Chapter 9
nine
“I’m still just trying to understand everything,” Quint said to Chance.
The fake curiosity in his brother’s tone told a different story. Quint wasn’t trying to understand anything—he was yanking Chance’s chain.
Chance supposed he couldn’t blame his brother. If a man spent most of his life avoiding commitment and then invited a pregnant woman to live with him out of the blue, he could expect some raised eyebrows. And some teasing from his family.
Chance slowed the truck so he could take the turn that led to his house. The horse trailer he was towing rattled as they hit the gravel road. It was filled with Cordy’s stuff; they’d spent most of the morning packing up her apartment. Cordy was with Rye in the flatbed truck, coming along behind.
“We’re friends,” Chance said, keeping most of his attention on the road.
He felt like a broken record at this point. Maybe he ought to put a flyer on the Donut Palace bulletin board: Chance Kessal and Cordelia Johnson are only friends. They are not sleeping together. He’s not the father. They’re not even kissing.
He wondered if anyone would believe it.
“She needs help.” Chance was getting sick of saying that. “Glenn’s about to kick her out, and the Saxons are being assholes to her. Someone had to step up.”
“She meets most everyone in the Swing Inn. She doesn’t know anyone who can help?” Quint cut him a look. “She could have even posted an ad in the Donut Palace.”
Okay, poking at Chance was one thing, but he was damned if he’d let Quint say shit about Cordy.
“Does this whole town have nothing better to do than run their mouths? Maybe instead of snickering at Cordy behind her back, they could give her a hand. She’s good enough to sling them drinks and deal with their drunk asses on a Saturday night, but not good enough to talk to on a Monday morning?”
Quint let loose a long whistle. “Jiminy Christmas, that set you off. I want to point out, for the record, I’m here helping. So when you start on a sermon, keep me out.”
Chance’s jaw tightened. “Wasn’t a sermon.”
“I haven’t seen you get this upset about something in… well, never. Not even when Dad…”
Quint didn’t finish because he didn’t have to. They both knew what he meant. Too many examples of their father falling apart to even start to list off.
“Yeah, well…” Chance dropped his voice. “She can’t ever meet Dad.”
“No, of course not.” Quint rubbed his jaw as he stared out the window. “Sometimes, I think I should have taken Ruby far away from here. Before we even got married. Just do what Lane did and never look back.”
“Ruby never would have left. And it ain’t working out so well for Lane. Last time I saw him in Cheyenne, he got drunker than I’ve ever seen and cried about Dakota for hours.”
“Huh. I thought he was over her.”
“He’ll never be over her.”
Lane was as much a Kessal as the rest of them. He’d die loving Dakota Cresswell, even if he’d never admit it.
“Hmm.” Quint screwed up his face. “I asked him about her once, and he wouldn’t even say her name.”
“In vino veritas, I guess.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“When you get drunk, you tell the truth.” Chance had overheard Cordy saying that one night at the Swing Inn. “When Lane’s sober, he’s too hung up on Dakota to talk about her. Get some alcohol in him, and it all comes out.”
Lane was yet another victim of the Kessal family curse. He fell hard for Dakota Creswell in high school and asked her to run away with him after graduation. She must have said no because Lane had left Star Crossed Springs without her, never came back even to visit, and never spoke her name again.
Quint wouldn’t let go of his love, and Lane threw his away as hard as he could. Still didn’t cure either of them.
And here was Chance, the one who’d swore he’d never even touch the stuff, moving a pregnant woman into his house. Cold sweat dripped down his neck. He wasn’t in love with her. Lusted after her, yes, but he could handle that. It would be fine. Still, his hands were slippery on the wheel.
“If that’s true about getting drunk,” Quint asked, “what kind of truth was coming out of Dad all those years?”
The question settled heavily between them. Dark things swirled in Chance’s gut.
Before Chance could answer—although what could he say to that?—they’d pulled up to his house.
Ruby was waiting for them on the porch.
“Did you invite her over?” Quint demanded, suddenly all roiling aggression.
Chance killed the engine with an exasperated sigh. “Of course not. According to Ruby, I’m corrupting Cordy, remember? I’m guessing you didn’t ask her here either.”
“I told her what we’d be doing today.” Quint cocked his head. “Well, I texted her.”
Pain vibrated under his brother’s words. Chance doubted anyone but him and maybe Rye would have heard it, but it was there.
Chance slapped his brother on the shoulder. “Well, she got your message. And she came.”
“Yeah,” Quint said slowly. “She did. She likes Cordy, you know.”
Chance didn’t, because Ruby didn’t talk to him much. She’d made some efforts when she’d first married Quint, but she stopped trying once she realized the Kessals weren’t exactly storybook material. She must have thought she could fix Quint by pulling him away from his messed-up dad and brothers, except it hadn’t worked.
