Saddled and Spurred (Blacktop Cowboys 2)

Bran. Just another situation she had no idea how to handle. She loved him. But she suspected he’d thrown himself into their affair because she was leaving. Although he hadn’t admitted it, she suspected he’d never gotten up the courage to show his raunchy side to past lovers. To make the kind of sexual demands of them that he’d made of her. She’d loved every minute, especially when Bran had no issue showing her his sweet side . . . Good Lord, the man could be so incredibly sweet it made her heart ache.

So how could she spring it on him that she had nowhere to go? The last thing she wanted was Bran’s pity. Neither did she want him to feel obligated to help her out. The job she’d signed on for was temporary. So was their relationship.

But they’d become friends as well as lovers. And if Harper just happened to show up at his place . . . and if he just happened to ask her what was wrong . . . there’d be no harm in telling him, would there?

No.

Mind made up, she pulled back onto the highway. Her cell phone vibrated and she ignored it. The turnoff to the Lawson ranch loomed ahead. Harper missed Celia. But her friend was dealing with her own issues, which strengthened Harper’s determination not to unburden herself. Janie Fitzhugh’s voice popped into her head: “Anytime you need anything, call me.” Harper doubted Janie had been serious.

The fish-shaped mailbox signifying the turnoff to Bran’s place didn’t bring the sense of relief it usually did. She putted down the rutted muddy tracks, wishing she’d driven the truck. This time of year reminded her why this part of the county had been christened “Muddy Gap.”

When she reached the house, she noticed Bran’s truck wasn’t around. Les meandered over from the big barn. Brusquely, he said, “I was hoping you’d be bringing my pickup back.”

She offered him a fake smile. “I can’t very well drive both vehicles at once, now, can I? Where is Bran? I need to talk to him.”

Les’s eyes gleamed. “You don’t wanna mess with him today, Harper. Maybe you oughta run on home.”

Whatever territorial instinct she had about Bran pushed front and center. “Where is he?”

“How about if you tell me what you want to talk to him about and I’ll pass along the message?”

Miserable little man. Yeah, why don’t you go ahead and break the news to Bran that I love him. And even if my sister wouldn’t have joined the army without telling me, and we were moving according to my plan, I’d still feel like I was leaving a piece of myself—a big piece—with him.

When she didn’t answer right away, Les snapped his fingers. “Sorry. I’ll bet you’re here to ask about your paycheck.”

Paycheck? Wow. Les really thought she was a money-grubbing bitch, didn’t he?

Her contemplation of Les’s motives for putting her in her place vanished when she heard the familiar sound of Bran’s truck barreling up the drive.

He parked in his usual spot and hopped out, skirting the front end.

Harper’s heart turned over. The man looked good. He always looked good. But he didn’t grant his usual I’m-imagining-you-naked grin. Nor did his eyes soften. In fact, his eyes went hard and cold. He glanced at her car, then at her.

“Where’s the truck?”

“At my house. I was . . .” Desperate to talk to you. “Bran? What’s wrong?”

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong.” Les barged right between them. “You didn’t do your job checking fences. The bulls got out. All of them. Me’n Bran spent all yesterday trying to get our bulls outta the Hendersons’ pasture. And we’ve gotta head back there today to finish up.”

All the blood drained from her face.

“I can’t believe you were so stupid—”

“Les, that’s enough,” Bran snapped.

Bran was boiling mad. Livid like she’d never seen him. And the truth of it was, she couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t paid attention. A whole section of fencing could’ve been down when she was trying to find her way in the fog. It’d been an honest mistake. Didn’t he see that?

No. She doubted he could see anything through the red haze surrounding him.

Harper studied Bran’s face. Upon closer examination, he didn’t look like a million bucks. Dark circles discolored the skin beneath his eyes. His mouth and jaw were set in a grim line. His posture was one hundred percent closed off.

Closed off from her. Probably for good.

She’d screwed up big-time. He’d given her a job when she needed it and how had she repaid him? By making a stupid mistake and costing him tens of thousands of dollars.

No way could Harper tell him how the world she’d known had crumbled. With Les around to remind Bran what an idiot she was, she doubted he would ever forgive her. She whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“You should be,” Les sneered.

Bran didn’t defend her this time.

Les said, “She was askin’ about her last check.”

Again, Bran just gave her that inscrutable cowboy stare.

Don’t cry.

Would it salvage her pride if she kept this businesslike? No. But it was all she had. “If you could just tell me when I can pick it up? At the accountant’s—”

“I’ll drop the damn check off at your house, Harper.”

“And what the hell are you gonna do with it when I’m not there?” Stay calm. “Just send the damn thing to my address. The post office will forward it to me.”