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  “Thalia, why don’t you get some sleep?”

  Grinning, I turned to look at him, “Is that your way of telling me to shut up and to stop asking to share the driving?”

  “No,” he replied, with the corners of his mouth twitching.

  “Yeah right,” I smirked, “but I’m going to take you up on the offer, as long as you wake me up before we get there.”

  “I will.”

  I reclined the seat slightly, shutting my eyes to dream about my cowboy – tall, muscular, dark hair and he had to have a tattoo, hidden under his clothes for my eyes only. Mmm….

  Chapter 8

  Jack

  I’d had every intention of being gone from home before my mother was up and about, but thanks to the jamming session after our stint at Kix last night, I’d overslept.

  I was still feeling exhausted, but wanted to try and plan a way to stabilize the rickety bridge that hung over the river running through our property. One of these days, the thing would collapse and someone could get hurt. The bridge was over the deepest and most dangerous section of river with the rapids running rampant so anyone falling from the bridge would be fucked big time.

  After a shower to try and wake myself up, I dressed in worn jeans and t-shirt then quickly dragged my boots on before going in search of coffee and something to eat.

  Opening the bedroom door I came face to face with Mom. Great.

  “Well it’s about time you showed your face. What did I tell you yesterday about wearing boots in the house? Your brother will be home sometime today with his girl, I don’t want you showing me up by trampling mud everywhere.”

  My jaw clenched, I stepped from my room. “It’s Liam mom. His girl can hardly expect working men not to wear boots.”

  “Put your boots on at the door and make sure you take them off before you come in. It’s not brain surgery to remember all that,” she huffed out, walking to the room next to mine.

  “I need coffee.” I slammed the door shut behind me and made a point to stomp downstairs to the kitchen. Yes, I was being childish, but she pissed me off. The thing was, more often than not, I would take my boots off at the backdoor and carry them up to my room, where I’d wash them in the sink in the bathroom and leave them on the boot stand, which I’d put in the bath to dry. No mess through the house – shit!

  In the kitchen I rooted around for a bagel in the breadbasket, which seemed full of those French things my mom seemed to like, croissants. Grabbing the last bagel, I popped it into the toaster oven, before I poured myself a much needed, strong coffee. From the looks of the dark liquid, it had been brewing for a couple of hours.

  By the time I’d drained one cup of coffee and poured another, the bagel had popped up, so trying not to burn my fingers I practically threw the slices onto my plate before I slathered them with butter. I was about to take a bite when my mom walked through the kitchen door. I’d thought I’d missed out on more of a tongue lashing, but I was wrong.

  I watched her walk across the kitchen to place a couple of pots into the sink before she turned to look at me. “When she’s here I expect you to show some manners and not act like you were raised in a barn.”

  That statement wouldn’t have pissed me off as much as it did, but for the fact I had perfectly good manners. Yeah, I could act like a first class jerk, but around women, I was polite and watched my mouth.

  “I think I can manage that. I suppose saying ‘fuck’ every other word is out of the question, and why do you keep calling her ‘she’? Doesn’t ‘she’ have a name?” I stood with my back against the counter top, my ankles crossed as I watched her…blush.

  “Of course she has a name. Liam didn’t see reason in supplying that when he told me he was bringing her home with him for the summer,” she replied, biting off each word in agitation.

  If I knew Mom, she was pissed my dear brother hadn’t supplied a name. I couldn’t help myself; I roared with laughter, which she ignored.

  “You need to remember to lock both doors in the bathroom while she’s here, because she's in the yellow room.”

  I started to choke on my coffee. Hell no! “Why?” I coughed. “Why is she in the room next to me? Why not Liam? In fact why isn’t she sharing a room with him? Fuck, I can’t believe you’d put her next to me.”

  She was standing in front of me, hands on her hips; looking furious. “You’re not too old for my hand across the back of your head. You will not curse in my kitchen.” Fire danced in her eyes and I had to stifle the chuckle or I would have received that slap. “She is next to you because the room next to Liam is being used for storage, as you well know. Liam asked that she have her own room so she is in the yellow room… Next to you.”

