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Or more accurately, I need to marry her to keep my mother happy and fulfill the stipulations of my father’s will.
Because none of my negotiating or scheming—and I’ve done a helluva lot of both—have gotten me around the terms of that goddamn will. Who’d have thought a piece of paper would have so much power to control, aggravate, and plain-old ruin lives.
Stupidly, I’d welcomed it. Pa named me head of our family ranch. Sure, it came with the condition of marriage to a woman of equal standing in the community and left the final say in Mama’s hands, but I got what I wanted, the one thing I was promised, and that’s all that mattered.
Only, Mama’s grief has consumed her, clouding her judgment, and turning her from my biggest ally into a force of will to be reckoned with. The whole town knows Sage Kincaide is a powerful woman, but Mama’s wielded that influence in ways they’d never imagine, and now she’s using Pa’s last wishes to regulate my life. Has been since the day he died.
Not just mine. Most of my eight siblings are under the thumb of our mother and a dead man too. Only two have escaped her recent guilt trips, manipulation, and outright blackmail—Clay, who high-tailed it out of Prospect at his first chance over a decade ago, and Brooks.
It took a lot for Brooks to give up his interest in running Canyon Spring. As firstborn son, he seemed to think it was his birthright and didn’t factor in my unrelenting drive and hunger for control. But after some of the shit Mama and I put him through, and after all the years of battling me for Pa’s attention… Well, he put up a good fight, but I can’t say I blame him for conceding.
At least he was brave enough to walk away when he’d finally had enough, and by marrying the girl next door today, he may have proven he’s the smartest one of us all.
A sharp stab of jealousy twists my gut as I think of his happiness. The way he kissed his wife at the altar and how she threw her arms around his neck. They both fell into that kiss like it kept the world spinning. Neither concerned about appearances or how many eyes were on them. Together they radiate a kind of love I know I’ll never have.
The kind of love that’s irrelevant when I’ll be head of Canyon Spring.
If marrying Chastity is what it takes to ease Mama’s anguish and allow me to run things the way I see fit, then so be it.
Besides, if I play my cards right, I could end up running her family ranch as well. They’re not nearly as big an operation, but it could still be a fun challenge to take them over. It would be a nice little reward for putting up with so much of her attitude.
The song ends, and—thank you, Lord—she leads me off the dance floor so she can take a break.
Except, now that I’m not turning in circles, I’m too restless, too agitated to sit and make nice. My eyes are glued to Lacy as she trails through the crowd, every step a seduction.
Not that I need to see her to know where she is. I’m so fucking aware of her, I can practically feel every move she makes.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Where are you going?” Chastity levels me with an ice-cold glare.
How many years of her haughtiness will I endure before I learn to ignore it, ignore her, completely?
“Sweetheart, I’m about to become the head of a billion-dollar cattle operation. I’m always going somewhere or talking to someone. I’m at the beck and call of the business, not you. Sure hope you can learn to live with that.”
Her eyes grow large, and she gives me a look I haven’t seen from her before. It’s like it turns her on to hear how important I am, and how many dollar signs come along with the Kincaide name.
But I’m not in the mood to entertain that. I can’t even pretend to be attracted to her right now. Not when Lacy’s only feet away, motioning me with her eyes to follow her outside.
“I said I’d be back, and I meant it. Okay?”
She nods, and I don’t hesitate another second.
Tugging at the collar of my dress shirt, and not giving a shit about who might see the unfortunate tent in my pants, I stalk outside the barn, following the path I watched Lacy take only moments ago.
The lights and noise of the party fade and the night sky opens before me as I move toward the corral. Stars light my way, and the warm air feels like a cool balm, kissing my overheated skin.
God, I love this land. The mood it sets, and the way, no matter how far I travel, I’m always somehow connected to it. It’s a primitive feeling.
The same kind of feeling I get when I look at the woman waiting for me at the side of the corral.
Lacy.
Her arms are stretched over the top of the fence, one foot propped on the bottom post, and her delectable round ass pushed out as though to greet me. And all that hair…
Have I ever been turned on by a woman’s hair before? I don’t think so, but seeing Lacy’s thick, dark waves blowing in the breeze has me picking up my pace.
By the time I finally reach her, I’m breathing so hard the sound fills my ears, competing with my banging heart for dominance.
