Destined for Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 2) Contemporary Romance (14 page)

BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON, Rex was a nervous wreck. He hadn’t had a chance to get a message to Jade the day before, and it had taken all of his willpower not to drive over to her house and confront her father. Thankfully, he’d listened to the sound of reason echoing in his head and had kept his cool. He’d gotten up early this morning and left a note in her car, but the whole situation sucked, and Treat was right. He had to find a way to make it work. Running from his feelings for Jade was not an option. He’d spent too many years denying any thoughts of her. He wasn’t used to lying—especially to his family—which meant that, as far as he could see, he had one option. He had to find a way to convince his father to fix the feud, and he fully expected his efforts to fail, which put him right back to where he’d started: trimming Hope’s muzzle whiskers, bridle path, ears, and fetlocks in preparation for the show, knowing there was no solution to the only issue he cared about.

“How long are you going to avoid me?”

Normally, his father’s pat on his shoulder was reassuring. Now it made him feel rebellious.

“I’m not avoiding you. Just taking care of business.” He felt his father’s eyes watching him and clenched his jaw harder.

“Family’s coming in tonight. You gonna show up for dinner?”

“Don’t I always?” Rex felt guilty, speaking to his father so harshly, but he was roiling inside, and he knew that if he gave his voice an inch of slack it would lash out in a way that he might not be able to recover from.

“We missed you the other night.”

Rex closed his eyes, stifling the urge to say what he felt.
I was out with the woman I love. I didn’t even know I could love a woman, but I do. Be happy for me. Fix your shit so we can be together.

“Son, you can’t avoid me forever, and you surely can’t avoid yourself. Guilt is a terrible enemy. She’ll eat you up and spit you out, then stomp on your writhing body until there’s nothing left but a broken shell of a man.”

Rex faced his father. He felt his nostrils flaring with anger, his hands fisting by his sides. “What are you saying, Dad? Just come out and say it. Don’t play these stupid games with me, all right? I’ve got a lotta shit to take care of.”

A slow smile spread across his father’s lips. “I think you’re the one who’s playing games, son,” he said in a calm voice. “You just gotta decide if the game you’re playing is worth risking the reality you know.”

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

His father shook his head and headed for the lower paddock.

JADE NEEDED TO ride. She’d spent all afternoon with clients, the last of whom was a nasty man who treated his horse like crap. He yelled and tugged and generally showed no respect for the animal. It had taken all of Jade’s willpower not to haul that horse back to her own barn and nurture it properly. All afternoon she’d craved the thundering beat of a galloping horse beneath her and the feel of the wind in her face as she crouched down low and let him carry her away. She saddled Flame, skipping his usual calming massage. He was feisty, but she didn’t care. She wanted danger. She’d finally found a note in her car from Rex, and it appeared he was having the same trouble she was, which made thinking about moving away even harder. And she’d never expect Rex to move away with her, no matter what he might say he’d do. She ached to see him, to hold him, to be safe in his arms again.

She mounted Flame and trotted around the edge of the property. The sun was just beginning to set, making it difficult to see into the woods. She found herself searching for Rex even when she knew he wouldn’t be there. When they reached the back of the property, the long stretch of pasture called out to both her and Flame. One light tap of her heel sent him cantering at a fast pace. She squeezed his muscular body between her thighs. She knew she shouldn’t make Flame push too hard, even if his leg seemed fine. All she needed was a few minutes to relieve her mounting stress. She lifted her weight off the back of the horse and shortened the reins. Flame did the rest. In perfect balance, they bulleted forward in the evening light. Jade’s heart slammed against her chest. The muscles in her lower back and legs tightened and pulled. Her long dark hair lifted from her back, whisking away her stress and worry with it.

When she no longer felt like she wanted to climb out of her own skin, she lowered her body down to Flame’s back, and he slowed his pace.

She stroked his warm, thick neck. “You are such a good boy.”

They were heading toward the woods that separated the Braden ranch from theirs, with the unoccupied land in between. Jade guided Flame down one of the narrow trails.

She heard the laugher before she reached the edge of the woods. Clear joy sifted through the air and drew her forward. She guided Flame toward the road, leaving the woods behind, the same way she had so many months ago when she’d come upon Rex and his family in the driveway.

