Chapter 9 Isaac #2
“It better have been just fine, Isaac. My wife’s entire career, that actress’ career, your training camp, and a significant amount of income that this ranch badly needs are all on the line. Make damn sure you’re keeping everything between you and that actress just fine, little brother.”
There’s a long beat where neither of us speaks. Just the hum of tension and the scrape of metal as a horse kicks at the stall behind us.
Wyatt finally pushes off the wall, expression unreadable. “I need you to listen to me, Isaac. And I need you to really hear what I’m saying.”
That tight knot in my gut pulls harder.
“Elena’s not just some actress we can replace,” he says. “Ivy wrote this part with her in mind specifically and she matters a hell of a lot to my wife.” His jaw clenches and the muscle in his temple jumps. “What matters to my wife, matters to me. Understood?”
“I get it,” I mutter.
“Do you?”
My jaw clenches. There’s too much testosterone flowing between us right now.
He steps closer, lowering his voice. “Look, normally I don’t give a damn what you do with women. But not this time. You so much as glance at that girl the wrong way and Ivy will feel it. Which means I will hear about it. And deal with it.”
I swallow hard, the weight of it all pressing down. “I hear you. I fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. I am doing my best.”
His eyes flicker. “Your best? To what? What does that mean?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue.
The truth.
To pretend I don’t want to repeat every filthy thing I did to her beautiful body last night every time I see her. And some other things my mind conjured more recently.
Maybe I should tell him. If I’m going to, now is the time.
I should just spit it out. Explain that before we knew we’d be working together, Elena and I broke the rules.
That I know the shape of her moan, the exact spot on her waist where she tenses when you trail your fingers there.
That twenty minutes ago, I calmed her while she panicked in the dust outside her cabin, and all I wanted was to take every bit of concern off her shoulders and carry it myself.
But I don’t say any of it.
Because Wyatt exhales, suddenly softer. “Sorry I’m giving you such a hard time. You haven’t done anything wrong. I’m having a rough week.”
I frown because I have absolutely done something wrong. Many, many things. “I thought things were going well. Operations account is in the black. Your wife looks at you like you roped the moon for her.”
He inhales deeply. “Ivy and I are trying. For a baby.”
I blink. Stunned at both the news and the apology.
Before he got married, he wasn’t one to apologize, even when he was dead ass wrong. Which he’s not in this case.
“Damn. I’m sorry, brother. I didn’t know.”
He nods. “Been trying for a few months now. Every time she gets her period, it’s a gut punch.
She’s trying to be strong, but I see it.
And I’m trying not to hover but knowing she’s hurting is killing me.
So, no drama, Isaac. No extra stress. No Ivy losing sleep because her lead actress got caught up with my little brother. ”
Something sharp slices through my chest.
I do the only thing I can.
I reassure him, hoping like hell it’s not a blatant lie.
“I got it,” I say. “No trouble.”
Wyatt watches me for another second, like he doesn’t believe me but wants to.
“Ivy said you seemed familiar with her.”
“With who?”
“Don’t play dumb. The actress. Elena.”
I contemplate telling him the key plot points. That we wouldn’t have broken the rules if we’d known. But I’m not sure that’s the truth. And he and Ivy are stressed out enough trying to have a baby.
So, I look him in the eye and tell him the only truth that I can. “Before today, I didn’t even know her name.”
He regards me intently for a moment, then his mind seems to ease.
“Good,” he finally says. “‘Because Willow’s already texting me nonstop about working with Eli James. Says the guy’s more scared of horses than a long-tailed cat at a rocking chair convention. So that’s adding some stress to Ivy’s plate too.”
I’m an Eli James fan but I’ve only seen him play action heroes. I wrack my brain but no scenes involving a horse come to mind. A small huff of laughter escapes me. “The guy’s supposed to play a rancher?”
“Right?” Wyatt mutters, shaking his head. “I told her to handle it by any means necessary but if she ropes him and drags him behind a pony cart, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Guess I’ll have to keep an eye on both of them.”
“Yeah? And who’s going to keep an eye on you?”
I force a grin, but my chest is tight, and the lie is a rock in my throat.
Because I can’t stop thinking about last night. About twenty minutes ago. The way Elena looked at me when she thought everything was crashing down. The way I made her feel better and how happy it makes me to have helped. About the way she fits against me like she belongs there.
Elena Ortega is as off-limits as off-limits gets.
I promise my brother I won’t cause trouble.
I just hope to hell I can keep that promise.
Because every time I remember the sound of her laugh or the feel of her body beneath mine, I know—trouble’s already here.