Branding A Legacy (A Silver Star Ranch Novel) (10 page)

I talk in circles for what seems like another hour, dodging information she wants and only commenting with what I was prepped to say. I don’t miss every opportunity to stare right into the camera and make some comments just for Saint, knowing the message won’t be lost on the devil himself.

“Well, thank you for your time this morning, Marvel. The whole community is behind your recovery. Best of luck.”

“Thank you.” I give the reporter one last nod before the cameras flip off and I hear “that’s a wrap” in the background. Her crew scurries about, un-micing people and gathering up all the equipment. No one person from the news crew acknowledges me again once the lights go off.

“Good job, Marvel, you nailed it.” Jillian pats me on the back as the rest of the agents and my brothers swarm me.

“I feel like fucking trash. I just made an innocent man who tried to help me look like a thug. There’s nothing to feel good about.” I stand and pause a second, waiting for my head to stop spinning before I take a step. The same nurse is at my wheelchair, waiting on me. I instantly spiral into an even more pissed off mood when I don’t see Clover there.

Everything right now feels wrong and dirty, but I battle through the emotions trying not to let them bring me down. With each step toward the wheelchair, the pain spikes up my spine. I may be going home tomorrow, but I’m far from healed.

T
he hospital is lonely
since Marvel was sent home. I’m not walking on pins and needles, never knowing what wave of emotion will blast me next. I do find it easier to focus on my job, though.

“Clover.”

My name startles me as I clutch my purse in the parking lot.

“Clover.”

My name sounds again and I finally spot Ella’s wild blonde hair blowing up in the breeze with her cowboy standing next to her. She looks ready to pop but still has a smile plastered on her face.

“Oh, hey.” I grab my chest. “You scared me.”

“Sorry, we haven’t seen you in a couple of days and wanted to say hi.”

“Yeah, extra shifts at the hospital and my beauty rest, you know.” I try to sound light and fun while fluffing up my hair but just feel awkward as hell.

“Well, I’ve wanted to come over when I’ve seen your car home, but Maverik told me to leave you alone.”

I feel a heated flush take over my face remembering that dreadful afternoon in Marvel’s room in front of his brothers.

Maverik steps up to me. “I’m really sorry for the way my brother has treated you.”

“No, stop, please. I’m the one who should apologize. I should’ve never treated a patient the way I did that day.”

As painful as the words are, they are the truth. I let myself go too far with Marvel.

“Bullshit.” Maverik’s gruff voice makes me jump back a bit. “There’s no damn excuse for how cruel he was to you. End of story.”

“He was the patient and I was supposed to be the professional.”

I watch as Maverik’s jaw tenses and he goes to make another point but is stopped by Ella before he can spit out another word.

“Okay this could go on forever, but here’s the gist of it. Slatters never act that way—period. Marvel is going through some bad stuff right, now but he’ll be okay.” Ella places her hand on my shoulder. “Granddad misses you and so do the rest of us. You’re a breath of fresh air for us, Clover. Come over to Granddad’s tonight. We are celebrating lil’ Mav’s birthday.”

Immediately I feel lightheaded and sick to my stomach knowing Marvel is there. I heard he demanded to go to his own house but was forced to go to Granddad’s with home care nurses.

“Probably not the best idea even though I do miss you guys.”

“Well, I know you have another date with Sterling tonight. I’ll tell him to drag your ass over.” Maverik looks down at his wristwatch. “We have to go, Ella. Time to go see our babies.”

“It’s just dinner, not a date.” The tone of my voice comes across as defensive, making me feel like an asshole because Sterling has been nothing but a gentlemen to me.

Ella rolls her eyes and lightly elbows Maverik in the ribs. “Come over tonight, I mean it.”

I only shrug and wish her well before turning to walk the rest of the way to my car. My reflection stares back at me from the tinted windows of my car. Stray hairs whirl around in the air, and my pale complexion is evident along with the dark lines under my eyes. Tonight will be the third time Sterling and I have had dinner together. He’s a great guy and super easy to carry a conversation with, but that’s it.

My phone rings as I begin the drive out to Silver Star to clean up before Sterling arrives. When I look down I see my mom’s picture and number. I stare at it for a few seconds before my common sense kicks in to answer it. I haven’t talked to her in weeks.

“Hell-o.” I stutter over one simple word.

“Clover.”

“Hey, Mom.” Even as cold as she can be, the sound of her voice makes me miss home and everything I once knew.