They walked past the driveway, in the direction of the voices, and she brought Flame to a halt just above the barn, giving her a clear view of the family gathered around a long table. She counted three dark male heads and a woman who she assumed was Treat’s girlfriend. Her heart kicked up a notch when Rex walked out of the house toward the table. She’d recognize his formidable gait anywhere. His dark brown Stetson made him appear even taller than she knew him to be. Oh, how she longed to be at that table.
No, not just
at
the table. I want to be
welcomed
to the table
.

She watched as Savannah stood and brushed her hair from her shoulder, then scooped something from a bowl and put it on the plate of whichever brother was beside her. Then she reached across the table and did the same for her father, but he knocked the ladle just as she was putting it on his plate, and the plate tumbled off the table. Jade bit her lower lip through her smile as Hal Braden shot to his feet, his hands out to his sides. All fell quiet, and just as quickly uproarious laughter filled the air. She picked out the cadence of Rex’s hearty laugh, wrapped it up, and tucked it away next to her heart. Then, fearful of being seen, she guided Flame home.

SEEING HIS BROTHERS and sister was just what Rex needed—and just what he didn’t. Anytime the Bradens were together, there was laughter and love, and tonight was no different, even without Dane and Hugh, who were unable to clear their schedules for the weekend.

“Josh, tell me what’s going on in New York these days,” his father said, slinging an arm over Savannah’s shoulder.

“I’ve got a new fall line coming out, and so far the critics are loving it.” Josh’s brown eyes were smaller, more almond shaped than Rex’s, and ever since he was a little boy, they’d told the story of his emotions. Now Rex saw delight as Josh spoke of his fall line. He ran his fingers through his closely shorn dark hair just above his ear, a mannerism as familiar to Rex as the silence Josh kept regarding the women he dated.

“I saw something about it in
People
mag. Someone wore one of your gowns to something,” Savannah said. “Very impressive.”

“Someone’s always wearing something of mine,” Josh teased. “Other than that, not much is going on.”

“You seeing anyone special?” Josh never talked about the women he dated, and though his father would never push any of his children for information, he held Josh’s gaze until Josh turned away.

“Nah, Dad.” Josh slugged his beer and began to choke.

As Rex patted him on the back, he caught sight of Jade passing their driveway on Flame, and his chest squeezed tight, stealing the laughter right from his throat and replacing it with a longing so present it inhabited every inch of him.

Rex lowered himself to his chair across from Max and Treat. Max reached over and wiped the edge of Treat’s mouth with a napkin, then kissed him on the lips. His father reached out and draped his arm across the back of Max’s chair. The tug on Rex’s heart spurred his jealousy. He narrowed his eyes, watching his father whisper something in Max’s ear. He yearned for his father to accept Jade in the same way.

“Rex, hello?” Savannah tapped his arm.

“Sorry, what?” he asked.

“Ketchup, can you pass it, please?”

He handed her the ketchup while looking up toward the driveway again, feeling Jade’s absence like a missing limb.

“Hey, what’s that?” Savannah said, touching the chain around Rex’s neck.

He swatted her hand away and rolled his shoulders forward. “Nothing.”

“Oh, come on. Let me see. You never wear any jewelry. What is it?” Savannah was being her normal teasing self, and if she’d have done that two weeks ago, he’d be laughing right alongside her, tickling her ribs until she stopped badgering him. But tonight he was all kinds of stressed out.

Rex’s biceps flexed, and he gritted his teeth. A hush swallowed the din of his family, and he felt five sets of eyes on him. “It’s just something I bought in town,” he said gruffly.

Savannah reached up again, and his father growled, “Savannah, leave the man alone.”

She arched a brow. “O-kay then.” She picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of broccoli.

Treat caught Rex’s eyes and held them. Rex read his brother’s message loud and clear:
Stupid shit. Are you trying to get caught?
At this point, he wasn’t sure that wasn’t exactly what he was doing. He pushed away from the table. “I’m gonna get some water.”

“Actually, that sounds good to me, too.” Treat rose to his feet.

“Me too,” Savannah chirped.

Josh was right behind Treat, leaving their father and Max alone at the table.

