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I mentally curse at myself, then scowl at her before turning my attention back to the TV. She probably thought that things were getting better between us, if her responses to me were any indication, but she’s about to get a wake-up call tonight. I’m not going to let her get into my head like she has been. It’s time to put a stop to it.
When she slowly makes her way into the room, my skin pebbles from her closeness and I growl at her proximity. Her eyes dart to me as she pokes her bottom lip out with a frown, my gaze snagging onto it immediately. How would she react if I sank my teeth into the bottom lip?
“Hope you like steak,” I snap. Nathan clears his throat, begging me to calm down, but I’m not letting him dictate my actions tonight. “Are you going to sit, or just stand there and stare?”
She blinks rapidly, but scurries over to the empty chair at the edge of the room. At least she’s not as close to me anymore. While I get my breathing under control, Nathan crouches beside me with a narrowed gaze and says, “Dad, I thought we talked about this? Be nice, okay?”
I grunt in response, not bothering to say anything, then watch as he walks over to Sydney with a warm smile. The apology falls easily from his lips, as if that’s all he’s had to do with her when it comes to me, and it grates on my nerves. “I’m trying to watch TV; if you’re going to talk, take it somewhere else.”
There’s no missing the growl that slips from Nathan’s throat as he storms past me, Sydney following right behind him without meeting my eyes. Before she can round the corner with him, I clear my throat and she glances over her shoulder. “Maybe dress more appropriately for dinner next time.”
Is she about to cry? Her eyes are glassy and cheeks bright red, as if she’s holding in as much of her emotions as possible. My heart cracks slightly at the sight, but I quickly snap my gaze away from hers before I can fall under her spell further. This is what I need to do if I want her to get out of my head, stop controlling my thoughts.
When I look back over at the doorway there’s no sight of her and I blow out a breath of relief. Here’s to hoping she’ll leave earlier tonight. I grab my glass of whiskey sitting on the end table and take a small drink, humming at the burning liquid coursing down my throat. This is the perfect thing to take the edge off and give me the boost I need.
Nathan comes waltzing into the room, a frown on his face as he comes to a stop in front of me, and I glance up at him casually. “Is everything okay?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, Dad, you tell me. What the hell is wrong with you?”
I glare at him. “Nathan, I’m not going to ask you again to watch your tone with me. I made a mistake by inviting her tonight.”
“So your plan is to scare her away?” He shakes his head and sighs. “Can’t you just put your emotions aside for one night?”
The bell signaling dinner is ready echoes through the living room and I rise slowly, letting Nathan lead us into the dining room. Sydney is already sitting perfectly straight in a chair, her gaze pointing down toward the table, and I roll my eyes at her. While the chef carries the food inside, Sydney doesn’t bother looking up from the table and I smack my hand down aggressively.
When she looks at me, I cock my head to the side and wave a hand out in front of us at the fresh meal. “I’m sure you’re capable of getting food, right?”
Her face somehow grows even brighter and she stands abruptly from her spot at the table, throwing the napkin down in front of her. The way her gaze softens as she looks over at Nathan makes me wish that she would look at me like that — am I jealous of them two? How close they’ve gotten and the easy way they interact with each other? I mentally shake my head. No, you can’t be. What’s there to be jealous about?
“Sorry Nathan, but I’m going to enjoy dinner in private. Thank you for having me.” She doesn’t spare me a glance as she excuses herself from the table and rushes out, the sound of the door slamming shut the only sound in the room.
This is what I wanted — so why the hell do I feel so terrible about it? My stomach is tight with guilt and I look up, catching the disgust on Nathan’s face, before he also stands from the table.
All I had to do was smile and talk politely for one meal, what was so hard about that for me? I scrub a hand over my face and cut through the steak, taking a bite of the tender red meat. It does nothing to ebb the guilt away and I glance toward the exit, itching to follow Sydney outside and apologize.
Chapter 8
Sydney
I was stupid to think that this was Brent extending an olive branch. Nathan gives me a somber smile before I rush out of the dining room and march to the front door, pulling it open with so much force that it ricochets off the wall. It might be dramatic, but the sound of the wood hitting against the frame brings a smile to my face, then I start my trek down the steps.
Every part of me thought this would be a bad idea, but I hoped I could give Brent the benefit of the doubt. I’m certain Nathan had no idea this was the way he would act and that only makes me angrier. My vision is clouding as I take angry steps toward the guest house, more than ready to be in the privacy of it so I can scream.
If Brent wasn’t so damn attractive I could’ve seen this for what it was — a stunt to get me off the ranch. Little does he know I don’t scare that easily and I’ll only keep coming back with my head held higher. My heel sinks into the wet grass and I nearly fall on my face before pushing my hands in front of me.
I wince at the contact and shake the pain from my wrists, then straighten my spine as if nothing just happened. The front door is only about twenty feet away. Let’s hope I can make it there without falling this time. Am I really such a bad person? I’ve never had such a hard time with someone in my entire life.
The thought has me growling into the empty night and a gust of wind chills my skin. This is what I get for not grabbing my damn coat before walking out — such an idiot. I’m shaking my head and mumbling to myself as I get closer to my destination, but the sound of footsteps behind me has me halting my movements.
I’m surprised to find Brent limping toward me, but it’s quickly replaced by anger. “Isn’t your food getting cold?”
He sighs as he gets closer to me, having to stop from the pain in his leg, and that’s when I realize he didn’t bring his crutches.
I glare at him. “Are you stupid?”
The moon is shining down on the field, but I’m not sure it’s bright enough that he can see the expression on my face. He’s spent a lot of time trying to heal from his injury, why is he jeopardizing all of that right now? His breaths are ragged as he comes to a stop in front of me, using the tree we’re standing beside to put some of his weight on.
When he glances up at me I’m struck by the intensity in his stare. He opens his mouth, then snaps it shut before taking a deep breath, all the anger I saw there once before dissolving in an instant. “Sydney, I’m sorry.”
