“Incoming,” Jeff said as he walked past with a flake of hay, stuffing it in the slow feeder.
Glancing over my shoulder, I hoped I had enough time to leave before she saw me, but she already had her eyes locked on mine. There was no escaping her now.
“Don’t be a dick,” Jeff muttered as he walked past. “Hey! It’s BB! How’s it going?”
“Good. I haven’t stabbed anyone today.”
“Always a good thing. Not that I have to worry. I’m your favorite person in the world.”
“Really? How do you figure?”
“Well, I can get you anything you want,” my brother grinned. “Horseback rides? I’ve got the best horses. Homemade fried chicken? Ma makes the best.”
Her smile lit up her face as she talked to him about the mostmundane things. I hated that she was smiling for him, that when she came over here, I would have to be a shit to her, and that smile I loved so much would be wiped from her face.
“Fried chicken does sound good, but there’s no way I’m asking your momma to make you some after she’s been busy all day.”
“She loves me,” he said, almost affronted. “She would do anything I asked because I’m her favorite.”
“Yes, but she shouldn’t have to. Don’t be an ass.”
He snorted, leaning against the barn wall. “I have never been called an ass by a woman in my life. Lovable, kind, sweet…all the things the ladies love.”
His grin widened, which only pissed me off. It was like he was flirting with her.
“Trust me, Jeff. I’ve heard other terminology linked to your name, and it wasn’t all flattering.”
“What?” He jolted upright, almost panicked by her comment. “I’m always a gentleman. It wasn’t about my manhood, right? Because I never lie about my size. I’ll pull it out right now and prove it.”
“No need,” she chuckled. “I don’t care how big it is.”
“Maybe not, but you could tell everyone else. I can’t have the whole town thinking I’m using a rowboat oar.”
“Aren’t those long?”
“Yes, but they’re also skinny, and let me tell you?—”
I blocked out the sound of his voice, stomping away as it clouded my thoughts. This was what I was going to have to deal with. Men telling Bailey about their girth or trying to tempt her into bed.
There wasn’t a single thing I could do about it. Not while Austin was out there threatening her life.
Not when I had everything to lose by throwing caution to the wind.
“Liam?”
The roaring in my ears dropped in a single second at the sound of her sweet voice. The anger welling in my chest became nothing more than a slow, steady thump as her voice soothed everything inside me.
I couldn’t do this.
Turning on my heel, all it took was one look at her sweet face to remember why I had to break her heart. I couldn’t stand it if Austin broke her spirit, or if he found some other way to take the precious life in front of me.
“Hey,” I answered, willing my body not to move toward her, to sweep her up into my arms and kiss her the way I wanted to.
“I tried calling earlier, but?—”
“I was busy.”
She nodded, glancing around the barn so she didn’t have to look at me. It was like she already knew what was coming, and why wouldn’t she? Bailey was smart. She’d always been able to read my moods, to know when I needed space and when I needed her.
