Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(43)

“Maybe you can make this whole wolf-kill business go away. You should take one for the team, Reid. Buy her a steak dinner and nail her.” Twice-divorced, Jared was the man-whore of the family. He raised the long neck to his lips with a wink.

“She doesn’t eat steak.”

“A vegetarian? That figures. Then make it a f*cking tofu burger. You’re missing my point. You can make this easier on yourself by making it hard in her. Do her justice, and she’ll forgive and forget quickly enough. A good dinner and a better f*ck have always worked for me.”

“Don’t talk about her like that, Jared.”

His brother’s gaze narrowed. “Why so defensive?”

“I know her.”

“How?”

“She’s from San Jacinto, not far from Camp Pendleton.”

“Did you do her?”

“That’s none of your f*cking business, Jared, and not even remotely related to this conversation.”

“Guess I got my answer.” Jared smirked. “But you’re wrong, little brother. It’s entirely relevant because it puts you in a unique position to find out what she’s really doing here.”

“This is bullshit. If you want to know something, just ask her. I’m not going to act as your spy.”

Jared’s mouth compressed. “Maybe you don’t realize what’s really on the line here. The ranchers. The hunting outfits. Our business. Your livelihood. We’re all hurting, and it isn’t going to get any better until we can control the vermin that caused this problem.”

To Jared, the only good wolf was a dead one.

“So, what’s the real deal with you and her anyway? I admit she isn’t bad on the eyes, but once she opens her mouth…” He shuddered.

“There’s not much to tell. We met at a dance club before my third deployment. We saw each other for a little while, but that was a long time ago.” He upended his bottle.

“Are you going to see her again?”

“Hell if I know. We didn’t exactly reunite on the most auspicious terms.”

When he’d seen her, at first he’d hoped… He shook his head. Hell, he didn’t even know what he’d hoped, but the Cinderella incident had set them back not just three steps, but three miles.

“So what’s going on between you and Tonya these days?” Jared suddenly asked.

“I dunno,” Reid answered noncommittally. He wondered what was behind all his brother’s questions. He and Jared had never been close and were certainly not confidants. At times like this, Reid missed Garcia. Not that Raf wouldn’t have jerked his chain exactly the same way, but somehow it was easier to take this kinda shit from his marine buddy than from his older brother. “Why so interested?” he asked Jared. “You lookin’ to make Tonya ex-wife number three?”

Jared’s gaze darkened. “Mebbe.”

Holy shit. Reid tipped his hat back and stared at his brother as if seeing him for the first time. “You and Tonya?” He didn’t know what exactly clued him in, but suddenly it all made sense. “When, Jared? Answer me that. Are you the reason she called it off with me? I deserve to know.”

“I s’pose you do. It was New Year’s Eve. You were gone… Tonya was depressed and lonely… I was on the rebound after the split with Rita…”

“You low-crawling bastard!”

“Look, Reid. It was after she broke it off with you. We were both drunk or it never would have happened. Then again, you left without putting a ring on her finger.”

Reid gave an incredulous laugh. “Are you trying to say it’s my fault? Shit. I can’t f*cking believe this.”

“I ain’t saying nothing of the kind,” Jared replied. “But it’s all water under the bridge now, and she regrets it. Not because it wasn’t good,” he added, too damn quickly. “But it’s never happened between us since.”

“But you want her?”

“Mebbe,” Jared repeated. “I’ve been waiting to see if you’d pick it back up with her. I’d step aside if you still wanted her, but it seems to me you’re in no big hurry to rush her down the aisle.”

Reid wanted to tear his brother’s head off, but more for the act of betrayal than any true feeling of jealousy. He took a breath and then another swig of beer, willing away his impulse to pound Jared into dust. Somehow he’d always known there was someone else. She hadn’t exactly lied, but she hadn’t told him the whole truth either. Even if it really was after she broke with him, and she really was sorry, he’d never be able trust her again.

So much for digging out that engagement ring. Maybe he should go pawn it instead. Hell, if the investigation didn’t move in his favor, he might need the money for legal fees.





Chapter 15


Wyoming Outfitters Convention

The annual Outfitters Convention was an old tradition that broke up the long winter. Part business and part social, the event brought out everyone involved in hunting and dude ranching. Reid had always looked forward to it, but so much had changed in his eight-year absence. He was surprised to learn how many outfits had shut their doors. In a state so dependent on tourism, the downward economy had hit everyone hard, but it seemed the outfitters had taken the brunt of the blow.