Jesse's Brother (19 page)

“A little in shock that the time has finally come. To tell you the truth, Samantha, our marriage has been over for a long time.”

Noah glanced down at her clothes and turned away. She giggled in spite of the situation.
I stink
, she thought as her dad got up from the table.

“I really need a shower,” she mumbled.

“Go up and get one. We can talk later,” replied Dad. Noah stood up from the table as well.

“Nope. I can’t go up there until she’s done.”

“This is your house too, Sammy.”

“I know, but I don’t want her to push me to choose sides. I already have one.” She followed Noah to the back door.

She imagined he was going to go back to cleaning the horse corral and thought that it would be fun to spend the day out with the horses and her sheep. Someday maybe she’d learn to ride, she thought, then shook her head as if to erase that idea from her mind. It wouldn’t happen.

Noah bent down to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and all doubt vanished. He was so right. How could she ever have questioned her feelings for him? How could she think about leaving him for Jesse? Tonya had been right. Her heart told her who she needed. Noah.

“You’re right,” whispered Noah.

“Umm, about what?” Could he read her thoughts now?

“You need a shower.” His hearty laugh brought a smile to her face.

“Thanks a lot.” She pretended to punch him in the arm.

“You can take one at my place if you want,” he said winking at her.

“Really?”

“Yup, only under one condition though.”

“Oh, no.”

“It isn’t anything bad.”

“What then?” She walked over to the dryer, hoping there were some clean clothes of hers in it. To her luck and surprise, her mother hadn’t taken out the load of laundry she had started yesterday. She grabbed some jeans and a tank top from the drawer and shut the door. She’d fold the rest later, she thought as she followed Noah across the yard to the barn. He jumped the tall fence and she watched him in awe as he started his work.

“That I get to be there with you next time.”

“Okay,” she said shyly.

“Go on over. The door’s unlocked.”

He was giving her permission to be in his home alone. Her heart raced and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Such a small act had touched her in such a big way.

“Can we talk later?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered and blew him a kiss.

CHAPTER 23

Once she was clean and out of the shower, she went into Noah’s bedroom. Her clothes were thrown on his bed, since it would be easier to dress in there than the bathroom that was so small she could barely turn around.

How did he manage a shower in there? She slipped her panties on, then pulled her jeans up over her thighs. Her tank top went over the lacy bra. She threw her curly hair up into a ponytail, knowing it would be trying to bust out of the hair-band within an hour. She put her cowboy boots back on and tossed her dirty clothes in an empty grocery sack she found discarded on the kitchen counter. The truth was, she didn’t want to go back home until her mother left.

She strolled down the trail through the thin patch of evergreen trees that divided the farm from the meadow.

What would she do now? Go back to school? She could always stay here. Being with Noah wouldn’t be so bad. Build a house like Dad wanted? Start a family with Noah?

“Wait a minute,” she said to herself as she reached the yard, “don’t get ahead of the game.”

She could see him in the pen working the horses. He had discarded his black t-shirt and wore his faded blue jeans and work boots. Sweat glistened down his back and she couldn’t think of a time that he’d looked sexier. He held the reins of Brownie and ran around the ring. Every time he turned the corner, the muscles in his back tightened.

She untied the rope holding the gate closed and slipped inside the ring with Noah and the horses going right over to where Culata stood. Noah walked to her and put some carrots into the palm of her outstretched hand. He grabbed the rein again as she turned to her mare.

I failed her in every way
, she thought as she heard the engine roar, then the grinding of the shift, and the gravel hit the side of the house as Frances sped down the driveway. She sighed and motioned for Noah to join her.

A car door opened and then shut toward the front of the house. It didn’t seem like it would be her mom.

“Yeah, babe?” asked Noah as he wrapped his arms around her waist and swung her in a circle.

She giggled as she tried to push his arms from her waist. “My mom left, but someone else is here. Come with me to check it out.”

“Isn’t your dad up at the house?”

“Yes he is, but I don’t want him to have to deal with more than he has to.” She undid the gate for them to walk out of the ring. He slipped his hand into hers as they walked across the yard. The back door shut behind them and he slid his t-shirt over his sweaty head.

