South, p.11
South, page 11
“There’s nothing wrong with relying on someone, beautiful.”
“I couldn’t rely on my family,” I admitted. The people who I should’ve been there for me. What if the lump was more than a lump? I tried not to panic about it, but how could I not worry?
I didn’t see pity in his eyes, only understanding. “I couldn’t rely on Macon and I did what I wanted anyway. I had the Wainright money to support me, for which I was lucky. But working full time and going to nursing school is crazy. I’d like to see you sometime when you’re conscious, beautiful. I’m selfish.”
I pursed my lips because I had run myself ragged. “Greedy, more like it,” I murmured. “Fine, I admit the idea of your plans for the sofa have merit, but there’s still Paisley.”
He growled. “Jed said he threatened the shit out of her.”
“She doesn’t scare easily,” I reminded him.
“She can’t hurt us again.”
“You sound so sure of yourself,” I said, studying him. He looked as if he’d resolved something in his mind.
His blue eyes met mine. Held. “I am. I love you, Maisey Miles. I want you. Only you.”
“Wh—what?”
“I told you I wanted an us. Maybe I got derailed, but I haven’t changed my mind. Never will.”
“I… I—”
“You what?” he asked, no more than a whisper.
“I don’t know how, but I love you too.” My heart swelled, filling all the empty and alone spaces. Things were unsettled. Unresolved. Yet I felt like we could conquer anything together.
He pulled me into him. Kissed the hell out of me.
“We need to trust in what we have. What we’ll build together. No one will pull us apart.”
He was serious. The blue in his eyes was filled with intent. Heat. Need. Love.
“Okay. Trust.” I didn’t realize how soon it would be tested.
17
SOUTH
* * *
We got a day of quiet. A day of being alone with Maisey at my farmhouse. No interruptions. I ditched my projects. All we did was stay in bed and fuck like rabbits. I barely let Maisey get dressed, and then only in my flannel and a pair of thick socks. Nothing else. If she was cold, I warmed her. If I needed her again, I flipped up the long tail of my shirt to get inside her.
It was perfect. I understood why Jed had his cabin in the woods. Why he’d originally tossed North over his shoulder and took her there. He wanted North all to himself and he knew how to do that. She was a workaholic but had a reason now to leave at five.
Maisey worked her tail off for money, living fucking hand-to-mouth. I wanted her to have a chance to make her mark on the world and she’d do that once she had her nursing license. She’d finally be able to get ahead, to support herself. To get ahead. While we’d be married—yeah, she didn’t know about that plan yet—I’d ensure she had a bank account only she could access. No one else, including her sister. That way that part of her hurt soul would know she’d always be able to stand on her own, even though she’d always lean on me.
She wouldn’t be doing nursing school or anything alone again. I’d be right there with her, every fucking step of the way.
The doorbell rang and Maisey rolled over and groaned. It was ten in the morning, not very early, but I’d kept us up late. I saw the slight pink marks on her wrists where I’d used some old ties I only wore for weddings to restrain her to the headboard. My dick got hard thinking about how she’d writhed and screamed.
We were working through a number of my fantasies and finding out a few of hers. Turned out, my shy girl was into a little kink.
“It’s probably West. I’ll kill him and then he won’t bother us anymore,” I said, climbing from bed and tugging on my jeans.
I glanced out the window. The weather was shit, the mountains socked in with clouds. It had rained overnight and now snow threatened. The perfect day to stay in bed and show my woman the fun in a little ass play.
“Go back to sleep, beautiful. You’re going to need it,” I said, patting her upturned ass beneath the blanket. She mumbled, then rolled over.
I swore as I stomped down the steps. “West, I swear, you need to find your own fucking woman.”
I yanked open the door, ready to kick my brother in the balls.
It wasn’t West, but Micah Cunningham, the misogynistic asshole who’d come to the studio to talk about a sculpting commission. Beside him was Paisley.
Fuck me. The last two people I wanted to see. Together.
