Independence: #4 Hayley (23 page)

“Were you hurt?” He persisted, following behind them to the large main door.

“I said I’m fine…” this time she did open her eyes enough to look at her brother’s face. Her head shook and her gaze softened. “You have a wife…and a very nice life, Dell. Please leave mine alone. I – am – fine. Honest…bye…see you Christmas Day. Love you…”

Jack continued forward, the look on his face filled with more than satisfaction when he handed her to Dane at the side of the truck.

“I told you. She isn’t Carolyn,” he repeated before climbing into the truck and taking Hayley from him. The bag of clothes was tossed to the floor between his feet and the door closed.

“Who’s Carolyn?” Hayley asked, pulling her knees up and curling a little closer with a shiver. “I should have put my clothes on…I think I have energy coming back finally.”

Jack kissed her forehead. “Just relax and let us take care of you. We like it.”

“That’s sweet…really sweet,” she murmured.

Dane knew he was grinning and for once, didn’t feel stupid about it as he started the engine to the truck. “He’s watching us. I don’t think he’ll give up that easily.”

“She isn’t Carolyn,” Jack repeated firmly.

“Who’s Carolyn?”

“A mistake from a long time ago,” Jack answered, scowling at Dane across the pale brown head snuggled into his chest.

“Okay…” Hayley sighed and slipped her arms inside his jacket. “Don’t fret about Dell. He’s always been like this.”

“He doesn’t like us.”

“He doesn’t like anyone I date. He still sees me as a kid who…” she shook her head.

“Who was used by a prick,” Jack filled in the blank for her.

“Yeah…only he sees it as his fault…it was my error…I’ve spent ten years listening to him lecture me about choosing the right people to be around. He blames himself.” She tipped her head back. “I’m tired…really, really content…but tired.”

Dane chuckled at her side and pulled the truck next to the house. “I’ll bring your stuff. Take her to the bedroom and tuck her in for a while.”

“Better idea,” Jack informed him after stepping from inside with Hayley in his arms. “You take our sub and I’ll take the stuff. Then I’ll get the dinner moving along.”

“Yeah…better idea,” Dane tucked the keys in the pocket of his jacket and took Hayley against him. He waited by the side door while Jack collected her things and tapped in the code to the alarm. The door popped open with a snick of the lock.

Jack tossed the bag of clothing and shoes to the bottom step leading to the loft before shrugging out of his coat and going into the kitchen to assess their dinner.

Dane continued up the stairs, grinning down at the slowly opening lashes.

“Welcome back.”

“Is it bad form for the sub to blink out?” Hayley winced, her gaze swinging around as they entered the familiar landscape of her expansive bedroom.

“It’s normal and acceptable,” Dane assured her, striding past the bed and into the large bathroom. He set her on the granite countertop and went to the deep soaking tub. “You had the floor reinforced?” he asked with a curious bounce on his toes.

“Yes. Steel. Because of the master bath I wanted,” she responded, her fingers curled around the edges of the familiarly scented blankets.

“Jack’s working on the dinner. You take a long hot soak,” Dane told her, his fingers tripping over the collection of plastic bottles on one of the shelves. He lifted one, popped the cap and sniffed with a satisfied nod. Almond and honey. Perfect. He tipped it over into the steamy water he’d started. “I’ll collect you when dinner’s ready.”

“That sounds lovely,” she agreed, blinking and watching him move to stand in front of her. She sighed softly, his hands framing her face and tipping it back. It was unbelievably easy to sink into the pair of confident, warm lips that cruised over hers before he stepped back.

The door closed with a firm click.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jack had their dinner moving right along and almost ready half an hour later when the loud pounding on the back entrance made him arch a brow at Dane. Both looked toward the intrusion to the soft music that was playing and both heaved a long drawn out sigh.

“It isn’t our place to tell him anything,” Jack said when Dane got that look on his face. “Not about the lifestyle or our little sub.”

