Because You Love Me (7 page)

She struggled to find a way out of the mess she’d just made. “I just meant fighting amongst siblings.”

Matt looked toward the kitchen. “Siblings? Do you and Rodney fight? Does he hit you?”

“Dear God, no. He’s the mildest, kindest, most compassionate man on the planet. How could you ask such a thing?”

Mark turned her face toward his with gentle fingers on her chin. “Violence is sort of strong word for simple arguments between a brother and a sister. You know you could tell us if something’s wrong, Bridget. We’d keep you safe.”

She’d never received a more welcome invitation. For the second time in one day, her heart ached to share her painful secret. Common sense reared its ugly head. “Help me? You don’t even know me.”

“We know enough to see you’re in some sort of trouble,” Matt said. “Rodney’s constantly running odd errands around town without you, while you’re supposedly on vacation. You’ve yet to leave this inn and, well, you’re a tad bit jumpy. What’s up with you two?”

How could anyone be that observant? Maybe Rodney had been right about them hiding somewhere more secluded. They obviously had shitty poker faces. “Nothing’s up with us. Everything is as we said. We’re just here on vacation.”

Matt looked like he wanted to press the subject further, but Mark’s heavy sigh cut him off. “Okay. We’ll go with that. For now. If you change your mind and want to talk, the door’s open.”

She forced a lighthearted grin to her face. “Nothing to talk about. I’m downright dull.”

Mark shook his head. “I seriously doubt that. So, about these riding lessons—”

While Rodney had given her the go-ahead, it didn’t change one very simple truth. “I was stupid to make that bet. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m afraid of horses.”

Matt squeezed the hand she’d forgotten he was holding. “We’ll take it nice and slow, sweetheart.”

“In other words, you’re not letting me out of the bet.”

Matt grinned at her. “Not on your life. You’re going to spend the next three days—”

“You said it would take two days.”

The mischievous rogue winked at her. “You said you wanted to learn to be a cowgirl. That takes time. Trust me, at the end of four days, you’ll be—”

“Four days?” As much as Bridget hated to make the break, she forced herself to stand and walk away from the incredible heat of their strapping bodies. Facing them where they still sat, she put her hands on her hips. “You are a shyster and a con man. I agreed to riding lessons. I’m fairly certain that can be achieved in one day.”

Mark stood slowly. “Three days.”

“Two,” she countered.

Matt jumped up and shook her hand as if sealing the deal. “Two days plus one date.”

“Date?”

Matt retained the hand he held, using it to pull her closer. “You just shook on it. We teach you how to ride, and you let me take you out dancing one night.”

“You get to take her dancing?” Mark interjected. “I don’t think so. The whole idea behind this wager was mine to begin with. If anyone’s taking Bridget out on a date, it’s me.”

Bridget threw her hands up. “Enough. I’ll agree to three days of riding lessons if you two agree that we’re just going to remain friends. No more fighting.”

Matt looked like he wanted to argue about the friends idea, and Bridget tried to suppress the part of her that hoped he’d press the issue.

“Fine,” Mark said, though his tone indicated he wasn’t happy about her demands.

She grinned. “It’s better this way. Trust me.”

Matt shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

“I’m going to head into the kitchen for some dessert. Do you guys want some?”

Mark shook his head. “No. I think I’d better head back. One of the horses was acting strangely this morning and I’m worried she’s getting sick. I want to check on her before I go to bed.”

“I’ll walk back with you,” Matt said. They’d told Bridget earlier in the evening there was a small path toward the rear of the house that led straight to the James Ranch. “Jacob can ride back in the truck with Caleb and Jessie or on his own if the two love birds don’t make it back from the guest house. You mind letting them know we left?”

Bridget shook her head. “No, not at all.”

Mark tapped her nose playfully. “We’ll expect to see you at the ranch bright and early tomorrow morning.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What’s bright and early? Nine? Ten?”

Matt laughed. “I was going to say six. Maybe another compromise? How’s seven thirty sound?”

“Painful,” she groaned. “But I’ll be there.”

Mark reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips. She suppressed a slight shiver when he pressed a quick, hot kiss on her palm.

Never one to be outdone by his brother, Matt upped the ante, placing a friendly kiss on her cheek. “Night, sweetheart,” he drawled, his hot breath tickling her sensitive skin.

It was a clear moonlit evening. There was enough light from the night sky that Mark and Matt could make their way across the yard without using the flashlights they’d grabbed from the truck before embarking on their return trip home.

Mark managed to hold his tongue all the way to the head of the path, a feat Matt didn’t think his brother capable of. Once they reached the edge of the woods, he let loose, saying everything Matt was thinking.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

Matt pretended to be oblivious. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. We’re both attracted to the same woman.”

Matt thought attraction seemed a mild word to describe what happened to him whenever he was in the same room as Bridget. Miffed at his brother for presenting a very big roadblock between him and his desires, he decided to make Mark work for it. “So?”

Mark stopped walking and gripped Matt’s arm, forcing him to halt as well. “So? So we don’t fight over women. We never have. Not once.”

“I don’t see us fighting over Bridget.”

Mark threw back his head in annoyance and glanced skyward. Matt waited him out. Matt knew his twin, knew Mark didn’t like confrontations. While Matt tended to throw fists first and ask questions later, his brother’s temperament was the polar opposite. Sometimes that was irritating, but most times it saved them from bruised knuckles and fat lips.

When Mark looked at him once more, Matt could see he was calmer. “I’d really like to go out with Bridget. On a date.”

Matt lifted one shoulder. “I’m not holding you back. She is. In case you forgot, she’s here on vacation. Seems sort of silly for us to get so worked up over something that can’t be more than a short-term fling at best.”

