Brazen (Brazen #1)(25)

“Hey bro, you should have waited on me,” Zane said from behind him. “I told you I’d help you get those unloaded this morning.”

Seth tensed and slowly rose to a standing position. He wiped his hands on his jeans and turned to face his brother.

“I figured you were otherwise occupied,” he said in a clipped tone.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Zane asked. But he averted his eyes almost guiltily.

Which only made Seth angrier.

“What the hell are you doing f**king that little girl?”

Zane blinked, his expression shocked by Seth’s outburst. Then his eyes narrowed and his lips thinned.

“She’s not a little girl, Seth. You know it and I know it.”

“I don’t give a damn. You crossed the damn line. You know it and I know it,” he said, tossing Zane’s words back at him.

“What line is that exactly?” Zane demanded. “The one where you tell me how to act and feel? I’ve got news for you big brother. I don’t need a goddamn babysitter, and I damn sure don’t need you telling me who I can or can’t f**k.”

Seth saw red. No matter that he’d been just as crude. Hearing the words from Zane’s mouth, the blatant disrespect enraged him. Even if it did make him a goddamn hypocrite.

Before he could think, before he could stop himself, he swung his fist, connecting with Zane’s face. Zane’s head snapped back, and his knees buckled for a split second before he recovered and lunged for Seth.

Well, f**k. It had been years since they’d gone to fist city, but as pissed off as Seth was, he could use a good barnyard brawl.

* * *

Jasmine woke to sunshine streaming in through the window. Automatically she felt for Zane but once again was greeted by a cold, empty spot. She sighed and rolled over for a moment, hugging his pillow to her. One morning she’d like to actually wake in his arms.

Reluctantly, she pushed herself up and swung her legs over the side. Her head felt a little muggy, but at least it wasn’t hurting. She searched around for her shirt and found it half hidden underneath the bed. She rose and pulled it on before padding to the door.

She cracked it and nervously looked out before slipping into the hallway. She hurried toward her bedroom and into the shower. Thirty minutes later, she collected her camera and headed downstairs to the small study that housed the computer.

Her hands shook as she sat down and fumbled with the USB cord that would enable her to download pictures from her camera to the computer.

She was scared to death to face Zane. And Seth. Seth had rejected her, and while Zane hadn’t at first, he’d made it clear he considered what had happened a big mistake. She was making a first-class mess of her intentions, and worse, she was failing miserably in her quest.

After downloading her pictures, she checked her email, grateful once again that Seth had installed satellite internet for her.

She smiled as she read a quick note from Cherisse. The bubbly French girl always managed to cheer her up. She typed a quick response and sent it on its way.

As she scanned the rest of the emails in her inbox, her gaze focused on the subject header of one. Wildscapes Magazine. She clicked to open it and skimmed over the message.

Photos that she’d taken while in France, as well as older photos of the West Texas landscape, had been accepted for publication by Wildscapes. In addition they were very interested in other photos she might have and would like to know if she would consider a regular feature for their magazine—“Without Words”, a photo column on a monthly basis.

She sat, stunned, then read back over the message again. Truthfully, she’d submitted them on a lark, in a moment of weak indecision before she’d determined that she would return to Sweetwater Ranch.

She eased back in her chair and stared for another long moment before sliding the cursor over the “X” to close the email program. She unplugged her camera and set it to the side then rolled her chair backwards to get up.

She should be excited. But how could she greet the news with enthusiasm when it would mean leaving Sweetwater? And the Morgan brothers.

Paris had been a catalyst for so many things. She’d gone there to find herself. She’d experimented, thrown herself into life away from the ranch, made new friends. But she’d been unable to escape the inevitable. She loved Seth and Zane. Would always love them. That wouldn’t go away with time, distance or newfound maturity.

She trudged down the stairs, hungry and wanting the comfort of Carmen’s company. But when she walked into the kitchen, she was greeted by a sniff and a reproving look.

Not what she needed today. Was everyone mad at her? She plopped down onto a barstool and propped her elbows on the counter.

“Good morning to you, too, mamacita.”

Carmen stared balefully at her. “Hungry, niña? You’re awfully late for breakfast. I should make you wait for lunch.”

Jasmine sighed. “Why are you angry with me, mamacita?”

Carmen ignored her and bustled around the kitchen plating some of the leftovers from breakfast. She thrust the plate into the microwave and stood, hands on her hips as she waited for the time to lapse.

The door from the patio opened and shut and Jasmine swiveled on the stool to see who had come in. She gasped when she saw Zane standing there, rumpled, dirty, his mouth bleeding and his eye blackened.

Before she could open her mouth to ask him what the hell had happened, his lips tightened, and he strode out of the kitchen in the opposite direction.