Jennifer Morey - A Rancher's Dangerous Affair

There had to be more to it than just her. David had cheated on her. The disrespect he’d shown her by having sex with another woman less than six months into their marriage hinted at deeper problems. Eliza hadn’t had an affair with Brandon and she wouldn’t.

Even as the thought came, the truth taunted her. Both times she’d kissed Brandon, the invitation for sweet passion had ruled. David had not entered her conscience, not even the peripheries of it. And his declaration to seek an annulment hadn’t pained her much. Her failure in marriage had. So had the cause of David’s change of heart.

Other than an ego wound, his infidelity didn’t hurt her. What hurt her was the truth behind why she’d married him. She’d entertained the possibility that doing so would get back at Brandon for rejecting her. It hadn’t seemed so big back then, just an innocent triumph, one only she would enjoy. Now it rocked her, how shallow she’d become. That she would minimize marriage so much. Six months ago, she’d rationalized that it was better than loving someone who didn’t love her back. And David had the added bonus of being Brandon’s brother, the next best thing to perfection. Except he’d turned out to be far less.

That pained her. She truly hadn’t meant to hurt him. She hadn’t really believed her feelings for him mattered that much. As long as he loved her it would be enough.

She’d been mistaken. Kissing Brandon proved it. The deep, raw feelings he stirred were so much more powerful than they had been years ago. That frightened her like nothing else could. Love had to be reciprocated, and Brandon would never feel the way she did for him, now or ever. He wouldn’t allow it.

She was in a loveless marriage, still yearning for a man she could never have. It was disheartening, not having the ability to lock him out of her heart, move on without him, forget him forever. Be happy. As always, happiness eluded her. Her company filled that void. Her success. Her popularity. Marrying David was supposed to be fun, like running her company was. What a fool she’d been.

Despondent, she got up from the chair. She had to do something. She couldn’t keep waiting for David to return so that she could face the pitiful demise of her faux marriage.

Outside, she headed for the stable. She’d been gazing at this beautiful land all morning. It was time to explore.

The stable was empty, but there were horses in separated corrals. A pretty palomino whinnied and bobbed her head, white-streaked mane flowing. Eliza brought the communicative mare into the stable to saddle her. When her father had been alive, they had lived on a farm. Eliza missed those hardworking days when nothing plagued her, when the world was full of optimism and death was something that happened to other people.

As she climbed atop the big horse, it dawned on her that she hadn’t been riding since her father had died. Reining the well-trained palomino out of the stable, she headed for the emerald hills of Brandon’s ranch.

When the ranch buildings disappeared from view and she topped another hill, she stopped the palomino. In the valley below, Brandon finished closing a pasture gate; the cattle he’d just herded with two of his ranch hands were inside. The clouds overhead were gathering into what might develop into a thunderstorm. Eliza considered turning back.

Brandon saw her just before he mounted his big red horse. Saying something to the two other men, he reined his horse in her direction. The two other men rode away in another direction. It was probably too early to quit for the day, so he was probably going to catch up with them after he talked to her.

Eliza wasn’t sure how he’d feel about her taking the liberty of riding one of his horses without asking. She was too impulsive to wait for permission.

Watching him send his horse into a gallop as he approached, Eliza felt a surge of anxiety. It wasn’t wise to be alone with him in any setting. as he drew nearer she saw his flat-lined mouth. Was he annoyed? Had he approached her out of courtesy?

His horse blew out a long breath of air as he stopped beside Eliza and her horse. The way his gaze wandered all over her wasn’t deliberate. It seemed involuntary.

“I forgot you grew up on a farm,” he said.

He’d forgotten her , so that didn’t surprise her. “I’ll take care of her when we get back.” And had he said that to cover up his unwanted interest?

“Willow is one of my best horses. She loves to get out and run.”

Eliza smiled. “I can tell.” She patted the mare’s neck and received an answering bob of her head along with a nicker.

He watched her, fondness for her practiced ease on a horse smoothing out his mouth into an ever-so-slight curve of amusement. “You look good on her.”

“Minus riding pants.” She extended her leg a little to show him her fashionably holey jeans and expensive loafers.

He chuckled, at home on his land and at peace. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him this relaxed before. Riding in nature did that for her, too. It had been too long.

“As long as you’re out, I might as well show you around.” He turned his horse.

Ignoring the nagging voice in her head that warned of the temptation driving them both to do something they’d regret, Eliza prodded Willow forward to walk beside Brandon. “What’s there to see other than a bunch of cows?”

He feigned insult. “Those are prime-grade Wagyu and Angus cattle.”

“I’ll remember that the next time I eat steak at the Prime House.” The restaurant was the kind that would meticulously age the meat bought from ranchers like Brandon.

Nothing but the sounds of the horses walking leisurely along, the squeak of leather saddles and chirping birds passed for a few strides.

“Where’s David?” Brandon finally asked. “I didn’t want to wake him this morning.”

“He isn’t back yet.” She was careful not to look at him, instead trying hard to stay immersed in the beauty that surrounded her.

“He’s not?” Worry laced his tone.

Maybe she should be, too. “He must still be with Jillian.”

Brandon took some time to think. “I’ve never known him to cheat on a woman.”

Only now had he taken up that pastime. With her. “That’s nice. He cheats on me and no one else.”

“He’s never been married before.”

“Oh, well there you go… . That explains it.” She let her hand slap gently down onto her thigh, the motion triggering Willow into a trot. “Whoa.” She pulled on the reins, slowing the frisky palomino into a walk.

“You both rushed into it.”

A blunt explanation and an accurate one. She almost thanked him for including David. “It would have worked if he’d have stayed faithful.”

“Maybe.”

“I was committed.”

He glanced at her, doubtful and then not. Uncertain. Because of their kisses. She hadn’t been committed then, had she? If she could kiss Brandon the way she had, how could she say she was committed to a marriage with his brother? Is that what he’d concluded after last night?

“He would have stayed closer to home if he had a wife who wanted the same,” Brandon said.

“I did.”

He didn’t believe her.

“Everything would have been fine if we hadn’t come here,” she told his frowning profile.

“Stay away from his family? That’s no marriage.”

That made her mad. She wasn’t the only one to blame for this. “I didn’t ask for a cheating husband, and I wasn’t the only one involved in our kissing.”

“No, but you didn’t want commitment, either.”

Her jaw dropped down. “You’re not being very nice.”

“You didn’t. You never did.”

“Commitment? Of course I did.” He had gall saying that, the king of isolation.