Rustler's Heart (A Kinnison Legacy Novel) (17 page)

In haste, Liberty called, her stomach clenched as she waited through more than three rings.
Where was Rein? Why isn’t Elaina answering her phone?

“Libby?” Her friend finally answered, but she sounded frightened.

“What’s the matter, Elaina? Are you all right?”

A brief moment of silence ticked by and then a male came on the line. “Hello, my darling. You left without saying goodbye.”

She froze at the sound of Angelo’s voice.

“I’d ask if you missed me, but I’m told that it appears you’ve settled right in with your new family. Your mother would be pleased. I can’t say as much for your father.”

“What do you want?” A cold dread settled in her stomach. She held the edge of the table, easing slow onto the dining room chair.

“For starters, I’d like my star dancer back, of course. You’re costing me, love. Our regulars want to see Liberty Belle. Poor Elaina. She’s tried, but she’s not you.”

“You leave her alone and you leave me alone. I don’t owe you anything.” She leveled a warning slow and easy. He was with Elaina and if anything happened to her, Liberty would never forgive herself.

“Oh, now see that’s where your memory seems a little shaky. As I remember it, I took you from a dead-end waitress job, set you up in one of my penthouse suites and damn near gave you everything you ever owned.”

She couldn’t deny it. But she’d been sucked in by him, charmed by his confidence and veiled promises—much like her mother had been. But, she wasn’t her mother and she had a choice. She appealed to his wallet. “I can send you the money for the cut I didn’t pay you on my last check. I can send you installments for the back rent I owe you for the apartment.”

His low chuckle, infused with evil, made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. “Tell you what. Why don’t you come on back home and we’ll sit down and talk this out.”

It wasn’t an option and they both knew it “Did you send Franco here to bring me back?” she challenged. “Franco? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The innocent tone in his voice made her want to throw up. He knew damn well that she understood he’d sent Franco as a guarantee he meant business. He held all the cards. She had no choice but to comply until she could figure out what to do.

“If I come back, will you swear to leave Elaina alone?” The very idea turned her stomach, but she’d do it if he agreed to leave her family and friends alone.

“You’re in no position to bargain here, Liberty. I’m being a nice guy. Don’t make me change my mind about that.”

She hesitated, wanting to unleash the anger building inside of her. Why hadn’t she seen his controlling ways, so like her father? “Okay.” She kept her voice steady to appease him. “You win. I’ll head back tonight.”

“Good. I’m giving you two hours to let me know when to send a car to pick you up at the airport. Don’t be late.”

“Fine.”

“Liberty?”

“What.” She stood and walked to the bedroom where began tossing her things on the bed.

“If I don’t hear from you in a couple of hours with your flight information, I’m afraid things are going to get much worse, not only for Elaina, but for the rest of your family as well. Do we have an understanding?”

He made it clear she shouldn’t try to run and disappear. “Yes, I understand perfectly.”

“Good.” He paused. “I’ve missed you, my love.”

The line went dead not allowing her the chance to respond. She stared at the phone, her head swirling with the number of ways she’d like to rid the world of this slime-bag. She’d always thought of herself as a survivor, unafraid, perhaps too trusting of a warm smile and handsome face. She knew now that a man’s charm lasted only long enough to get what they wanted.

Maybe that’s why Rein was being so evasive. Whatever the brothers had discussed had apparently made quite the impression. But she couldn’t speculate about what happened between them just now. She had to take her life back. She wouldn’t run away this time, wouldn’t spend her days looking over her shoulder. If he wanted a fight, she’d give him one to remember and bring the police along for the ride. She’d be only too happy to share with them some of the shady dealings she’d seen while working at the club.

As for Rein, he’d made it clear that what they had was purely physical. She’d wanted him as much as he wanted her. It was her fault that she allowed her heart to get in the way, to believe that this cowboy would ride her off into the sunset and a happily ever after. Reality was a bitch, but she’d make it, she’d survived plenty of heartache in her life, and she would again. But, first, she needed to make sure that Angelo would never bother her family and friends again.