  Why me? I hated that. My privacy was something I valued and to have it invaded by a total stranger was getting to me. I had secrets. Not many, but some, and the ones I was worried about were visible. Goddamn it.

  Mom started dashing around the kitchen tidying up after me, which I tried to ignore. I’d used a knife, plate and cup, but the way she was acting you’d think I’d used every damn thing in the cupboards.

  “Oh, and another thing,” I met her gaze, which was as serious as her tone, “just remember she’s your brothers girl. Hands off.”

  Stunned, I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Never had I ever taken a girl from Liam. “I’m about to be married, or have you forgotten?” I gritted my teeth before anything else came out of my mouth.

  “I most certainly have not forgotten. I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t.” The air filled with tension as she turned back to the dishes, “so keep your hands… and other body parts… off Liam’s girl.”

  What the hell! I was stunned that she’d spell something like that out to me. “I’m not listening to this anymore, its total crap.”

  With that said, I stormed out of the kitchen. I could imagine that she was busy cursing me for being born.

  I quickly walked across the yard to the barn where I kept my dirt bike, under covers because, heaven forbid, Mia should see it. Yanking the covers off, I wheeled it out of the barn through the doors at the back before climbing on and speeding towards the river.

  Chapter 9

  Thalia

  “Thalia, wake up… come on, we’re here.”

  I could hear Liam, but I didn’t want to open my eyes because if I did the guy in my dreams would disappear.

  “Thalia, we’re outside my parents house, you need to wake up.”

  We’d arrived already? I shot up from my seat in shock. “I asked you to wake me before we got here,” I moaned, while trying to wipe the sleep from my eyes.

  Liam was sitting beside me grinning like an idiot. “I tried, but you carried on snoring.”

  “I do not snore,” I huffed out.

  “Yeah, you do.” He laughed.

  “Okay, I’m not arguing. How do I look?” I asked, running my fingers through my dark, curly hair, to try and bring some order to it.

  “You look great, Thalia. Stop fussing.”

  Liam climbed out of the car and ran around to open the door for me still looking neat as a pin, whereas I probably looked like the cat the dog dragged home.

  He held his hand out to me so I placed mine in his and let him pull me from the car. While I stretched my legs, I took my first look at his childhood home. It was a large colonial style house with a wraparound porch, or at least I thought it was from what I could see of it. Colorful flowers lined and filled the porch and a well-maintained garden surrounded the house with a barn off in the distance. The house was painted white with pale blue trim. It was gorgeous.

  “You like?” Liam stood beside me and looked…nervous?

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yeah, I guess it is,” he took a deep breath, “let’s do this.”

  Why was he nervous about being home?

  I followed a reluctant Liam up the front steps to the porch, and noticed the two-person-swing and chairs to the right with a low coffee table betw
een them. It looked welcoming.

  Liam opened one side of the huge double doors on the front of the house so we could enter. Walking inside the large entrance, which was decorated in pale lemon with white accessories, I spotted an elegant looking woman over to the left, standing watching us.

  “Liam, you’re here?” The rich voice was filled with affection.

  “It would appear so,” Liam answered as he walked towards the woman and wrapped her up in a hug. She was about the same height as I was, with short blonde hair styled into a sleek bob. She wore minimum make up and looked elegant in a white pantsuit. Liam pulled away, but kept his arm around her. “Mom, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend,” he winked, “Thalia.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Thalia.” She took hold of my shoulders and kissed the air next to each side of my face. “That’s an unusual name, pretty, but unusual. Please call me Stephanie.”

  I stepped away from her. “It’s nice to meet you, Stephanie.” I continued to look around. “You have a beautiful home.”

  This woman made me feel uneasy for some reason. She’d been welcoming, but kept looking me up and down as though I fell short, or at least that’s how she made me feel.

