CHAPTER SIX
“Y our brother is such a jerk.” The words are out of my mouth the instant Bianca answers my FaceTime call.
Her wince fills the screen. “What did he do now?”
“What didn’t he do? It’s been two weeks of torment. Yesterday he decided to hide the halters. Every. Single. One. That put me in quite a pickle. How can I do my job if I can’t take the horses out? I’m clearly incompetent and deserve to get fired.” My bubbly tone is saturated in sarcasm.
Bianca laughs. “Um, wow. Did you retaliate?”
“Pfffft, heck no. Why get revenge when proving myself is more rewarding? Rather than surrender or return fire, I used twine to fashion very chic rope halters. It’s all about the knot placement. You should’ve seen his face after I put my innovative creation on Ritzy and led her out of the barn. He thought he bested me, but victory is mine! It was beyond satisfying.” My chef’s kiss has extra pizzazz .
She releases a low whistle in appreciation. “My brother has finally met his match.”
“Damn straight,” I spout. “That man doesn’t know who he’s messing with.”
Her eyes narrow. “I’m not used to seeing you so… vengeful. It’s kinda hot, babes.”
“Thank you, thank you.” I bend into a slight bow.
“This is an unfamiliar side of Brody too. He’s normally very disciplined and collected. Controlled. Deliberate. Rarely strays from his strict routine. The opposite of how he’s been lately,” she muses.
“What can I say? We bring out the worst in each other.”
“Is there more to it?” There’s no missing the suspicious quirk in her question.
“Only if you’re referring to Brody constantly crossing my path. I thought he never steps foot in the barn, hmm?” Not that I mind seeing him. It’s only an issue once his mouth opens.
“He rarely does. Or did. To be honest, Brody isn’t acting like himself. Maybe he’s finally losing his grip after Mom…” Bianca’s voice drifts off, but her meaning is clear. She sniffs and pastes on a smile. “Either way, he’s damn determined to take control of your employment status. Don’t worry, Lee. That’s not happening.”
“It’d be nice if he got back to locking himself in the office or wherever he counts his billions. Running such a valuable company should keep him busy.”
She snaps her fingers. “That’s it! He needs a new challenge after reaching that financial tier.”
“And he chose me as entertainment? How sweet.” I inspect my chipped manicure as another thought occurs to me. “But that doesn’t explain all the random incidents cropping up all over the ranch. I assumed it was Brody messing with me, but that wouldn’t make sense. He’s the one who has to fix everything. Unless he enjoys manual labor.”
“Not when it comes to repairs. From the bit I’ve gathered, he’s extremely frustrated about wasting precious time. It just might bother him more than your delightful presence.” Bianca winks.
“Uh-huh, the feeling is mutual. And we’re forced to fix stuff together. Did you know an entire section of the paddock fence was cut straight down the middle? All three rows. It’s like the wires were sliced with a sword. How does that happen?”
“No idea. Wow. What does my dad have to say?”
I shrug. “Dennis just does his own thing. He doesn’t get too worked up about much.”
“That sounds about right,” she mutters. “For what it’s worth, I doubt those damages are done on purpose. The pranks are another story.”
“Such a mess. It’s safe to conclude the place is falling apart without you. When are you coming home to end the chaos?”
For once, her laughter isn’t bogged down by gloom. “It can’t be that bad.”
“You’re right. It’s worse.” My grin is a crooked slant.“He calls me Twinkles.”
“To be fair, you have a lot of sparkle. Inside and out.”
“But you mean it as a compliment. Your brother is a condescending ass.” Steam is probably spewing from my nostrils.
Bianca twists her lips. “Should I cut my trip short? ”
“No,” I huff. “I’m just venting and hogging the conversation. Tell me the latest on your end. Still in Germany?”
She nods. “We arrived in Essen on Monday. It’s this adorable little town where my grandmother grew up.”
“Are you living the dream?”
Bianca’s smile could chase off the threat of rain. “Better than I imagined. I feel like this is where I’m meant to be. It’s beautiful here. The architecture alone is stunning. Everything takes my breath away. Their culture and customs are really interesting. There’s so much history to be found. A sense of peace too. Does that make sense?”