Rein hesitated, his fist poised to knock on Liberty’s door. Deep down, he’d known that they’d have to have this conversation, even though part of him had hoped they wouldn’t need to. Wyatt was right. He knew it The charade they’d been playing couldn’t go on forever and if pretending that it could deceived Liberty into thinking there was more between them, then it had to end. She was an amazing, exceptional woman and he couldn’t deny together in bed, it was off the charts. But neither of them had held any expectations that it would last. On the upside, and hopefully it would make things easier, they’d never made any declarations to one another. No promises, even in the height of passion. And that was a good thing, wasn’t it?

Rein learned long ago to reserve his heart for things he could count on—family, nature, building things with his hands. He’d also learned that a woman’s word was only as good as the next offer that might come along. With her talent and her beauty, it wouldn’t be long before Liberty had a hundred guys vying for her attention, offering her a life, more exciting, more fulfilling than what he could give her on the ranch.

He wanted that—wanted the very best for her. He didn’t want to hold her back from growing, finding her potential. Though eight years difference in age didn’t seem like much now, would it down the road? Would she come to resent him? He couldn’t do that to her. However much it pained him to let her go now, it was better than experiencing heartbreak down the road.

He paused, hearing her raised voice. Her tone sounded urgent. With a frown, he knocked on the door and a few moments went by before she finally opened it.

“Oh, it’s you.” She swung open the door, holding the phone to her ear, clearly preoccupied. He glanced at the phone.

“Is this a bad time?”

She blinked, her face dissolving into a smile as though she’d just realized his presence.

“May I come in?”

No kiss hello. No warm hugs. But her smile stay plastered on her face as she nodded and walked into the living room, leaving him to enter on his own. “Is everything okay?” She seemed lost in her thoughts. Maybe Wyatt had already spoken to her.

“Uh, yeah.” She straightened her shoulders and faced him. “Everything’s fine now that you’re here.” She walked over, dropping her phone on the coffee table. And just like that, she seemed back to her old self. She ran her palms over his chest. “Seems you’ve been a busy boy. I missed you last night. Look what I ordered online.” She picked up and shook a small brown box, then pulled out a pair of fur-lined cuffs from inside. “Thought we might play a little cops and robbers.” She twirled them on her finger. “Internet shopping is so easy.”

Rein looked at her. She’d gone from being on another planet, to seducing him in record time. Visions of being handcuffed to her headboard caused his entire body to come alive. Quelled as quickly by her sudden change in demeanor and the urgency he’d heard in her voice. He sensed she was keeping something from him. Yet another reason they needed to get everything on the table.

“Listen I came by because we need to discuss a few things.” He took her hand and led her to the couch. Carefully inching away when she tried to snuggle with him. He’d never be able to do this if he allowed her too close. There was no easy way to say what he had to tell her.

“Wyatt knows.”

She stared at him, a questioning gaze in her dark brown eyes. Eyes he’d seen fill with the heat of desire when they made love. She blinked as reality hit her. Her eyes widened.

“You mean, he knows…about us?”

Rein nodded. “Yeah.” He all but heard the gears rolling in her beautiful head.

“How’d that go?”

“About like you’d expect.”

Her face clouded. “I’m old enough to make my own choices. It’s really none of his or anyone else’s business. What matters is the agreement we made, right? Although I have to say, I’m surprised you didn’t wait until we were both present to talk about this with Wyatt.”

He understood and maybe it would have been better had she been there, but he doubted Wyatt would have been as free to say what he had. Besides, it’s not like they were ready to make some grand announcement about their relationship.

There was that word again.

He studied her face, realizing he knew every freckle, knew where she was ticklish, and knew what made her sigh. Hell, what had he been thinking? He took her hands in his. “You know I never wanted this to get complicated. I never wanted to hurt you, I still don’t.”

She squeezed his hands. “I know what I agreed to, Rein. I’ve never had any illusions.”

Her words stabbed at a small piece of his heart. Thus far he’d been able to keep his emotions out of the equation. “We need to take some time to think about what we’re doing. No more secrets, somebody’s bound to get hurt, maybe not today, but eventually.”

