“I need coffee.” Brock headed downstairs and the pot of coffee he prayed Cade had left before going out that morning.
“Cade’s pissed,” Sam said as he followed close behind him. “You were supposed to be in the barn at daybreak this morning. Remember?”
Brock grunted in irritation. He’d forgotten. Cade wanted him to help check some fences and move the
cattle in the front pastures. He strode quickly into the kitchen and went straight for the coffee. Marly was still sitting at the breakfast table, her head rose as Brock went past her.
“Hey, sleepy head,” she greeted him with a smile. “Cade was gonna pull you out of bed this morning, until he saw your friend.”
Brock froze as he set the pot back on its warming plate.
“He came to the room?” he asked her carefully.
“Yeah, he did.” Her voice was amused but he could hear the echo of strain beneath it. “Then he told me to let you sleep and he would talk to you later.”
He picked up his cup, glancing at Sam’s carefully controlled expression. For some reason, Cade hadn’t wanted Marly to know just how angry he was. There was more to this than the work Brock had missed.
Picking up his coffee cup, he snagged several large biscuits and sausage and went to the table, followed closely by Sam.
“So who is she?” Marly asked curiously, watching him. “Anyone I know?”
Despite her amused expression, her blue eyes were dark with concern.
“Sarah Tate,” Brock answered her, knowing his voice was edgy.
He caught the look between Sam and Marly. Sam’s expression was mockingly amused and knowing.
Marly’s surprised.
“She’s married.” Marly frowned. “No wonder Cade was upset.”
“She’s divorced. The papers were signed yesterday,” he told her tightly. “And since when did Cade think he could tell me who to f**k?”
Marly looked at him in surprise. Brock breathed out a rough sigh. He was on edge. He wanted to go back to the bedroom and waken Sarah. He wanted to hear her screaming out his name again. Begging him.
“You brought her home, Brock. You’ve never done that,” she reminded him softly. “Cade’s just concerned.”
Was Cade concerned, or was Marly? The complications of this burst into the forefront of his mind. He hadn’t thought, he had just reacted. And Cade had come to his room. He knew what Sarah meant to Brock, knew what having her there would come to mean. Just as Brock did, just as Marly should know.
The edge of pain that she fought to keep hidden sliced his heart like a dull knife.
“Nothing to be concerned about.” Brock shrugged, forcing the lie past his lips.
He wanted to keep Sarah; at least until he knew if the obsession he had always had for her went deeper than just lust.
“Is that why Dr. Bennett had a message on his machine this morning that you were bringing a patient in
for an exam and a prescription of birth control pills?” Marly dropped her own little bomb, watching him carefully. “He called this morning to set up the appointment time. By the way, he said late afternoon would work.”
Brock felt a stirring of lust and tamped it down ruthlessly. Soon, he would be able to take Sarah, to thrust into her and feel his own release shatter through him as it vibrated against the walls of her flesh.
“He’s zoning out on us, Munchkin,” Sam sighed with exaggerated patience. “He’s a goner.”
Brock flashed him an irritated look. He didn’t need Sam’s highjinks right now. He also caught the flash of fear in Marly’s eyes and his chest clenched. He didn’t want to hurt Marly. It was the last thing he wanted to do.
“Her ex was at her house when we showed up last night. It was late.” He shrugged, keeping his eyes on his cup.
“So you’re taking her home?” There was a measure of relief in Marly’s voice.
Brock wanted to hit something. He could feel the pain of this boiling through his system, making him want to curse in fury.
“Yeah, soon as she’s ready. Then I’ll run the bastard out of her house and put the fear of Brock in him.”
He grinned crookedly, though he felt like howling.
He avoided Sam’s look, knowing his twin would sense the emotions he was keeping carefully under control. He hadn’t expected this, though he admitted he should have. He had hoped, no, he had believed Marly would eventually welcome any woman he claimed into the house. He hadn’t thought she would feel insecure, hurt.
“Hey, Marly, you’re gonna be late for your own appointment this morning,” Sam told her laughing. “It’s nearly ten. Didn’t you schedule with Denise for eleven?”
Denise Lamont did the intimate waxing, plucking and toning of Marly’s body.
“Damn.” Marly swallowed the last drink of coffee and jumped to her feet. “You’re right, and she’ll kill me if I’m late.”
She left the kitchen hurriedly, leaving Sam and Brock alone, the silence thickening harshly around them.
“What are you gonna do?” Sam finally asked him curiously.
Brock shook his head, hunching his shoulders as he sipped at his coffee. There was nothing to do but accept it. He hated it. The pain of it lay in his gut like acid. But what else could he do? He couldn’t hurt Marly.
“I heard her and Cade this morning. She was crying, Brock. Cade’s furious.” Sam kept his voice low as he leaned closer to Brock.
Brock grimaced, his own anger surging through his body. Dammit, it was his home too. His right. A right Marly’s pain would steal away from him. There was no sense in arguing the fairness of it, or of bemoaning it. Marly hadn’t been raised as they had been. She had been sheltered, loved during the years
she had lived in their home. She didn’t understand the bond they shared, the needs they had.
“I’ll take care of it.” Brock shook his head.
Silence descended once again. It was strained, questions unsaid, explanations no longer important now.
“How will you take care of it?” Sam finally asked him quietly.
Brock flashed him a disgruntled look.
“I don’t know, Sam, do I need your permission, whatever I do?”
Sam sighed again. He pushed his fingers through his hair, and Brock knew Sam was feeling his own frustration. Brock could only imagine how Cade felt.