  “Where are Dad and Jack?”

  “Your father is playing golf and Jack took off on that bike,” Stephanie replied in disgust. “Why he uses that dirty thing, I have no idea. I just pray Mia doesn’t find out about it.”

  About to laugh, I caught Liam watching me. He gave a slight shake of his head. “Mom, everyone needs to let off steam now and again.”

  “Yes, well, he’ll be married in just short of two months, so he’ll have to get it out of his system before then.” She glanced at me, shaking herself like she just remembered I was standing there. “Sorry Thalia, you’ll meet my husband, Graham, and Liam’s brother, Jack, at dinner… You do have a dress with you?” She looked me up and down again.

  It was clear from the thin line of her lips and the jut of her jaw that she didn’t think I was good enough for her son. “Yes,” I replied while I tried to hold my tongue. If she saw my family home she wouldn’t be acting as though Liam had dragged me in from the street. She’d be throwing her son at me!

  “Good. I’ll let Liam show you around. I’ve put Thalia in the yellow guest room. I’m meeting friends in town so I’ll see you both at dinner.” She breezed out the front door leaving me stunned. For someone married to a lawyer, she wasn’t diplomatic.

  “Oh boy. Jack’s pissed about something.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “He only takes the bike out when he’s pissed and because Dad isn’t here, I’d say Mom is the reason.” He ran his hands through his hair and let out a breath, as though he’d been holding it in. “Give me a minute to grab our things from the car. After that, I’ll show you to your room.”

  “Okay.”

  While Liam went to retrieve the luggage, I wandered into the hall where the stairs were located. On the side table to my right were a handful of photographs, letting my purse drop to the floor I moved in for a closer look. I noticed Liam straightaway; in fact there were a few of him and a couple of his parents. There was only one of another guy, who I presumed must be Jack. It was obviously high school graduation. So that cute guy was Liam’s brother.

  “Jack,” Liam commented, glancing over my shoulder. I’d been so engrossed in the photographs I hadn’t heard him come back inside. “He looks a bit different now. That was high school graduation.”

  Liam started up the stairs, so I followed him, wondering why, if Jack was supposed to be ‘the golden boy’, weren’t there more photographs of him around the house. The ones lining the walls were mainly of Liam. Oh, there were baby photographs of them both, but only Liam as an adult. Strange.

  “Jack removed all his pictures after an argument with Dad, not sure what it was about, but it pissed Jack off pretty badly,” Liam answered my unspoken question.

  We came to a stop outside what I presumed to be my room. Liam opened the door allowing me to enter first.

  “I hope you like it. There’s a great view from the window,” Liam informed me, dumping my bag on the floor at the end of the bed before he tugged me over to the window. Wow, he wasn’t kidding, the view was amazing. I could see the barn, fields and lots of trees that appeared to have a river tucked away behind. The only thing missing in the room was a window seat so I could read.

  “The bathroom is through here, but you need to remember when you use it to lock both doors and to unlock both when finished. For some reason, you’re sharing with Jack.”

  My eyes widened in shock. “What do you mean?” Surely he didn’t mean my room was separated from Jack’s by a bathroom.

  Liam looked uncomfortable, hovering around the bedroom door. “I’m not sure why you’re in here, but you and Jack share the bathroom. Look, he’ll keep his distance. Plus you’re my girlfriend,” he met my eyes, “so he won’t break the brother’s code.”

  “Some guy code, I guess. Okay, never mind. It’s a lovely room and I could spend all day looking out of the window so don’t worry.”

  Sitting on my bed, I watched Liam pace back and forth. He paused occasionally and I could have sworn that he wanted to say something, but he stayed silent.

  “Do you mind if I rest till dinner. I’m tired after the ungodly hour you made me get up.” I yawned. Being tired wasn’t an exaggeration. Not only did I have a lot to take in about this family, I was expected to share space with the mysterious brother.