Maisey had been right. Paisley wasn’t going to stop.
“What the fuck do you two want?” I snarled.
Cunningham grinned, then pushed his way inside. He had on his motorcycle-chic outfit of black jeans and another black t-shirt beneath a canvas vest, although I doubted he owned a Harley. He’d shaved since he’d been here last. Even got a haircut, but it didn’t make him look clean-cut. You couldn’t take the asshole out of this guy with a trip to the barber. “This place for one, but serious upgrades are needed.”
I didn’t want to close the door, but it was fucking freezing out. After shutting it, I stayed right where I was, making it clear they weren’t welcome. They took in the living room as if they were at a Sunday open house.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Paisley took in my bare chest. “I see why Maisey’s into you. When Micah first told me she was your woman, I almost laughed in his face. She’s smarter than I thought. She might want your body, but we’re here for your inheritance,” Paisley said, flicking her hair back. Fuck, she looked just like Maisey. The resemblance was scary. The only difference I could tell—besides the attitude—was the lack of glasses and the taste in clothes. She wore jeans and black boots, which was neutral enough, but I doubted Maisey would wear something as flashy as the hot pink puffy coat.
“My inheritance?” I asked her. “You want money.”
She nodded as her eyes darted around. “You’re right, Micah. This isn’t as grand as Billionaire Ranch, but it will do.”
“Turns out, I didn’t have to keep my eyes off your woman. I found one who looks just like her all on my own,” Cunningham said. “I bet mine’s wilder in the sack.”
Paisley giggled and ran her hand down Cunningham’s arm. “Imagine his surprise at the bar when he discovered we were twins?”
“Imagine that,” I grumbled. “At the bar on Main, I’m guessing.” She changed men like most women changed underwear.
She nodded.
“Paisley did what? Sucked your dick for your help to extort me?”
“Oh, she sucked my dick, but for the chance to get her hands on a shit ton of money. We both want revenge.”
“Revenge for what?” I asked, internally rolling my eyes.
“Maisey got the man and the money,” Paisley said with a pout. “She should share. Instead, she sicced that… that bearded asshole on me.”
Jed was a bearded asshole, to everyone but those he cared about.
I looked to Cunningham. “What about you? You want revenge because I wouldn’t make a sculpture for you?”
“No. Because you got Macon Wainright’s inheritance. It’s mine.”
“Why the fuck is it yours?” I asked, tired of the pair.
“Because little brother, he’s my father.”
Cunningham was Macon’s kid? Holy shit.
“My mother told me,” he explained. “There are pictures of her with Macon. They were lovers. In love.”
Obviously he didn’t know Macon’s secret. Perhaps Macon had been bisexual instead of gay. Perhaps Micah’s mother was a beard, a way to hide his homosexuality.
“We’ll get you a DNA test,” I said. I’d rather see the money be donated to a charity like I’d told North to take care of, but if he was Macon’s, Micah could have it. I didn’t want a dime.
“There is no we,” he snarled, pulling a gun from his jacket.
Paisley gasped and jumped back. “Micah!”
I froze.
“You’re going to die and I’m going to be the only legal heir. The money will be mine.”
“Micah, we didn’t say anything about killing,” Paisley said. Her eyes were wide and she held her hands up in front of her. It was obvious she wasn’t in on this. Or she deserved an Academy Award.
He laughed, flicked a glance at her then back to me. “We won’t have as much if we have to share it. Now, where’s that identical twin hiding?”
Like I was going to tell a gun-toting asshole where my woman was?
“Go find her,” Micah told Paisley, waving his gun.
Paisley took a deep breath, then cut through the rooms on the main floor. The house wasn’t huge, so she was done quickly. She went up the stairs. I wanted to grab her, yank her back, but I didn’t know what she’d do. Or who Cunningham would shoot first. All I knew was that Maisey was in the house, and I’d do anything to keep her safe.
MAISEY
* * *
“Sissy, wake up.”
