Nancy dried off her hands on a towel and said, “Even when things have gotten messy—like what’s going on right now with Colton and his herd—the herd stands together.None of us are alone anymore, you included, sweet girl.”
“I really needed to hear that.Thank you.”Darcy and Nancy hugged and it made her eyes sting with tears.
They returned to their work, and Darcy found the steady rhythm of cleaning almost soothing.
She was going to ask Nancy about her life with Dexter when there was a sharp knock on the front door.
“It’s a little early for visitors,” Nancy said.
They both dropped their rags into the bucket and headed to the front door.
The knock came again, harder.
She wasn’t sure why she knew who was at the door, but she had a feeling in her gut that she did.
The door opened before they reached it, Cruz’s frame filling the doorway, his eyes filled with fury.“Darcy.We need to talk.Now.”
* * *
“Cruz?What are you doing here?”Darcy asked.He looked like he was ready to fight someone.
“When I got home from work this morning, I realized you hadn’t come home at all.I called and you didn’t answer, so I used the app to locate you.You’re just skipping work today?”His gaze swept around the foyer where soot covered the walls she and Nancy hadn’t had a chance to clean yet.“And what the hell happened here?Don’t tell me nothing, because you’re right here in the damn middle of it.”
Boots pounded across the porch and then Ford was there, pushing Cruz back from the house and standing in the doorway.Once more, Ford stood between her angry brother and her, and Darcy thought that was incredible.He had a sixth sense for when she was upset.
Freaking sexy man.
Focus!
“Back.Off,” Ford said, practically growling the words.
Cruz scoffed.“First of all, don’t tell me to back off.That’s my sister.She’s moving way freaking too fast and you’re going to break her heart when it all comes crashing down.And second, you clearly can’t keep her safe.She’s in danger with you.Look around!”
Darcy moved to stand next to Ford, wrapping her hand around his biceps.She looked at her brother, seething on the front porch, and realized that she’d always seen him as her protector.And maybe when they were young, his brand of pushyI know everythingprotection had served a purpose.But standing there with Ford, who was like a sentry between her and danger, she felt something deeper, something stronger than what she and her brother shared.
Protection was one thing, but feeling safe?That was entirely different.
And Ford made her feel protectedandsafe.
Plus, she loved him.
She lifted her chin slightly and said, “I’m not leaving, Cruz.You can’t control me, and I don’t care if you think things are moving too fast.What happened last night doesn’t concern you.I’m safe with Ford, and that’s all you need to know.”
“So that’s it?You’re just throwing me away?”She could see hurt in his eyes, but he was still so angry.
“I’m not throwing anything away.My life is just changing.When you find someone again, your life will change too.You don’t get to dictate who I’m with or how fast things go, and for the record, Ford and I are doing just fine on that front, so you can take your opinions and kindly keep them to yourself.Now go home, Cruz.I’ll talk to you later.When I’m ready.”
She could tell that Cruz didn’t like being told no.He’d expected to ride into things and be the rescuer, but she didn’t need rescuing.She had Ford and the herd.
He stared at her for a long moment, and then he turned and walked off the porch.Ford put his arm around her and pulled her close.
“Are you okay?”he murmured, kissing the top of her head.
She waited to answer until Cruz was gone, his engine revving as he gunned it onto the main road and then disappearing to nothing as he raced away.
“Yes and no.I’m okay because I’m here with you and that’s where I want to be.But I’m not okay because my brother is a giant jackass and can’t stand that I’m not doing what he thinks is right.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
