Secret Affair Read online

  Leading the course was none other than Bill Weathers, who couldn’t, to my dismay, seem to get a hint. In reality, he was more determined than ever to get his hands on the ranch, and though his lewd comments continued, he hadn’t tried anything funny since I announced that Nick and I were in love.

  I wasn’t a fool. I knew it had nothing to do with a sudden sense of respect for the clear boundaries that had been there since day one and more to do with the fact that he didn’t want anything affecting his chances at getting the farm.

  Right now, it would be more trouble than I was worth, and I’d never been gladder for it. I realized Bill leaving me to my own devices was a blessing, even if he did strut around the ranch like he already owned it, his beady eyes hungrily taking it all in.

  Nick had checked in a couple of times, his rich voice sending a deep pang of desire and longing racing through me, but I said nothing about the mess that had arisen since he left, preferring to keep that tidbit to myself.

  It wasn’t as if there was anything he could do anyway, being tied up with his business affairs back in the city. And, admitting that he needed to come back would be taking a step closer to the precipice, something I wasn’t ready to do.

  Instead, it was better to pretend.

  After all, I’d gotten quite good at it, and I refused to let my fear of Bill Weathers scare me – not now and not ever. He was just a man who liked to throw his weight around and intimidate people, upping that behavior with Nick away.

  However, he didn’t know that I was a good shot, having learned how to hunt from a fairly young age, but choosing not to out of deference for Mother Nature.

  All he needed to do was step one toe out of line.

  Sam, on the other hand, was another matter altogether. I still had no idea what to do about him, and whatever business he seemed to be back on dragged on, making it feel as if he was back for good.

  But that was impossible.

  Why would he give up his job in Colorado and throw his lot in with the Parkers? I wondered. Especially when nothing was a guarantee at this point. Besides, Sam wasn’t stupid. While he may have come back for me, there was no telling whether or not he would stay for me.

  I gave a start of surprise when the barn door swung open and Bill stepped in with a measuring tape. Some of the horses stomped their feet and made low whinnying noises under their breath, uncomfortable with a stranger in their presence.

  Me, too, guys. Me, too, I thought as I straightened my back and leaned against the shovel. “Mr. Weathers, can I help you?”

  “Oh, I’m just taking some measurements.” He waved my comment away and bent over. “Don’t mind me.”

  “You’re scaring the horses,” I pointed out. Honestly, for a man who owned his own ranch, he sure did act like he had no idea what he was doing here, prancing around and scaring the animals half to death.

  “They’ll get over it,” he responded dismissively. “In any case, it’s high time they got used to me.”

  “Why is that?” I asked, putting the shovel against the wall and crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Because I’ll be the owner of this here ranch soon enough, and if you were as smart as you think you are, you’d get with the program,” he informed me, turning his gaze on me, dark eyes fathomless.

  “You sound awfully sure of yourself, but this isn’t over,” I reminded him, with more bravado than I felt. “I wouldn’t count Nick out just yet.”

  Bill snorted. “Your little boyfriend isn’t a real threat, or he would be here fighting for what’s his, instead of scampering off towards the city with his tail between his legs.”

  I gritted my teeth. “He didn’t scamper off. He’s a businessman, and there was something important that required his attention.”

  “Frankly, I don’t care. As long as he stays out of my way.”

  I opened my mouth to say something, anything that would mean Bill didn’t get the last word, witty comeback completely unnecessary, but he spun on his heel and left.

  “Everything okay?” Sam asked, poking his head in before the rest of his body followed.

  “Yeah, everything is fine,” I assured him, tersely. Sam took a step forward and tugged on my hand, drawing me closer. On instinct, I melted against him, my head resting against his chest.

  “Want me to take care of it, baby? So you don’t have to worry about a thing,” he said, soothingly.

  Frustrated, I drew back. “Sam, I’m not a child. I can handle Bill.”

  He smiled and ran his hands along my back. “I know that, but I’m just saying that I can take care of it since I’m here.”

  His hands fell to the curve of my hip, and I yelped, shoving his hands away. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m comforting you,” he responded, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “What’s the matter? I thought you wanted me to.”

  “I need some air,” I mumbled, brushing past him with my thoughts racing.

  Chapter 5

  Nick.

  I couldn’t help but notice the difference between my first trip out to the ranch, filled to the brim with annoyance and ambition that I had to curb, and this trip, my legs bobbing with restless energy, moving up and down.

  The man on the plane next to me kept glancing over, shooting me irritated glances until I placed one hand firmly on my leg to make it stop. For a while, it abated, but then I started drumming my fingers against the armrest, unable to sit still.

  The last two weeks had been a whirlwind of activity. From the minute my feet touched the ground till the minute I was driven back to the airport, it had been nothing but one meeting after the other, catching me up on everything I’d missed during my time away, and of course a steady stream of questions from my security team in an attempt to figure out who was behind the break in.

  Unfortunately, I was no closer to solving the mystery than the day Matt called to demand my return. In fact, each step I took forward felt like two steps back, counterproductive and useless.

  One thing was clear, though.