I startled and popped up. “What are you—”
“Shh,” Paisley said, putting her finger over her lips.
She looked to the door, then grabbed my glasses off the bedside table and handed them over. “You have to listen to me.”
“Well?” A deep voice shouted from downstairs. Not South.
My eyes widened at the growl in the one word. “Who’s—”
“Found her. She has to get dressed!” Paisley yelled back. Her gaze met mine again. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I only wanted the money.”
I sat up and the bedding dropped. I was naked, but I didn’t care. What I had, Paisley had.
“Start at the beginning.”
She glanced at the closed door. She must have shut it after she came in. “I met a man at the bar when he thought I was you. Said he’d been here scoping out the place when South got all caveman protective of you. I knew you cleaned Billionaire Ranch, but I didn’t know you hooked up with South. Not until he told me. This guy, Micah, he says he’s South’s half-brother. Macon Wainright’s son. We decided to work together to get his inheritance. I mean, it’s his if he’s Macon’s son. But now that we’re here, he plans to kill South to get all the money.”
My eyes widened and my heart rate skyrocketed. “Kill him? South only found out recently he’s Macon’s child. How does this guy know?”
Paisley shrugged and her coat rustled.
“Why go after South? Why not the others?”
“I guess because of me. You. Us.” She waved her hand in the air. “He hates South. He said he got tossed off the property for no good reason.”
No good reason? He’d been a dick. The guy really was an asshole. But a dangerous one. Shit. “He’s downstairs now?” I hissed.
She nodded, then glanced at the door. “He’s got a gun. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to do.”
“Where’s South?”
“With Micah.”
South had a gun on him. I had to save him. I climbed from the bed and grabbed South’s flannel off the floor and put it on. Then I went to the dresser and pulled out clothes. I didn’t have much, but South had insisted I tuck them away instead of living out of a bag. This was my house now, he’d said.
If that was the case, then I protected what was mine.
“You came here with him?” I asked. “I mean, he didn’t force you?”
She shook her head. “No. I had no idea he was this crazy until now. We met—”
“At the bar. Like you met two men earlier in the week?” I asked.
She didn’t flush but glanced away. Now wasn’t the time to scold her.
“I only wanted the money.” She came over to me, took my hand and squeezed. “I’d never kill anyone. I’m sorry, sissy.”
It seemed there actually was a line in the moral sand that my sister wouldn’t cross.
“You’re only sorry because it’s gone out of control,” I snapped. “The fact that you were willing to help extort money out of a stranger just because he’s loaded? You slept with a guy who’d do that?” I shook my head, not understanding her value system. “Why didn’t you go to the police?”
Tears wanted to come and my hands shook, but now wasn’t the time to panic. I couldn’t.
“It was only supposed to be about the money,” she whispered.
“When I go downstairs, what do you think he’s going to do with me?” I glared at her and her eyes widened, obviously not having considered that.
“I wish I was more like you.”
I wish I was more like you.
“I have an idea,” I said, knowing instantly what had to be done. I looked her over and grabbed my jeans from the drawer. “Take off your jacket and boots.”
“What?” She frowned, cocking her head to the side in the exact way I did.
“You wanted a chance to be like me,” I murmured, grabbing socks. “Now you’ve got it.”
“He’s going to kill me instead of you.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You brought him here,” I spit out, shoving my foot into my jeans. “If you can’t sway him, then I will. Give me your fucking coat.”
Awareness, perhaps at the size of the clusterfuck she’d gotten us into, lit her eyes and she nodded, quickly doing as I instructed.
If this was going to work, whatever ended up happening, we had to be convincing. I didn’t have to worry about Paisley. She’d spent her entire life pretending to be me.
18
SOUTH
* * *
Paisley came down the steps first, Maisey right behind. It was the first time I’d seen them together. It was fucking freaky how much they looked alike. If I could give them closer scrutiny, I hoped I’d know which one was mine other than knowing Paisley had on a hideous coat and Maisey wore glasses. I couldn’t though, not now.
