Takin' the Reins (The Sterling Brothers #2)(5)

Brooklyn turned and shielded her eyes with her arm, looking in Jace’s direction. She lifted her hand in a wave, and he did the same.

“Well, fuck me.” Colton’s voice was deep, his breath sawing in and out of him as he dropped a few posts down beside the fence.

Jace looked at his brother, seeing that obsession clear on his face.

“Dude, you need to just get over her. She’d doesn’t want anything to do with you.” Jace turned away from Brooklyn and went back to working on the fence, but Colton still stood there, staring at the woman like a fucking creep.

“I have never wanted a woman like I want her, Jace.”

That had Jace stopping and looking at his brother. “You say that about all the women.” He was exaggerating, but it was mostly true.

Colton ran a hand over his mouth, not saying anything for long moments. Jace looked over his shoulder to see Brooklyn bend down to pick Hot Dog up.

“I’m telling you, Jace. She does that shit on purpose.”

“What shit?” This should be interesting.

“Flaunts herself when she comes over here.”

Jace just shook her head. “Colton, it’s warm out, so she’s wearing shorts. And she’s just picking up the dog. I think you want her so bad you’re reading into things.” A moment of silence passed.

“Yeah, maybe, but I’ll tell you what.” Colton looked at him. “I will have her.”

Jace shook his head again. “Well, in the meantime help me put this fucking thing up.”

For the next twenty minutes they worked on the fence, and the entire time—hell, since he left the damn bar—all he’d thought about was Lexi. And jerking off to her had only made his need for her worse.

“Jace,” Colton said his name, stopped, and looked over at him.

“What?” He continued to work, because whatever Colton had to say didn’t have to do with what they were doing now, he knew that.

“What was up with you and that woman at the bar?”

Jace clenched his jaw but kept working. He thought a moment on how to respond. He didn’t lie to his brothers about anything, but he also didn’t like talking about personal shit, especially when that shit concerned a woman he wanted badly. “What about her?” He was avoiding the question, because honestly he didn’t know what he should say.

“You didn’t bring her home, but it was clear you wanted her like a fiend.” A moment of silence passed. “So, what, she turn you down or something?”

He stopped and looked over at Colton. His brother was already staring at him. “I didn’t ask her to come home.”

Colton lifted an eyebrow. “Why the fuck not?”

Jace just shook his head, not ready to admit he felt something more when he’d looked into her eyes.

“You wanted her, I could tell she wanted you, so I don’t know what the fuck is the issue.”

Jace didn’t bother responding. Colton had the mentality that fucking around and enjoying the one-night stands was what life was about … in so many ways. He didn’t fault his brother for not wanting to settle down, because honestly he was the same way. He wasn’t saying he wanted to marry Lexi, but he could say that she was the first woman he’d given a second thought to seeing, to having more than just a fuck with. And the craziest part of it all, despite having “known” her for years, was the fact they didn’t know jack shit about each other.

“I say if they want to fuck, and you want to, bring her home and make her walk bowlegged in the morning.”

Jace couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe I’m getting too old for that shit.” He hadn’t meant to say the words out loud, but the silence that greeted him told him Colton had heard well enough.

“You thinking of settling down like Travis?”

Jace didn’t answer for a long second.

“Jace?”

He looked at his brother, only then realizing he’d been focusing on the post in front of him. “I don’t know, Colton.”

“Well, shit,” was all Colton said. “Another Sterling going down.”

“Yeah,” Jace said, and without saying anything else they both started working on the fence again. There wasn’t anything left to say, because that realization that Jace was tired of jumping from woman to woman hadn’t been something he’d ever thought he’d care to think about. But he was tired of it, and it had just taken one look at a dark haired, blue-eyed beauty that made everything he thought he knew about himself change.

****

Lexi pulled to a stop in front of the duplex in Granite. She cut the engine, pleased by the appearance of the house, and felt her hope rise a little that she may have found a decent place to live, and one she could actually afford. Granite, being a small mountain town, didn’t have a lot of open real estate, and the places that did open up were too pricy for her wallet, and more aimed toward the retired of a wealthy family wanting to settle in a quiet, picturesque place. But her father worked with a man that had just finished renovating this duplex, knew Lexi was looking for a place, and had told her to come over.

She loved her parents, but she was too old to be living with them. She wanted to have her own place, her own space. She also knew her parents needed that for themselves, as well.

Lexi grabbed her purse and got out of the car, checking out the neighborhood, or lack thereof, and heard a car door slam shut behind her. She turned and saw an older man walk up to her, his smile wide, his hair graying. She’d never seen him before, but then again she didn’t know everyone her father worked with.

“Lexi?” The man asked, his hand already outstretched for her to shake.

“Yes.”

“I’m Robert. I work with your dad.”

She took the offered hand, gave it a shake, and before she could say anything he was leading them up to the front door. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’ll just get right to it since I’m short on time and I’m sure you have things to do today.” He smiled at her again. “I just fixed up the two houses over the last few months. The other side of the duplex is rented out to a young man.” He looked over his shoulder at her as they made their way up to the front door. “About your age I’d say. He’s really nice, but keeps late hours, so he’s not around much.”

She nodded, liking the fact she’d have the place more to herself. He opened the door and instantly the smell of cleaning supplies and fresh wood from the new construction filled her nose.

“This place is incredible.” She wasn’t exaggerating either. The living room, dining room, and kitchen were all located in one massive area, separated only by tile and carpet. The walls were tan and the molding white wood. The furniture that was in the house was older, but looked nice enough.

“We remodeled everything since this place was built in the seventies and pretty outdated.” He led them into the kitchen. “Granite counters, and the appliances and furniture come with the place. I wouldn’t normally include the furniture, but you’re Braxton’s daughter, and I figure this being your first place you’ll need the stuff. I would have just donated anyway because it’s all older.”

She smiled at him. “That’s very generous of you.” That was a plus seeing as she didn’t have anything and couldn’t afford to buy things, not right now at least.

She smoothed her fingers over the countertops and stared out the window above the sink. There was a small deck that was attached to the sliding glass doors in the dining room, and she could see the vast expanse of woods that made up the “backyard”.

She walked around the rest of the duplex, which wasn’t very big, but for only her it was spacious. They stopped at the front door, and she looked around once more.

“It’s really nice, but I’m on a pretty tight budget.” She didn’t want special treatment just because this man knew her father, but she’d be upfront about her finances.

“Your dad has helped me out a lot over the years, and renting this place out to someone I know will take care of it, will help me sleep better at night.”

She didn’t remind him that he didn’t know her, and for all he knew she could be some crazy party girl. She snorted at that and nodded. “I really do love it.”

“Then it’s yours.” He explained the rent, what was included, and what utilities she’d have to pay. Although it was still a decent amount she’d have to come up with every month, the fact was she could swing it, and she’d have her own place.

Now, she just needed to figure out how to stop thinking about Jace, because as it stood he was taking up too much of her time, and there was no future for them.





Chapter Five



It had taken a week, but Lexi was finally moved into her own place. Her parents hadn’t been happy that she’d left home, and although they hadn’t actually said anything about her leaving, she’d been able to see on their faces they liked having her home. But she needed her own space, and so did they.

She watched her father’s truck pull away from the duplex, turned from the window, and looked around. Boxes were scattered around the living room and kitchen, and in the bedroom it was the same scene. Her stomach chose that moment to grumble, and she contemplated ordering a pizza or just going to the store to fill the fridge. Although she was tired, the latter sounded like a better idea in the long run. And also maybe leaving the house and finding something to do, even as mundane as shopping, would help her get Jace Sterling out of her mind.