Mark stared at him for a long time. Matt was grateful for the shadows of the woods. His brother knew him too well. If they’d been standing in broad daylight, he’d have seen the fact Matt was lying written all over his face. “If that’s really how you feel, then do you mind if I ask her out for dinner tomorrow night?”

“Hell yes, I mind.” The words flew from Matt’s lips quickly and loudly.

Mark chuckled. “Yeah. That’s what I thought. Shit.”

“We’re both being stupid, you know that?”

Mark nodded, repeating his words back to him. “Everything you said is right. She’s here on vacation. She lives in New York City, for God’s sake.”

“She’s also beautiful, funny and hiding something,” Matt added to the list.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that last thing too. I’m worried about her. You think that’s the attraction? We’re curious?”

Matt shook his head. “Hell no. Curiosity’s got nothing to do with it. For a few minutes, I thought it was your white hat, defender of the downtrodden bullshit coming out, but I don’t think that’s it. You don’t think Rodney is hurting her?”

“No. I don’t. You heard the way she jumped to his defense tonight. None of that was pretense. She’s not afraid of him at all. Besides I’ve seen the way he looks at her. He’s definitely protecting her from something.”

“Yeah, well. I’m glad she has him. I just wish she’d tell us what’s bothering her. She was running from us yesterday when she took that tumble in the foyer. I saw her face when we walked in. It was pure fear.”

Mark turned and started walking along the path toward their ranch, running his hand over his face. “I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so many feelings all at once. It’s like I want to protect her and kiss her and, Christ, fuck her.”

“Keep her.”

Mark glanced at him, but he didn’t stop walking. “That’s on the top of the list. Couldn’t make myself say it. That’s wrong. I know that. I mean, hell, we just met her yesterday.”

Matt bent forward and picked up a large stick lying in the middle of the path, tossing it to one side. “Caleb said he fell for Jessie the first night they met. Said he knew after one conversation she was special. That she was the one. Hell, Dad popped the question to Mom on their second date. Said he wanted to ask her to marry him on the first one, but didn’t want to appear forward!”

Mark chuckled. “So what you’re saying is this is a James flaw?”

Matt stuck his hands in his pockets. “What I’m saying is Mom said yes and Jessie’s still with Caleb. Maybe we James men just know when we’ve met our soul mate.”

Mark stumbled for a step, but kept walking. “Soul mate? You know, there’s a problem with that theory if you’re right.”

Matt knew. It was a big fucking problem too. “Yeah. I know. All those things you want to do for Bridget, I want to do too. So what’s the answer? You want to arm wrestle for her?”

Mark chuckled. “I think Bridget gave us the answer. We ignore what we want, we offer her friendship for as long as she stays, and in a few days, she goes to New York and life goes back to normal around here.”

Matt knew his brother’s words made sense, but for the first time in his life, normal didn’t seem like enough. “Yeah. Normal. You realize that’s not going to work for me, right?”

He’d expected his brother to laugh at his joke, but it was met with only silence. They’d reached the edge of their property when Mark stopped walking once more. “Normal sucks. I think maybe it would be better if we took turns on the lessons. Since I usually work with the beginners, I’ll take tomorrow with her. You can take over the next day.”

Although Mark’s comment seemed innocuous, Matt suspected there was more behind the words than appeared. He could see the sense of his brother’s suggestion. There was no way the two of them could be alone with Bridget and not start up the rivalry for her attentions again. They’d always been too competitive for their own good. By dividing the time, they’d kill two birds with one stone. They’d prevent World War III from erupting between them, while they each would have a few precious hours alone with Miss Carson to press their suits. “What about the third day?”

Mark shrugged. “I guess we let her choose her teacher for that day.”

“To the victor goes the spoils?”

“Something like that. Listen, Matt. Regardless of who she chooses, we have to agree not to let it come between us. I know we’re brothers, but we’re best friends too. I don’t want to lose you over a woman, no matter how great she is. Deal?”

Matt accepted his brother’s outstretched hand and shook it, adding just a touch of force to the squeeze. “Deal. May the best man win.”

Mark returned the pressure, adding to it. “Don’t worry. I will.”

Matt tightened his grip even more, before releasing his brother’s hand. “Going to be fun watching you fall on your ass.”

“Cocky ’til the end. Just remember I warned you. Race you to the barn?”

Matt had already set off at a run when he yelled the word “Go!”

Of course, Mark was too wise to him, and he’d taken off at exactly the same time. They both slapped their hands on the barn wall at the same second.

A tie. Matt couldn’t help but wonder who would come out ahead in their next race. It struck him that he liked the feel of the tie, of no one coming out ahead, of sharing the win with his brother.

Maybe a draw wasn’t such a bad thing.

Crap. What the fuck did that mean?

Chapter Four

Bridget had been surprised when Matt and Mark informed her they were taking turns with her riding lessons on her first day at the ranch. She’d been disappointed by the prospect of not getting to spend time with both of them, but she could hardly argue with their logic. Regardless of the wager, someone still had to run the ranch.

During her first day of riding lessons, she and Mark had begun a battle of cultures that carried over to her second day spent with Matt. While Bridget insisted there was nothing like a big city existence, Matt and Mark claimed the best way of life was found in the country. They continued to press their case with lots of little examples and, though it hurt her to admit, she could definitely see the appeal of their lifestyle. The first two days had flown by in a flurry of fun and laughter.

However, this morning, she’d woken up with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was her last day of lessons. Her excuse to see the twins would end this afternoon. She hadn’t expected that knowledge to depress her so much. The past few days had felt like a welcome respite from the endless, horrifying months since Lyle’s murder. She’d been able to close her eyes to the ugly terror that surrounded her at every turn and wallow in the warmth, humor and beauty of James Ranch. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been anywhere nicer in her life. It was going to be much harder to leave than she’d realized.