she knew second-guessing herself served no purpose. For seven years she’d dealt with the hard choices she’d made. She’d not looked back. Yet in only a few hours of being back at her family’s ranch this trip, her world