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He slid in behind her, keeping his hand on her breast. She shifted more onto her side, rested her top leg over his, and he entered her, finding her wet and ready. After that, there was only pleasure, until he satisfied his woman.
Thirty minutes later, he returned from a hot shower to find that Megan had fallen back asleep with Gus sleeping next to her and the cats in the basket by the bed. Nash leaned against the doorframe and smiled. His family.
With a long sigh, knowing what came next wasn’t going to be enjoyable, he gave a soft whistle.
Gus jumped off the bed and followed Nash outside. They hit the road a second later. The trees were a blur by his windshield, and the gloomy day wasn’t helping his mood.
When he finally drove through the Irish Creek Ranch gates, it came as no surprise that even before Nash could exit his truck, the Irish Creek cowboys were already taking steps toward him. He didn’t fault any of them for that. Hell, he respected their loyalty to their boss, even if Nash despised who they were loyal to.
Nash paid them no attention and stepped out of the truck, and Gus followed him out. He headed straight for the door and knocked. When it opened, Loretta smiled at him. “Oh, Nash. This is a surprise.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Harrison.”
Her smile brightened, opening the door a little wider. “I think it’s time you call me Loretta, don’t you?”
“If that’s what you’d like.”
She nodded. “That’s what I’d like.” She moved aside then and allowed him to enter. “Now what can I do for you?”
Nash glanced back to see Gus taking off toward the cowboys, who began petting him. Knowing Gus would be fine, Nash entered the house. “I’d like to speak with your husband if that’s all right.”
Loretta paused to study Nash, her warm eyes regarding him intently. “Do I need to worry?”
“No, ma’am,” Nash said gently. “You’ve got nothing to worry about from me.”
She gave him another long look then nodded firmly. “All right.” She shut the door then waved him forward. “Clint’s in his office.”
Nash removed his boots, again finding the home to be warm and rustic and extravagant. Everything in this space suited Clint, except the warm part. That was all Loretta. And Nash fully believed it was Megan’s mother that insured Megan never saw any of Clint’s coldness. When business was done, office doors were closed.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Loretta asked, leading Nash down the hallway.
“No, thank you, ma’am.” Nash didn’t intend to stay long.
She stopped at the closed office door, only firming up Nash’s assumption, then knocked. Clint called from the other side, “Come in.”
The moment Loretta opened the door, Nash restrained his snort. Clint sat behind his grand wooden desk surrounded by his kills from trophy hunting, like a king. Harrison was speaking on the phone, staring out the window, but his eyes soon narrowed on Nash. “I need to go. I’ll be in touch.” He hung up the phone without saying goodbye.
Loretta crossed her arms and frowned. “Nash said I have nothing to worry about. What do you say?”
Clint grunted and gestured her out with a flick of his chin.
Loretta smiled at Nash. “I suppose that’s the best I’ll get.” She placed her hand on his forearm. “Go on and have a seat. I’ll make us some coffee, in case you change your mind.”
Nash didn’t want coffee. He intended to say what he needed to say and get out. But Loretta was sweet and kind. Nash smiled and nodded at her. “Thank you, ma’am.”
She gave Clint another hard look before she let herself out and shut the door behind her.
Thick silence spread out in the ro
om, making the air feel heavy and charged with challenging testosterone. Anytime before this, Nash would’ve already lashed out, all in his need to prove he was better than the man sitting behind the desk.
Things had changed.
“You know,” Nash began, staring at Clint intently, “for as long as I could remember, I’ve hated you.”
“The feeling is mutual, kid,” Clint muttered.
Nash let that comment roll right off his back, seeing Clint with new eyes. “Megan had me believing for a little while that I was being unjust to hate you. That the feud between our families was created by you and my father and had no merit.”
