Vivian Arend - Rocky Mountain Rebel

Vicki would be the one sitting at home and staring at the walls. Or not. Maybe she’d go for a long ride into the mountains. Pack a picnic lunch and stare at the wilderness for a while.

Tomorrow she’d make arrangements for the locks to get changed. Sometime this week Joel and her would get together for another lesson. A bright shiny spot to look forward to.

It was like wiping away the grime after a long time of not cleaning. It wasn’t going to be easy, making changes. Getting the hell out from where she was trapped. But with the memory of Joel Coleman kissing her senseless, the feel of his tongue over her lips—

Okay, life was looking up. She would cling to that truth for all she was worth.

Of course, when she decided to go grab a few extra bucks to put in her purse, and the cash she kept stashed in the top dresser drawer was gone, she wasn’t really surprised. Guess Sarah had found what she’d been looking for after all.

Vicki sighed.

Clinging to hope for the future didn’t change the fucked-up life she still had to live today.

Jesse sprawled on the couch in front of the television, the screen turned on, the volume at zero. It only took a moment for Joel to put two and two together. Jesse was hungover. Which, since it was past noon, meant he was royally hungover.

The temptation to make loud noises was childish, instantaneous and nearly impossible to fight.

Joel dropped into the recliner and grinned, speaking louder than normal. “Had a good time?”

Jesse narrowed his eyes. “Don’t make me come over there and kill you.”

“Moments like this I wish I’d taken trumpet in band class. Or drums. Or—”

“Fuck off and die.”

Joel waited for Jesse to relax back on the couch, his head cradled on the cushions, blood-shot eyes watching the screen without focusing. “It was a good party, I take it.”

“Brutally fun. I don’t think Travis is ever coming home.”

“Right.”

“No shit. He and Ashley were all over each other the entire weekend. I swear I couldn’t see daylight between them most of the time.”

After years of Travis constantly going with someone new, the feisty Ashley was the first in a long time to last more than a week. “I thought Travis said she couldn’t go. Had to hit the States for some meetings.”

“Got moved to next weekend. Trust me, she and Travis were a definite item.”

“He’ll be back.” Joel was more concerned about how to explain what he’d been doing all weekend. Maybe if Jesse had found someone interesting… “You have fun with anyone in particular?”

Jesse shook his head then cringed. “Fuck. No one I’d want to see again, but I had a great time. You should have come, jackass.”

“I enjoyed staying here, thanks. Also, don’t make plans for next weekend. Or not for Sunday. Family dinner, remember?”

Joel breathed out slowly. “Oh, yeah. I can handle Thanksgiving with all the trimmings. Mom’s and Jaxi’s cooking? Damn, I can totally go for that.”

“We have to bring something to contribute. You remember that part as well?”

Jesse waved a hand. “I’ll pick up more chicken wings.”

Joel laughed. “You would too. That could get you killed.”

His twin wiggled to a more vertical position and stared across the room. “What’s up?”

“What?”

Jesse frowned. “You’re not telling me something.”

Damn twin connection. “You’re not letting me get a word in edgewise. I had a good weekend as well.”

“Stuck around here and found someone to play with, did you?”

Oh hell, yeah. “Surprisingly, yes.”

Jesse waited expectantly. “Come on, spill.”

Joel went for broke. “I’m seeing Vicki.”

“You shit.”

Not the reaction he’d expected. “What?”

“If I weren’t ready to die, I’d come over there and beat the crap out of you. You said you weren’t interested in anything other than ogling her tits.”

“Hey, that’s enough.”

“What? You telling me you weren’t ogling them the other day in the café? Sure the hell looked like it to me.”

“She’s got more than tits, okay?”

Jesse leered. “She’s got a whacking hot bod and a reputation for putting out.”

And that’s where this stopped. “She and I are going out, so cut the trash talk. Do me a favour, and assume I’m smarter than you and know what I’m doing.”

“Hell, I know what you’re doing.” Jesse wouldn’t let it go. “Was the sex good?”

“God, you are such a shithead. We didn’t have sex. We only started dating.”

Jesse leaned forward on his elbows, upper body swaying. “You’re serious. You took out one of the Hansol girls, and it didn’t end in bed?”

“No. Not yet. It might get there eventually—”

“My God, you’ve been taken over by a pod person or something. What the fuck are you up to?”

Joel looked past the crude words and at the actual concern on his brother’s face. “Vicki’s okay. She’s not like her family, at least not as far as I can tell.”

“If the date didn’t end with her asking you for some cash, I’d say yeah, she is different.” Jesse blinked hard. “I’m still too damn drunk to find a way to say this other than straight out. The Hansol family is known for using sex to get what they want. You really thought about this?”

“Yeah.” It was all he was willing to share.

“Use a goddamn condom. And bring them with you. Don’t use one of hers.”

Joel froze for a second. “What the hell are you… Oh fuck. You’re not suggesting she’s going to get knocked up or something?”

