Chapter 21 Stetson #2
Cove smiles, and it’s full of the confident sass she fancies using on me. “I came here with him, didn’t I?”
I smile before leaning in closer. I can hear Jules and Austin talking and decide to take a gamble that they aren’t watching. My lips glide across the shell of Cove’s ear before letting go of the trigger loop, our hands conjoined as the tension releases. “That means nothing to me.”
Her sharp inhale echoes between us as our eyes meet. We should be looking at the target, seeking out our arrow for accuracy. Yet, it’s a lost cause. “Nathani—” she comments with worry, reminding me of his existence. As if I could forget. “I mean, my father.”
“Yeah. That’s another thing I intend to uncover. It seems my best friend and I are in need of a little chat.”
“Stetson,” Cove warns, and I set the bow down before stepping back, raising my hands in surrender.
“No harm, no foul. I’m perfectly capable of controlling myself. Besides, just look at that shot.” Cove turns to face the fate of our arrow, dialed in perfectly to the center of the target.
Leaving her to it, I retreat with a newfound mission in mind. “See you at dinner, Cove.”
“Nice of you to finally join me. It’s not like it’s my fucking birthday or anything.”
“I had business to attend to. And it’s not your birthday yet.”
I examine Nate, unable to control my laughter. “There’s always business to attend to,” I mock him. “You know, I could lend you a pair of jeans if you’d like. Spare some of my hard-earned millions in your honor,” I tease.
Nate cuts me an annoyed look. “I own jeans, Stetson. And more money than even you would know what to do with, so let’s not compare. But thank you for your kind generosity.”
Formal fucker.
Luckily, I know this is just how he is. Stiff and irritatingly educated. Gives me a good laugh from time to time, although he’s a bit more snippy than I recall. “Whatever you say, my friend. Make yourself useful and come help.” I toss him a pair of work gloves and nod to the bag of soil beside him.
“You want me to lay soil?”
“What does it look like? I want you to help me lay soil. You never come around anymore, so consider this you putting your time in and making up for all my phone calls you’ve sent to voicemail. You work too much. To make up for it, you get to work for me.”
“No wonder you’re labeled the recluse bachelor.” I cut him a stern look, hating where he’s headed. “Yeah, I saw the fucking article,” Nate says proudly. He shakes his head but doesn’t hassle me further, loading the soil bag onto his shoulder, in a motherfucking suit.
Between Clay and him, I’ve seen more than enough suits on my ranch for a lifetime.
“So, it looks like Abigail has everything planned out for you this week.”
“That’s an understatement,” I huff, leading us toward the overgrown garden behind the stables.
I call it a garden, but it’s actually a field of wildflowers.
They’re the one thing on the ranch I've neglected, and as of late, I have a sudden urge to bring them back to life.
I spent the entirety of Monday pulling all the overgrown weeds and prepping the dirt to lay fresh soil in hopes of healthy growth.
There was a time when this field was bright and in full bloom with color.
I plan to restore that.
“The barn looks like a royal ball.”
I shake my head, knowing he’s being modest. “I don’t ask questions. You know how Abbi is. I just let her do what she wants and say thank you. It’s never steered me wrong before.”
“Probably for the best. Remember that time she had my car repainted without telling me?” Nate asks, sparking a fond memory. “The owner of the shop called me to come pick it up, and I was so confused. Never even dropped it off. But Abigail did.”
I grab two shovels from the side shed and hand one over. “Not sure I could forget. I’ve never seen you so angry.”
“My beamer was fucking turquoise! It was one of the first cars I bought for myself in cash.”
I chuckle. “Leave it to Abbi to swap the color codes by one digit. Surprised you kept it like that. Drove it for years, if I remember right.”
“Yeah…couldn’t get myself to trade it,” he drawls out, staring into the distance with reflection. “She meant well. That counts for something.”
I’ll never understand why Nate doesn’t let people see this side of him. He’s an asshole, and he knows it. But I know deep down, he’s a decent guy. He’s just got a rough way of showing it.
“Can I ask you something, man? I’m really trying to figure it out, but none of it makes sense.” He lifts his chin, taking in my every word. He knew this was coming. He had to.
I take his lack of response as a yes and decide to continue. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Nate’s face falls, but a grimace accompanies it. “I didn't know how to, and to be honest, not sure I wanted to. It was a mistake.”