Not that Chance blamed Ruby. It had been worth a try. She’d loved Quint at some point, enough to marry him, and of course she would want to make him better. But Ruby didn’t know what she was getting into with a Kessal man. They loved hard, but they never loved smart. Wasn’t any way to change that.
“I’m glad she’s here,” Chance said. “Cordy needs more friends.” He glanced at Quint. “And you’re happier when she’s around.”
“Don’t have to be happy to help move boxes.” Quint’s eyes were shining, though.
“It helps all the same.” Chance climbed out of the truck. “Go talk to her. I’ve got to help Cordy out of the truck.”
“Rye can do it.”
“No,” Chance said darkly, “he can’t. That’s my job.”
Cordy had no idea what to do next.
Most of her stuff was currently sitting in a horse trailer. She was about to move in with Chance Kessal, of all people, while Ruby Kessal, the second-grade teacher, was waiting on his front porch like she was expecting Cordy.
All Cordy could do was sit in the truck and try to breathe. It wasn’t going well, the breathing part.
“Huh,” Rye said.
Cordy didn’t think he’d said a complete sentence all day. She didn’t mind that he was quiet, but more than huh was needed to explain this situation.
“Does… does Ruby visit Chance often?” A nightmare image of Chance hooking up with his brother’s wife flashed through her mind. Cordy was sick and furious all at once.
“No.” Rye got out, slamming the truck door behind him.
Okay, that wasn’t enough explaining, but at least she didn’t have to worry about Chance hooking up with Ruby.
Ruby was still good friends with Hailey, Reed’s sister. If things got awkward with Ruby, Cordy wasn’t sure she could handle it. But what could she do? There was nothing to do but face it, same as she had to do with everything else.
Cordy grit her teeth and reached for the door handle. However, Rye was already opening the door for her and offering her a hand. Good Lord, he was fast—she hadn’t even seen him going around the truck.
She reached out to take his hand. Before she could, Rye was elbowed aside with a rough “Move.”
And then Chance was holding out his hand to her. His mouth was flat, very serious. His gaze burned.
“You shoved your brother,” she said breathlessly. He was almost being… possessive.
“I’ve got you. Rye can start unloading the truck.”
Chance was being rude to his brother and way too bossy to her. Cordy ought to ignore his offer of help and teach Chance a lesson.
She put her hand in his.
His fingers closed tight on hers, so tight she couldn’t slip away. It wasn’t the touch of skin on skin that made her gasp—it was that grip of his. So firm, so assured.
Possessive .
Her breaths shortened into pants. Her skin went tingly. Her pulse turned slow and sticky.
Cordy was turned on, wildly turned on, simply from him taking her hand.
It was the hormones, she told herself. That was the problem with being pregnant—she was horny as hell. Cordy had done her best to push those needs down since there was no way she could find a partner, and her vibrator couldn’t pull her hair, but it all came roaring to life in an instant. Like a puddle of gasoline catching a match flame.
Her vision had gone all filmy, so she couldn’t read Chance’s expression. The man was a master of seduction—could he sense where her mind had gone? Could he read the signs that had to be written all over her body, the dew of sweat on her collarbone, the flush on her cheeks, her rock-hard nipples poking through her bra?
Settle down. Cordy decided the first thing once the boxes were unloaded would be a long, cold shower. She would not allow her body to go crazy here and ruin the nice friendship she and Chance were building.
She wriggled her fingers free once her feet were firmly on the ground. “Thanks,” she said shortly. “I didn’t realize Ruby was going to be here.”
“Neither did I.” Chance gave her a searching look. “She never comes over. She thinks I’m a bad influence.”
“Wait, on Quint?” Cordy couldn’t believe that—other than that once, Quint never came into the bar with Chance. Ruby came in on her own sometimes, but Quint didn’t.
Unless the brothers went out together to the Red Dog. Chance could do a lot of bad influencing there.
“A bad influence on Quint?” Cordy asked again.
Chance didn’t answer. He walked up to the front porch, a smile on his face. “Ruby. Good to see you. Did you come to play mover today?”
“I wanted to help welcome Cordy into her new place.” Ruby didn’t smile back as she came down.
When Ruby’s gaze met Cordy’s, Ruby’s expression softened. Cordy felt the knot of unease in her stomach loosen. Ruby didn’t look like she held any grudge against Cordy.
“Thank you,” Cordy said, really meaning it.
“I heard about Justin moving back,” Ruby said. “Kaylynn is in my class, and she said her daddy is coming home.”
Cordy blinked. “Justin has a kid? Glenn has a grandkid?”
“More than one,” Ruby said. She slipped her arm into Cordy’s. “Maybe it’s better that you moved. Several women are wondering where Justin is so they can garnish his paychecks, and that apartment will be the first place they look.”
