Broken(31)

Ridge’s brows shot up and he threw his hands up in mock innocence. “I was only inquiring if you’ve had a chance to talk to her. Can’t a man ask his brother a simple question without getting his head bit off?”

Cade rolled his eyes heavenward. “Nothing is ever simple about you.”

“I was just wondering, is all. Sorry, I brought it up. Seems you get testy with every little thing lately.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t be this way if people got off my damn back. I know what a jerk I was at dinner the other night but give me a f*cking break. Do you think I need to hear about it every hour of the day? It’s bad enough I could barely look Jack in the eye when we were talking about that new Arabian foal.”

“You only have yourself to blame for that. Stone told me what you said to him
and—”

“Of course he did. Why else would you volunteer to ride along with me when I’m on my way to pick up a tractor part—that was small enough for me to not require assistance lifting?”

Ridge grinned sheepishly. “Thought you might have needed the company?”

Cade clenched and unclenched his jaw. His brother was more transparent than a cotton tee in a wet T-shirt contest. “That’s funny considering you mentioned you’d be helping Decker most of the day.”

“Well…uh.” He adjusted his Stetson. “He can do without me for an hour or two. Besides, is it a crime for a man to want to spend time with his little brother?”

“If I believed your bullshit for a second, I’d say no, but we both know you had an ulterior motive for riding along with me. I’ve had to endure your small talk on the way to Walt’s when all I really wanted was a little time to myself.” Cade was relieved to see the entrance to the ranch coming up. He wouldn’t have to put up with his brother’s meddling questions much longer.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t a deterrent for Ridge. “Okay, maybe I did tag along for reasons other than what I’ve given but I wouldn’t have, if I wasn’t concerned.”

It was a phase he was getting mighty sick of. If one more person told him they were “concerned,” he’d be fit to be tied. Cade pulled up by the barn and brought the truck to a halt. “While I appreciate said concern, I’m really not interested in anything you have to say that involves my personal life. I know you mean well, but please leave it alone.”

“If I could, you know I would.”

“Try.” Cade spoke through gritted teeth, sliding out of the driver’s seat and slamming the door behind him. He lifted the tractor part from the cab and strode toward the barn, completely ignoring his brother.

Ridge placed his hand on his shoulder, halting Cade in mid-stride. “Don’t walk away from me.”

Cade shrugged off the hand and continued to his destination. Once inside, he wished he would have listened to his brother because standing inside was Jocelyn, laughing at something Stone was saying. Her eyes were crinkled in at the corners and her cheeks tinted with a becoming shade of pink in her mirth. Her hair surrounded her face in a riot of loose waves that caressed her shoulders. Her yellow sundress complemented her lightly sun-kissed skin and skimmed her curves lovingly, and Cade felt his body tightening in response to how good she looked.

Jocelyn looked more animated than she had at dinner and for reasons beyond him, it annoyed Cade to see her laughing with his brother. It shouldn’t have bothered him and the knowledge pissed him off more. But hell if he could tear his gaze away from her. Damn her black heart.

He remembered the many nights they would sneak away to the pond, bathed by the moonlight, too wrapped up in each other to care if someone happened along. God, she was just as lovely as he remembered, more beautiful even. And the fact that she could still make him feel this way after all this time set his blood pressure rising, but not in a good way.