  “Yeah, I’m going to hit the sack as well.” Liam turned to leave and if I wasn’t mistaken he looked relieved.

  “What time’s dinner? Please tell me the dresses I bought will be okay to wear?”

  “Dinners at seven and your dresses are fine, but for dinner I suggest you wear shoes instead of your boots. Mom would zero straight in to your foot wear…I’m sorry, Thalia.”

  Liam walked back over to me and pulled me up from the bed and straight into his arms for a hug, which he kept brief. He then kissed me on the top of my head. Stepping back, he walked towards the door again, quickly exiting and closing it behind him with a thud.

  I shook my head at the closed door. He was all over the place and I was even more confused about the relationship we had. Sighing, I tried to shut my brain down for a little while.

  After a quick trip to the bathroom, I lay down on the bed and remembered I’d left my purse on the floor beside the table downstairs. I’d have to retrieve it later when I woke up because my body was too tired to move.

  Chapter 10

  Jack

  I pulled the bike up short on the opposite side of the river. Not enough distance from the house, but it would have to do. I needed space before I did or said something I’d end up regretting, or if I didn’t regret it, I’d still probably piss a lot of people off – starting with my parents.

  Hell. I stripped, needing to burn my anger off, and the safest way to do that on the ranch, was to swim. I waded into the water, forgetting that this part of the river was always freezing, because the sun couldn’t get through to warm it up. With a deep breath I dived in and swam, and then swam some more.

  My life was a mess. I couldn’t put my finger on the exact moment I started to lose control of my life, but it sure as hell happened. I was engaged – to be married. I knew what was expected of me after I’d qualified as a lawyer, plus everyone would expect me to have Mia pregnant. Fuck, I felt sick.

  Since I was sixteen I’d always done what was expected of me. Instead of rebelling, which I’d wanted to do, I’d gone along with everyone’s plans so they’d leave my brother alone. They’d left him alone, but still treated me as though I was some big disappointment.

  Liam was bringing his girlfriend home for the summer, and she’d been put in the room beside mine with a shared bathroom. Yeah, that was why I was so pissed. Add to that the fact that I’d been told to keep my hands off her and I couldn’t help seeing red.

  I snorted in derision as my arms slic
ed through the cold water. As though, I was going to go after my brother’s girl. It was a total no-no. I was supposed to be getting married in just under two month’s time to Mia. That fact, I kept pushing to the back of my mind so I wouldn’t freak out. Mia was pretty, had a slight build, but had been brought up to never lift a finger. She had no interest in anything other than TV shows and going out with friends to dinner. Not a bar, but a restaurant.

  She bored me within two minutes, but what the hell could I do? I’d been hoping Liam would hook up with her as he’d always had a crush on her when we were growing up. No matter how many times I’d told him to go for it with her, he’d ignored me and blown me off. So I’d ended up being pushed into an engagement and marriage that I didn’t want. There was no way to find my way out of it either, at least not without losing my tuition fees.

  Yeah, that was what Dad was holding over me. If I married Mia and all would be fine; if I didn’t, then I could kiss my law degree goodbye. Even with a part-time job, I wouldn’t be able to afford the fees as well as living expenses.

  Exhausted, I pulled myself out of the river and tried to shake the water from my body. I dressed quickly, which was easier said than done considering I was soaking wet and the denim didn’t want to cooperate.

  With a heavy sigh, I climbed back onto my bike and started it up. I felt better for swimming off some of my frustration. I just hoped the calm I felt lasted me through the evening meal with Liam and his girl. I wondered what she looked like as I headed towards the barn. His usual taste in women wasn’t too good so hopefully this time he’d improved.

  I concentrated on staying on the bridge as I roared over the river. I’d been planning on making a start on repairing the bridge, but I was in too much of a bad mood to be of much use. I just hoped it didn’t give out before I could get back to it, especially with anyone on it.

  The barn was up ahead so I pulled my bike in through the back entrance and covered it up again with the sheeting I used to keep it hidden.