I work through the class, and by the end of it, I’m dripping in sweat. I’m wiping off with a towel and rolling up my mat when I overhear the other moms. They’re standing right next to me, so when I stand up, it’s like I’m automatically included in the conversation. “Can we count on you to volunteer at the carnival next week, Natalie?”

  With my mat under my arm, I nod. “Yes. Absolutely,” I assure them even though Eli was just talking the other day about how he didn’t even want to go to the carnival because it’s so babyish. Ugh, my son is growing up on me.

  “Do you think the Bryant brothers will be there?”

  I try to keep my facial expression clear as I look at the other moms. Since my interaction with Jacqueline yesterday, I’m now on guard wondering what the angle is.

  Janice, a very sweet woman I’ve volunteered with before, says, “Man, I hope so. It’s worth the price of the ticket just to see them.”

  They all laugh before Janice puts her hand on my arm. “Eli’s going to the Bryant Ranch Camp, isn’t he? You lucky thing, you get to see all the brothers, I bet.”

  I blush. “Yeah, well, Eli was awarded a scholarship to go. He’s loving it,” I say, not commenting on the brothers.

  Amy, one I recognized from the PTA, says, “Do you know King donates all the camp fees to the school? Basically, he’s running the ranch camp and makes no profit off of it.”

  Janice chimes in, “He really is a good guy.”

  My head is moving back and forth between the women, trying to keep up.

  Amy’s eyes get really big, and she bounces on her toes excitedly. “Do you have any idea how much money we could make if we did a kissing booth and had King Bryant—or any brother, for that matter—as a volunteer? We would make thousands.”

  Janice and the other mom whose name I can’t remember both nod in agreement before Janice’s nose curls up in disapproval. “Jacqueline would probably bid the whole McCoy ranch to get her hooks into King.”

  I hate gossip, but I can’t help myself from butting in. “Does Jacqueline like King... I mean, Mr. Bryant?”

  Amy shrugs. “Like isn’t a strong enough word. More like stalks.”

  Janice nods. “It’s sad really, and with her married. But King doesn’t want any part of it. It was awful at last year’s big dance. Jacqueline was drunk and was all over King. He wasn’t having it, though. I feel sorry for her husband. I heard he’s finally filing for a divorce.”

  They go on, but I get lost in thought. If I felt guilty before, I feel even worse now. At every turn, King has been nice to me. The scholarship, letting me drop off Eli two hours early, bringing Eli into town so I can work and Eli wouldn’t miss camp... that kiss. Oh my God, what have I done?

  “I have to go,” I tell them. We all say bye, and I walk across the street to the apartment complex and run up the stairs. I take a five-minute shower, and in twenty minutes, I’m back out the door. I should have dried my hair or put on makeup at least, but I didn’t. I have to apologize to King and just pray that he forgives me.

  The whole way out to the ranch, I think about what I’m going to say, and when I pull onto the long dirt driveway, I can feel the butterflies in my stomach. I’m so nervous that it seems the yoga class from earlier was wasted because I’m in knots again.

  I get out of my car and start to walk toward the barn. Eli sees me and runs toward me. “Hey, Mom!” he says. “Do I have to leave?”

  I shake my head. “No, I had to talk to King about something.”

  He points to the other side of the barn. “I think he’s over at the corral. I’m going to go back and unload the feed.”

  I nod, but he doesn’t pay me any attention. I watch as he walks over to the back of a truck where a few other boys are unloading big bags of feed and carrying them into the barn.

  When he disappears inside, I take a deep breath. I can’t put it off any longer. I walk toward the corral and almost instantly spot King leaning against a fence. There’s men inside the ring working a horse, but my whole focus is on King. I can tell the moment he realizes someone is approaching because his back straightens. I hold my breath and wait for him to turn around, but he doesn’t.

  It’s up to you, Nat.

  I take a deep breath and walk up to the fence and lean against it next to him. I can feel his gaze on me, but when I turn to look at him, he’s still watching the horse in the center of the circle.

