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January’s Bad Boy: Shane (Bad Boys of Mustang Mountain #1) 9. Shane 69%
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9. Shane

CHAPTER 9

SHANE

"What are you doing here?" I step between him and Caitlin. Instinctively, I want to protect her from the angry man in front of her. I don’t care who he is. Even though it’s her brother and I know he wouldn't physically hurt a hair on her head, she is still mine and I'm not willing to chance it.

“Last night, I called to check on Caitlin to make sure she was okay with the unexpected snowstorm. When her phone kept going to voicemail, I pulled up the location sharing app and saw she was here. I left it but her phone was still off this morning and then so was yours, so I got worried and drove over. I saw you guys coming in on the four-wheeler, so I waited," he says.

He doesn't say it, but I'm guessing he also saw the kiss in the barn before we started walking this way, holding hands.

"Yesterday, she came over to talk about plans for the bunkhouse and see how it was progressing. I offered to show her around the ranch while I checked on the back acreage like you suggested. When the snow started, we were at the very back of the ranch. So, last night we camped out at the cabin. We turned our phones off to save the batteries since the service was next to nothing, and hunkered down."

"There is more to the story than that. Don't treat me like I'm stupid," he growls, crossing his arms.

If I hadn't grown up with this man and seen him cry like a baby when a snake slithered over his bare foot the summer before going into third grade, I might be intimidated. But knowing him since we were kids kind of makes it hard to take him seriously when he's this angry.

Still, he won't let it go until he gets the truth from us and knowing I have to admit my feelings about Caitlin causes something to click into place.

"Yeah, there is. I've fallen completely in love with Caitlin." I look directly into Atlas's eyes without flinching.

He explodes like I thought he would.

"Are you kidding me? She is my little sister!"

Ignoring him, I turn to face Caitlin. Her eyes are wide, and there’s confusion clearly written on her face. But I decide to tell the truth.

"I love you," I tell her, reaching for her hand.

"Before you answer, Caitlin, maybe you should ask Shane what is in this envelope," Atlas says.

Turning to face him to see what he’s talking about, I don’t let go of Caitlin’s hand.

Atlas is holding a manila envelope, but I have no idea what’s in it.

"What is that?" I ask.

He looks at me like I'm a complete idiot. "I should be asking you that. It was on your counter."

Then it hits me. It's the envelope that was taped to my door. I forgot all about it since I haven't been staying here at the main house. When I look at it again, it's open and I know I didn't open it.

"What is it?" Caitlin asks, her voice shaking.

"After I came up from the barn one day, it was on my door. I set it on the counter and forgot about it. What is it?" I have nothing to hide.

"It's an offer to buy the land. An offer well above what it's worth from the same people who bought the hot springs. Judging from the note inside, it seems like it's the amount you guys agreed on," Atlas spits out.

"I've never talked to those developers a day in my life. Selling this place has never been on the table. Not once, even in my darkest days in jail, did I ever consider it. I know I didn't open it, so why did you?" I spin it back on him and I can see the fight slowly leaving him.

He looks between Caitlin and me. Turning back to Caitlin, I can't read the look on her face.

"Caitlin, I think you should go home. Shane and I need to talk," Atlas says in his dominant, no messing around voice.

While I don't want to be apart from her, it hasn't gone unnoticed that she never said I love you back to me. But I know before she and I even have a chance, Atlas and I have to work things out.

"Atlas and I need to talk," I say softly. Getting her attention, I look deeply into her eyes, trying to convey what I can’t say right now.

She nods her head.

I walk her to the door, but before she leaves, I pull her into my arms and bury my face in her neck.

"This isn't over," I tell her, not sure what else to say.

She nods again, placing a kiss on my check and walks out the door.

By the look on her face, I can tell she is a bit dazed and overwhelmed. With every fiber of my being, I want to hold her and reassure her I'm all in. That nothing is going to stop me.

I watch her car move down the driveway before I turn back to Atlas to work it out with him.

"That is my fucking sister. Not some fling to get your rocks off after being locked up." He yells those ugly words at me.

"If you weren't her brother, I'd break your nose for that comment." I squeeze my hands into fists at my side and flex them in an attempt to stay in control. "I know she is your sister. This was never a fling. I plan to marry that girl. With or without your permission."

Atlas's frame softens, but only by a small fraction. If I hadn't been staring at him, I would have missed it.

"She doesn't even live here," Atlas says, shaking his head.

"That's just geography." I shrug.

Either I stunned Atlas speechless or he's plotting if he can get away with my death. But he isn't the only one with questions.

"Why didn't you tell me about the postcard you got in the mail with the threat against the club?" I know I'm not part of the club, but he is my best friend, and we've always shared everything.

"How did you find out?" he asks. All the tension leaves him as he sits on the edge of the couch.

"The whole damn town knows. They were talking about it at the café."

"Fuck. I didn't want to bother the town. I wanted them to enjoy being free from Savage Bones, and thought I could figure it out before it became an issue," he says.

"Well, I think you need to address it. At least with Ruby and Orville and the sheriff, if you haven't already. They have a right to be in on your plans."

"I know," he says quietly.

"Did Caitlin tell you what was going on at work and the real reason she is taking a break here in Mustang Mountain?"

His head snaps up to look at me."No."

"You should ask her. It's not my story to tell, but you will want to know. Now come to the barn and see the horses Asher sent me to save. I’ve decided to keep them for myself."

“We need to look into this land developer. If they are trying to grab more land, they have a plan,” he says.

“Agreed.”

Together, we walk out the back door.

Just like that, for now, the tension between us is gone. But we still have lots to talk about.

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