“I’m shocked. Glenn never said a thing.” Her boss always talked about Justin but never about any grandkids. Did Glenn just not care about them?
Cordy’s opinion of Glenn, which had already slid pretty low after he kicked her out, now sank into the mud.
“We should chat.” Ruby looked at the men. “I brought pizza. Chance, you’ve got beer and soda?”
“Yep,” he said. “And some seltzer for Cordy. The lemon blueberry flavor.”
That caught her by surprise. “That’s my favorite. How did you know?”
“You’re always drinking something clear and bubbly when you’re behind the bar.” He shrugged. “I figured it was seltzer, and the lemon blueberry one sounded good.”
Her heart gave an odd thud. Cordy had no idea he’d even noticed. Not to mention guessing her favorite flavor, like some kind of mind reader.
“It is good,” Cordy said. “You should try it.”
“Is that your dog?” Ruby asked excitedly.
Iggy was bounding toward Ruby, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and his adorable ears perking up.
“Yep,” Cordy said proudly.
“He’s so cute!” Ruby gave him some vigorous ear scratches, and Iggy’s back leg thumped blissfully. “What’s his name?”
“Noodle,” Chance said.
“It is not!” Cordy shook her head. “His name is Iggy.”
“Aw, he’s such a love.” Ruby put on a baby voice. “Who’s a good boy? You are! You’re the best boy.”
Quint was watching his wife with a tender, pained expression. Like she was so beautiful it hurt his eyes.
Oh boy. Cordy’s heart squeezed too tight as she realized this man loved this woman. Desperately.
Ruby didn’t seem to notice her husband, though. Had Ruby even said hello to Quint?
Chance watched Ruby and his brother, his expression guarded. He probably wouldn’t ever look at a woman like Quint looked at Ruby. Tomcats didn’t fall in love, not with that kind of furious aching. They were off to the next alley before things got to that point.
Somehow, that made her heart hurt even worse.
“Cordy and I will start with the trailer,” Ruby said. She nudged Cordy toward it. “I’ve got some stories about Glenn and Justin.”
Right. There was a whole lot of unloading to do.
“What about Reed?” Cordy asked as they walked to the trailer. “Did you know him?” Ruby must have if she was friends with Hailey. “I like to hear stories about him so I can tell the baby one day.”
Ruby’s expression flickered with pity. “I never said it, but I am so sorry for what happened. You’re doing a hell of a job with all this.”
“Thanks.” Cordy swallowed down the tightness in her throat. “I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water most of the time, though.”
“No, you’re doing great.” Ruby patted her arm. “More people are pulling for you than you think. You need to reach out and ask for help more often.”
Like when I posted the ad for a birth coach, and everyone laughed at me?
But even as Cordy thought it, she realized it wasn’t entirely true. Chance hadn’t laughed at her—he’d stepped up even when she’d told him to get lost. The Kessals were helping her move, and Ruby had even shown up. She was also making friends with Jaycee in her class. And there were Sam and Pierce, although they were more acquaintances than friends.
“It’s hard,” Cordy admitted. “I didn’t grow up in one place, and my parents were very much on their own. We didn’t have anyone to ask for anything. I was expected to be self-sufficient early on.” Cordy swallowed. “I never got in the habit of asking for help.”
Ruby stared at her for a long moment. Cordy worried Ruby felt sorry for her, which wasn’t necessary. Cordy had had a great childhood. She’d gotten to see the world. So what if she had no extended family nearby, close friends, or a proper home?
Ruby raised a skeptical eyebrow. “I see. Well, you’re about to have a baby, so tell me now if there’s anything you don’t eat so I can put that on the meal train sign-up.”
“Meal train?” Cordy had no idea what that was.
“Everyone brings you meals after the baby is born. If you’re lucky, they’ll do some cleaning when they come by, too.”
“They bring me food? Because I had a baby?”
Ruby shook her head. “You’ve spent too much time in bars. Yes, that’s the idea—everyone brings you food so you don’t have to cook. Don’t expect Chance to cook, either. He’ll probably be just as tired as you.”
“He… He…” Cordy’s brain was trying to keep up. “We’re not together. He won’t be getting up with the baby.”
“Mmm.” Ruby packed a lot of doubt into that little noise. She gave Chance a searching look. He was hauling the crib box inside and didn’t notice. “Trust me, he’ll be getting up with the baby. You won’t be able to stop him.”
Cordy had no idea what to say to that. She never expected that of Chance, but it wouldn’t do any good to tell Ruby that. She’d have to talk about it with Chance instead.
“I’m allergic to tree nuts,” Cordy said. “Peanuts are fine, actually, but no tree nuts. For the meal train.”
“Other kinds of nuts seem fine, though.” Ruby pointed at Cordy’s stomach.
Cordy choked back a horrified laugh. “Are all second-grade teachers like you?”
