Brendon (20 page)

chapter
TWENTY-FOUR

“M
ason!” Cheyenne squealed, smiling from ear to ear as Kaleb carried the incredibly cute little boy into her house the following afternoon. Mason was wearing his usual getup, little Wrangler jeans and boots. Today he had on a bright red T-shirt with Elmo on the front. The only thing he lacked was his cowboy hat.

Mason eyed her warily, as he did everyone these days. Although she knew he was quick to open up, it generally took him a few minutes to get his bearings. The only person he didn’t seem to hesitate around was Curtis, and she knew for a fact the proud grandpa knew that.

“He just woke up from his nap,” Kaleb said, glancing at Mason. “There’s Aunt Cheyenne. Can you say hi?”

Mason, with his head resting against Kaleb’s shoulder, smiled and squeezed his hand in a brief wave.

Cheyenne waved back, her heart swelling with her love for the little boy. She’d bonded to him and found herself looking forward to seeing him every time she came to town. Now that she was there for a while, she hoped for the opportunity to spend more time with him.

“The place looks great,” Kaleb told her as he turned in a full circle, taking it all in.

Cheyenne had to admit, the new furniture transformed the entire space, making it feel significantly homier and far less like a construction site. “Thanks.”

Brendon passed through the living room. “Hey,” he greeted Kaleb. “Where’s your ol’ lady?”

“She’s comin’. She was on the phone with V, so she stopped on the front porch.”

“Can I get you somethin’ to drink?” Cheyenne offered, turning to follow Brendon into the kitchen.

“That’d be fantastic.” Hefting Mason higher on his shoulder, Kaleb fell into step behind her.

“We’ve got tea, lemonade, possibly a beer somewhere in there.”

“Tea’s perfect.”

“I bought some sippy cups,” Cheyenne mentioned. “Does Mason want somethin?”

“Water would be good, thanks.”

Cheyenne went to work making drinks while Brendon opened the back door and called Scrap inside. Once the little dog bounded into the kitchen, Mason giggled and insisted on being put down on the floor.

Cheyenne set the glasses on the table, then snuck into the laundry room where she retrieved a small basket that she’d filled with toys for this exact occasion. Returning to where the others were sitting, Cheyenne lowered herself to the floor in front of Mason and proceeded to show him what she’d bought for him.

“I’m so sorry,” Zoey said when she joined them a few minutes later. “That was V. She’s havin’ one of her mini-meltdowns.”

Brendon asked, “She okay?”

“Oh, she’s fine. As for the spa, I don’t know about that. Somethin’ about a shipment comin’ in wrong.”

“She’s at work?” Cheyenne inquired.

“Yep.”

“The woman’s always workin’,” Kaleb chimed in. “She takes that spa very seriously.”

Cheyenne knew that V managed the upscale spa at Alluring Indulgence, something she’d apparently always wanted to do. She could remember V and Zoey telling her stories about how the two of them used to clean houses for a living. Needless to say, V was significantly more animated when it came to talking about the resort than when it did her past life of cleaning toilets—as she liked to tell it.

“How’s the rest of it goin’?” Brendon asked, taking a seat at the table across from Kaleb.

“Good. Busy. Summer’s comin’ on quick and we’re fillin’ up fast.”

“Y’all get the BDSM schedule worked out?”

Cheyenne’s head snapped around, her eyes perusing Brendon’s face, then darting over to Kaleb’s.

Kaleb chuckled. “It’s all worked out.”

“
What?
” Brendon asked, looking at her.

“BDSM?” she questioned.

The smirk that tilted his sexy full lips made Cheyenne’s insides sing.

“And no, before you ask, it’s not my thing. I just happened to know they were workin’ on it, that’s all.”

Cheyenne nodded, returning her attention to Mason, who was trying to get her to take one of the cars from the basket.

“When do you go back on the road, Chey?” Zoey asked.

Cheyenne didn’t look up as she said, “I’ve got a few more months to get things in order. Preston, my manager, sent me a text yesterday. He mentioned a couple of summer venues that were askin’ for me. And Dalton’s got his farm tour. He’s asked me to join this time.”

