“I’m not following, sweetheart. Why on earth wouldn’t a man want you? I feel the same way as my brother. Finding you was a saving grace, like you’d been dropped out of the sky just for us.”
“Us?”
“We share everything.” He left it at that. Caleb had a point about scaring her off too soon. Describing all the delicious things they’d like to do with her in bed would be a bad start. They’d never found a woman special enough to be the mother of their children.
Opal was that woman.
She attempted to move her leg and winced. It was late, so it would be best to get her to bed. Rest was the answer to most things. He stood up and leaned over to scoop her up into his arms.
“Careful, you’ll hurt yourself,” she said, clutching his shirt.
“I’m a big boy.” He carried her to his bedroom. There were only two in the cabin. He set her down on his patchwork quilt as tenderly as possible. The doctor had already removed her boots and socks, and he noticed the injured ankle was dark and swollen.
“Where’re you going to sleep?” she asked.
“I’ll take the couch.”
“This is your bed? I can’t take your bed from you. You’ve already been too good to me.”
He sat down beside her, the mattress dipping slightly. “Did you know the townspeople are afraid of us? Apparently nobody wants to fuck with the White brothers. I can’t blame them, exactly. We don’t always tend to react with our heads, and one thing for certain, we’re very protective of what’s ours.”
She swallowed hard, looking at him with those big doe eyes. He wanted to make it clear that she wasn’t going anywhere. Damon planned on keeping her, fucking her, and filling her with his baby. His brother wanted the same thing, so he’d only fight him so long. And this little lamb might protest, but she’d soon learn how good life could be as their woman.
“You should get some sleep. It’s late and rest will help you heal faster. I’m only a shout away if you need anything,” said Damon. She looked perfect in his bed, and he had to pull himself away. Their home had lacked a female presence for too long, and until Opal showed up, he didn’t realize just how much he needed her. Before he closed the door behind him, he said, “You’re safe here. I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to you.”
He closed the door and then crashed on the sofa, resting his forearm over his eyes. He felt exhausted and invigorated at once. They’d found the most beautiful treasure, the woman they’d both been praying for. It was too good to be true.
Caleb brushed his legs aside and sat next to him. “You’re fucking nuts,” he whispered harshly.
“What did I do?”
“It’s a small cabin. I could hear almost everything you said to t
hat girl. You’re trying to scare her into staying.”
He shook his head. “You’re crazy. I just want her to know how far I’d go to protect her, to keep her.”
“You’re going to push her away.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” said Damon. “She’s ours, you’ll see.”
“She’s not a toy, she’s a woman. You can’t make someone love you,” said Caleb.
Damon bolted to his feet, running his hands through his hair. He didn’t want to hear this. He needed love, deserved it. The only person he had in his life was his brother. Yes, Caleb meant the world to him, and the thought of losing him terrified Damon, but he needed more. He craved the love of one woman. Wanted a real life, a family, a home filled with laughter like when they were kids.
He didn’t want to hear Caleb’s negativity, even though his own doubts threatened to bring him down. They weren’t getting any younger, and when would the perfect woman fall in their laps again? He had to prove to Opal that they could give her everything she needed.
“Love takes time, and I have all the time in the world,” said Damon.
“And once her ankle heals, and she wants the hell out of the boondocks?”
He frowned. “She won’t want to leave. If you’d help me instead of trying to sabotage me, maybe we could actually make this work.”
“Don’t get your hopes up, that’s all I’m saying.” Caleb sat in the old rocker in front of the fire. Damon was tired of seeing his older brother slowly lose his zest for life. They were going through the motions, but needed so much more. Opal had to be the answer for both of them.
Chapter Three
Caleb knew more than his brother. He’d gotten his hopes up one too many times, and he refused to allow it to happen again. Damon always lived in a world where everything was possible. There were times Caleb was sure his brother believed in miracles, Santa Claus, and even the tooth fairy. No, he knew his brother didn’t believe in those things, but he always had so much hope.