  “Is everything okay?” He asks it almost grudgingly, and it makes me feel even worse. He’s still mad, but he’s worried about me, asking me if I’m okay. I messed up big time.

  I turn to face him, wishing he’d look at me. “Yes, everything’s okay. I came to apologize to you.”

  He nods. “You’re forgiven.”

  I expect to feel relief, but I don’t. He’s still not looking at me, and even though he said it, I want more. I want him to yell, be mad or whatever. I can’t stand this calm response.

  I reach out and touch his arm. “I mean it, King. I really am sorry.”

  He looks at my hand and stares at me for a full minute. “You’re forgiven, Natalie.”

  He pulls his arm away and starts to walk away from me, and my heart is galloping in my chest. I can’t let it end like this. I can’t.

  Chapter 14

  King

  “Wait!” Nat says, but I keep going. She fuckin’ demolished me last night, and I’m not ready for this.

  “King! Stop... please.” Whether it’s the sound of my name on her lips or the please, I stop moving and turn around.

  She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. It’s like she’s searching for something to say, but I save her the time and hold my hands up. “It’s fine, Natalie. I forgive you. We don’t have to get into all of it again.”

  She shakes her head and walks toward me. She stops right in front of me, and her hand goes to my chest. I know she can feel the heavy thud of my heart under her palm. It’s like that any time she’s near me. “I’m sorry for letting that woman get to me. You were right when you said I was scared. My ex-husband really did a number on me, and it was easier to just believe you were a player. It’s hard for me to trust and well... I don’t want to get hurt... not by you.”

  I put my hand over hers and hold it against my chest. She’s telling me the truth. I can see the sincerity in her eyes. “Go for a ride with me?”

  She starts to back up, but I don’t let her go far. “I’ve never been on a horse.”

  Any other day, I’d take the time and show her the horses and teach her to ride, but right now, I just want to get away with her so we can talk. “We can take the side-by-side.”

  Finally, she smiles. “I’d like that.”

  I hold her hand and take her around the back of the barn and help her into a side-by-side. I get in, ignoring the stares from my brothers. We ride in silence except when I point out something to her. When we get to the creek, I stop close to a big shade tree.

  “What river is that?” she asks.

  I laugh and shake my head. “It’s Whiskey Creek.”

  She shakes her head. “I’ll never get used to it. Back home this would be a river, here it’s a creek. It’s too big to be a creek.”

  I pull a blanket from the back and lay it down under the tree. The sun is blaring down on us, and at least the tree gives us some help from the heat.

  When she sits down, I sit down next to her. I don’t hesitate because there are things I need to know about Nat and Eli, and I’ve put it off enough. “Tell me about your ex-husband.”

  She flinches. “Trust me, you don’t want to know. It’s not a pretty story.”

  I grab her hand and pull her closer to me. “I need to know, Nat.”

  She leans against my shoulder. I wish I could see her face, but if it’s easier telling me without looking at me, I’ll take it. Her voice is soft and low. “I married him when I was eighteen and pregnant with Eli. He was good to me in the beginning, but it all seemed to change. First, just rude comments, then jealousy. I thought about divorcing him for years, but I thought I should stick it out for Eli’s sake. A boy needs his father and all that.” She sounds disgusted as she continues. “Anyway, he hit me for the first time when Eli was six. I wish I could say I left him right then, but I didn’t.”

  I tense up next to her and try to force myself not to react. I’m going to kill the son of a bitch. “Go on,” I grunt at her.

  “He cried and apologized, and I forgave him. At least until the second time. Then I left and divorced him. Unfortunately, his family is pretty well-to-do back home, and I couldn’t fight it when he wanted partial custody. The good thing about it was that he disappeared. He was gone for almost five years. He then showed up last year, and I had to let Eli visit him. I didn’t have a choice. He never hurt Eli, so I thought it’d be okay.”

  I clench my eyes tightly, already knowing what’s coming next. “But it wasn’t?”