“Do you miss it?”

Cheyenne met Zoey’s curious gaze, ignoring Brendon, who was watching her intently.

“I do,” she said honestly. “It’s in my blood.”

“Not ready to settle down just yet, huh?” Kaleb teased.

She did her best not to look at Brendon as she said, “Not yet, no.”

Zoey seemed to have picked up on the tension that suddenly filled the room, her head turning back and forth as she watched her and Brendon. Cheyenne could practically feel his disappointment. Then again, she could’ve merely been projecting that. These days, she was more confused than ever, but she’d promised herself not to think about it.

“Did Kylie get the upstairs done yet?” Zoey’s change of subject was welcome and likely due to the fact that the oversized kitchen suddenly felt as though the walls were closing in on them.

“Almost.” Pushing to her feet, Cheyenne smiled down at Mason. “I’ll be right back, kiddo. Come on,” she said to Zoey, “I’ll show you.”

When they got upstairs, out of earshot, Cheyenne wasn’t surprised when Zoey said, “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to imply . . .”

“No, don’t worry about it. Things are good right now.”

Cheyenne flipped on the light in the master bedroom and led Zoey to the bathroom.

“Holy shit! This is magnificent, Chey. Wow.”

“Like it? It’s now my favorite room in the whole house.”

“I bet it is.” Zoey busied herself with checking things out, turning on the numerous showerheads then turning them off. She ventured to the massive jetted tub that sat in one corner. The only thing it lacked was the tile surround, which was supposed to be completed by the end of the week. The slate tile had been put on the floors and the walls, but after careful consideration—and Bill’s expertise—Cheyenne had been convinced to go with a smaller tile for the outer edge of the tub.

“So . . . uh . . . this thing with you and Brendon . . . It seems serious.”

Cheyenne nodded, not sure what to say to that. It did seem serious, but maybe that was simply her perception. She’d yet to talk to Brendon about his feelings or what he wanted from her long-term—if anything. But she welcomed Zoey’s questions. They were friends, and she found she could talk to her without feeling as though she were being judged.

Zoey leaned her hip against the sink, her hand coming to rest over her slightly rounded belly. “Talk to me, Chey. What’s on your mind?”

Cheyenne peered behind her into the bedroom to make sure they didn’t have any curious ears listening in.

“I think I kinda fell in love with him,” Cheyenne admitted softly.

Zoey’s eyes rounded, glowing with happiness. “That’s fantastic, Chey. We all knew it would happen one day. Have you told him?”

“No,” she answered quickly. “And I don’t think I can.”

“How come?” Zoey’s brows angled down with her confusion.

“Because our lives don’t mesh all that well. Well, right now bein’ an exception.”

“You mean your life on the road?”

Cheyenne nodded.

“But you said you loved him,” Zoey reasoned.

“I know. But that doesn’t mean I can just call a halt to my career and spend all my time here.”

“Whoa there, Nelly. What’re you talkin’ about?”

“He wants to be here. It’s where his life is,” Cheyenne explained.

“And what makes you think Brendon wouldn’t compromise?”

Cheyenne shrugged. “It’s just a feelin’. Life on the road’s not easy. I live on a bus, Zoey.”

“You call that monstrosity a
bus
? I call it a mansion on wheels. I watch TV, remember? I’ve seen the shows, and if I recall correctly”—Zoey tapped her temple as though thinking aloud—“I think I saw a special on you.” Her head lifted, her eyes pinning Cheyenne in place. “That’s right. I did see one. And I saw that bus you’re talkin’ about. It’s a home away from home.”

It was that, Cheyenne would admit. It certainly wasn’t what she’d started out in, but as time passed and the demand for her increased, Preston had made sure she got the luxuries that came along with the lifestyle.

“Have you talked to Cooper or Dalton?”

“Not yet,” Cheyenne told her. “I will though.”

