Vivian Arend - Rocky Mountain Angel

It was no use trying to take control of this area of the ranch. Not yet, not until he got Ben at least moderately onside.

He went back outside in time to catch his brother returning from another trip with the wheelbarrow. Rafe had already stripped off his shirt, the hard muscles from heavy labour beginning to show on his young body. The kid was growing up, and it was time to acknowledge that.

Didn’t mean Gabe was going to let Rafe walk all over him.

“You ask Ma if you can move into the room over the garage?”

Rafe sighed. “No, because I thought I could move in with you and get away from—get to be out on my own.”

“Moving in with me is not being on your own.” Gabe dropped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. Damn, he hadn’t meant to block one of the refuges for the kid. “Check with her. I bet she’d have no issue with it. And Ben won’t care as long as you’re up and ready for chores without him having to haul your ass out of bed in the mornings.”

The silence from Rafe stretched on until Gabe figured it was time to ignore it. If his kid brother wanted to pout, that was his business.

He headed over to the tractor instead, getting ready to transfer bales. A few minutes later a smack on the window next to him jerked him upright, and he turned off the engine and cracked open the door.

Rafe hopped down out of his way so the door could fully open.

“Can I come over later this week?”

Shit. “Allison’s—”

“I’m not asking to stay over. Can I come over on Friday or something to meet her? Or are you bringing her over for a family dinner?”

Rafe’s serious expression twisted something inside him. “No, we already talked to Ma. If you want to have dinner with us, Friday works. You usually go out with your friends then, don’t you?”

“You’re talking about getting married, and I’ve never even met the woman, I mean not really. I think I can skip hanging out with my friends for one night.”

Gabe stared in mock horror. “Who the hell are you, and what did you do with my immature kid brother?”

Rafe grinned sheepishly. “Fuck off.”

“Just saying. Let’s make it Thursday, that might work better for everyone.”

“You wait. I’ll ask her all kinds of terrible questions to make up for being so mature right now. Does that make you happier?”

The tension that had rushed through when he’d share his news with Rafe smoothed away. He was a good kid, and he was trying. “Remember whatever you do will come back to haunt you. I’m going to be around for a long time, and I have a great memory. Someday you’ll find a girl you seriously like and it’ll be payback.”

Rafe walked backward, his huge grin not giving any sign he was returning to the dirty task of hauling manure. “It could still be fun in the short term.”

Gabe pulled the door shut and went back to work. He had a couple hours before he had to get cleaned up and head out with Allison for the next round of family inquisitions. Maybe after tonight things would settle down.

It certainly couldn’t get any worse.

Dead silence greeted her announcement.

Actually, that wasn’t true. Music played, and the murmur of other people conversing carried in the background. Normal restaurant sounds that should have made Parker’s Timberline Grill the perfect setting for them to proclaim to yet another set of shocked people the news about her and Gabe’s engagement.

Maybe they should have had a party and gotten it all over at one time. The jolt would have been greater but less prolonged.

Paul and Elle exchanged long stares before Elle turned back and blinked hard.

“Congratulations. I’m… That’s… How interesting.”

Everything about her response was obviously a sham, but at least she attempted to smile instead of the near-violent frown that marred her brother’s expression.

“Why the hell would you marry him?” Paul blurted out, and Allison’s heart fell. She hadn’t expected it to be all smooth sailing, but downright rudeness?

“Paul!” Their mother’s hushed whisper carried volumes of disapproval.

He had the grace to look uncomfortable, but he didn’t back down. “It’s a bit of a shock. What did you expect me to say?”

Allison readied to defend herself, but it was Gabe who leaned forward. “I’d expect you to act like someone who gives a damn about your sister. You have questions, you go ahead and we can discuss them politely, but maybe first you stick out your hand and at least pretend you’re happy.”

Gabe settled back, draping his arm around her shoulders as he squeezed reassuringly. Allison leaned into him, grateful for his warmth and his support.

Paul eyed Gabe slowly then nodded. “I do have questions, but you’re right, this isn’t the place. Allison, I’m glad you’re back in town. We’ve missed you.”

Gabe chuckled. “See? It’s always possible to find something to not lie about.”

Allison bit her lips to stop from laughing. The tension between the two men was reminiscent of bulls vying for dominance. Somehow she had to defuse the situation before someone said something that made things worse.

It was their mom who smoothed matters over, at least temporarily. Her soft laughter trickled over Allison. “I swear, sometimes you children—it’s as if you’ve reverted to being teens again, all poking each other and trying to get on each other’s nerves. I’m so pleased. Allison and Gabe are obviously happy. There’s nothing a mother wants more for her children than that.”

Her beaming face said she wasn’t faking it, and Allison smiled back. The heat from Gabe’s body encircled her and held her up as well, and if Paul’s scowl only eased a tiny bit, well, she’d just have to give him time. It was a shock, but the pleasure her mom showed made it all worthwhile.

Elle passed the breadbasket to Gabe. “Are you planning on coming to work for the restaurant as well?”

Gabe snorted before turning the sound into a cough. “No. Allison working here is enough. I’ve got the ranch to keep me busy.”

Paul’s lips twitched, but he didn’t say anything.