  She shakes her head against my shoulder. “No, it wasn’t. After a weekend with his father, Eli came home and was real quiet. I finally got it out of him that his father beat him for leaving the milk out of the refrigerator. He had a cracked rib and the worst bruising. I took pictures and took Eli to the police station, but somehow my ex made it all go away. I was still required to let him see Eli.”

  She sits up and looks at me. “I couldn’t do it, King. I couldn’t make him go over there. That night, I withdrew all my savings, and we left in the middle of the night. We drove across the country, and that’s how I ended up here in Whiskey Valley. I know a father has rights...”

  I interrupt her. “He wasn’t a father, Nat. A father doesn’t abandon their son... he doesn’t hurt him.”

  I put my hands on her shoulders and squeeze. “What’s his name?”

  She instantly starts shaking her head. “No. I don’t want you to do anything, King.”

  I move one hand to the back of her neck and force her to look at me. I search her eyes. “Do you trust me?”

  She doesn’t hesitate. “Yes, I do, King. I didn’t want to, but I do.”

  I lean in closer. “Then trust me with this. I won’t let anything happen to you and Eli.”

  “You don’t know—" she starts, shaking her head.

  I lean in and press my forehead to hers. “I do know. I won’t ever let anything hurt you again, Nat. I promise you that.”

  Her hand goes to the side of my face, and she cups my cheek. “Oh, King, how could I believe Jacqueline? You’re nothing like what she said. I’m so sorry.”

  I pull her into my lap and settle her sideways. I hold her face in my hands. “Can I kiss you, Nat?”

  She nods, and I pull her closer while settling my lips on hers. The same feeling I had with our last kiss consumes me. I couldn’t explain it before, but I can now. Kissing Natalie is like being home. It’s a feeling of comfort and wonder, and it’s not something I want to lose. She moves on my lap, and there’s no doubt she feels the hard press of my cock on her backside. She rotates her hips, and I groan. My hands are on the underside of her breast, and I don’t want to pressure her, but I bring my hand up and cup her large, soft breast, stroking my finger across her firm peak.

  She moans, and I take the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Her back arches, pressing her more firmly against me. I would love nothing more than to lay her back on the blanket and make love to her. I want to erase all her bad memories and fill them with good, but I know to do that, she needs a fresh start. She needs to know she can trust me, and me taking her out in the open after she apologized is not the way to do it.

  It’s hard... but I force myself to pull back. “Nat.”

  She looks at with hooded eyes. I tip her chin up. “What’s his name?”

  “He’s not a nice man, King.”

  I shake my head. She has no idea. I’m nice until someone messes with what’s mine. “I’m not either.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  I shift her on my lap. “Quit stalling. What’s his name, and where are you from?”

  She takes a deep breath. “Brad Jones. Baskins Creek, Texas.”

  Brad Jones. He has no idea what’s coming for him, but he’s about to feel the wrath of a King.

  Chapter 15

  Natalie

  I wanted to sit under the shade tree and kiss some more, but King had other ideas. He took me around the ranch, pointing out the Santa Gertrudis cattle and the horses and introducing me to cowboys that we run across. He introduces me as Eli’s mom, and it seems everyone has something nice to say about my son. I’m very proud of the hard work he’s put in. I’ll have to be sure to tell him.

  When we pull back in by the barn, I’m sort of sad it’s over. This is the most carefree I’ve been in a while. I don’t know if it’s the ranch or King, but I love how it feels to be with him here.

  “Well, thank you for everything. I’m going to grab Eli and head home.”

  Before I can walk away, he’s holding my hand pulling me in the opposite direction. “I want you and Eli to stay for dinner.”

  I want to, but I’m shaking my head. “It’s almost dinner time. Paulina won’t appreciate us just showing up—"

  He stops me. “Trust me, she’ll love it, and there’s always plenty. Please.”

  I can’t deny him, and so when I agree, he pulls me toward the main house. He pulls his phone from his pocket. “Hey. Have Eli come up to the house when he’s done.”

