7. Booker

Chapter 7

Booker

F rom the window in my office, I had the perfect view of Brynne jogging up and down the driveway last night. I was sure she knew I could see her, her tan belly on display in only a sports bra and high-waisted leggings that crossed in the front. She knew exactly what she was doing, and yet, I couldn't look away.

Her ponytail had brushed over her shoulders each time it swung back and forth, sweat dripping down her skin, mouth parted as she breathed deeply. I wanted to see her like that, but in an entirely different setting. All her workout managed to do was get my cock hard, which turned into a hot shower with my fist pumping to relieve myself.

With a hand on the glass to keep myself up, I'd watched my release wash down the drain, figuring it was better than all over her back, but not nearly as heavenly feeling. Throughout the night, I'd kept my ears open to listen for Austin or Henley in case they got any bright ideas and snuck into her room. Last thing I needed was Henley causing more problems that I had to clean up.

I pulled on a black t-shirt and dark wash jeans, then headed downstairs, eager for a quick breakfast and to get outside. Nothing took a fraction of the stress off my shoulders like fresh air and silence, save for the sounds of nature. But as I descended the last step, I knew my wishes wouldn't be coming true today.

Brynne stood by the kitchen island with her arms crossed as Henley and Austin dug into an egg scramble, their coffees steaming from their mugs.

"We need to talk," Brynne said, popping that hip of hers.

Walking past her, I opened the cabinet to pull out my own mug, then poured a cup of coffee, all while she stared at me. Women always caused shit so fucking early.

"Whatcha want to talk about?" Austin asked after swallowing his bite.

She held her hands out, brows raised. "Why the fuck I'm here, for a start."

Henley opened his mouth to respond, but I shot him a warning glare. I didn't need the man blabbing his mouth and telling her too much. For all we knew, she was just as eager to take this ranch, or willing to be on Chase's side, regardless of his treatment of her in the alley. Whether he handled her like that on the regular or not, she might be too attached to him to give a shit.

"Sit," I instructed, crossing my arms.

She didn't.

With a long exhale, my thumb and forefinger pinched the bridge of my nose. This woman was going to give me a headache for the entirety of her stay.

I leaned back against the counter, setting my mug beside me as I faced her. "Your boyfriend has something of ours."

" Ex -boyfriend," she corrected. "What is it?"

"That's not for you to know," I answered. She didn't need to know the logistics. She just had to cooperate and be our bait.

The corners of her mouth turned down as she shrugged, dropping her arms. "Okay." She walked out of the kitchen, disappearing from sight for a moment before reappearing with a bag. Her bag. "I'll just be going, then."

How did I know she wouldn't let this go that easily?

Another sigh escaped my lips, and I had a feeling I'd be doing that a lot for the next week or so. "Put the bag down."

She held it between her legs, both hands on the strap. "Only if you're honest with me."

"You don't need to know the details of why you're here."

Austin's and Henley's eyes darted between us as they continued to eat. This was a fucking joke to them. I was really standing here arguing with a woman I'd just met. A woman I had no interest in fighting for. Any other girl, I'd have sent her to the curb by now. I didn't have time for attitude, and yet here she stood, full of it, and I was only encouraging the behavior. I should bend her over a fucking chair and spank her till her ass was red just to teach her a little lesson, my handprint the only thing she could feel .

She kept those hard eyes on me, determination shining bright as all get out. I mentally shook my head. She'd probably fucking like it. "I say I do, so either tell me or I'm leaving."

I crossed the kitchen, invading her space. "And where are you going to go. Huh? Crying back to Chase?"

Her lips thinned, and I could tell I'd gotten under her skin. "I have friends."

"Then why were you at a motel? Why not their place?"

Her nostrils flared the slightest bit. "Because I left him late at night." Her words were a tad softer, and for some fucking reason, I felt an inkling of guilt. My stomach soured at the idea of feeling even an ounce of remorse.

"Not a smart move, then. Which is exactly why you don't need to know what he took." I put a finger under her chin, tilting my head the slightest bit. "Just keep looking like a sad little damsel, and you'll do just fine."

She smacked my hand away, her cheeks turning a hint of pink. "I am not a fucking damsel in distress. In case you didn't notice, I was doing just fine before you broke into my motel room, and when you pinned me in a fucking alley."

"You did what?" Austin asked from behind us, but I didn't pay him any mind.

