Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga #10)(12)

“If anyone can understand that, Talon can.”

“Exactly. But they want to offer him more than that. A permanent position here with a profit share.”

“I had no idea. Then again, since college, I’ve always told them I’m happy being their silent partner.” And I loved the idea of Bryce being around all the time. I didn’t voice that part, though.

“They would’ve told you about it before they made the offer. I’m sure.”

“Maybe. It doesn’t really matter. I trust them to do what’s best for the ranch and to look after my interests. Honestly, Jade, before everything went down, I thought about asking them to buy me out so I could go off and learn to cook. I mean really cook, like the great ones.”

“I’d miss you terribly, but why not do it? Talon always talks about you studying at Le Cordon Bleu. If you don’t want to go that far away right now, what about culinary school in Denver? You’re so gifted, Marj. You could be one of the great chefs.”

“I can’t leave right now. I’d never miss the birth of your baby. And you guys need me.”

“We love having you here, and yes, we need you, but we’ll be fine. You need to live your life. You’re almost twenty-six years old. You need to go find your life. You might be a ranch heiress, but you’re not a rancher.”

“Wait a minute. I worked just as hard as my brothers around here. My father saw to it.”

“I get that. You know the business, but it isn’t your dream. It never has been. The guys—this place is their blood, their life-force. But you? Not so much.”

I couldn’t fault my best friend’s observation. “I know. Still, this is home.”

She smiled. “Home is where the heart is. Your heart may be with your brothers, with me, but you can’t fight your future forever.”

“I’ll think about it,” I said, “but I’m not leaving anytime soon. Not until I see your bundle of joy. You’re stuck with me for several more months.”

“Good enough.” She squeezed my arm. “I wouldn’t want to go through this without my best friend. Can you believe it? You have two new nephews, and you’re about to have two more.”

“Well, one might be a niece,” I said, patting her still slim belly. “We don’t know what’s in here yet.”

“I know. I just have a feeling it’s a boy. We’ll see. All I care about is that it’s happy and healthy. And that it never has to go through the hell its father and brothers have been through.”

“It won’t.” I smiled. “We’ve got to be due for some good luck in this family about now.”

Jade stood. “Excuse me.” She placed her hand over her mouth as she walked quickly to the bathroom.

Sick again, the poor thing.

No way was I going anywhere.





I was putting dinner on the table when Talon walked in wearing dirty jeans and a tattered shirt.

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing. Just decided to help the guys out in the fields today. Does a body good every now and then.”

Interesting. That was exactly what Bryce was after. Talon had come such a long way, but his past still haunted him sometimes. How could it not? At ten years old, he’d been held for two months, repeatedly starved, beaten, and raped.

I tried not to think about what my brother had been through. It messed with my head. Now he and Jade had taken in the Robertson boys, who’d been through much of the same, so I couldn’t not think about it. In fact, it invaded my thoughts constantly, so I tried to take from it the most positive things I could. Tenderness in handling the boys, and a vision of my brother’s endurance.

My brother had the strength of a Titan.

“Dinner’s ready, so get cleaned up. I’m going to call the boys, and then I’ll take a plate in to Jade.”

“You don’t have to.” Jade entered the kitchen, dressed and looking…well…a little peaked. “I want to eat with my family tonight.”

“Hey, blue eyes.” Talon pressed his lips against hers.

Jade smiled. “You’re a mess.”

“I’ll be clean in a few. Just a quick shower.” He kissed her again and walked toward their bedroom.

Jade sat down at her place at the kitchen table. “Ugh. Now I’m feeling crappy again.”

“Go back to your room. I’ll take care of things.”

“No. Those little boys need me. They need a mother, and I need to be here. Talon needs me. You need me.”

“We need you to rest for your baby.”

“The doctors assure me that everything is fine. I promise I’ll go right back to the bedroom after dinner. I have to do this. Women have been having babies for millennia. This isn’t an illness.” She stuck out her tongue. “Even though it feels like it sometimes.”

“Have it your way.” I set the salad on the table.

The boys ambled in.

“You eating with us tonight, Miss Jade?” Donny asked.

“Yes, sweetie. I’ve missed seeing your face at the table.”

He still wouldn’t call her Mom. Jade looked slightly disappointed, but she smiled anyway. She was determined to let the boys go at their own pace.