  He must get the answer he wants because he hangs up just as we walk up onto the porch. The house is huge with a big, wraparound porch. I know my eyes are big as saucers when I walk in. I knew it would be nice, but this is a lot fancier than I expected. I start to tug at my hair and then remember that I have a T-shirt and yoga pants on with no makeup. “You know, maybe we should do this another time. I’m not really dressed for dinner.”

  He laughs and pulls me toward him. “No way. You look beautiful, Nat. I’m not letting you go now.”

  I look toward what I assume is the kitchen when I hear the sounds of pans banging together. “Are you sure it’s okay? Maybe you should ask...”

  “Is she staying for dinner?” The woman’s voice interrupts me, and I turn to see a woman in her mid to late fifties looking at me hopefully.

  “Yes. Paulina, this is Nat. She and Eli are staying for dinner.”

  “If that’s okay,” I finish for him.

  She looks between King and me. “Okay? Are you kidding me? These yahoos need a woman at the table. I can just imagine their conversations. Oh, and if Eli’s coming, I’m going to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies for dinner.”

  “Oh no, you don’t have to do...” But I don’t even get it out. Paulina’s already back in the kitchen, and King is covering my mouth. “Don’t tell her that. I’d love some cookies, and if I have to use Eli to get them, I’ll do it.”

  I laugh because he sounds like a little boy instead of the grown man he is. I’m about to call him out on it when the doorbell rings. “I wonder who that is? I haven’t heard a doorbell here in years.”

  He walks to the entryway and calls through the screen door. “Eli, you don’t ring the doorbell around here, son. You don’t even have to knock. Just come on in.”

  I cut the corner as Eli comes in and spots me. “Mom?”

  “Hey, buddy, King invited us for dinner. Is that okay with you?”

  “Oh yeah, is Paulina still here?” he asks.

  King nods. “Yep, in the kitchen. Help yourself.”

  Eli walks briskly toward the kitchen as King comes back over to me. “We’re going to have to do something about this.”

  “What?” I ask.

  His hand comes to my cheek. “Well, this need to kiss you. I need some time alone with you.”

  I want that. I really do. But I’m still scared because there are no guarantees. “King, this doesn’t change anything. I don’t know how long I’m going to be in Whiskey Valley.”

  He puts his arm around my shoulder and tucks me against his hard body. “You’re not leaving, Nat. I’m going to take care of it.”

  “Dinner’s ready!” Paulina calls from the other room, and almost instantly I hear the front door and a bunch of stomping boots.

  The three men that I recognize as King’s brothers are standing with their mouths hanging open, staring at me.

  “Guys, this is Nat, Eli’s mom. Nat, this is Griffin, Chance, and Ryan.”

  They don’t move; they just continue to stare until King starts flicking his fingers. “Hey guys.”

  Griffin is the first one to come forward. “Sorry, we’re just not used to seeing King with a woman.”

  King blushes, but it doesn’t last long before King is giving as good as he takes.

  We all sit down, and Eli asks, “Where’s Mia?”

  King sees the curious look on my face. “Mia is the administrative assistant. We do the labor, but she’s the one that keeps the ranch running and the bills paid,” he explains. “I’m not sure where she’s at. She may have had plans tonight.”

  Ryan starts to laugh. “Plans? Right!”

  Griffin starts talking, and everyone drops the subject of Mia. It’s obvious the brothers are close, and as we all sit around the table, they all talk and cut up. I don’t think I’ve laughed this much in a long time, and it’s great that Eli is getting to witness it. I almost get choked on the perfectly fried chicken from laughing so hard. This must be why Eli enjoyed dinner here so much the other night. Ryan is the flirt and is doing his best to grate on King’s nerves by flirting with me. Chance is probably the quietest and seems to observe everything, but he’s still laughing with the rest of us. Griffin is the fastest on his feet, it seems, and says whatever he’s thinking.

  I’m sitting back enjoying it all when Ryan leans toward me. “So how about it? You dump this guy and let me take you out.”

  “Ryan,” King says gruffly.

  But it doesn’t faze Ryan. “I swear they shouldn’t have named him King. It’s given him a complex.” He looks at his brother and rolls his eyes.

 

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