Rex stood in the kitchen against the counter, drinking a glass of water, one ankle crossed over the other. He watched them file in and knew he was in for an inquisition.

“Too bad Hugh and Dane couldn’t make it. We could have had a full house,” Rex said in a serious voice.

“Hugh had a race, and Dane got some lead on a major funding initiative for the whale sharks. Max’ll keep Dad busy. She knows how this goes by now,” Savannah said, winking at Treat. “So, what’s the scoop? And what’s around your thick neck?”

Rex shook his head.

Josh leaned against the fridge next to him. His black slacks were perfectly pressed, his white dress shirt pristine. He was narrower than all of his brothers, as lean and sleek as they were thick and rippled, and every bit as handsome. His dark hair was just as thick, though he kept his much shorter. As a fashion designer, Josh was more interested in his appearance than any of them. Treat used to rival him with his Armani suits, but now that he was spending more time back home, Rex noticed that Treat rarely broke out anything more formal than a pair of jeans or dress slacks.

“Anything I can do?” Josh asked.

Rex shook his head. “Not unless you can end a forty-year battle,” he said honestly. It felt good to get it off his chest. What had his father said?
Guilt’ll eat you up and spit you out, then stomp on your writhing body until there’s nothing left but a broken shell of a man.
Rex wasn’t about to let that happen.

“You mean the Johnsons? What’s going on with them?” Josh asked.

Savannah grinned mischievously. “Josh!” she said in an excited whisper. “Jade!”

Rex lifted his eyes to his sister and couldn’t keep a smile from his lips. He’d expected a modicum of support, but he’d also expected a rage about his breach of loyalty.

“Jade Johnson? She was eyeing you the day of Max’s accident in the driveway.” Understanding dawned in Josh’s eyes, and he cracked a smile and elbowed his brother’s ribs. “You dirty dog, you. Did you eat the forbidden fruit?”

You could say that
. “Hey, let’s keep it clean,” Rex said. “Aren’t you guys gonna ream me out for going against Dad?”

“Ream you?” Savannah asked. “I’ve known you were in love with Jade since high school when I caught you staring at her during that 4H auction. Remember?”

He hadn’t remembered until now, and now he couldn’t believe he’d forgotten. Jade and her girlfriends were hosing down the animals in skimpy little bikini tops and cutoff jeans, and her father was standing guard with a scowl so deep, Rex thought he’d stab anyone who came near her.

“I do,” he answered Savannah.

“How come I’m always the last to know these things?” Josh asked.

“You’re not. Hugh and Dane will be,” Treat said, leaning against the kitchen counter. “The question is, how do we convince the old man that this is okay?”

Savannah laughed. “You’re on drugs if you think that’s ever gonna happen.” She put her hand on Rex’s arm. “Sorry, Rexy, but short of eloping and living several states away, I can’t see how you can be together and live through it.”

“You’re a lot of help, Vanny,” Treat said.

She reached into Rex’s shirt for the chain, narrowing her eyes at him when he reached for her hand. “The cat’s out of the bag now, so I’m looking whether you like it or not.”

He watched his sister roll the little silver naked woman between her thumb and forefinger. Her smile lessened, and her eyes darkened.

“What is this? It reminds me of a story Treat used to tell me. Remember, Treat? You said the symbol was a naked woman and man twisted around each other. It looks like half of the dance of two lovers,” she said with wonder.

Rex set down his water and wrapped his arms around his sister, feeling her heart beating against him, knowing she was missing her mother as much as the rest of them were at that moment.

“It is,” he said softly.

“I thought it was a myth,” she said.

“We all did,” Treat said. “I used to tell you guys that story all the time, to keep Mom’s memory alive, but I never really meted out the truth of it.”

Savannah pulled away and tucked the charm back into Rex’s shirt. “So, what does this mean? Where did you get it?”

Josh stared at his feet, and as Savannah moved away, Rex wrapped his arm around his shoulders and pulled him against his side. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Josh said quietly. “I don’t think about Mom all the time. It’s too hard. I always feel like she’s right out of reach. I can’t really see her face anymore, or hear her voice.”

Rex bit back the well of sadness that was slowly filling his body. “I know. It’s been a long time.”