Chapter 23

The girls werein the living room watching a movie, and Taz had retreated to the den where he could keep an eye on them. He was in a bitch of a mood. It was nearly seven and still no word from Scarlett. So, when he heard the soft knock at the front door, he had to take a moment and get his emotions under control. It took a bit, but he managed it and swung open the door.

"Hey," Scarlett said softly. "I hope it's not too late."

"No," he replied, though he didn't get a chance to say anything else because the girls made it impossible. They yanked on him to get out of the way so that they could hug her, and when Ryan peered around Scarlett and then back to her with a questioning look, his heart squeezed tight.

"Where's Hank?"

"He's home, honey." Scarlett attempted a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm sure he's tucked into bed."

"Snug as a bug?"

She nodded. "Snug as a bug."

"Can you read our stories tonight?" Cameron asked, reaching for her hand.

"Guys, why don't we give Scarlett some room."

"It's okay," she replied, grabbing each of their hands. "I'd love to." Her eyes landed on him. "If it's all right with you."

He didn't like this. The halting words. The delicate dance around something he couldn't quite grasp.

"Sure," he said with nod, then followed them upstairs. He stayed out of the way and leaned against the doorframe while Cameron rooted in the large bin of books. When she found the one she wanted, she scrambled up onto the bed and sat beside Scarlett, while Ryan snuggled in on the other side.

"Oh," Ryan said excitedly. "That's my favorite, Cam."

"I know." Cameron said, already reaching for a wisp of hair to curl around her finger. "That's why I picked it."

Taz kept to his spot, content to watch as Scarlett read The Velveteen Rabbit to the girls. When she was done, he helped tuck them into their beds. They asked about Hank again, about when they'd see him next, and her answer wasn't one he liked.

"I'm not sure." She didn't meet his gaze and headed downstairs while he kissed them both good-night. After another round of hugs, Taz made sure their nightlight was working and then closed the bedroom door.

He found Scarlett in the living room, looking at the family photos on a table by the fireplace. He watched her for a few moments and then cleared his throat.

"Oh," she said softly, turning to face him.

She looked tired. And there was a sadness about her he'd never seen before. The energy was one of disquiet, as if she were unsure. And that bothered him more than anything. They'd always been easy. Natural. Like they belonged together.

He needed to rip off this Band-Aid, the one holding them together, and figure this shit out.

"Scarlett." He took a step forward.

"No," she said softly, moving toward him. "Not yet."

He couldn't read her, and he hated the feeling. But when she pressed up against him, her body warm and pliant, he was lost to anything else. Her hands slid onto either side of his face and she coaxed him to lower his head.

Which he did.

How could he not?

He'd been starving for a taste since the day before. She opened beneath him, and he deepened the kiss, his head spinning, his body already hard with need. Their tongues melted together, and he groaned, pulling her to him as tightly as he could, destroyed by a need he knew he'd never be able to shake.

She broke away, her mouth bruised from his and before his brain could put together what she was doing, she sank to her knees and tugged at the snap on his jeans.

"What are you doing?" he asked roughly.

She freed his cock, and he didn't have time to think or say or feel anything other than her warm, hot, wet mouth as it closed around him. Slowly she began to suck, her hands holding him in place as she worked him over.

He was helpless, could do nothing but let her have every inch that he had. Carefully, his hands sank into her hair, and he gently guided her as the fire inside him grew.

"You feel so good," he breathed, head back as the pressure continued to build. Sweat broke out, a thin sheen across his body, and he groaned, trying his best to hold back. When he finally got hold of himself, he looked down at her, only to catch her gaze on him. The sight of her there, on her knees, those huge eyes wide and dark with need, did something to him. It tore at the very core of who he was, and he knew he was close to losing control.

He pulled back and lifted her up. "I need to be inside you," he said roughly.

Taz lifted her skirt and tore off her panties, tossing them to the side as he bent her over the sofa. She was wet, so ready for him. He didn't hesitate. In one thrust he buried himself as deep as he could, and when she whimpered, he nearly came. He held her hips tightly, fighting for the control he needed, because one part of him wanted to bang it out like a newbie, while the other part of him wanted this to last as long as he could make it.

