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It’s still steaming, and I sniff the air delicately when West turns his back to grab the second bowl, placing it on the table he brought over. “Drinks!” he exclaims, standing and snapping his long fingers. “Be right back. Dig in.”
He jogs out of the room, and I hear his footsteps on the stairs, voices, footsteps, and then he’s back, two bottles of water in his hands. Handing me one, his eyes narrow on me. “I told you to eat, Quinn.” Something in his commanding tone has me melting right there on the bed in front of him.
“Yes, sir,” I say, taking a delicate bite of tender carrot. His eyes flare with heat as he watches me chew slowly before I finally swallow. I’m surprised when I find myself enjoying his steady gaze on me. It should remind me of the finishing school I attended, but where they carefully observed us to ensure we didn’t overeat or behave in an unladylike fashion, West’s gaze is intoxicating.
“Good girl,” he says softly, sending my pulse racing wildly. I’ve always been obedient, but it was out of fear and seeking approval, not seeking praise. Rolling the thought around in my head for a moment, I realize I’d like to hear him call me a good girl again. Maybe in bed.
“This is delicious,” I say, spearing a cube of potato and eating it without coaxing, forcing myself to eat slowly despite my now-ravenous hunger.
After a few more careful bites, when he’s sure I’ll continue eating without his watchful eyes on me, he pulls his own bowl closer and digs in, obscene groans escaping as he chews.
“I heard voices earlier,” I start, abruptly breaking the silence. “Coming from downstairs. Is your family upset that I’m here? I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.” An unfamiliar feeling inside me rebels at the idea that he might have a family.Maybe they won’t want a stranger intruding on their lives.
“Ah, you heard my boys,” he says, grinning widely. “They’re a lively bunch, that’s for sure. They wondered why I disappeared for the day. But, no, they’re not upset. They’re eager to meet you when you’re up for it, princess.”
“Oh, I- how many boys do you have?” My eyes quickly scan his hand, and my heart sinks when I see a worn, gold band on his ring finger.Of course, he’s already married. Suddenly, I feel sick for flirting with someone else’s husband. Clearly, he wasn’t flirting with me, he was just being friendly.
“Three—well, four, if you count Beau, which I do. And they’re not really boys anymore. I imagine they’re all about your age. Kain’s the oldest at twenty-three. Then, Gage and his friend, Beau, are twenty-two, and Brooks is the baby of the family at twenty.”
“I just turned nineteen a few weeks ago,” I say, wanting to stick as close to the truth as possible so I have fewer lies to memorize. “I don’t want to inconvenience you and your wife. As soon as I’m able, I’ll move on.”
A low growl escapes him, and my eyes widen in shock. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like, Quinn.” It doesn’t escape my attention that he’s using my name now, not the nickname he’s given me. “It’s just me and my boys here. My wife passed away years ago.”
Shame washes over me for the jealousy I felt and the bratty tone I’d used when I thought he was married. “Thank you, West,” I say quietly, taking a bite of tender beef and chewing slowly, effectively ending the conversation.
“Tell me about you, princess,” West says, taking away my empty bowl. He notices me tense and amends his request. “Whatever you’re comfortable sharing.”
The fact that he’s not pressuring me for specific answers helps me relax, and I think about what I can tell him as I watch him settle back into his chair.
“There’s not much to tell,” I start, ready to offer up as many half-truths as I can without putting him and his family—or myself—in danger.
Gage
It’s been a week since the girl came to stay, and we’ve fallen into a routine. We all work during the day, and Dad takes a break to eat every meal with her and gives us updates on her progress. He guards her as if she belongs to him, and we pose a threat to her, though the only one of us who might is Kain. He walks around here like her very presence on the ranch offends him.
The rest of us are just curious about her. Beau and I have been referring to her as “her.” It feels unnatural to use her name when we haven’t actually met her yet. Instead, we keep waiting for Dad to say she’s ready for introductions.
I’ve seen her, though, when Dad didn’t know I was looking. She spends hours sitting on the chaise by the windows, watching everything that’s happening around the ranch. Perhaps she feels safe when she thinks she’s invisible. True, there are plenty oftimes the reflection hides her from view, but I’ve seen enough to know she’s beautiful.
A bare foot catches me in the side, forcing my attention away from the mystery woman living just down the hall from me and back to my best friend, who is currently trying his best to kick my ass.
We set up this ring in one of the spare sheds when Beau moved to the farm after he was discharged, and we’ve been sparring whenever we get the chance. His parents had moved south, but he didn’t want to follow them. He’s been here for six months, and despite the nearly four years apart—catching up with letters, emails, and only a couple of short visits—we’re closer than ever.
“Pay attention,” Beau grits out, circling me slowly, ready to strike when I least expect it. I watch him, my eyes drawn to the way his tattoos and muscles ripple beneath his golden skin with each movement. It takes concentrated effort to focus on finding his weakness.
He moves quickly, his arm reaching out to deliver a jab, narrowly missing me. We spar until we’re both panting heavily. Before I know what’s happening, he’s taking me down to the mat, our legs tangled as he pins me with his torso.
I refuse to tap out even though we both know Beau has won, as he always does. While my breathing returns to normal pretty quickly, my heart starts racing, and I freeze for a moment when he shifts slightly, and I feel his hard cock pressing against me.
This is the first time in the months we’ve been sparring that I’ve felt that reaction from Beau when he takes me down, and I don’t know what to think. Finally breaking the spell, my palm smacks the mat, and he releases me immediately but doesn’t completely move away from me, leaving me to wonder what the fuck just happened.
Dinner tonight is a quiet affair. Per the new normal, Dad is eating upstairs withher. Kain is still brooding in his cabin, refusing to emerge except to work, and Brooks is out with some of his friends.
Beau and I are sitting at the kitchen island with heaping plates of leftovers, talking about anything but what happened in the gym earlier around mouthfuls of food. When our plates are clear, and I’m about to explode out of my skin from the awkward tension that’s never before existed between us, Beau jumps up and takes the dishes to the sink.
“I got cleanup,” he says, keeping his back to me.
Taking his avoidance as my cue, I nod silently, not caring that he can’t see me. Turning to leave the kitchen, I glance back over my shoulder and see him watching me in the reflection in the window above the sink. Smirking, I shake my head and quickly walk upstairs to my room. I don’t know what’s goingon between us, but there’s something new happening that I’ve never experienced before.