Every molecule of my body was primed to protect my woman, but Cunningham was twitchy and I didn’t want to set him off. Not with Maisey anywhere near that gun. She ran over to me and I wrapped my arm around her waist and pushed her behind me. It wasn’t much, but I was reassured she was a little sheltered.
“You girls are going to stay here together while Wainright and I head to his barn. Too bad the acetylene tanks are going to blow and hide the fact that you were shot in the head.”
“What?” Paisley screeched.
“No!” Maisey cried at the same time, gripping my side.
Those tanks were safe, if kept stable. I had them securely fastened together and against the wall and the space was temperature controlled. If the gas leaked and there was a spark, the whole building would blow when all the tanks ignited. Cunningham was right. No one would suspect a bullet to the head because I’d be a pile of ash.
“Once I’ve taken care of your boyfriend, you’re coming with me.” Cunningham pointed at Maisey. “I’ve always wanted to fuck twins.”
“Over my dead body,” she snapped.
“That is an option.” Cunningham’s eyes were narrowed and I didn’t even want to contemplate why his dick was hard.
“I’ll do it,” Paisley announced, looking my way. Assessing. She lifted her chin and sniffed, then glanced at Cunningham. “I’ll kill him. You’ll have an alibi, Micah. I mean, no one would suspect you of the fire if you’re not here. An accidental gas leak and explosion is what will be found. And since Maisey will be seen with you, everyone will think she’s me, meaning I’ll have an alibi too. I’ll use Maisey’s car and meet up with you. We’ll both be in the clear.”
Yet they’d have an extra Paisley-lookalike walking around who knew the truth.
Cunningham’s eyes flared with interest and didn’t pick up on the flaw. Or several of them. Obviously they didn’t know Maisey’s car wasn’t even here. If Paisley left in my truck, that would be a red flag. It wasn’t like she could walk to town from here. Not in this weather.
On top of all that, I had to wonder how Paisley knew what an acetylene gas tank was or even used for. Since they’d come here because of Macon’s money, she had to know Cunningham had scoped me out the other day as a prospective client. She was in on this whole scam.
I didn’t like her based on everything Maisey had shared, but I’d taken her for a shallow, vain, remorseless woman. Not a killer.
“I didn’t figure you to be more than a quick fuck, but I was wrong,” he told Paisley.
Maisey’s fingers clenched my bare upper arm at his words. Paisley’s smile slipped a little, but a shrug showed she didn’t care. “I’m always underestimated.”
“This is bullshit,” I swore. “All of this for Macon’s money?”
Cunningham raised the gun and shot a hole in my ceiling. Maisey screamed. Paisley ducked, covered her head with her hands. I flinched and pushed Maisey further behind me. “Says the cowboy who has all the cash in the world.”
“I’ll fucking give you his money. You want it, you can have it. Just leave Maisey alone.” I was sick and tired of Macon ruling my life. Because of him, I had a guy shooting up my house, endangering my woman. I’d found Maisey—and groveled to get her back—and now this asshole wanted to fuck her along with her twin sister? Yeah, not fucking happening.
“I’ll get it,” he vowed. “My mother worked two jobs to make ends meet and never saw a dime from him before she died. She earned that money and so did I. I wore second-hand clothes and ate macaroni and cheese and bologna sandwiches. I’m getting every penny that’s rightfully mine. When you’re dead.”
Paisley recovered from his insults. “Give me the gun. I’ll do it.”
Cunningham shook his head. “Not happening. I’m not getting shot in the back.” He tipped his head toward the back of the house. “To the barn. Move.”
I didn’t have a choice but to go. I set my hands on Maisey’s shoulders and kept her in front of me. If he wanted to get her, he’d have to get through me first. I was only wearing my jeans and it was fucking freezing. The ground was cold and rough beneath my bare feet, but I didn’t feel any of it. My adrenaline was pumping. I leaned down, whispered in Maisey’s ear once we were outside. “It’s going to be okay, beautiful.”