He clamped his mouth shut and began the dance, and though she thrust her hips higher, and tried to increase their tempo, he kept them steady. In and then out. In and then out. He reached around, and his greedy fingers found the spot he wanted. He rubbed her there, smiling savagely when she cried out at his touch. Taz continued the assault until Scarlett was nearly in tears with need and his body could take no more.

When they came together it was surreal. On one hand he'd never felt closer to another human being in his life, but as he held her after, their slick bodies heaving from the aftereffects of their lovemaking, he caught sight of her in the mirror on the wall opposite to them, and her expression was shuttered. Sad.

It was sobering to say the least. He withdrew and no words were spoken while they cleaned up and got dressed.

"Scarlett," he began again, voice rough and low.

"I have to go away for a few days," she said, cutting him off. She licked her lips nervously and gave a small shrug. "A week maybe."

He frowned; her words unexpected. "Why?"

"I have some things I need to do."

"What things?" Anger coiled in his gut.

"I just…stuff," she replied, turning from him. She played with the edge of her skirt and that anger in him boiled over.

"What the fuck is going on, Scarlett? Don't come here and tell me you have to go away for a week with no explanation. We're not strangers. We're not fuck buddies. We're a hell of a lot more than that."

"I have to take care of a few things. Things I can't really talk about. You have to trust me," she said softly. "Please."

"This has something to do with your ex."

She didn't shut it down. Instead, her eyes fell from his and she kneaded the edge of her damn skirt again.

Unbelievable.

"Tell me what it's about."

"I can't." She bit at her bottom lip, and he knew she was nervous or lying or something.

"I can't help you unless you do."

She said nothing.

"Am I supposed to be grateful that you swung by here for a goodbye blowjob? Is that all this is?"

Her head shot up and he saw the hurt in her eyes, but he didn't care. Not now.

"No." Scarlett stood up. She looked so damn small and hurt. "I'm getting this all wrong."

"But what is this? Jesus, we were headed somewhere good, Scarlett. And then this guy shows up and now you're going away? With no explanation?"

"I can't get into it."

She wouldn't meet his gaze and that worried him. Hell, it more than worried him. It scared him. He thought of his mother's words. Of how the girls had been so excited to see Scarlett. Of how she'd just read a book to them like she was a part of their lives. Like she belonged with them.

"You're good taking off. Leaving with no explanation."

She nodded but said nothing.

"Are you going away with him?"

Again, no words.

Taz swore and ran his hands through his hair, eyes on a woman he'd miscalculated. A woman who'd claimed a part of him he'd never given to anyone before. A woman he wanted to fight for, but with the girls' happiness and wellbeing in the mix, he knew he had to make a hard decision.

For them. Cameron and Ryan.

"We're done." His words were blunt and to the point. It was the only way he knew how to be.

Her eyes widened and he saw her surprise, which pissed him off more than anything. He took a step forward and she sank to the edge of the sofa, tears welling up in her eyes. But he was beyond her tears.

"I came to Montana when Cameron and Ryan were six months old. I didn't know what I was getting into. I only knew it was the right thing to do. It's what my sister would have wanted." He blew out a long breath, his chest tight with emotion. "As soon as I saw them, I was done. I was theirs. They became part of me. I live for those girls, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect them. I wanted a future with you, Scarlett. I saw us as endgame. But you're not all in. You have secrets. A baby Daddy to consider and I don't want to stand in the way if that's what you want."

"I don't…" Her voice trailed off.

"Can you tell me where you're going and why?"

"I'll tell you when I'm back," she said, her voice pleading.

"It's not good enough." Taz stepped back. "Not for me or the girls."

"So that's it?" Scarlett's bottom lip trembled. "We're done?"

Taz slowly nodded, so angry he couldn't speak.

She stared up at him for a long time and then reached for her bag. She walked past him toward the door but paused before opening it. She looked to the side; her profile visible. "I understand, you know. The things we do for our children." Her voice cracked. "Because I would do anything for Hank. Anything." The last word was whispered and then she was gone.

Taz stared at the door, his mind dark, his energy darker. He wanted to break things. Hit something. He wanted to yell and scream and curse.

But he did none of that. Instead, he turned off the lights, grabbed a bottle of Jack from the cupboard and settled himself in one of the chairs in his office. He would get good and drunk and not think about Scarlett or Hank or the future he'd envisioned hours earlier.

Then he'd get up Monday morning and go to work. He had a ranch to run. A business to oversee. And two girls who needed him.