Jennifer Morey - A Rancher's Dangerous Affair

“He’s probably with another woman,” she said at last.

David? He’d never known his brother to be unfaithful to any woman. Was it only her insecurity, or had he really gone off the deep end?

Cheat on Eliza? She was stunning and beautiful. Who could David prefer over her?

“David wouldn’t cheat on you,” he said.

Her eyes disagreed with him and made his brow crease in question.

“It’s not just that,” she said self-consciously, not wanting to talk about it. “H-he…keeps looking over his shoulder…taking his cell phone outside to talk. Like he’s afraid of something.”

While that wasn’t the real reason she’d rather not go into the bar, it was another thing that troubled her about David. Alarm somersaulted through Brandon. David’s gambling debts had mushroomed in the past few months, ever since he had married Eliza. Except she didn’t seem to know about that.

“What’s he afraid of?”

“He won’t talk to me about it. I try, but…”

He was too busy screwing other women. He could swear that’s what she was thinking. It was so unlike his brother, the Casanova who lured women by charming them into believing he was a gentleman. Was it all a facade? He was a little conceited….

“Do you want to wait out here?” It might be better for her.

“No. I have to face this.”

When she started to step out of the truck, he helped her with his hands on her hips and she put hers on his shoulders. He lowered her, and she stood right there for a second too long. A second was all it took to feel enough of her to want more. He moved back, and Eliza marched to the entrance.

She opened the door before he could do it for her. And then she stopped short when she saw David sitting at a booth—right beside Jillian.

Brandon did the same. This he hadn’t anticipated. Catching him with a woman was one thing, but Jillian…

What was she doing here with his brother? She wouldn’t try to sleep with David, would she? Would David sleep with her?

There were a few other patrons in the bar. An old man who paid his tab to the bartender, talking to the young man as if he was a regular. A handful of tables were occupied. Laughter and an Elton John song playing from the jukebox filled the air. Willa Merris and another gradeschool teacher sat at the booth beside David and Jillian, deep into some discussion. Willa’s long strawberry-blond hair gleamed under the dim bar lights. Her father kept her in upper-class social circles and it was odd seeing her here. At this low-end bar.

Not as odd as finding his brother with Jillian. Had she deliberately arranged this? Why?

Jillian lifted her dark drink and sipped. As she lowered her glass, she caught sight of Brandon and her eyes popped open wide.

He stopped with Eliza at the booth.

“Well, look who’s here,” David slurred.

Eliza folded her arms indignantly, but the sexy cock of her hips in that slinky dress diffused her seriousness. “Is this why you didn’t show up at my brother’s party?”

“I thought you’d prefer it that way.” Scorn dripped off him like the alcohol swimming in his blood. “Did you two have a good time?”

What did he mean by that? “Why haven’t you been back at the ranch?” Brandon asked.

“Three’s a crowd, brother.”

As in him, Eliza and David? Did he actually believe…?

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but there is nothing going on between me and Eliza.” He had to know Brandon had no intention of pursuing her. He couldn’t call her wild anymore, but she still craved the spotlight. His mind hadn’t changed about her.

“I saw the way you looked at her last night.” He drained his drink.

Seeing Eliza had taken him aback. He’d forgotten just how striking her beauty was. He’d rather not think about kissing her. Not knowing how to respond, he decided it was better not to.

Instead, he met Jillian’s discontented eyes and wondered how long it would be before the she-snake in her struck.

“What are you doing here?” he asked her.

She passed David an uncertain glance. “I ran into him when I left the party. David was just arriving.”

“She told me you were there.” David’s drunken reproach landed on Brandon.

“He drew his own conclusions,” Jillian quickly added. “And then invited me to accompany him here. I agreed, but only to make sure he made it all right. He’d already had something to drink, so I drove his truck. My car is still at the hotel.”

That was more explanation than he needed. She was covering her tracks. She hadn’t intended for Brandon to find out she was here…with his brother. Her uncertain look earlier had him suspicious. What had they been discussing when he and Eliza had arrived?

The news relaxed Eliza. She lowered her arms. David wasn’t with Jillian to sleep with her.

“Jillian’s been quite a chaperone,” David said. “I’ve been sitting here with her trying to figure out why you broke up with her. I mean, I could understand if you knew she—”

“Maybe I should drive you back to Brandon’s ranch now,” Jillian interrupted, turning from David to Brandon. “Then maybe you and I can talk.”

They had nothing to talk about. Or did they? What had David been about to say? She was obviously hiding something. And he didn’t believe she was here by coincidence.

“I’ll drive him home.” Brandon would like to question her, but his drunk brother was his first priority. “You take his truck, and I’ll arrange to pick it up tomorrow.” Eliza moved forward and extended her hand to David. “Come on, David. You and I can talk about this tomorrow…when you’re sober.”

“I don’t need to be sober.” He waved her hand away. “And I’m not going back to the ranch.”

“David…” Eliza was clearly mystified. “Why?”

“I’m doing you a favor, Eliza.” Pain and resentment laced his tone. “Go home with Brandon. That’s what you wish for.” He turned to Brandon. “It’s what you both wish for.” And then more somberly, “You belong together anyway.”

“That’s enough, little brother,” Brandon said. He’d had enough of this nonsense. “Let’s go.”

He took hold of his brother’s arm to help him up from the booth.

David yanked free. “If I go anywhere, it’ll be with Jillian.” He turned to her. “Right, sweetheart?”

Jillian turned a narrow-eyed, warning look to David. Was David threatening her? Why had he called a woman he barely knew sweetheart? Had he discovered something about her? Once he had David alone and sober, he’d be sure and ask.

“Brandon, come back to the ranch with us,” Eliza said.

Brandon shot a look at her. David went utterly still.

“I—I mean…David,” she corrected.

David smiled without humor, calculating and cruel. “You see? You’re even saying his name instead of mine now.”

“You drank too much,” Brandon said. “You’re overreacting.”

“It was an accident. It doesn’t mean—”

“Come on, Eliza, let’s not pretend what this marriage is all about,” David cut her off. “We both know it’s him you’ve always wanted. I only married you so I could see what all the fuss was about.”

Eliza drew in a sharp breath just as the jukebox went silent with the last notes of piano music. She gripped Brandon’s jacket sleeve. David’s insensitivity was hurting her. Why was he acting this way? It couldn’t be that he truly believed his own brother fancied his wife.

“Brandon doesn’t want Eliza,” Jillian said to David. “She’s married to you. Besides, Brandon and I are seeing each other.”

The woman really grated his nerves when she did that, talking as though he hadn’t broken up with her and she hadn’t gone crazy on his front doorstep.