Brock was taken aback by Kane’s directness. “I guess I should’ve called first.”
“You probably shouldn’t have ripped down the driveway at eighty miles an hour,” Braden said. “What’s wrong, Brock?”
“I need your help.”
“Oh God,” Kane grumbled, dragging his hand down his face. “What has she done this time?”
“Stop.” Braden shot Kane a warning glare. “We were just talking about Trixie today. She’s turned into a responsible young woman and we’re all proud of her. Don’t jump to conclusions now.”
Kane ignored Braden. “What the hell did she do? I’m not like my big brother here. I don’t sleepwalk through life wearing rose-colored glasses and a sign on my back stating my children are perfect.”
Braden snarled. “Stop it, Kane. Let the boy talk.”
Boy. Hell. Brock paced the porch. Damn. Come to think of it, he felt like a boy. He sure wasn’t acting like a man. What the fuck was he doing? Running to his wife’s momma and daddies when he needed them to keep an old boyfriend at bay?
Storming away from them then, he said, “Forget I was here. I let my temper get the best of me.”
Kane marched down the front steps. “Hang on there a minute. What’s this about?”
Brock returned to the driver’s seat and fastened his seat belt. “I was out of line. I shouldn’t have come.”
Kane reached in the open window and pulled the keys out of the ignition. “But you did. And you pulled me away from a very beautiful woman when you tore through our gates like a man being chased by a mad gal with a frying pan. So talk. What happened? What can we do to help?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know.”
“Don’t give me that shit.”
“Kane is right,” Braden said. “What’s happened?”
Brock took a deep breath. Trixie would cut him off for a year after this. Gone were the days of spontaneous sex. He could kiss his active sex life good-bye.
“Well?” Kane pressed.
“Mitch Colony is back in town.”
Kane stepped away from the truck. “Ah, hell.”
Braden frowned. “Not what I wanted to hear.”
“Did you know?”
“Of course we didn’t know,” Kane snapped. “What kind of foolish question is that?”
“Foolish for sure,” Brock grumbled.
“Has Trixie talked to him?” Braden asked.
“No, not yet.”
“Have you?” Kane asked.
“Yeah. Rory and I just left him.”
“How’d that work out for ya?” Braden asked, smirking.
Kane shot him a glare. “This isn’t a laughing matter.”
“No it isn’t,” Braden agreed. “But it’s not a parental matter either.”
“I’ll agree with you there. Like I told you, I shouldn’t have come.”
“Then why did you?” Kane asked. “What was on your mind when you were flying over here like a bat out of hell?”
“Beats me. I’m just pissed off.”
Braden laid his hand on Brock’s forearm. “Son, if he’s trying to see her, she will see him. She won’t stop until she does. They have a history, a past you and Rory were part of. The last thing you want to do is put her in a compromising situation.”
“I know,” Brock admitted. “I just don’t like it.”
“Well, take it from me,” Braden said, returning to the house. “You won’t stop this. The wheels are already in motion.”
Braden left them. A minute or so later, Kane asked, “Want me to talk to her?”
“So you can, what…tell her I came over to tattle?”
Kane laughed. “I ought to fry your ass, by God.” His laughter subsided and he added, “It ain’t easy for a man like me to see a man like you with his daughter.”
“I’m sure that’s true.”
“But you love her and I believe that. I know you’d never do anything to harm her. And I feel damn fortunate to have you for a son-in-law.” He paused and acted as if he wouldn’t say whatever was lingering on the tip of his tongue. Then he finally relented. “I’ll never feel that way about Colony and I’d be happy as hell to tell Trixie the same. He’ll never settle down. He’s been spoiled. He doesn’t have a clue what it takes to be a man. The only thing he’ll do is bring my daughter pain. In the end, Mitch Colony will disrupt your family.”
“My thoughts exactly. That’s why Trixie can’t see him.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not your decision,” Kane said.