“Not much time here, just calling because my brother said you moved out and chose to run with some shady people in his county.”

“Uh.” I turn my car onto Silver Star Ranch and put it in park, trying to process each of her words.

“You moved out of Saint’s when he offered you a perfectly good home.”

“Mom, he kicked me out.”

“Clover, seriously, you can’t even handle being a good house guest. I’m so damn disappointed in you for letting down my own brother.”

“Mom, you’re not listening to me.” My voice cracks as emotions begin to flood my thoughts and attack my speech.

“Oh, I am. I really thought a rural country town would help you crack out of that damn shell of yours. You’re never going to get anywhere pissing off family and working minimum wage as a public servant.”

“I love my job,” I whisper into the phone.

“Just like your fucking father who’s dead set on being average.” Her venomous voice rings so familiar, as it was what I always heard growing up. “I can’t even deal with you right now, Clover. You need to make nice with your uncle.”

“Mom, I saved a life and he basically kicked me out for it. I’m not making nice.”

“Clover.”

“I’m done with you, Mother.” I tap the red end button on my cell phone, toss it on the passenger seat, and let the tears flow. It’s the last time I’ll ever let her make me feel worthless. I’ve tasted my own life here in Texas and will never let her drag me down again.

Once the tears start they don’t stop. I lay my forehead down on the steering wheel begging the tears to cease but keep wondering how a mother could hate their own flesh and blood so much. However, it’s like she said, I’m too much like my dad and she hated the man. Her one mistake—getting knocked up by him.

A light rapping on my window causes me to throw my arms up and scream like a madwoman.

“Clover.”

I look out my window to see Marvel clothed in his gym shorts and a dark hoodie.

“Are you okay?”

I stare like a fool, not knowing how to respond and even wonder if it’s my imagination seeing him standing there.

“Hello.” He waves a hand in front of my face.

Slowly, I blink and come to my senses, wiping away a few stray tears. I turn the key on enough to roll down the window.

“Hey.”

“You okay?” he asks.

“No.” I shake my head. “Are you okay?”

“Me?” He points to his chest.

“Yeah, you.”

“I’m doing.”

“Good.”

“Why are you crying in the driveway?”

Not in the mood to explain to him the whole screwed up situation, I answer him with a question.

“Why are you walking down the driveway?”

He cracks a slight smile. “Because I can.”

“I’m crying in your driveway like a lunatic because I can.”

“Want to talk about it?” He offers.

A burst of laughter escapes me at the mere thought of sharing or leaning on his shoulder at all. “No, I’m good.”

“Yeah, you look real good.”

“Your time of being kind is all used up, so now it’s the mean ass Marvel coming out to play.”

He plants both of his hands on my door. I stare at his fingers as they grip the inside and then up to his face as he leans down and into my car. “I told you that I’m sorry. I’ll never be able to say it enough. I’m trying to get better and fight off the demons. It’s just so fucked up right now, Clover.”

“Oh, I get fucked up, trust me on that one.” I cover one of his hands with mine and feel that same electric touch. “I shouldn’t have picked a fight. I know you’re sorry.”

“You’ll just never know how sorry I am for everything. You should have never had to find me that night, and no one should’ve ever died.”

“I still don’t believe that’s any of your fault.”

“Well, it is, and that’s what I’m trying to deal with day in and day out without becoming a bitter asshole.”

“Well, you’re screwed on the asshole part.” I wink at him.

“Oh, Nurse Nancy knows how to joke.”

“Yeah, I got some game.”

“I’m seeing this,” Marvel says with a genuine smile covering his face. It might be the first time I’ve seen him happy, and he’s simply gorgeous. His strong jawline, hazel eyes, and the wavy curls from the back of his hair enrapture me. It’s the Marvel I heard so many stories about from his family members while he was missing and the guy I saw glimpses of while he was in the hospital.

“You’re gorgeous.” I cover my mouth, shocked and embarrassed about what just came out.

“You’re not bad yourself.” He shrugs and stands up.

“Gee, thanks. Want a ride?”

“I’m a damn cowboy, and a stud at that, to hell if I’ll be caught dead riding in your slug bug.”

“Fine.” I smile and turn the key over.

“Damn, Californian.” Marvel lifts the bottom of his dark hoodie up and over his head, giving me a slow and seductive show. Inch by inch his skin is exposed underneath the big Texas sky. Bruises and healing scars cover his backside, only adding to his sex appeal.