Tears prick my eyes as I listen to her describe the trip she was desperate to take. “Definitely. Just what you needed.”
“Yeah.” More pain sheds from her with a heavy sigh.
“And how’s Colton?”
Her carefree expression folds into a frown. “Urgh, he’s awful. The man is always hovering. I barely get enough personal space to pee without him stuck to me. Don’t even ask about what happened when he caught me in bed with my favorite toy.”
Air gets trapped in my throat and I choke on that unwanted visual. “I’m not even sure how to respond to that.”
“Terrible, right? It’s his mission to ruin this vacation for me.” A hint of her previous smile returns. “But it’s not all bad. Despite his stalkerish efforts, I’ve managed to find fun people to hang around. A group of them took us out to a club last night. I met this guy who was crazy sexy. My pussy purred when we locked eyes. He had a smolder that could’ve brought me to my knees. I was seconds away from—”
“La-la-lahhhh! Too much information,” I cut in while glancing at my very public surroundings .
It doesn’t faze Bianca. “Unfortunately, a certain bodyguard stepped in before I had the chance. Colton totally blocked me from the cock.”
“Good grief.” My palm meets my forehead as several gasps claim offense.
“Where are you?”
“The farmer’s market,” I mumble.
My friend cringes. “Yikes. You should’ve censored me several sentences ago.”
“It’s fine. Most of them have heard worse.”
Bianca nods knowingly. “What are you doing at the store? I thought Gemma and Ryder were still in town.”
“They are, but I decided to stop by… just because.”
“Since when would you rather be anywhere other than the barn?”
A huff sends stray hairs off my forehead. “Ask your brother. He’s the one determined to be enemies.”
“You’re avoiding him?”
“Hardly,” I scoff again. “This is just a quick reprieve.”
“Are you sure about that?”
My brave face slips. “Not really. This might be above my pay grade, Bee. The constant tension is maddening. I’ve considered moving my horses back to Crooked Tree.”
Her jaw unhinges on a gasp. “Sounds like you’re admitting defeat.”
“Which will only encourage him.”
“We can’t allow that. Brody might be predicable, but he’s also stubborn and competitive. If he gains even the tiniest sliver, he’ll want to command the entire board. He’s ruthless like that.”
A shiver trickles along my spine as an explicit memory rushes forward to captivate me. I recall how furious green eyes glared at the mess in the hayloft. The bales that had been neatly stacked were now strewn about. Just one more calamity to add to the growing list.
Large hands gripped the twine and muscles flexed while each square was tossed back into formation. How would it feel to be hoisted that effortlessly? Or pinned to the wall by such brutal strength. Too bad that long-sleeve button-down was obstructing my view. The desire to rip open those pearl snaps and get a peek at what’s hidden underneath had nearly consumed me.
I lick my lips, suddenly parched. Are enemies allowed to exchange sexual benefits? Not asking for a friend…
“What’s that look for?” Bianca’s voice barges into my lustful musings of Brody.
The misplaced hunger in my lower belly has me squirming. “Hmm?”
“You’re flushed.” She circles the remaining evidence of my debauchery. “What’s on your mind?”
“It’s… uh, nothing. Just the summer heat. I’m burning up.”
She squints. “Mhmm, better cool off. I should get going anyway. Colton is glaring at me. He probably has to poop but doesn’t want to leave me unsupervised.”
“Charming.”
“Welcome to my paradise. I’ll talk to you soon. Stay strong, Lee.”
“Same to you, Bee.”
Our mutual giggles ring out as the call ends. I’m still laughing when my mother sidles up beside me. The smile that curls her lips has mine pinching shut. A neon sign advertising sex is more subtle than this woman.
“Hello, daughter.” Mama nudges me when I remain silent. “How’s Bianca?”
“Fine.” The single word is ripped from my mouth.
“Just fine? You can do better than that.”
“Super-duper,” I gush.
“Better.” Her sharp gaze watches as I fight the urge to fidget. “That was quite the conversation. Very riveting.”