Elle brought forward the topic of menus, and Allison got involved with her mom and sis in the usual brainstorming for new ideas. Their chef was good, but also loved the hands-on direction they gave, and together the combination had always been something to be proud of.

It was only after their meals had been delivered she realized the guys weren’t doing a lot of talking. Gabe was listening in on her conversation, but Paul seemed too busy glaring daggers at Gabe to contribute much of anything.

Just what she needed, grief from her younger brother. Not. If this hadn’t been a sham, his actions would have pissed her off even more. The jerk should know better than to stick in his oar that far.

Allison made sure to pull Gabe back into the rest of the discussion as best she could, but by the time they were done eating, she’d had enough.

“I’ll grab the truck and bring it to the door.” Gabe pressed a quick kiss on her cheek then rose. He nodded politely to her mother, winked at Elle who responded with a reluctant grin.

He tipped his hat forward and stared Paul down for a second before leaving without another word.

Allison sighed, ignoring the tingling where he’d touched his lips against her cheek. Good old family togetherness. She’d thrown a lot at them tonight, so she wasn’t about to push it.

Paul escorted her to the door, though, something obviously on his mind.

She held back far enough Elle and their mom were out the door and out of hearing range before turning and raising her brows. “What’s your problem?”

“Why him?”

She knew it. “So it’s Gabe in particular you have an issue with?” Maybe if she let him voice his concerns he’d relax. “Does he have a woman on the side I don’t know about? You don’t think he’s good enough for me? What?”

His nostrils flared as he drew a long breath. “Maybe it sounds stupid. And yeah, you surprised me with your announcement. But the Angel Colemans? I don’t have issues with Gabe himself. He’s been given the raw end of the deal in many ways as far as I know, but—”

His disapproval had simmered down and showed now as sheer frustration.

“I’m listening.” Allison finished buttoning her coat and waited as patiently as she could.

“If you really care about him, fine. But I heard they’re having money troubles lately, and all of a sudden he’s engaged to you? Face it, Ally, we are one of the wealthier families in town. Sorry if it makes warning signs go off, but I don’t like it.”

Allison wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed tight, the laughter escaping her completely real and relieved. “Is that what you’re worried about? That he’s marrying me for money? Oh, Paul, trust me, that is not at all in the picture.”

Maybe it was the fact she wasn’t lying that helped her sound extra convincing, but his shoulders eased slightly, and he smirked. “It does sound a little cloak and dagger when I say it out loud, but come on, I’m your only brother. If I don’t guard you from the dragons of the world, who will?”

She stepped back and nodded. “I can probably slay them on my own, but I understand better why you were grumpy. It’s fine. Gabe’s okay. Give it some time, and you’ll see. He’s so not about the money thing I can’t even begin to explain it.”

The door opened and Gabe’s smiling face appeared, the dark brown of his cowboy hat contrasting with his blond hair. She moved forward automatically to take his hand.

“Give me a call,” Paul suggested. “We can get together for…”

Allison peeked over her shoulder to discover her brother wasn’t talking to her, but staring directly at the cowboy at her side.

Paul cleared his throat. “We could have a beer or something. Catch up a little.”

Gabe blinked in surprise, but managed to pull it together quickly. “Sure.”

Allison pressed her shoulder against Gabe’s and they headed out. Elle had already taken their mom home, and it was quiet on the street as Gabe led her to the truck.

He helped her in on his side, and this time she didn’t even think to protest. Just stopped in the middle, buckled up and then closed her eyes and wondered what in the world they’d gotten themselves into.

They were halfway home before Gabe broke the silence. “That was a particular sort of hell I don’t want to have to do all over again. Shit.”

Allison laughed. “Don’t you mean ‘What the hell were we thinking?’”

“That too. Hell of a night. Hell of a day.”

Allison leaned her head on his shoulder and let the laughter take her. “Oh my God, did you see Paul’s face? I thought he was going to blow a blood vessel. And you know why?”

“Figured you’d gotten the reason for the stick up his ass. That invitation to join him for a beer was not what I expected. Did you kick him in the balls while I was gone and tell him to behave?”

“No, he explained he was worried you were marrying me for my bank account. Idiot. If he knew I was the one who had harassed you…”

Oh Lord. It had been a long day, but at least the worst was over. She could concentrate on getting back into the swing of things at the restaurant and being there for Mom.

Somehow try to secretly prepare the family for having their heart torn away.

Gabe splashed cold water on his face before soaking a washcloth and applying it to the back of his neck. Allison’s toothbrush rested in a glass, and a neat little fancy black case sat on the side of the counter. After a couple days of seeing them there, his eyes didn’t jerk to the side in shock as much. Now it was more in amusement.

Subtle signs they were sharing the house showed up everywhere.

A damp towel hanging where usually only his would be. Extra footwear stacked by the bench on the porch, and how anyone could possibly need that many shoes, he had no idea.

Still, she was trying damn hard to not spread out and take over. There was way less of a mess than his brother usually managed to produce after he’d been around for no more than a single night.

Gabe hurried through his cleanup and back into the bedroom to get dressed. The biggest issue was morning and a single bathroom. He tried to be done and into the kitchen before she crawled out of bed. The schedule wasn’t perfect, but it was working.

He knocked briskly on her closed door before calling out cheerfully. “Your turn.”

A low groan was the only response.