“Since I’m the only one in town, I couldn’t say.”
“Wait, really?”
Ruby nodded. “There’s only one class per grade, and the entire school district is on one campus, from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Although we do keep the high schoolers away from the little ones for safety reasons. Some of those elementary kids can bite.”
That time, Cordy didn’t bother holding back her laugh.
Ruby patted her arm. “You’ll find out for yourself soon. Are you planning to stay in Star Crossed Springs once the baby arrives?”
“I want the baby to know Reed’s family. Reed always made growing up here sound so lovely.” Cordy swallowed down the wistful knot in her throat. “So yeah, I’ll be staying until the baby is born. And I’ll come back to visit if I move.”
“But the Saxons aren’t making it easy for you.”
Cordy didn’t know what to say. Or what Ruby had heard from Hailey or Chance. Or what Ruby would tell Hailey after this.
Ruby might be here helping, but that didn’t make her Cordy’s new best friend.
“I don’t know any details,” Ruby clarified. “Hailey hasn’t said anything to me.”
“I haven’t told them I’ve moved yet.” Cordy took a deep breath and prayed she was doing the right thing. “Actually, we don’t really talk. I text them updates about the baby and stuff, and they don’t respond. They stopped interacting after Reed passed away.” That last part came out on a great rush of air before she could lose her nerve.
Ruby’s mouth fell open. “What? What? Good lord, you’re serious. Why would they…?” She rocked back on her heels. “I never heard a peep. Hailey—” Ruby closed her mouth decisively. “Well. I’ll have to chat with her. She must know her parents are being assholes.”
“She’s not talking to me either.”
Ruby’s expression turned fierce. “Okay, I’m definitely having a chat with her. That’s not right.”
Relief hit Cordy like a tidal wave. Ruby was Hailey’s friend but was also on Cordy’s side. And Ruby was going to do something about Hailey’s behavior. It was massive.
After all that rolled through her, something was left. Small and warm and flickering.
It was hope.
Ruby might have been friends with Hailey, but she was here, helping Cordy and calling the Saxons out on their behavior. She was being a friend to Cordy, which made Cordy realize how desperately she needed something like this.
Cordy rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I just wish I understood why they want nothing to do with me.”
“It’s Reed.” Ruby grabbed a box. “He was their baby, especially for Janet. No woman ever would have been good enough for him in her eyes, but definitely not someone as independent as you.”
“She was nice at first,” Cordy said. “Well, almost nice. But when we told them we weren’t getting married, even with the baby coming, Janet wasn’t happy. And then Reed—” Her voice caught. “It went completely downhill after.”
Ruby started for the house. “Hailey and Bob are following Janet’s lead. Win her over, and the other two will follow. I’ll talk to Hailey—I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try. Moving in with Chance won’t help, but they’ll have to deal. And they will if they want to see their grandbaby.”
It made sense, and Cordy desperately wanted to believe it. But if it wasn’t true and her baby never met their grandparents… She juggled the box in her arms, anxious tingles running over her skin.
“But they have to know I’m not with Chance,” she said. “He’s not like that.”
“You sure about that?”
“I am,” Cordy said firmly. “There are no intentions on either side here.”
Ruby released a relieved breath as she nudged open the front door. “Oh, good. I have to admit I was worried.”
“About what?”
“One, about Chance trying something. And two, about you thinking you could get Chance to settle down. But you seem pretty clear-eyed about him.”
Cordy didn’t like Ruby’s tone, but she couldn’t say why. After all, Cordy thought Chance was a tomcat—why should she care if Ruby did too?
“He might settle down someday,” Cordy said, following Ruby to her new bedroom. “Not with me. But with someone. He’s a genuinely good guy.”
Ruby shook her head. “He won’t. All the Kessal men are emotionally constipated. Trust me.”
Cordy’s curiosity sat up and pricked its ears just like Iggy did. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, all those boys are messed up. Don’t think you can fix any of them.”
God, but that was bleak. Especially coming from someone married to one of them. Did Ruby genuinely think Quint was broken? Had she tried to “fix him” and failed? Did that explain the odd currents between them?
And what had made the entire family like that?
Cordy looked out the bedroom window to see Chance unloading the flatbed. He smiled as he handed boxes to Rye, looking impossibly handsome. In only a few days, he’d completely solved her housing issues and gotten her entire apartment moved. When she needed a partner for this class, he’d been there.
That was certainly a lot for a man Ruby called “emotionally constipated.” He was still a tomcat, no doubt about that, but he was a tomcat with deep feelings.
It turned out that Chance’s friendship had come to mean more to Cordy than most of the relationships she’d ever had.
“I don’t want to fix him,” Cordy said. Chance glanced over and caught her watching. A slow smile spread over his face, just for her. “I like him the way he is.”