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“You finish murdering the mashed potatoes, and I’ll go look for your phone,” I volunteered. It was strange spending most of the day inside. I felt like I needed to go out and get some fresh air.
She went back to fixing dinner, and I slipped on some sandals and headed outside. The air was still warm, and with the darkening sky as the backdrop, fireflies started to light up the night. I took slow and deep breaths as I walked the path to the stables.
Could this be my home? If Brendan and I made it work, what did that mean for my dreams?
Brendan loved this ranch. It was part of him now, and he would never leave to move back to the city, and I would certainly never have the heart to ask him to do that. A commute to the city every day would be a nightmare for me, but it would be worth it if it meant keeping all of this.
Keeping Brendan.
It was strange to think of how the ranch had grown on me. How it had helped heal me. Sometimes, a little space under the wide-open sky was therapy in itself.
I found her phone right on top of the desk. Tucking it in my pocket, I opened the door and walked outside only to step right into the path of someone else.
His cologne hit me first. The strong and pungent odor that made me want to gag. It intensified when those eyes raked me up and down, and he sneered.
Dennis Blackwell.
“You’re trespassing,” I said instantly.
“Is that any way to talk to your neighbor?” he asked as he reached out and grabbed my arms. Those fingers dug into my skin, and I stiffened my back.
“Get your hands off me.”
“I know Ward has been digging into my finances,” he hissed. “What does he know?”
I turned my head from the stench of whiskey on his breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if you don’t unhand me right now, I’m going to scream so loud that the whole county will descend on us, and by the time you leave this land, you’re going to be crawling on your hands and knees.”
His grip tightened painfully before he released me. Even as his body relaxed, the rage in his eyes intensified. “We’re just having a friendly conversation, sweetheart. No reason to be like that. I told you before that I’d be willing to make it worth your while if you helped me out. Tell me what you want, Jillian, what you need, and I’ll make sure you have it. Money. A generous donation to that school of yours to pave the way for your graduation. Someone to warm your bed at night.”
I lifted my chin, glaring at him. “It must have slipped your mind that I’m married to a wealthy man. I have no need for money, I can graduate on my own without your help, and my husband does an excellent job keeping me warm at night. If one more inappropriate thing comes out of your mouth, I’ll make sure that you won’t be warming anyone’s bed anytime soon.”
Dennis Blackwell was a bully. I recognized his type, and I wasn’t going to give an inch.
“You might be his wife on paper, but you’re no more than a whore to him,” he grunted. “Ward uses women and discards them. He’s got quite the reputation for it. He isn’t faithful to you now, and he won’t ever be faithful to you. But maybe all you care about is his money.”
“Get off my land,” I warned him quietly. “Right now.”
“We’re not done, Jillian. Not by a long shot. You either change that pretty little mind of yours and help me, or I’ll make sure that Brendan loses his land and his reputation. What good is he going to be to you then?”
I was shaking with anger as the man swaggered away. Threats against me were one thing, but Brendan worked hard. He loved these horses, and the idea of anyone taking them away from him made me see red.
Brendan was going to lose his mind when he found out. I considered not telling him, but I was trying to be more open and honest with him. I’d tell him.
After we enjoyed a nice dinner.
Debra and Ben left first. Kim smirked as she watched them go, but no one said anything. Mickie stuck around a few extra minutes as he charmed Kim, but as usual, his words rolled off her like water on a duck. She offered to do the dishes, but Brendan waved her away since she’d cooked. She took one look at him and declared that she was going to have a few drinks with a girlfriend. I wanted to point out that she needed to get some sleep, but she was gone before I could protest.
