“You had her and left her. I’ve heard of stupid moves before but that is one of the worst. You may be able to take me in a fight but never get into a battle of intelligence with me. I’d kick your ass,” Brass said before storming toward the side of the house and the water hose.
Slade stood there feeling numb, staring up at the house. He wanted to go after her, wanted to talk to her, and would even beg her forgiveness for the harsh words but he didn’t even know where to start. He’d called her child a bastard.
Why am I always fucking up so bad around her? Damn it! His chin lowered to his chest and pain gripped him. He was his own worst enemy. Every time he opened his mouth he seemed to push away the woman he loved by saying something that pained or hurt her.
He turned, stumbling toward the Jeep, knowing he needed to cool down and think. He had to figure out a way to make this right. He jumped in the driver’s seat but his hand hesitated. He didn’t want to leave her. He couldn’t. He let his hand drop but then reached for the key again. Anger and pain gripped him. He couldn’t seem to do anything right when it came to Trisha. Perhaps he didn’t deserve her but he wanted her so badly it made him feel bitter at the concept of losing her forever.
He started the engine and slowly drove away but he’d return. He’d shower, change his clothes and calm down. He’d think clearer and find a way to fix the mess his temper and jealousy had created.
A baby. Trisha is having my baby. A warm feeling spread throughout his chest.
* * * * *
“He left.” Moon studied her. “Are you well?”
“I totally lost it.”
He nodded. “I saw and heard.”
“How is Brass?”
“Harley is outside, hosing him off with water but he’ll be fine. His pride suffered the most at being beaten but Slade really is one of our finest fighters. I told Brass there is no shame in getting his ass kicked by the best. There should only be a sense of shame when you lose to someone weaker.”
“I’m so sorry this happened.” Trisha wiped at tears.
Moon stood and slowly approached Trisha. “It is not your fault. Slade deserved your harsh words. He had sex with you and disappeared afterward. It is his shame to carry, not yours. You are a gift, Trisha. Any man would be lucky if you cared about him and allowed him to touch you the way he did but he threw it away. He was stupid to do that. Lie down and rest. The supplies arrived a few minutes ago and we will bring you dinner soon. Think of your baby and don’t worry about Slade or anything else. We will take care of you. I’m sure once Slade cools down he will return to talk calmly with you. We made him see the good reasoning in leaving you alone until he calms. He didn’t want to but his brain started functioning again. I think he was such a dick because he was insanely jealous, believing you had allowed someone else to touch you. He wouldn’t have been such an asshole if he didn’t care about you and he must care a lot since he was such a big one.”Trisha didn’t protest when Moon tucked covers around her after she lay down and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. Trisha smiled at him.
“Thank you. I’m impressed, by the way.”
“About what?”
“I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you say at one time.”
Moon grinned before he returned downstairs. Trisha tried to relax. It wasn’t easy. She was still upset by what had happened.
Well, Slade knows about our baby now. She’d fulfilled what Justice had asked her to do and it had been a disaster. She fought tears. She hadn’t dreamed in a million years that she’d end up screaming the news of fatherhood at a man whose baby she carried and she’d called him names on top of it all. Just…crap!
Was Moon correct? Slade had been an extreme asshole. If he didn’t care he wouldn’t have reacted so violently to the news of her being pregnant. It had really hurt when he’d instantly assumed she’d slept with Justice. Maybe he thought she slept around with men regularly. He didn’t know her at all if that was the case.
The whole “mine” thing remained stuck inside her head. He’d said she was his when he’d attacked Bill at the camp where she’d almost been raped. Then when they were outside he’d screamed at her that she knew she was his but if he considered her that, why had he abandoned her? He’d said something about protecting her and it was just confusing when she tried to make sense of his words. He wanted to give her time? He’d said only time could have given them a chance or something close to that. Time for what? For me to feel used and stupid for thinking something meaningful happened between us?
She heard the stairs creak a short time later and wiped away her tears. Harley walked upstairs carrying a glass of milk and some food with him. A spoon peeked out of the bowl.
