Yeah, yeah. I call BS. I grew up with those five. Granted, I’m closer to the twins, but Cord and Chance spent a lot of time here too. You can talk to me, Kade. And if I can help, I will.”
Shaking his head, he stepped around her, though he wasn’t surprised when she pivoted and matched him stride for stride. He halted at the barn door, staring at the demarcation line in the dirt. Where he stood remained in shadow. One step and he’d be in sunlight. Was that a metaphor for something? He didn’t have the energy to be philosophical and he was tired of the emotions bottled up so tightly inside that his whole body hurt.
“I’m Cyrus Barron’s illegitimate son.”
Selena stared at him, her eyes almost as wide as her gaping mouth. “Holy cow. Talk about dropping a bombshell! Do the boys know?” She grimaced and rolled her eyes. “Of course they know. Hence the rugby scrum in the office today. Dang, boss. Talk about a tangled web. When did you find out?”
“Yesterday.”
“Wow. Just...wow.” She pushed his arm aside and moved close, her arms snaking around him. “Welcome to the family.”
That startled him—both her action and her declaration. Leenie laughed and hugged him tighter as he tried to disengage. “I meant that in the figurative sense, not literally. Rosalie and I are sort of...” She smirked before finishing. “Kissing cousins.” Laughing, she added, “Big John caught us in the barn with the twins when we were kids.”
She turned him loose and stepped into the late afternoon sunshine. “When you’re ready to talk, I’ve got big ears and a closed mouth.” She offered a jaunty wave as she headed back to the office. He started to follow her. He probably had work piled up on his desk but he didn’t want to think about the ranch, the will, the Barrons or anything having to do with his predicament. He turned toward home. And stopped. That was the heart of the matter.
“It’s just a house,” he muttered, walking forward again. “Just a place where I sleep at night.”
Not surprisingly, Pippa’s Highlander was gone when he got there. That was a good thing, right? He didn’t want to deal with her, with the inevitable questions she would ask for which he had no answers. He stomped up the stone steps and across the wide porch to his front door. Kade pushed through and stopped. The place was empty—as it was every time he returned. Why it bothered him now, he couldn’t say. He hung his Stetson on the rack next to the door and headed to the kitchen. He’d missed lunch—his own fault. His stomach growled and he felt a little stupid for avoiding the Barrons. He still hadn’t listened to their voice mails on his phone.
He grabbed a TV dinner and tossed it in the microwave, then popped the top on a long-neck beer. Retrieving his phone, he stared at the number of missed messages. He’d finished the beer by the time the oven dinged. He snagged another beer, peeled the plastic off his dinner and prepared to listen to what the Barrons had to say. He clicked on the speaker icon and opened voice mail.
“This is Chance. I wish you’d stayed to talk with us, Kade. I know this is a shock. Let’s discuss things.”
“Clay here. Welcome to the family, Kade. Talk to Chance.”
“Dude, don’t be stupid, says your big brother Cord. We’re here when you’re ready.”
“Don’t make me hunt you down.” There was laughter and somebody said Cash’s name. “Seriously, let’s go get a beer, talk about this.”
“Kade, this is Chase. Bad news, bud. You realize the wives are gonna be all over this. Fair warning. You know where to find me when you’re ready.”
Huh. Nothing at all like what he’d expected. He knew what the Crown B was worth. Millions. Why wouldn’t they be upset at losing control of that kind of money? Wouldn’t he, if he was in their shoes?
The messages from the Barrons continued in a round robin, before clicking over to the angry then conciliatory messages from Pippa. A stab of guilt burned in his chest and he glanced at the coffee maker. The note he’d left for her was gone. Yeah. He’d definitely taken the chicken way out of that deal. He didn’t know why he’d kissed her...and more. He swallowed a gulp of beer. He was a guy and Pippa was gorgeous. He’d thought about getting her into bed—and the experience had been everything he could have hoped for. Well, almost everything. He still had a fantasy about her mouth that hadn’t been fulfilled.
He didn’t bother listening to the rest of the messages. He switched to the number pad and tapped in Pippa’s phone number.
* * *
Pippa leaned her head back against the pool lounger and sipped her wine cooler through a straw. “Was I stupid?”
Her best friend occupied the next lounger, a frozen margarita in her hand. Carrie slurped from her glass. “Are you attracted to him?”
Tipping her sunglasses to the end of her nose, Pippa glowered over the top of them. “Is this where I say d’uh?”
“Then no. You weren’t stupid. You saw what you wanted and you went for it. Rock on!” Carrie held up her empty hand, index and pinky fingers stabbing into the air while her thumb held down her two middle fingers.
“Seriously? You’re flashing the Hook’em Horns sign at me?”
“That wasn’t the University of Texas Longhorn salute—state college football rivalries aside.” Carrie carefully set down her drink, sat up, extended her arms and waved both hands in the same gesture. “Rock and roll, babe! It’s all about the rock and roll.”
“Uh-huh.” Pippa wasn’t convinced but then again, Carrie had always been the wild child.
Carrie settled back on the lounger. “Look, Pip, you’ve always been uptight.” She waggled her brows in mock apology. “You know I’m right. And Kade is hot. I mean really hot. Frankly, I’m confused about why he hasn’t put the moves on you before now. I mean, seriously. Most guys get grabby on the first date. Not that you two have been on a real date. But, dudette, all those working lunches and dinners? Less work, more play.” She rolled her eyes. “Leave it to you to find the last true gentleman in the state.”
“There is nothing wrong with being with a gentleman.” Pippa was slightly affronted.
“True that. I’m just saying they’re few and far between. And I admit, I’m a little jealous. Look, did he have a good time?”
Pippa blushed to the roots of her hair. “I don’t even know how to answer that.”
“Well, he didn’t kick you out after the big climax, right?”
“Carrie!”
“You two had some spectacular sex—at least I’m assuming it was because, girlfriend, I’ve seen that man in tight jeans.”
Her face flaming, Pippa sucked down the rest of her cooler and pushed up out of the lounger. “I am not going to sit here while you embarrass the socks off me.”
“You aren’t wearing any. Just nod yes or no, okay? Was he good?”
Pippa