I soak in his torso, appreciating the right amount of muscles, and then let my vision drift a bit lower down to the waistband of his shorts. Which I might add seem to be riding just a tad low on his delicious hips. I cover my gaping mouth with my hand, the same fingertips that zinged when they touched him. I shake my head at the roller coaster of emotions I just jumped off.

I’m unable to force my stare from Marvel’s body and definitely will never be able to erase his smiling face from my memory. The game has changed now since he’s no longer a patient and I’m living across the road from him.

A blaring sound goes off from behind me, causing me to jump straight up into the air. The top of my head slams into the roof of my car. I yell, piss a little, and then grab the steering wheel. When I look into the rearview mirror, it’s Merek and Challis, and if I’m not mistaken, they’re both laughing their asses off. Guess they saw my little leap of death.

I waste no time throwing my car into drive and scurrying up the damn lane. Marvel’s out of view by the time I start going and I silently thank the gods he is. Once locked safely in my house, I throw myself down on the couch and let out a loud groan of frustration.

Between my mom’s call and Marvel being nice, I have no idea what or even how to think anymore. Everything I thought was right in the world always seems to end up wrong. I’ve never wanted anything more than a routine and boring life but now find myself wanting more, and even my body is screaming for more.

Looking at my wristwatch, I realize there’s an hour before Sterling will be here to pick me up. Rising to my feet, I contemplate whether or not to call him and cancel dinner. Well, I am hungry. He’s nice, and I like him as a friend, but there’s nothing else to it.
I’m in love with someone else.

My phone dings, causing me to jump once again, and I crack my shin on the coffee table’s sharp edge.

“Fuck.” I cover my mouth, shocked at the word that escaped me. Shooting pain attacks my leg, and a wet liquid runs down the front of my shin. Blood soon appears on the outside of my scrubs. Slowly, I lift my pant leg and come face to face with a nice little wound from the table.

“Asshole.” I kick the leg of it feeling better and walk to the bathroom. My phone dings in my hand once again, reminding me of my original startle.

It’s a text from Sterling.

S
terling
: See you in an hour. Found a new steakhouse for us to try. Can’t wait to hear about your high school band days.

W
ell shit
, there’s goes any chance of canceling on him now.

I dial Ella’s number, dancing around in the bathroom trying to clean up my cut, praying to the good lord above she’s out of her appointment.

“Hello.”

“Oh, my God, Ella, I need advice.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, sorry. Just a bit panicked.” Even embracing all my awkwardness and dorkiness, I feel at an all-time low right now in nerd-dom asking for help.

“Just a second. I’m trying to get in the truck.”

“Okay.” I pick at the edge of the bandage I just placed on my shin and can hear Maverik in the background helping hoist Ella up into the seat.

“I’m here. What’s up?”

“Well, I uh–”

“Spit it out, woman. Next stop is the waffle house and I’ll be hanging up on your ass to get me waffles.”

I laugh at her comment and then just spill everything. “I’m supposed to go on a date with Sterling in an hour, but I think I’m in love with Marvel.”

Each word is like a brick of dynamite as I spill it, cringing internally and shutting my eyes as I let the truth out.

“Okay.” Ella sounds a bit lost. “What’s the problem then, Clover?”

“Well, I don’t want to be a whore going out with Sterling, and I also don’t want to upset him if I cancel.”

I hear Maverik’s deep chuckle on the other end of the phone. Oh, my God, I must be on speaker. I bury my face deep down in my lap with the phone still pressed to my ear.

“Sterling told me that you’ve been a sealed ship, not even offering up a hand to hold or a goodnight kiss, so I think your worry of being a whore is out of the picture.”

“Maverik,” Ella says into the phone. “Sorry, Clover, I had you on speaker. I thought you were going to try to weasel your way out of birthday cake tonight, so I was going to use Maverik for positive reinforcement.”

My face burns with embarrassment as I continue to hear Maverik laugh in the background. Clearly me being a whore is quite the joke, and thank God for that since the part where I confessed to possibly being in love with his little brother has been overlooked for now.

“So what do I do?”

“Go out on the date with Sterling and then just don’t commit to any more until you know what you want.”

“Okay, it’s just all insane and too much.”

“It’s because you’re falling for a Slatter. That intensity never dies out.”

“I’ve never been in love before, Ella.”

“Well, you picked the perfect man, and it couldn’t come at a better time in his life.”

“I didn’t pick him, my heart did.”