“I brought you milk for the baby and soup for your upset stomach. Moon told me you were sick enough to lose your last meal. I’ll bring you chocolate-chip cookies if you hold all this down. They sent a large bag of them. I told the guys to at least save you one.”
Trisha smiled as she sat up. “Just one?”
“Maybe two. You are eating for two people now.” Harley grinned at her. “You be careful with this. It’s hot. I don’t want you to get burned.”
Trisha stared at him with gratitude. “Thank you for being my friend.”
“A friend? I thought we could elope to Vegas and have Elvis marry us.” His gaze sparkled as he teased. “I had it all worked out too. We could buy some mangy mutt, buy us a rusty old RV, and find some city dump to live next to. I hear it’s a great place to find furniture.” He lifted up the material on his arm and exposed his thick biceps. “I had a spot picked out here to have your name tattooed on me and I thought I could have my name tattooed across your ass. That way I could actually say I owned your ass.”
Trisha laughed. Moon walked upstairs and sat on the edge of the bed holding a plate with a few pieces of buttered toast. He set it down on the bed next to Trisha so she could easily reach it.
“It’s not her ass you have your name put on, Harley. You have her tattoo it on her arm so when she forgets your name, it’s right there. We all know how memorable you aren’t. She’d have to be a contortionist to see your name on her ass.”
“If she’s a contortionist,” Brass called out as he climbed the stairs, “then she’d have to marry me instead. And you never have Elvis marry you. That’s a bad omen if I ever heard one. Everyone knows marriage started by a dead guy ends in a dead marriage down the road. And speaking of road, she’s high class and don’t forget it. You don’t buy some rusted-out RV. You buy a fifth-wheel travel trailer and live in style. That way you can unhitch it and not have to remove the patio every time you need to go somewhere.”
Trisha wanted to flinch when she saw Brass’ face. He had bruising to his cheekbone and jaw, cuts all over, and there was swelling near his eye. He held her worried gaze and winked. “I’m still incredibly good-looking.”
She laughed. “Yes. You are.”
Moon sniffed suddenly. His gaze turned to Brass and Harley. They sniffed too. Three pairs of eyes turned to the window before they glanced away.
Trisha tensed. “What do you smell?”
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Moon muttered. “Just a hint of a storm outside.”
“Oh. I hope the roof doesn’t leak.” Trisha glanced up at the slanted wood beams of the ceiling and back at the guys. “The cabin seems pretty solid though, even if it is outdated inside.”
“I’m sure it won’t, Trisha.” Brass motioned to her food. “Eat up.”
Trisha ate while the men kept teasing her. She laughed, listening to them get more outrageous about funny marriage scenarios. She saw them glance at the window a few times. It had grown dark outside. The window remained open but she didn’t see any flashes of lightning or hear rain.
Trisha finished all of her soup, ate both slices of toast, and finished off her milk. Moon took her dishes.
“I’ll bring you cookies and some more milk but I’m going to take a jog first. I enjoy a good run at night. Can you wait for your snack?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
He smiled at her and disappeared downstairs.
“I know,” Harley chuckled. “You could marry me and we could go live with your parents. I hear that humans living with their in-laws always have a successful marriage.”
Brass smacked his forehead with his palm. “Where do you hear this backward bullshit? That’s a surefire way to kill a marriage.”
Trisha laughed. “You’d run for the hills or worse if you ever met my parents and would probably buy a gun and shoot them. I don’t want to be married to a guy who’s doing twenty-to-life in prison.”
“Yeah.” Brass nodded seriously. “Then she’d have to divorce you for cheating on her inside the state pen.”
“Cheating on her?” Harley looked confused for a second and grimaced. “That’s…just wrong! I am attracted to females.”
“It depends on who you ask. I heard once that some men find true love behind bars.” Brass winked at Harley. “You do have a nice ass. I’m sure I’m not the only man who will see it that way.”