Jessie said, “That sounds like a great plan, Joan,” and really meant it.
As Joan McKay drove off, Jessie finally realized what was different about the woman. She actually looked…happy for a change.
Jessie wanted that same happiness for herself. Dammit. She deserved it.
And the only way to get it was to take it.
After she changed into work clothes, she hitched the empty horse trailer to her truck and headed out.
Butterflies danced in her belly as she drove down the long driveway leading to Brandt’s house. By the time she reached the banks of snow piled by the deck, Brandt stood on the steps, waiting for her.
“Jess? What are you doin’ here with a horse trailer?”
She scaled the stairs in one step and got right in his face. “Did you mean what you said? When you told me you loved me and wanted to marry me?”
“Yes. But—”
“Did you tell your dad to take a flyin’ leap as far as the ranch is concerned?”
“Yes. But—”
“In the past four days when you haven’t contacted me at all,” she lightly cuffed him in the arm, “have you had any regrets about anything that’s been going on between us in the last few months?”
“No. But—”
“Good. Then what are you waiting for? Let’s get your stuff packed up and loaded in the trailer so we can take it back to my place.”
Brandt circled her biceps, stopping her. “Whoa. Wait a second. Do you know what’s happened? I’ve lost my identity, my job, and I’ve got a limited skill set in the world outside ranching, I’m damn close to destitute and you’re…” His eyes narrowed. “Chipper as a damn squirrel about that.”
Jessie laughed. “Of course I am.”
“Why?”
“Because—”
“Why would you want me?”
“Because—”
“I can’t offer you anything.”
She knocked free of his hold and grabbed him by the lapels to get nose to nose with him. “Now you listen to me, Brandt McKay. I love you. You. Not your ranch, not your station in life as part of the McKay ranching dynasty. You’ve already offered me everything I want.”
“Which is?”
“A lifetime with you.”
His eyes softened. “Jess.”
“Don’t you dare back out on me now. So we’ve hit yet another rough spot. So? Ain’t the first time and I doubt it’ll be the last. But I have every faith we’ll overcome it. Together.”
“But—”
“You’re the best man I’ve ever known. You are worth fighting for. We are worth fighting for. I love you. I love you so freakin’ much. Don’t give up. Please.” She moved even closer, completely invading his space. “Say something, dammit.”
“I would if you’d left me get a word in edgewise.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I missed you.” He kissed her. “I love you.” He kissed her again. “God, do I ever love you.” One last smooch to her mouth.
“But you’re too late.”
Her heart damn near stopped. “Too late for what?”
“To help me pack. Everything is already loaded in the back of my truck.”
Then she kissed him. Jessie wanted to kiss him with all he hunger and passion he always gave her, but it was hard to keep their lips attached when all she could do was smile.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he murmured against her mouth, much later, as they were twined together in his bed. “What prompted you to come after me?”
“The fear that you changed your mind and decided I wasn’t worth all the hassle.”
“What hassle?”
She gave him a light head butt. “Oh, a little thing like your dad making you choose between the ranch and me.” Her eyes searched his. “Why didn’t you tell me that the day you showed up and killed my poor heavy bag?”
That flash of shame appeared, heating his cheeks. “I get in these…rages, Jess. They’re ugly and I’m mean. I come out swinging and don’t stop until everything and everybody in front of me is leveled. Or until someone hands me my ass or I pass out. Fun stuff.” He sighed. “I’m so goddamn sorry that I hurt you—”
“You didn’t mean to. And it hurt me a helluva lot worse when you walked out.”
“There was some stuff I needed to work out.” Maybe someday he’d tell Jessie about the bizarre dream he’d had about Luke.
“So you really picked me? Over the ranch?”
“No contest.”
Brandt and Jessie had started loading tack into the horse trailer when a pickup pulled up. Jessie tensed. The pickup looked exactly like Casper’s but Brandt knew the pickup belonged to his Uncle Carson.
He watched as all three of his McKay uncles climbed out of Carson’s truck. Carson and Cal were twins, not identical, but that wasn’t obvious at first glance. Charlie had the same look about him as his brothers did, but he was shorter, stockier. As far as McKay family dynamics, Charlie should’ve been last on the pecking order as the youngest son. But it’d always been Casper, the oldest of Jed McKay’s sons, at the bottom of the heap.
Strange, seeing his uncles here. They rarely ventured to this part of the ranch, and never to Brandt’s house. So they must’ve gotten wind of Casper’s ultimatum. Brandt’s pride appeared, reminding him he didn’t need his uncles’ charity.
He told pride to shut the f**k up.
“Brandt.” Carson removed his glove, thrust out his hand and Brandt shook it, then he shook Calvin and Charlie’s hands in kind.
“I don’t gotta ask why you guys are here,” Brandt said. “But I do wanna know who called you.”
Carson shoved his hands in the front pocket of his Carhartt coat. “Actually Casper contacted us.”
“That surprises me.”
“Surprised the hell out of me too,” Charlie said. “Jesus. The man showed up at my place out of his mind.”
Brandt frowned. “Your place?”
“Yeah, guess he considers me the weakest link in the McKay chain of command.” Charlie shot his brothers a sideways glance. “But that’s always been Casper’s problem. We’ve never had the ‘me’ versus
‘them’ mentality.”
“But he has.”
Charlie nodded. “As soon as he showed up Vi called Carson and Cal.”