“Cooper has a good head on his shoulders, Chey. He’s makin’ it work and the fans still get as much of him as they did before, only better. He’s happy and it’s evident in his shows. It’s like he can give them more now that he’s content with the direction his life is goin’. You really should talk to him.”

Cheyenne knew that. She hadn’t known Cooper Krenshaw for long, but after their initial introduction, the few shows she’d played with them in the beginning, and then this last tour they’d been on together, they’d become good friends. And yes, Zoey was right, Cooper had figured out how to make it work. He had a wife, and he and Tessa were thinking about having a baby.

It was possible. She just didn’t know if Brendon would want that.

“But, Chey,” Zoey said, standing up and moving toward her, “if you don’t let Brendon know what you want, you’ll never know what he’s willin’ to give. And vice versa. I know y’all have a lot goin’ on right now, but don’t let it get away from you.”

Forcing the tears from her eyes, Cheyenne smiled.

“No way! Don’t you tear up on me. I’m like a damned waterworks these days with my hormones all crazy-like. If you cry, I’ll cry, so cut that shit out.”

Cheyenne snorted a laugh and then hugged Zoey gently.

Zoey was right about one thing. Until she told Brendon how she felt, she’d never know whether or not they stood a chance.

And Cheyenne first needed to know where they stood before she could worry about anything else. Which meant it was probably time for the two of them to have a chat.

BRENDON COULD HEAR
the faint hum of conversation upstairs and knew that Cheyenne and Zoey were talking. If he had to guess, it wasn’t only about bathroom fixtures and tile.

He briefly wondered if they were talking about him and the thought made him smile.

“You’re doin’ that a lot lately, you know that?” Kaleb asked, pulling Brendon from his thoughts.

“What?”

“Smilin’. Your face stuck or somethin’?”

“Or somethin’,” Brendon retorted, his grin widening.

“I’ll probably sound like an old man when I tell you that it’s good to see you like this.” Kaleb’s voice lowered, his tone gentle. “I know it’s been rough on you lately, but we’re all here for you, man.”

Brendon nodded. He knew if it came down to it, his brothers would always have his back. That was how his family functioned and he was grateful for that. Even if he didn’t want to talk about it.

Luckily, the two women joined them in the kitchen once again, squashing the heart-to-heart Kaleb was leading into. It wasn’t that Brendon had an issue with heartfelt conversations, it was just that . . . Okay, it
was
that he had an issue with them. As far as he was concerned, delving into emotional dialogue with anyone was the equivalent of getting his dick stuck in his zipper. As if it wasn’t bad enough that it had happened in the first place, he then had to figure out how to get out of the predicament—which everyone knew was just as painful.

Which was why he preferred to avoid them altogether.

Cheyenne took her place on the floor beside Mason once more and proceeded to keep him entertained. Brendon couldn’t take his eyes off the two of them. She would make an excellent mom, he could see it in the way she interacted with Mason.

His thoughts drifted to her earlier comment regarding how she wasn’t ready to settle down yet. It’d been the first time in his life that it felt as though a woman had pierced his heart with a hot knife. Emotional conversations be damned, that didn’t mean Brendon didn’t know how he felt about her. He wanted her, wanted to spend every waking moment with her. These last few weeks had been perfection, something he’d never experienced before.

Once Z and RT caught the lunatic, things would inevitably go back to normal and Cheyenne would likely go back on the road, leaving him alone with only his memories and fantasies once again. He wasn’t sure he could handle that day when it came. If it were up to him, it would never come.

But he didn’t know how to tell Cheyenne that. From what he could tell, what they each wanted was vastly different than the other.

His gaze was resting on Cheyenne when there was a pounding on the front door. Brendon shot to his feet and skirted Mason and Cheyenne as he took off to see who was there. They weren’t expecting anyone, so whoever it was better have a damn good reason for being there.

Brendon checked through the small window beside the door, making a mental note to put a security hole in the door. It wouldn’t do much good for Cheyenne to have to make herself visible if someone were to show up out of the blue.

Another pounding on the door, followed by, “Bren! Open the fuckin’ door. Now!”