“I know that,” came the snapped response, one hand up and rubbing his neck.

“So we go for polite ignorance,” Jack suggested.

“I know that, too,” Dane glared at him. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to ignore the man.”

“And you say I’m the volatile one,” Jack tsked with a chuckle.

“Dinner smells good,” Dane remarked when the pounding came again, rattling the heavily built back door. “Fine.” He pulled the door wide.

“Where’s my sister?”

Dane looked at Jack and shrugged. “In the bathtub soaking? That’s where I left her.”

“Don’t push me,” Dell shoved the words through his teeth. He looked them both up and down critically. “I’ve taken care of Hayley my whole life. I don’t need…”

“You don’t need to stick your nose into my business,” announced a firm voice from the middle of the stairs leading to the loft. Dressed in jeans and t-shirt, she was drawing the brush through her damp hair. She stopped mid-stroke. “Dell, why is it so hard for you to accept that I’m capable of handling my own life? Where’s Tasha? You’re a new husband…don’t you think she might find it a bit off-putting? We’re the same age, big brother,” she finished softly. “Did you ask permission from her relatives before you took her to your bed? Or into your life?”

“I don’t see this as a normal situation, Hayley,” he returned, grinding his teeth and choosing to ignore her questions.

“I’m sure you already had them checked out,” she said flatly. “I’m sure you already know they don’t give a damn that I’m part of the five who control the ranch.”

“He checked us out?”

“I would if I were him,” Jack said with a casual shrug, turning from the rest and striding into the kitchen. “Now he knows we have our own company that’s quite profitable and we probably have a few friends in common with his new association with the reclamation.”

“I should have left after school,” Hayley said very softly. “I can’t do this with you and I won’t do it with the others, Dell. Please leave.” Her hand swung up, palm out for all of a second before a single finger pointed to the door he’d come through. “Go, please. Now. Go back to Tasha. Go to your life and leave me to mine. We can be brother and sister, Dell. You aren’t my father. Good night.”

His jaw set grimly, he nodded and left, the door slamming behind him.

“I’m sorry. You haven’t done anything to deserve his behavior,” Hayley told them, her head up and nose twitching. Then she noticed the table all set for their dinner and smiled. “You guys are spoiling me.”

“I think it might be a mutual thing, Hayley,” Dane held his hand out to her with a tip of his head. “We’ll just lock the door and pretend the world isn’t out there.”

“I used to do that as a little girl. I’d hide in the stables to get away from them all. Only my uncle knew I was there…he called me his invisible assistant,” she shared the memory as she was led to the table. “I can…”

“Sit and relax…it’s all handled,” Jack told her as he carried plates to the table.

The pork was tender and flavorful; the potatoes fluffy and buttery. Somehow the rest of the meal melded together with stories from each of them about their past, families, school and jobs. She’d never relaxed so much on a date before. More than just relaxed, she realized. She was comfortable. She laughed, blushed and shook her head at the male antics they’d somehow managed to live through.

There was plenty of hip bumping and laughter as they cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. For once, she didn’t have leftovers. For once, she didn’t dread the end of the day with a silence that had become lonely.

She could have gone to any of her cousins or other relative’s houses anytime she wanted but it had long ago felt like she was out of place. Her uncles had never remarried, but they had women they’d been living with for a while. She decided they were afraid of marriage after the first ones fell apart.

“We’re not going to leave unless you tell us to, Hayley.” Jack caught her around the middle and led her into the living room. Dane had gotten the fire going and a soothing warmth filled the large space. She’d turned the lights off and the tree on, the multi-colored lights reflecting and sparkling around them.

“I don’t want to be alone,” she said honestly. “Usually, one of them makes sure I’m not alone at this time of year. It’s sweet…but they have girls of their own this year…well, except for Cole but he always makes sure he’s off working the high country. He’s not much on the holidays, either. I think because his parents split over the Christmas he was seven.”

