Tackling Tobias (Big Sky Universe)
“Get the fuck out of my house.” My voice shakes the damn rafters. This is a level of pissed off I haven’t been in a long time. There are six bedrooms in this house including the housekeeper’s one on the first floor, and they choose mine to disrespect me in.
“I’m sorry, Tobias.” His eyes beg me not to fire his ass, but he can go over and find a new position elsewhere because I don’t tolerate fucking lying assholes and he told me a whopper of one to get out of work early.
“No, I’m the sorry one. Your kid getting sick must have been a quick illness. Get off my property before I call the police or decide to bury you in my field.” We’re super busy, and this fucker’s having sex in my bed. I could kill him.
My attention turns to the bitch on my bed. Shit, I’m going to have to throw away those sheets. Maybe even the mattress. “That goes for you, too. You get out of my bed. You’re fired. I want you out now.”
“I don’t have anywhere to go,” she pleads, slowly loosening the sheet and rising to her knees in a seductive pose to reveal her tits to me like I’ve got any interest. I don’t. I made my momma one damn promise before she died that I’d never let any woman into my bed that wasn’t going to be my wife, the mother of my child. This broad crossed the line.
“I don’t give a damn about that. Get your nasty ass off my bed.” Every second that passes, my anger intensifies. I’d never hit a woman, but she’s sorely testing my patience. My former ranch hand scowls, seeing her easily offering her body to me after taking his dick. He has the nerve to actually look pissed. He’s married.
I never understood that urge for infidelity. Maybe it’s that my parents had a rock-solid marriage that makes me think how disgusting this shit show is. My phone rings just at the same time. I really don’t need this mess. My head’s pounding, so I step out of the room and take the call from Big John Morrison, my foreman.
“Hey, Tobias. We have a problem.” I never like the sound of that, although I’m hard-pressed to find anyone wanting additional problems after a full day of grueling work.
“What now?” I grumble, running my hand through my hair and staring at my bedroom door, waiting for these assholes to leave. Suddenly the bastard’s barking at her about being a whore. I laugh at the sheer audacity of it.
“The labor’s breach. The vet’s pulling up now.” Shit. I had a feeling my cow was taking too long to deliver. Damn, I hope she doesn’t die. I’d hate to lose another cow. Surprisingly, it doesn’t happen often, but it’s a loss that we have to eat.
“Son of a bitch. Okay. I’ll be down there soon. I’ve got a matter to deal with,” I grit out, rubbing my jaw.
“Oh no. Firing another damn housekeeper?” I might have a bad fucking habit that he’s well aware of. My temper’s short, and I don’t suffer fools. I’d just been complaining that Nina was on her last chance with me.
“And Ruiz,” I spit out.
“What?” he exclaims. I’m sure he’ll have a thousand questions. I don’t keep him in suspense for long.
“The bastard was fucking her in my bed.” Just as the words come out of my mouth, she comes running out and down the stairs while Ruiz goes after her. I frankly don’t care about it, but I can’t in good conscience allow him to hurt her.
“In your bed?” He knows about my mother’s request because he’d been there the day she died. He’s been with the family for two decades. He’s like a big brother to me. He’s only five years older than me. We’re close, so much so that I was his best man when he married Louisa.
“Yes. Out of all the places in the house. I bet they thought they’d get a fucking kick out of it.” I’m not a virgin, but my mom wanted this to be a family home—one where I made her grandbabies. I’d have to have sex for that, and it’s been so long that I can’t even remember it. Since I retired from the NFL, I’ve been too busy to look for a date. Maybe that’s why I’m in a shit mood.
When I step out onto the porch, Ruiz and Nina are gone. “They left.”
“Good. You don’t need that right now.” Damn right.
“Yeah. Fuck it.” Not my problem anymore. “I’m on my way.” I end the call and tuck my phone in my back pocket. Stopping back inside for another drink, I take the water bottle and then lock up the house because I don’t want her ass sneaking back in. I’ll have one of the crew pack up her suitcase and leave it for her on the porch. As soon as the house is secured, I hurry down to the barn.