  Whoever it was had an axe to grind because while the place was trashed, they hadn’t taken anything major – probably because they wouldn’t have been able to without being seen. But given the fact that they managed to break into a high-level secure penthouse apartment, getting in and out without being detected, I’d figured they would go the extra mile.

  Apparently not.

  Good enough to get their foot in through the door, but not smart enough to grab something that would make a quick buck. Yes, it was puzzling to say the least, but I had more pressing concerns at the moment.

  Like the ranch.

  However, the bulk of my thoughts wasn’t dominated by the deal, but rather by the blonde who was about to make it all possible. Truthfully, Gwen hadn’t been far from my thoughts since I left. And like a love-struck teenager, I’d taken every opportunity I could to call her while I was away, making up a variety of pathetic excuses just to hear the sound of her voice.

  Shit.

  I was getting in way too deep, but I couldn’t bring myself to claw my way back out. In fact, the thought of seeing her again was what made me restless, envisioning the curve of her smile and the slight shake of her head as I made another comment.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the plane landed with a quick screech on the runway, and I was thrown back against my chair, the butterflies in my stomach taking up residence once more.

  Passport control was a blur, rushing by as I grabbed my bag and wheeled it across the smooth floor, spotting the rental car place in an instant. As soon as I got in, I placed both hands on the steering wheel and drove down the familiar path, country music wafting in through the speakers.

  I reached for the dial, fully intent on switching to a rock channel, but then I paid attention to the lyrics, the crooner’s voice striking a chord. On automatic, I turned it up a little and settled in, smiling faintly to myself.

  Gwen knew I was coming back today, and I wonder
ed if she would be waiting for me. It was a stupid thought, considering we both knew this deal was brokered out of convenience rather than real affection, but things changed all the time.

  God’s honest truth.

  I pulled up outside the ranch and killed the engine, sitting there for a minute or two as I stared at the lights spilling out onto the front porch, and the trees rustling in the wind.

  My foot hit the gravel path, fresh grass and lavender immediately hitting my nostrils as I bent over and lugged my suitcase out, carrying it up the few steps. I’d gotten used to the usual hustle and bustle of activity, so the quiet was a little unusual.

  “Hello?” I called out, slamming the door shut behind me. “Anyone here?”

  A grunt answered my call, followed by the sound of a whimper. I frowned, set my bag down by the door and wandered into the house, looking for the source of the sound. I froze, my heart skidding to a halt inside my chest when I spotted Gwen, her back pressed against the wall with Sam in front of her, twirling a lock of hair between his fingers.

  Bile filled the back of my throat.

  My legs felt like cement, glued to the ground even as my mind screamed at me to turn away, to walk right back out. Gwen’s eyes were squeezed shut, but then they flew open, terror in their depths.

  “Sam, please stop,” she begged.

  “Stop what?” Sam asked. “I haven’t done anything.”

  “You asked me if I wanted to get back together with you, and I said I’d think about it,” she reminded him. “This isn’t helping.”

  “I think you’ve had enough time to think,” he declared. “And, I think you do want me, but you just don’t want to admit it.”

  “Just stop, please,” she said, her voice hoarse. “I don’t want to.”

  “Come on, it could be just like old times,” he promised.

  “I think you heard her well enough the first time,” I cut in, anger seeping into my tone. I took several quick steps forward and yanked on Sam’s shirt, dragging him backward purely because of the element of surprise.

  “What the hell, man?” he demanded. “This is none of your business.”

  “It is now,” I decided, narrowing my eyes into slits. “Or don’t you understand English?”

  “Gwenie is just confused,” Sam argued. “It’s me she really wants, right?”

  She shook her head. “I think you should leave, Sam.”

  He gave her an incredulous look, muttered something under his breath, and spun on his heel. Gwen placed both hands firmly on my shoulder to keep me from going after him, and I took a deep breath.

  In an instant, I had her pressed against me, with the sound of her heart thumping against mine and her arms coming up to wrap themselves around my neck, clutching me for safety.

  Eventually, her trembling subsided as I ran my fingers over her and murmured quietly to her.

  “You’re okay,” I assured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “It’s okay. He’s gone.”

  “I don’t think he’s gone for good,” Gwen murmured, face pressed to my shirt. “Nick, I don’t know what happened. I swear, Sam didn’t use to be like that.”

  My grip on her tightened. “I guess he changed because it was pretty clear from where I was standing that you didn’t want it. I’m sorry I had to step in like that-”

  She tilted her head back and pressed a finger to my lips, interrupting the rest of the sentence. “Don’t apologize for that. If you hadn’t arrived when you did, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

  I frowned. “You think he would’ve forced himself on you?”

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t think it would’ve gone that far. At least, I hope not...but I don’t know. It’s like you said, people change. This isn’t the Sam I remember.”

  I wrapped my arm securely around her shoulder, the other resting around her waist as I led her to the living room. She dropped to the couch in a heap, sinking against the back as it groaned and creaked in protest.