“Meaning when it’s time for me to leave?” She held his gaze.

Part of him desperately wanted her to say she’d come to love the ranch. That she’d found something here that made her content, but he had no intention of risking that assumption again.
Fool me once
—had become his philosophy.

He swallowed. “Maybe it’s better this way.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her delicate hands, hands that had touched his body, driven him to delirious insanity. Already a hole had formed in his gut. He’d done the one thing he’d sworn he wouldn’t do again—he’d gotten too close. Better to end this now on a pre-emptive strike, than for either of them to suffer the consequences later.

She glanced at him, released a quick sigh, and let go of his grasp. Pushing quickly to her feet, she scooped up her phone as she walked toward the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a few things I need to take care of.”

Of all the reactions, he imagined, her total lack of concern surprised him. She opened the front door and waited for him to leave. Confused by her sudden mood changes, he hesitated a moment then rose to leave. Hadn’t this been what he wanted? A clean break? It seemed pretty clear to him, anyway that Wyatt’s assessment of her had been terribly off. While Rein knew all the reasons that they should end this affair before someone got hurt, he hadn’t expected the undeniable ache in his heart. “You’re okay, then?” He reached out to touch her shoulder and she inched back.

“Absolutely. I think it’s better this way—like you said.”

“No regrets.” He reiterated the mantra of the glorious secret they’d shared between them all summer.

“None.” She held his gaze. Her phone rang and she glanced at the caller. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to take this.”

“Sure.” He stepped outside and turned to say he’d see her at dinner, but the door had already been closed. And just like that she’d shut him out of her life.

***

With Dalton doing chores, and Aimee checking her purchases from the day, Rein found himself helping Wyatt clear the supper dishes. Liberty hadn’t showed up, calling Aimee to tell her that she’d started a project she needed to finish and not to hold supper.

“You get a chance to talk to Liberty?” Wyatt rinsed off another plate and placed it in the dishwasher.

Rein glumly stuffed leftovers into plastic containers, setting them in the fridge. The fact that she’d not shown for dinner bothered him. And while he hadn’t expected cartwheels about their break-up, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something else seemed wrong. Maybe it was nothing more than his badly bruised ego. The fact that she’d been able to quickly end the affair made him feel guilty, angry, and confused. Hell, he didn’t know what to think. “Yeah,” he answered. “It’s for certain that your concerns about Liberty’s feelings were severely misguided, in fact, she took the news much better than I’d expected.”

Wyatt looked at Rein, and then continued loading the dishwasher.

“She’s never talked much about her past, has she?”

Wyatt raised a brow and shook his head. “Nope. I know she and Aimee have talked a little bit. Mainly girl talk stuff, I’d guess.” Wyatt stopped, leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. He looked at Rein. “So, what did she say?”?”

Rein closed the refrigerator door and stared at the family pictures Aimee had started to attach to the surface with magnets. There was the whole group taken at the wedding, with Wyatt and Aimee on the horse, the rest of the family surrounding them. He thought of that night. The first time he’d kissed Liberty and how from that moment he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. “To be honest, she seemed totally fine with ending things between us. Guess maybe it didn’t mean as much as I thought it might. Kind of strange.” He shrugged.

“Rein?”

He faced his brother. A myriad of thoughts assaulted him. So much had changed since that happy group picture. He and Aimee were expecting a child in a few weeks. With Liberty’s help, the cabins were nearly finished and would be ready to rent by next spring.

“Rein, did you want it to mean something to her?”

The question gave him pause to consider what it was he wanted. He lifted his shoulders. “I don’t know. We had fun. She’s a beautiful, amazing woman.”

“Enough.” Wyatt shot him a pointed look. “I don’t need to hear details.” His gaze narrowed and an odd smile formed on his lips. “Maybe the thing you should be asking, is did this mean something more to you? More than you want to admit?”

Oh, Rein had thought about it. Each time they made love and listened to her sleeping softly in the crook of his arm. He didn’t want to face the reality that he’d not been able to keep his side of the bargain…that somewhere along the way he’d fallen in love with her. Rein looked up, aware that Wyatt stared at him in disbelief.