Page 79 of Will to Run

“No, sit down; she’s not in danger or trouble. It’s about last night when you were over and said she was staying beyond the contract. Something didn’t sit right and I gave her some more thought, and… I ended up googling the garage. Jax, it’s not listed.”

“Okay,” I say slowly, not seeing where he’s going.

“Don’t you get it?” he says.

“Whatever the fuck your point is, make it. We’ve been over this. I am insanely busy right now, and I am not here for your conspiracy theories,” I snap knowing there’s about to be another insinuation that Della came into town with a sob story to nail me down intentionally. Besides the last time he shared his thoughts, he’s thrown out a handful of passive-aggressive comments that I’m just over.

“She’s fucking playing you,” he spits out. “I know I’ve pussyfooted around this, but soon you’re going to be in the same fucking boat as me. And it’s a shitty boat.”

My mouth gapes, and I try to formulate a response. I see we’ve moved past annoying quips to a full-on, unfounded accusation. Part of me feels bad for him and how much he’s changed. I’ve given him the space to live in his cynicism, but this crosses the line.

“She didn’t know who I was when she showed up, Case,” I defend her immediately. “And if she did, she needs to get the fuck out of here and into acting because she fooled me.”

“You’re blinded by her beauty, Jax. Doesn’t it strike you as odd that she, a stranger from the Midwest, ended up in your unlisted garage in the tiny town of Amberheart with a crazy sob story? The best friend grew up in Driggs, so I’m sure she gave her all she needed to know. Then she wormed her way into your graces… so much so that she decides to stay? Come on. What’s a city girl want with this life, anyway? She’ll want what Abby did… part of our ranch.”

“Stop,” I snap. I don’t have the time or energy to fight with him today. “You’re fucking insane. Is she the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life? Yes. But that didn’t turn me into an idiot. And you’re a fucking moron if you think I’m a stranger to beautiful women throwing themselves at me for a piece of our pie.”

“This is different. I’ve never seen you like this before. I just… she’s using you, man. I just feel it.”

My heart is racing with anger, and I’m beyond aggravated with my brother. Just because he made some shit choices doesn’t mean the rest of us are in danger of the same thing. “First off, Della is not like that fucking harpy you got caught up with, and you damn well know it. I appreciate you trying to look out for me, but you’re off base here; she’s not taking advantage. Besides, I’m not going to fucking marry her tomorrow or anything. But yeah, Cayson, we’re having a good time.”

“She’s going to try to weasel her way in, just you watch. You invented a fucking job for her, Jax. To keep her here. She has to be able to look around and figure that out. Let me guess where she’s staying until our pre-booked long-term guest for cabin fourteen gets here. Tatroe has you by the balls, and I bet she knows it. Remember what I said to you that first night? Hook. Line. Sinker.”

I have too much to do to be dealing with Cayson right now. And since I know him better than anyone does, I know that I have to appease him to get him to shut the fuck up, and then circle back to it later. He is the most stubborn man I know, and will go round and round, talking it to death. But I need him to drop it immediately because I’m looking at the minutes on my wall clock ticking away, and I have a deadline I need to meet, or people don’t get paid. The absolute last thing I need is for anyone to quit because their paycheck doesn’t hit when it’s supposed to.

“Get the fuck out of here with that. I’m not dumb. And again, I don’t plan on giving her a quarter of our fortune like you’re on the hook for. You’re right, I did invent a job, but I have no regrets. She’s been a great addition; everyone but you thinks so. It’s never bad to have another body helping with barn chores. We can afford it; I don’t care. I gave her a place to land until she got on her feet again. Am I getting some pretty fucking amazing bonuses? Yeah. And I’m happily partaking in them. Regardless, she’s not committed here; she’s looking for a three-month lease on Millstone. You’re welcome to be a complete douche to whoever I hook up with after she’s gone, but not her. Leave Cayson. I have to finalize payroll by two o’clock, and I don’t need you in my head telling me I’m being screwed over.”

“But,” he tries to continue, but I cut him off. I’m so angry with him my hands are shaking. He is nice to her face, then turns around with these accusations?

“What the fuck is it to you, anyway?” I snarl, completely fed up with this bullshit. “She’s paying rent, and putting out, and frankly, I enjoy having her here.” I cringe at the harshness of my own words. The fury I feel toward him is bleeding onto her, unfairly and completely undeserved. In fact, when we talked about her staying on Friday, I already started thinking about ways to entice her to stay longer.

“I bet you do,” he snarls back at me, but before he can follow up with some stupid-ass comment, there is a crash outside the door.

39

DELLA

Tears burn in my eyes. How dare he talk about me like that? Paying rent and putting out?

Partaking in bonuses because he invented a job for me?

Telling Cayson that he could be a douche to whoever he hooked up with after me?

I’ve never… I have no words.

It feels as if I’ve had the wind knocked out of me because I surely can’t find the air.

Not to mention, I like Jaxon. No, I’m not having grandiose thoughts about marriage this soon into knowing him, but I signed on for three more months in town because I am a little curious to see if it might go anywhere. But to hear him speak about this thing between us before anything has even gotten started?

Being here has been everything to me. I feel like I’ve found myself, tapped back into my art, learned what out-of-this-world sex is, laughed, and authentically fell for someone on my terms. Faster than I ever could have imagined, but still.

However, it appears I am nothing more than a piece of ass. When I finally gasp for breath, my entire body starts to shake with rage and panic. I have to get out of here. When I replay the few sentences that will be burned into my brain, I double over at the waist so I don’t fall.

To think I was so confident there was something that had sparked to life between us.

And what the fuck is with Cayson? I thought he liked me. Sure, he isn’t the friendliest of the bunch, but I know he’s got a lot going on, so I didn’t think anything of it. To insinuate that I would do anything like this? What does the rest of the Wills family think of me if I was so wrong about Cayson?

I’m going to be sick.