“And you went the opposite direction,” Dane commented, tugging her down onto the sofa and over his lap. Jack quickly took the other side and lifted her legs over his thighs.

“I remember that it was important to my mother,” she recalled quietly. She laid her head back against Dane’s shoulder and stared at the tree. “I like your house. It’s a bit like this…rustic and modern at the same time.”

“But we’re not very festive,” Dane filled in the unspoken words.

“You don’t have to be festive. I just can’t do without the festivities,” she said simply. “Maybe in time…”

“In time…we hope you remain just as you are,” Jack told her, his hands massaging lightly along her legs. “I got out of the festive thing back when we were in college. Between the military and school…always moving…never having the funds to make it what the ads on TV said it should be…” he shook his head and offered a shrug at the soft smile touching her lips. There was more, but for now, that information was enough.

“Then gift cards came along and made our life easier,” Dane laughed at the shocked look when her eyes widened. “Hey…parents and little sisters and brothers are just glad you remember. They’re not picky.”

“You sent gift cards to your relatives.”

“We don’t go home often,” Jack countered with a scowl at the shock in her whisper. “We know where they like to shop…but have no idea what they have. So we get special cards and load them with some gift cards. They love it.”

“They’d love it more if you visited,” Hayley countered but sat up and reached out to hug him and then Dane. “Don’t look so stricken. There’s nothing wrong with your method. It’s who you are and what fits you. I can handle Dell,” she told them with a soft pat on Dane’s shoulder. “I’ll protect you from them.”

She settled back against Dane, welcoming the blanket Jack pulled over them. She didn’t notice the stunned looks on the faces of the men holding her.

“They really don’t mean…” she sighed. “I’ve tried talking to them…mostly it’s Dell. He gets the others involved when he can’t make me see reason, as he calls it.”

“You mean his point of view.” Jack offered sarcastically.

“Mostly I just don’t tell any of them what I’m doing. Sometimes Rafe…he’s not as pushy. He tells me if I ever need his help, all I have to do is ask…and Rafe never lectures me or…or looks down on my choices…that’s what I need from Dell. Just to know he’s there…I don’t need him running my life,” she said, her hand up and covering her mouth. “’Cuse me.”

“Bed time…” Dane declared and stood up before waiting for a response. “I want a hot shower.”

“I’ll get the packs from the truck,” Jack told him, crossing to the back door and releasing the alarm.

Hayley kicked her feet, laughing when Dane just shifted her and hoisted her over his shoulder. His hand came down with a sharp smack and the blanket fell to the floor at their feet. Her yelp made him smile because it also brought her wiggling to a stop.

“Good girl,” Dane praised with a chuckle. “Two bathrooms in the house?”

“Yes…well, two and a half bath in the laundry room…down here another full one beneath the stairs. It goes behind the office,” Hayley sighed, wondering how long it would take to get used to being carted around like a parcel. “I can walk, you know.”

“I can swing a flogger…want to exchange numbers?” He taunted with a chuckle at the look on her face. A pretty little blush that just ratcheted up the emotions that had been growing since they met.

Lights were tapped out and she heard the alarm reset when the door slammed. Locks were checked before she was dropped onto the bed. Dane caught the pack that was tossed to him and went straight into the bathroom.

Hayley stood on the bed, shook out the blankets and settled into the center with a long, tired sigh. Sounds began to fade and the chill that had been in the room melted into warmth when the bed shifted beneath the new weight. She changed positions during the night, but always ended up with her behind against someone’s groin and a possessive arm wrapped around her middle.

It was a very nice way to sleep, she decided as darkness took over.

****

Pancakes. It was undignified, but she knew she was drooling in her sleep. Her nose twitched and her stomach growled.

When Hayley lifted her face from the pillow, partially open eyes scanned the left side of the bed through a veil of tangled honey-blond hair. Nothing. She shifted slightly and peered at the right side. Still nothing.