They walked down the hall in the direction of

the voices coming from the living room. Apparently, her father had answered the door before they had a chance to even get to the house.

“Samantha, you have company,” called her father.

She walked into the entryway. Her mouth dropped open and she froze, her hand still in Noah’s.

“Noah.”

“Jesse.”

“Shit. What are you doing here?” she asked.

Her hand dropped from Noah’s but he grabbed it again. The two men glared at one another without a word. Anger at herself flared inside her chest. She should’ve taken care of this long before today, and now, she wouldn’t be able to spare Jesse from the hurt of knowing she’d chosen his brother over him. Once again, she tried to drop his hand. She wanted to break it easy to Jesse.

She needed to tell him she was deeply in love with his brother. When she was able to leave Noah’s grip, she took a step toward Jesse.

Jesse was the first to break the silence. “What’s going on here, Samantha?” He took a step backward as soon as she put her hand on his arm.

“Please, Jesse, let’s go outside to discuss this.” She motioned for him to come with her, but he wouldn’t budge. Jesse’s arms were folded tightly across his chest, face stern and eyes glued on Noah.

“No,” Noah intervened. “You need to talk to me.” His voice escalated. “I want to know what the hell he’s doing at this house. Is this who you’ve been out with?”

“We’ve been doing more than going out, little brother.”

Noah grabbed Jesse by the shirt. His fist formed into a tight fist as he stared into his brother’s scared eyes. “You’re no brother of mine.” Noah’s voice trembled with anger.

Samantha shifted her gaze from Noah’s clenched fist to Jesse’s face, and worried Noah would hit his brother. Was the problem between them worse than she’d thought? He unclenched one fist long enough to run his fingers through his hair.

“Listen. Noah works here for my dad…”

“I did work for him but now I’m a partner. I own half this farm,” Noah cut in.

“Right,” she said as she tried to move toward Jesse again. “But then I met Jesse in town. We kept running into each other and I started dating him too. I had no idea you were brothers.”

“Honey, I came here to discuss something with you.”

“What is it, Jesse? Make it fast because it would be best if you leave.”

“You’re brothers?” asked Dad, still sitting in his recliner, half amused by the show.

“I don’t have a brother anymore,” snapped Noah through clenched teeth.

Jesse’s eyes remained focused on Noah’s large fist. “Noah, please don’t hit him.”

He dropped his fist but still held Jesse by the shirt.

“I swear,” she pleaded. “I didn’t know you were brothers until the other night at Jesse’s house. I waited too long to decide who I wanted a relationship with. I won’t lie to you, but I’ve developed feelings for both of you in the process, but I…”

Her heart broke as Noah’s face drained of color. He was hurt. She could see that, and she

was angry at herself for having taken so long to make a decision.

“Well, why don’t I make your decision a whole lot easier, Samantha?” he said calmly. He let go of Jesse before he turned and vanished from the doorway.

“Noah! Wait!”

Jesse smiled and walked toward her. His hand reached out to her. He took a ring from a velvet box and slipped it on her finger. Jesse tried to grab for her, to pull her into a hug. The smell of his cologne she would have swooned over before, suddenly made her nauseous.

“No, I need to get him,” she said trying to push his hands way from her.

He held on tighter. “Samantha, don’t go after him. I’m the better man. I can take care of you the way you deserve.” Jesse tried pulling her to him.

She gave one final yank, freed her hand, and glanced down at the shiny diamond on her finger. Right ring, wrong guy.

The ring dropped onto the floor. She ran out of the living room, even though she could hear his truck start up near the barn.
He’s leaving
, she thought,
he’s leaving me
. The front door flung open as he drove up the road. There was no way she’d be able to catch him.

“Samantha, he’s always been good at running away, and I doubt he’ll ever change,” said Jesse as he pulled her into his arms. “Honey, it’s not your fault.”

She fought to wrangle herself free from his grip. “Jesse, I’ve made my decision.”

“But we can have a happy life together. You can have whatever you want with me,” he said kissing her neck. “I love you.”