“Not really. Just catching up.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?” She’s practically frothing at the mouth while chopping at the bit. “I overheard something that sounded a lot like boy troubles.”
“More like broody billionaire problems.” Regret immediately tightens my posture after I incriminate myself. “I mean… uhhh, it’s just been hectic at Benson Farmstead. Still settling into the job. It’s a… um, process. No big deal.” The reflex to thump my forehead on the table has me curling inward.
Mama June grins wider when I stomp directly into her trap. “Not getting along with your new boss? Such a shame.”
Sweat prickles my scalp. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Brody is a storm system, arriving just in time to rain on my parade. Little does he realize that I always pack an umbrella. I’ll be the one shining bright after the downpour quits.
A disturbing sigh breezes from my mom, as if she’s sweeping my victory speech under the rug. “Maybe you’ve finally met your match.” That statement has a very different meaning coming from her .
“Not even close,” I scoff. “We barely tolerate each other. He’s constantly on my case no matter what I do.”
“That’s strange. I’ve only ever known Brody to be mild mannered.”
“He’s the opposite with me.”
Her focus studies me like a textbook. “I see.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Maybe there’s a reason you bring out such a… passionate side of him.”
I shudder. Mama talking about passion isn’t on my bingo card. “Please stop.”
“You could do worse. He’s the most eligible bachelor in the Midwest.”
My eye roll deserves an Academy Award. “Depends who you ask.”
“Well, the entire town will soon be rooting for you to do the honors of branding him. It’s about time he gets snatched off the market.”
A sour taste bubbles up my throat. “Very funny. Who delegated that courageous task to me?”
“You did.”
“Me?”
“Yes, dear. There’s a distinct buzz in the air. You haven’t been very discreet.” She motions to the crowd of traffic that’s created a bottleneck near the tent I’m using for shade.
My gaze scans the people who are digesting the juicy gossip I just plopped at their feet. Some are already disbursing to spread the news wider. A pit forms in my belly when I spot an unfortunate sight.
Lynn Ellen Paige is among those sticking around in case I divulge more tasty tidbits. The busybody needs three first names to get recognized in this town. To add flies on the manure pile, she wiggles her fingers at me. That gesture reveals my downfall. She’s seconds away from ruining me.
How could I be so careless? As Bianca’s best friend, I know better than to blab openly about private drama. The Benson name is revered. They’re local celebrities. Cloverleaf Meadows was built around the livestock empire their ancestors created. Rumors about them, regardless of facts or believability, get broadcasted across the state. I only have myself to blame for providing this breaking news report.
When Brody catches wind of this, I’ll need earplugs to block his tirade. I can already predict the rant that will nail me to the barn wall.
Frustration slips from me in a low groan. “Ohhhh, brother.”
Ryder is suddenly in front of me. “You rang?”
“Where’d you come from?”
“The throng.” He hooks a thumb at the lively bunch. “They’re thirsty in this heat and I don’t miss an opportunity to sell our fresh squeezed juice. Tips are stuffing my pockets.”
Mama pats his cheek as if he’s five. “Such a shrewd businessman.”
Another pitiful sound spills from my lips. “Uh-huh, great work. Way to give them what they want.” While they plot my demise.
“I learned from the best.” Ryder wags his brows. “Thanks, sis.”
“At least one of us wins. Meanwhile, I have to move. Cassidy will take pity on me. Hopefully.” Or I’ll offer my cousin free babysitting in exchange for her cooperation. “ Knox Creek has always been like a second home. I’ll fit right in.”
“And get recognized instantly,” my mom drawls.
“What do you suggest?”
“Simple,” she chirps. “Brush yourself off and get back in the saddle.”
“Huh?”
Mama pulls me off the chair. “Go ride your horse.”
“Why?”
“How else will you beat the gossips at their own game?”
“Umm…” The answer continues to evade me.
She parks her hands on her hips. “I didn’t raise you to be a quitter. Save the bronco and bang a Benson.”
My jaw drops. “Mother!”
“Oh, don’t act scandalized. I saw you squirming.” She pushes me from the tent as if I’m a baby bird fleeing the nest. “Giddy up, Paisley. Make Mama proud.”