Heartbreak's Reward (Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Book 2) (37 page)

“When do you plan on telling Mom?” Being deployed. Damn it all to hell, he let that one out as nonchalant as giving directions to the gas station.

“Probably at the party or when I come home the next time.” Dane shrugged. “Tonight would be the best choice. Give her time to let it sink in before I come back home before deployment.”

“Dammit, Dane, I thought you were finished with the deployments.”

Dane peered across the front seat at Jase. “Dude, I’ll never be finished as long as I’m a ranger. This is my life. You have to accept it, man.”

Accept it? Screw it is more like it.
Jase sighed. “We’ll work on the blonde thing and maybe have a hot one waiting when you come back. Right?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll need one by then. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be a blonde.” Dane laughed and slugged Jase in the arm again, hard. “
That
one should give you a bruise. Something to remember me by.” He snickered.

That was one bruise Jase didn’t want to go away. Maybe he’d tattoo one on his arm as a reminder. He’d be living one more hell for the forty-five minute drive to the airport tomorrow. And the days and months after… Life goes on…What else was fucking new?

***

Judy and Nora went all out with fixing dinner. Brenna spoke to Judy earlier about bringing dessert, so when she got home, she had made a three-layer chocolate cake and brought a gallon of ice cream.

Everyone congregated on the outside patio when the sun went down, yet it was still nearly 108 degrees and stifling. Brenna’s jeans were sticking to her and her body was hot and sweaty.

She had observed Jase’s actions all evening. It seemed like a light had gone out inside of him. When she approached him about it, he said he hated to see his brother leave. Judy practically clung to Dane all night after he told the family he was being deployed again. Destiny went back and forth between her two uncles, like she was giving them equal attention.

Even Tristan seemed a little different and Nora tended to him in a loving way. The evening went by in a flurry, the sky turning to blazing orange, making Superstition Mountain glow with a beauty she hadn’t noticed before. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all, sitting there all majestic like.

The guys raved about the chocolate cake and Jase teased her about the ice cream. When she spent time in the kitchen helping Nora to clean up, she began to feel like she belonged. Even Chloe pitched in loading the dishwasher.

Sometimes she didn’t recognize her sister, still picturing her as the rebellious teen she was not that long ago. She removed the ring out of her pierced eyebrow but left the diamond stud in her nose. Brenna overheard her commenting to Lauren about it not being necessary anymore. She could accept the diamond stud.

When Brenna finished helping inside, she found Jase on the patio. He pulled her onto his lap in a chair near the table. Knowing he was driving her home, he took it easy with the beer, but she knew it wasn’t an issue nowadays. Jase was a changed man.

Laughing inside, she realized she had, too, besides not being a virgin anymore. Which reminded her of Jase’s hands roaming her body two nights before.

Without realizing it, she found her fingers in his hair and his hand wrapped around her arm as if claiming her. The way he moved his head around, Brenna knew he loved her touch.

Chloe came to her and announced she and Davy were leaving. “Be careful and don’t stay out too late.” Brenna said it automatically and she’d have to let up on the topic. Especially since Davy always had her home early.

Everyone left the hot patio. Judy and Martyn sat on the piano bench in the great room, tapping a little jingle on the keys. They looked like a happy couple, but Judy told her earlier that there’d never be another William Carlson. He would always be the love of her life. Yet, she did have a good time with Martyn and enjoyed his company.
How sweet.

“What about you, babe? You ready to leave?” asked Jase. “I have to get outta here before someone makes me play the piano.”

She pulled him to a halt in the dining room. “Wait, play the piano? You?”
Hmm, a piano does not fit Jase Carlson.
“Hey, come to think of it I saw a picture of you on the Internet when I looked up the Double Dutch. Playing a keyboard? Where was that?”

“Right here. It must have been the annual Halloween party we have at the ranch. I get coerced.”

“Oh, my man is talented as well as handsome.”

“Well, don’t look so shocked. Don’t ever expect to figure me out, girl. I’m not playing tonight though. Come on.” Brenna didn’t know where they were going, or where Tristan and Dane had disappeared to. She followed Jase down a long hallway and they ended up in Tristan’s office. When they entered, she found out where his brothers were, and Destiny was with her daddy.