If this were any other person, I’d immediately get defensive over him calling Cove a mistake, but this is Nate, so I expect a rational explanation. Although it still won’t justify it. “That’s not enough of a reason.”
He exhales. “What do you want me to say? I was young, Stetson. We were kids and had other things going for us. It’s all more complicated than it seems.”
“That doesn’t explain anything regarding your daughter. Especially when you have another one who you’d never once call a mistake,” I remind him.
“Emma is different. I chose her. This life.” He shakes his head gravely. “Cove and I have never had a relationship up until recently.”
Something isn’t adding up. How could he be okay with not having a relationship with his thirty-year-old daughter for so long? Enough that he not only doesn’t see her, but has never once mentioned her.
Wait…for fuck’s sake, he abandoned her, didn’t he? Is that why Cove appeared so detached, calling him sperm donor? Has Nate ever been anything to Cove, or is this a facade? She’s here with him now, though, so that must mean something? Maybe they’re trying to make amends.
I’m a firm believer that it’s never too late to try and make things right. But not everything is forgivable. Or at least, necessary to forget.
I don’t have enough ammunition to question it since everything is sudden news to me. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.
But my gut tells me something is very wrong.
“So, what changed? Why get to know her all of a sudden?”
He rolls his eyes and I know it shouldn’t, but my skin crawls.
I’m becoming very protective over this woman.
“Cove reached out a while back, crying about how much she wanted to know me, and I caved. Figured I could try. Misty and Emma don’t have a clue, and I intend to keep it that way.
Don’t need someone interfering with my life and ruining the family I already have.
I had the idea to introduce her to Austin initially as a buffer, and it turns out they really hit it off.
It worked out that he’s my business partner’s son.
Well, soon-to-be partner. We’re in the middle of a deal.
Days away from making it official, actually. ”
“You caved? Nate, she’s your fucking daughter. That’s not interfering with your life. She has a right to be there.”
“That’s what they keep telling me. I’m trying, Stetson. Give me a break. She’s a wild one. Argues with fucking everything and nothing like I expected. Her mother was never that way.”
“Maybe because she’s not her mother. She’s her own person. Ever think of that?” I know I’m getting defensive, but this side of him is not a good look, and I don’t give a shit how long we’ve been friends.
He squints, staring at me like he’s sizing me up. I don’t like it. “You stay away from her, Stetson. She’s got baggage. Don’t let her fatherless sob story make you feel bad for her. And not to mention, she has a boyfriend she plans to marry. I need this relationship to work out.”
I’m talking to a stranger.
I rear back, his comment registering like a concrete block on my chest. “Marriage? That quick? Didn’t you just introduce them?”
“Yes. Marriage. I guess when you know, you know. It’s for the best.” Stone-cold Nate McIntosh is back. I know it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, but I don’t remember him ever being this much of a dick.
Or maybe it’s because I’m learning about his hidden secret, when all along I thought we knew everything there was to know about each other.
I’m at a crossroads in my mind. In more ways than one, I owe Nate my loyalty.
He helped Abbi through some of the hardest times in her life, one of the main reasons I’ve always respected him so much.
But hearing him talk right now…he sounds nothing like the man he once was. The friend I once had.
“Does Cove know about this marriage proposal?”
“She does, and she’s on board with it. I mean it, Stetson. Stay away from her. She’s no good. Don’t test me on that.”
“The thought never even crossed my mind,” I tell him, lying through my goddamn teeth. “Just showing I care because you know…she’s your fucking kid, Nate.”
“Good, because she’s a part of my world now. She has no business being in yours. Let’s keep it that way.” Nate inspects the wilting flower field. “Now, where do we start?”
“You take this end and I’ll start over there. Make sure you cover the roots and pack the new soil down deep.”
That conversation did not go as planned.
I thought doing something labor intensive with Nate before dinner would be a good time for us to catch up.
Also expected him to be a bit more open and forthcoming about this life bomb he dropped.
By the shock Abbi displayed, I could tell she was just as blindsided as me, which only confirms the level at which Nate went to keep Cove hidden.
She doesn’t deserve to be someone’s dirty secret.
Such a disgrace to her dignity.
I went into this conversation hoping for answers, and all I got were roundabout responses that aren’t gonna cut it for me. Never did picture myself playing detective, but here I am.
If Nate is the reason I can’t have Cove, then I want to know damn well why. Austin is nothing but a measly stone I can easily kick to the side.
It’s my best friend that will be the challenge.