Our chests touched as I narrowed my eyes. "Oh, is that right?"

"Mhmm," she hummed.

"That why you had to walk to that shithole because you couldn't fix your tire? Or why you were a sitting duck with the receptionist giving your key out like fucking candy to whatever horny shithead walked into that joint?" I backed her up until she hit the wall, and I fought not to wrap my hand around her delicate little throat. My palm practically tingled with the memory of it. "You'll have much more fun sitting vulnerable in my house, Darlin'. Let me remind you that you agreed to come here. You're under my roof, and once you're in, you're fucking in. I don't let my targets go easy, so if you want to run, run. But I'll find you. And you'll regret your feet ever hit the ground."

Her jaw was clenched, her gaze unwavering as she leveled me. I'd let her be determined, let her think she had an inkling of control here, but I was in charge, and she'd listen.

A throat cleared behind me, and Henley, the blabbermouth that he was, said, "I lost the deed to the ranch in a bet with your ex."

I bit my bottom lip so hard, I swore my teeth almost cut it clean off. Brynne fucking smiled at me, then squeezed out from between my body and the wall, walking over to the boys.

"Thanks so much, Hen," she said, her voice all sweet and seductive.

Fuck her, and fuck Henley.

She leaned her elbows on the island, opposite Henley and Austin, popping her ass out. My eyes betrayed me, sticking to her plump ass like glue.

"So, you're going to what? Lose the ranch?" she asked, pressing her arms together the slightest bit to put her cleavage on display. She knew exactly what the fuck she was doing.

Henley nodded as Austin looked to me for help. Henley couldn't give a fuck less about the consequences, but Austin was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

She chewed on her lip, thinking. "And you want me to lure him here to what…? Get it back?"

Henley shrugged. "Or kill him."

Austin pasted on a large, fake smile as he set a hand on Henley's shoulder. "You see, Henley here is a little imaginative. What he means is to scare him a bit."

Henley's mouth pulled to one side as he thought of that as an option, as if it wasn't before. "Yeah, or kill him. Whatever it comes down to."

He was fucking admitting that he wanted to murder someone right in front of a woman who could easily go report him, and then we'd all be screwed.

"Henley," I barked, approaching the island. "Shut your mouth."

Brynne's brows rose, as if my words really shocked her. We both knew they didn't. "Still mad at him, Nightmare?"

The way she used the nickname, that I'd intended as a joke, pissed me off. "Henley's fine. It's you I can't stand."

She straightened, popping her chest out the slightest bit. "Is that so?"

I gave her a bored stare. "Yep."

"Then why invite me into your home?"

"I've already told you?—"

She cut me off. "There's other ways to get the deed from him."

I stepped a foot closer to her. "Maybe I just wanted to have some fun in the meantime."

She glared at me, then looked back to Austin and Henley. "What's the plan? "

Austin and Henley exchanged looks, then turned to me. "You lure him here," I answered.

"He'll think it's a setup," she replied, not facing me. "There's no reason I'd be on a ranch in the middle of nowhere."

Austin shoved his plate forward so he could fold his hands together on the granite. "So we give him a few days to forget."

Brynne arched a brow. "How are you so sure he'll forget about the ranch that easily? I'm sure he's eager to turn in the papers and take over ownership."

"I've done business with him before," Henley said. "He's lazy and has to report all his earnings to his boss. I'm sure he's not too eager to do that so quickly, so if I had to guess, he'll hold on to it for a while."

Brynne's cheek moved as she presumably chewed on it in thought. "Okay. We wait a week, lure him here, then I'm free to go?"

I nodded. "You'll be free to do whatever the fuck you want after."

She sent me the fakest, sweetest look. "How nice of you."

"Have to do chores to earn your keep, though," I said.

Her mouth popped open. "You invited me."

"Only if you want to do them," Austin piped in, leaning forward on his stool slightly.

I kept my stare on Brynne. "She's doing them."

Her eyes lit up like an idea hit her, and I internally groaned. "Fine. I'll do them if you tell me your name."

I shook my head. "You don't need my name to feed horses and scoop shit. "

She shrugged, glancing at her nails. "You're right. But I just won't cooperate until you tell me."

I wouldn't budge, and she must've seen it in my stance, because she added, "If I'm going to trust you, then you have to trust me, and that includes you telling me your name."

I crossed my arms, giving a tight nod in her direction. "Then beg, Darlin'."