Page 63 of Falling for the Maverick

Lucas smiled. “Good.”

“That’s better news than I hear from some of the other ranchers. Some are still struggling to keep their heads above water.”

“Ranching and farming are definitely not for the faint of heart,” Lucas said.

“Tell me about it,” Caleb agreed. “Wait here. I’ll get your feed.”

Lucas strolled up and down aisles, browsing as he waited. He’d just turned a corner when he saw Aaron Corey.

Of all people, why did Lucas have to run into the very man who’d been against him getting involved Michelle? Well, that was the past, he told himself. It had been almost a week since she’d walked out of his house and his life.

“How’s it going, Aaron?” he asked.

“That’s what I should be asking you. Do you feel like a big man now that you’ve messed over my sister?”

Lucas struggled not to lose his temper. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Michelle Corey, Lucas! You used her, so now it’s on to the next woman?”

Lucas put up both hands. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know what went on between me and Michelle.”

“I know that you took advantage of her!” Aaron shouted as he approached Lucas.

Lucas held his ground. “Back the hell up, Corey!”

“Or what, Brandt?”

“Or you’ll find yourself on your ass looking at the ceiling.”

Aaron beckoned him closer. “Come on, big man. Do you think you can take me?”

“I’m going to tell you one more time to get the hell out of my face.” Lucas noticed a crowd had gathered to watch him and Aaron go at each other.

“What’s going on here?” Caleb asked, forcing himself between Aaron and Lucas. “Y’all need to take this crap outside if you want to act like a couple of rutting buffalos. I’ll not have you wrecking my store.”

“Outside,” Lucas ordered Aaron between clenched teeth. He couldn’t believe that Michelle’s brother had the stones to confront him in public. If he had a problem, he could’ve come to his ranch.

Lucas stomped out of the store, not waiting to see if Aaron was following him. He made his way around to the side of the building, then decided to turn the tables on Aaron. He spun around and walked up close to Aaron where he had his back against the building. “It doesn’t feel so good now when I’m in your face, does it?” he taunted.

“You cocky sonofabitch!” Aaron spat out.

“Forget the name-calling and tell me why you’re in my business about what happened between me and Michelle.”

“I told her to stay away from you because word is you’ll never commit to a woman.”

Lucas huffed. “That’s where you’re wrong. I am committed to Michelle. But not the way you think.”

“If you are, then why aren’t you seeing her?”

“Because things are going on in my life that wouldn’t allow me to give her what needs in a committed relationship.”

“What are you talking about?” Aaron asked.

Lucas told Michelle’s brother about his work to make the Big Doggo Ranch viable and his obligation to monitor his father’s dry-cleaning business. “What I don’t want is to make plans for us to see each other, then disappoint her when something comes up where I must cancel. She deserves more than a part-time boyfriend.”

“Do you have feelings for my sister?”

“Feelings? I love the woman.”