Broken(39)

Nervous laughter trickled from her throat. “Why would you think that? Do you think if I loved him I would have left the ranch the way I did?”

“A simple yes or no would have sufficed. You do, don’t you?” he persisted.

She wished he’d leave well enough alone. Why did everyone around her want to play amateur psychologists? “Stone, you don’t know what you’re talking about and I wish you’d drop the subject.”

“Funny, but Cade says the same thing. Look, Jos, you know I’ve always thought of you as the little sister I never had and I love you like I do my brothers. When you chose not to come back to the ranch all those years ago, I was hurt, too. We all were, but I always believed there had to be more to it than what Cade had told us. It didn’t make sense. I couldn’t believe you’d say those things to him.”

“Well believe it, because I said them and meant it.” By now they’d stopped dancing and were standing in the middle of the floor. “Look, I think I’m going to sit back down. I feel a headache coming on.”

Stone raise a thick black brow, the disbelief in his blue gaze evident. “Do you really or is this your way to end the conversation? I know I’m being a nosey cuss, but when I see two people I care about hurting, I can’t leave matters alone.”

“I know what you’re trying to do, but please, let’s leave the past where it belongs. I chose my career and Cade has obviously moved on.”

“Do you mean Misty?” Stone shook his head. “She’s been trying to get her hooks into Cade for the past few years. He only takes her out occasionally. Don’t you think if it was serious they would have gotten together a while ago? Trust me, Cade is far from moved on.”

“That has nothing to do with me.”

“Not from where I was sitting.”

“Stone, if you care for me like you say you do, you’ll drop the subject. I don’t want to talk about it, and I’m not going to stand here and debate with you on how I might or might not feel.”

“Can I ask you one question first? I promise it has nothing to do with you and Cade.”

She didn’t need to ask what he wanted to talk about. “Kyla?”

For a moment the usually confident man she knew seemed a little uncomfortable. “Yeah. What’s her deal?”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s been blowing me off since she’s been here.”

Jocelyn was conflicted with how much she should tell him. She loved Stone like a brother, but she also loved Kyla like a sister. “I think you should ask her yourself.”

“I would if she wouldn’t keep avoiding me. Is there someone back home she’s seeing?”

“No. But, I’d give her some space if I were you.”

“Why? What’s the matter? Is there something wrong with her?”

“Nothing and it’s really not my place to say. Just leave it be.”

Stone raised a brow. “Are you warning me off?”

“No. But just give her some time. Maybe she’ll come around.”

“And maybe she won’t?”

Jocelyn nodded.

“I see. Is it because I’m white?”

She shook her head. “No. It’s nothing like that. She’s just…look, it’s really not my place to say. Just let it go, okay.”

Stone gave her a long searching look before releasing a sigh. “Fine.” He held out his bent arm to her. “Well at least let me escort you back.”