“Hi, Miss Page.” Destiny ran over to her, looking a little shy. Her hands were behind her back and she moved her shoulders side to side.

“Hi, there, Destiny. What are you up to?”

“Nothing, ma’am. Just sitting with my uncles and my daddy. Uncle Dane might get me more ice cream.” She lowered her little voice. “We have to sneak it so my daddy don’t know.”

Brenna laughed to herself.
Chloe was right.

“Destiny, why don’t you go see if Grandma needs help?” asked Tristan.

“Yep, sir.” She looked up at Brenna. “You can come with me.” She turned to her dad. “Can I show her my horsey?”

“Not now, baby cakes. Maybe some other time. Leave Brenna alone.”

“She’s not bothering me.” Brenna took her hand. “I’ll go with you to see if your grandma needs help. Maybe I can help her, too.” Brenna peeked over her shoulder at Jase.

“I’ll come get you in a few, sweetheart. I need to talk to my brothers a minute.”

***

It was about ten o’clock, and on the way back to her townhouse Jase jiggled her hand on the console. “We have to get up early around here tomorrow. Me and Tristan are taking Dane to the airport. Come with us.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and squeezed. “Wear your boots and we’ll ride afterwards. I’ll need Warrior to act as
my
tranquilizer tomorrow. Maybe Tristan will ride too.”

His eyes pleaded and she saw that he truly wanted her there. Or needed her
.
“I’ll go if your brothers don’t mind.”

“Mind? No, they’d probably encourage it. Dane kind of likes looking at my hot blonde.”

Brenna laughed. “Lucky you, huh? But, listen. I have to get into my classroom when we get back tomorrow. I can’t stay to ride.” She placed her hand on his arm. “The next day or two will be good for the ride. My classroom should be done tomorrow. I’ve already done my bulletin boards.”

“Definitely. You sound excited. I bet you even love your job.” He sped around a slow moving car and hit the brakes to ease back in behind it when he spotted the sheriff parked ahead on the other side of the road.

Brenna snickered. “I bet Sheriff Thompson has a bead on your truck. He almost got you that time.”

“Yep.” He had to stay one step ahead of the sheriff when his foot was heavy. “Hey, Dane would like a blonde to be waiting for him when he comes home. Know any?”

Brenna took hold of the hand bar when he finally made his pass at about ninety miles an hour. “As a matter of fact, I do. My best friend.”

“Well, she’s a little far away.”

“For now!” Brenna had a brainstorm. “Maybe they could meet through email or something.”

Jase frowned at her. “Come on, I’m not fixing my brother up with someone far away. We’d lose him and he’d never come back to be the rancher he was meant to be.”

“Give it some thought. Maybe you should let your little brother think for himself.”

“No matchmaking.” He pulled up at her townhouse. “I don’t see Davy’s truck. We might have a few minutes, babe.”

“Well, you’re the one who asked me if I knew someone for your brother!”
Humph
. “I’ll call my best friend anyway.” When they got out, Jase came around and met her at the side of his truck. He held her, lowering his head to her shoulder. “I hate to see him go tomorrow. He told me things he shouldn’t have. Sometimes it’s better not knowing.”

Brenna smoothed her hands up and down his back and lifted her right hand to his neck. She grasped the hair there, so loving the silkiness of it and the way it just waited to be grabbed a hold of. “I’m sorry, baby. I can see how difficult it is for your whole family.”

“Let’s go inside.” He grasped her arm and held her close. Brenna unlocked the door.

“Have a seat. I’ll call Chloe. Do you want something to drink?”

Jase lumbered to the living room and dropped to the sofa. “I don’t need anything to drink. Make your call and come over here.”

Brenna dialed her sister’s number and paced when she didn’t answer. “I wonder where she is. I’ll try again in a couple minutes.” She went to the sofa and Jase pulled her down on his lap. “I’m not done loving on you.”

Clinging to her the way he was she didn’t attempt to move from his lap. She sensed his anguish and would remain here in his arms.

He scooted down and pulled Brenna beside him. “We should have gone back to my place.” His voice drifted off. “Just let me hold you.”

Before long his breathing had evened out to a slow and steady rhythm. Brenna reached around to get her phone when it vibrated. It was a text from Chloe.
She’ll be home soon.
Brenna closed her eyes and sunk into the warmth of his body.

