A Matter of Trust(64)

Nearly dying had a way of teaching a guy who he was. And wasn’t.

And who he wanted to be.

Now, Ty got up from the table, brought his bowl to the sink, rinsed it, and loaded it in the dishwasher. Then he grabbed his coat, slipped on his boots, and hunkered down into the cold, heading to the barn.

Last night’s storm had sculpted the land, drifted the snow against the house, the fence, the barn, leaving bare patches in the heli-pad and in the yard. Overhead, the sky had cleared, a perfect powder blue. The air contained a bite, and a faint wind bullied its way down the back of his jacket as he scurried out to the barn.

He opened the door and flicked on the lights. The chopper sat in the relative warmth of the heated barn, having been brought in on the hydraulic pad. Beyond that was the gear room, and in the back of the barn, their various vehicles—the medivac truck, the 4Runner, and the two Polaris sleds. Ty might have lived the life of a playboy, but his father also taught him the workings of the ranch. Including how to repair the vehicles.

He opened the cover, pulled out the dipstick, and checked the oil.

“So you’ve decided to make a run for it?”

He found the voice, saw that Pete had followed him out. “What?”

Pete had his hands shoved into his pockets, as if trying to look casual, but with his hair pulled back, it only accentuated the sharp planes of his face and his dark expression. “Caught between Jess and Brette?” Pete shook his head. “I’d run too.”

Huh? “I’m not running. There’s nothing between . . .” Him and Jess. But he opted for the version that Pete knew. “Me and Brette.”

“Then why did I find you two all cozy this morning on the sofa?”

“She couldn’t sleep. We watched a movie.”

Pete had come up to him, his face unmoving. “Watched a movie.”

“Yeah. She’s upset and worried.”

“And you decided to comfort her.” Pete took another step toward him. Too close.

“Yeah. Now back off, Pete.”

Pete didn’t move. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I swear to you, Ty, if you break Jess’s heart, I’ll run you back to that fancy ranch of yours so fast—”

“Step. Back.” Ty had put the dipstick back and now pitched his voice low and turned to Pete. “I’m not afraid of you, Pete. Sure, I might have grown up with a few more advantages, but I promise you, I’m not who you think I am.”

“Clearly. Because I thought only I was stupid enough to date two women at the same time.”

“I’m not dating—” He sucked in a breath. “I am just being Brette’s friend. She needs one.”

“Really. Maybe I should be her friend,” Pete said.

Ty had never really understood men who got instantly riled when other men talked about their girlfriends, but suddenly he had the very real image of slamming his fist into Pete’s smug face. Maybe rock him back from his righteous perch, remind him that Jess had chosen to walk away from him, into Ty’s embrace. And yeah, it might be a platonic embrace, but she’d still chosen the safety of Ty’s arms over the warmth of Pete’s.

He managed not to say that, or let the thought tip a smile to his lips. Instead, he took a breath. He schooled his voice. “Pete. You’re so jealous you’re not thinking straight.”

The air went out of Pete at Ty’s words. He swallowed.

“Brette is just a friend. I promise I won’t hurt Jess.”

Pete’s jaw tightened.

Ty met his gaze.

Silence passed between them until Ty heard the door open behind Pete. He looked over his shoulder.

Jess had walked into the barn, her timing impeccable.

“Pete? Miles just came in. He wants to talk to you about the possible evac off the mountain over land.”

Pete didn’t move for a long heartbeat. Then, finally, he turned and must have smiled at Jess because she smiled back as she passed him.

Polite. But she wore so much longing in her face as Pete walked by, Ty wanted to shake them both.

She came up to him, and Ty waited until Pete closed the door behind him.

“Jess, this has gone on long enough. You have to tell him. The poor guy is completely in love with you and nearly took my head off just now because he thinks I’m cheating on you with Brette.”

Jess swallowed, looked away. “I know.”

“You know? Good. Yay. Because I’m tired of Pete being furious with me, and frankly . . .” He didn’t want to say the rest. The part about him watching Brette as she fell asleep, the way her blonde hair swept over her shoulders, the very real urge to twine her hair between his fingers.

“I just need you to settle this thing with you and Pete. For the good of all of us. Trust him, Jess. Tell him the truth. No one is going to betray you here—your secret is safe with us. At least it is with Pete, just as much as it is with me.”