  She brought her fingers up to her temples and pressed hard, warding off a headache. For a few minutes, she just rubbed her fingers in circular motions, the rhythm providing a routine and a way to stay in control in the middle of the chaos.

  I stood there, shifting from one foot to the other, searching my brain for something, anything, I could offer as solace, but there was nothing I could say or do to make it better.

  Except be there.

  Gingerly, I perched on the edge of the couch, not sure if she would want me any closer after the whole ordeal. With the adrenaline wearing off, she might feel differently about another guy invading her personal space, even if it was just me.

  To my surprise, she reached for me, pressing her head to my side, her breathing uneven. I allowed my body to sink backward, tucking her against my side. One hand stayed around her while the other played with her hair.

  “Nick?”

  “Hmm?” I asked, quietly.

  “Thanks again,” Gwen mumbled, warmth coloring her tone. “I’m glad you’re back.”

  The admission lay between us, heavy and full of meaning. I coughed and cleared my throat, glancing down at her form. “I’m glad I’m back, too.”

  “Is everything okay? With your businesses, I mean?” she asked, her tone polite. To her credit, she was trying to take an active interest, even if it was clear she didn’t particularly care about what had happened in the city.

  At least she was trying, and it was more than I could say for a lot of the women in my life. Gwen was nothing like them, and the more time I spent with her, the more I knew it.

  I just wished it was that simple.

  “Yeah, I think so,” I answered, injecting as much casual nonchalance as I could. “Just a routine checkup. Also, I did need to check on a few things.”

  She nodded. “I see. I hope it went well.”

  “I hope so, too,” I echoed. “How are things back here?”

  She opened her mouth to speak, a soft breathing whooshing forward before she gave a slight shake of the head. “Not so good. Bill is still sniffing around.”

  I glowered. “That son of a bitch really needs to understand the meaning of the word no.”

  “I don’t think he’s getting it,” Gwen informed me. “When you were gone, he was walking around like he owned the place.”

  I exhaled. “I was afraid of that. Did the executor say anything else?”

  She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and blew an errant lock of hair out of her face. “No, he hasn’t. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”

  Well, it wasn’t good, but it wasn’t exactly bad, either.

  Right now, we were in a state of in-between, waiting for the final verdict with a lot on the line. Although, Gwen had far more to lose than I did, what with her livelihood up in the air and the possibility of being booted out of the only home she’d ever known.

  Bill would offer her a job since it would be expected of him, but I highly doubted she’d say yes given how he treated her – and the unexpected exchange he was offering. The thought made me sick to my stomach, recoiling in horror at the thought of the older man putting a hand on her.

  At least, Sam was gone, I thought.

  One less creep to worry about as far as I was concerned, and she didn’t look torn about it, which meant she’d finally come to terms with the finality of their relationship, once and for all.

  “I’m going to make us some tea,” I suggested, removing my arm. Gwen turned her head to the side and gave me a surprised look, one eyebrow climbing up to her hairline.

  “You know how to make tea?” she asked, in a light and teasing tone.

  “Yeah, just dump a tea bag in a cup and pour the water. It shouldn’t be that hard,” I decided, pushing myself up to my feet.

  Gwen chuckled. “Basically, yes, but don’t get any of the water on yourself, okay?”

  “I won’t,” I replied, with confidence.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to make it?” she asked, doubt coloring he
r tone. I bent down and traced the small worry line on her forehead with the tip of my thumb, noticing the color spread across her cheeks.

  “I’ve got you, don’t worry.”

  Chapter 6

  Gwen.

  My hands were still shaking slightly, and I was glad that Nick was busying himself in the kitchen. He’d been nothing but sweet and kind, a stark contrast to the person I was used to that I hardly knew what to make of it.

  All I knew was that I’d never been more glad to see anyone in my entire life. My knees had nearly given way under duress, buckling when he pulled Sam away and placed himself squarely between us, protecting me from danger.

  Usually, I’d be mad at him for pulling a stunt like that, a move clearly meant to indicate his status as an alpha, but at that moment, I honestly didn’t care. I wanted Sam gone, and if that was the way to do so, then so be it.

  Oh, Sam.

  I didn’t know what had happened to him in Colorado, but he was definitely not the same man I said goodbye to a year and a half ago. I had no idea what turned him into this person I didn’t recognize.

  Frankly, I was not even sure I wanted to know because it no longer mattered.

  Sam wasn’t the man I wanted, and I was tired of fighting whatever was brewing between Nick and I. Sitting on the couch in the living room, listening to him struggle to make tea in the kitchen, was all the proof I needed.

  My feelings for Nick were a lot deeper than I wanted to admit, and they weren’t going away anytime soon. Being around him made me feel safe and powerful all in the same breath, a heady potent I was unfamiliar with.

  Right now, with so much uncertainty surrounding the ranch and my future there, he was my anchor, the lighthouse in the middle of the sea, a bright beacon guiding me home.

  To him.

  Startled with the clarity of my thoughts, I shifted on the couch and placed my head atop the pillows, watching Nick scurry around, muttering under his breath every so often, treating the task like it was astrophysics as opposed to the menial task it was.