***

Jase and Brenna both sat up in a rush when the door barged open. Davy took a long stride through the door and shoved Chloe into the room with both hands. Jase moved Brenna out of the way and sat on the edge of the couch.

“I never want to see you again!” said Chloe. “Get the hell out of my house
and
my life,
cowkid
.”

“Don’t worry,
darlin’
, that ain’t a problem.” Davy twirled around and rushed out the door.

Chloe jerked it opened. “Don’t call me that!” She turned and ran upstairs.

Jase jumped off the couch and dashed out after him. Outside he grabbed a hold of Davy’s arm and shoved him against his truck. His lip had already been bleeding.
Chloe clobbered him?
“What the hell? Start talking.”

Davy pushed at his chest but there was no give. “Get your damn hands off me, Jase, I’m not a kid.”

“I warned you about touching her.” Jase pinned him. “You want your ass in jail? Brenna will press charges if you hurt her sister. I don’t want to kick your ass, but I told Brenna I would if I had to.”

“You know me better than that.” Davy shoved Jase away from him with both hands and all his body strength. “
I
didn’t touch her.”

“Well, what the hell happened for her to not want to see you again?” Jase held him against the truck. “Dammit, Davy. I trusted you, and forced Brenna to trust you, too. What the fu—”

“I prevented someone from touching her. Some asshole who had
every
intention of hurting her!” Davy shoved him back, got into his truck and drove off.

“Teenagers! Sonofabitch.” He lifted his hands in frustration and walked inside. Brenna stood waiting with her arms folded.

“I’ll have his ass arrested. You said I could trust—”

“He didn’t do anything.” Jase took her arm and went to the sofa. “Sit down, Brenna.” He dropped beside her. “Davy prevented someone
else
from touching her. I don’t know the details, but I believe him.”

Brenna lifted her hands to her head. “Someone else? Where were they?”

“Hell if I know! Sounds like you need to talk to baby sis.”

“Yes, I’ll do that in a few minutes, but she needs to calm down.” She narrowed her eyes and cocked her head toward him. “Are you sure?”

“Sure as sand in the desert, sweetheart. Somebody punched the kid in the mouth. He’s bleeding.”

Brenna’s bottom lip curled. “I’m more mad right now than anything. This means she might be up to her old tricks.”

He pulled her back off the edge of the sofa. “Give her some credit. She’s been so good since she’s been here. I doubt she ran out and started just like that.”

She attempted to get up but he held her. “I hope not.” Brenna wriggled out of his clutches and sat back.

“Do you mind if I go up and talk to her?”
Huh, where’d that come from?

Brenna crossed her arms in front of her, and huffed out, “You?”

His eyes widened. “Call me crazy.”

Brenna hesitated and relaxed against the couch. “I doubt she’ll let you in…but okay. Probably better than me going right now.”

He headed upstairs. On the stairway he peered back at her and winked. “Calm down.” She melted his heart with one glance, even with a stern look on her face. When he knocked, Chloe jerked the door open. He held his hands as if surrendering. “Can I come in?”

She turned back toward her bed and he entered. “What happened?”

She was sniffling. “I don’t know.” Chloe plopped down onto her stomach and stretched across the bed.

He took a seat in a chair beside it. “Are you okay?”
What am I doing here?
Panic kicked in. He was trying to comfort a seventeen-year-old girl. What did he know about a thing like that?

“Why are you here?” she asked.

He moved to the edge of the chair and put his hands together. “I don’t know. It felt right. If you’re hurt, I want to know.”

“I’m not.” She sat up and folded her legs. “I probably shouldn’t be mad at Davy. He might have saved me from being…”

“I get it. Just so Davy didn’t touch you.”

“He didn’t, at least not how you’re thinking. He wouldn’t.”

“Where the hell were you guys? Did you give him the fat lip?”

Chloe looked up at him with tears in her eyes and a fatherly emotion came over him. He’d have a teen daughter one day and if this is what it was about, he might as well break himself into it. He waited.

“No, I didn’t hit him. Someone else did because of
me
. We went to that nightclub in the valley.”

He sighed. “You’re supposed to be eighteen to get in there.”