“I’m saying I hope the girl is different, and you’re not usually an idiot, so fuck around with her if you want, but don’t take any chances.” Jesse’s glassy eyes had finally focused; concern chasing more of the liquor from his system.

“You’re such a bastard.”

“Takes one to know one.”

They glared at each other until Joel gave in.

Jesse’s snide but real concern forced Joel to stop and consider. It wouldn’t be the first time a girl had gotten herself out of a bad place by accidentally getting pregnant. But fuck…

Even having to think about it made him crazy, and guilty, because now he was judging her just like everyone else. Definitely showed him, though, part of what Vicki put up with every damn day.

He gave in a little. “I’ll be careful. But in the meantime, you’ll be polite. I think she’s different, and you’re not going to come on to her, or offer to fool around with us, or…”

“Stop it.” Jesse rose to his feet. “You already gave me hell for butting in on your party a couple months ago with what’s her name…Sue. I was a shit, okay? I didn’t think you meant it, but you don’t have to hit me over the goddamn head anymore. Even if you think Vicki is different, I don’t want to be sticking my dick in some girl that half the town’s already had.” Jesse walked to the fridge and poured himself a big glass of orange juice, downing half of it before turning back. “You want some?”

Joel shook his head. Having this discussion with Jesse while his brother was hungover meant he wasn’t sure if Jesse was trying hard to be extra rude or simply acting his normal self.

The snarky asshole with attitude wasn’t a side of his twin Joel liked very much.

“Tell me, who have you heard boasting they made it with Vicki? Because I know talk is hot and heavy about her sister—”

“—and her mom.” Jesse made a face. “God. Why does that seem even worse than her sister being fast? You really going to go out with her?”

“I’m seeing Vicki, not her mom. Answer the damn question.”

Jesse returned to the couch. “Honestly, the only person I remember talking about doing Vicki was back in high school.”

“Eric Tell, right?”

“Right.” Jesse grinned. “Hate that asshole, but still. And didn’t she break his arm at one point, or something majorly fucked up?”

“I can’t remember the details. Jaxi might know. She knows all that gossip.”

“Other than that, you’re right. I haven’t heard anyone boasting or complaining about Vicki.” Jesse examined his glass of juice, holding it up to the light. “Maybe you aren’t as stupid as I thought.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Enough of this. Joel was ready to move on. “I told Dad, I’ll tell you. I think she’s nice.”

Jesse snorted in disbelief. “You already talked to Dad about her? Wow, you are moving fast. I was only gone for two nights.”

Joel cleared his throat. “He caught us necking in the barn today.”

“Ha.” Jesse put his empty glass on the coffee table before collapsing. “Damn, I need a nap.” He cracked one eye open for a second. “If you’re done all your true confessions, and shit.”

“Fuck off.”

“Love you too, bro.”

Jesse was asleep in under a minute, or faking it well. Joel made his way back to his bedroom to mull over the chaos of the day.

He was fully committed to the plan as long as Vicki didn’t chicken out. Although that option didn’t seem likely.

There were more bits of mystery to the whole thing than he’d originally thought, and with the secrets she remained hush about, and the ones he had promised to keep, finding out the truth would take some careful questioning.

But the figuring it out could be fun.

When he called her Wednesday night, Vicki was already headed for bed.

“Hey, Joel.”

“Hey. You sound tired.”

She ached. “Hauling boxes all day takes different muscles than working in a café. Plus, I’m now on opening shift. I have to be up at five.”

He hummed. “I hear you. I’ve had early chores this week and this is the first chance I’ve had to breathe.”

“Good thing we’ve got until May, right?”

“Yeah, but I do want to see you again. Soon.”

The sudden rush of pleasure through her eased some of her exhaustion. “For our next horse lesson.”

“That, and to make sure everyone in town knows we’re dating. It’s going to take time for people to cut us a break, so the sooner we set up as a couple, the better.”

The disappointment that struck wasn’t easy to define. This was all a ploy. One that she completely agreed with.

Still felt a twinge of sadness he wasn’t calling her for real.

She put on her best act. “You want to come over for a while? Now or tomorrow. I’m home by two o’clock.”

“If I come over, people will assume we’re…”

God. Couldn’t he even say it? “Don’t be shy, no one else would be. They’ll assume we’re fucking each other, right?”

“Yeah,” he admitted, reluctance in his voice. “So let’s blow their minds and go for a coffee in public.”

“As if that’s going to stop them from assuming we’re fooling around.”

Joel damn near growled, and a shiver raced over her skin in response. “You know what? I don’t give a shit what people say. We know the truth, so fuck them all. For the next six months before you leave town, we’re going to date, and the details are none of their business. We’ll do what we want, and in the end, they can believe or not.”

Wow. “I feel like waving a flag or something. That was totally hot.”

He laughed. “It’s true, though. People can be jerks. Screw them.”

Vicki breathed out slowly. “Okay. I’ll try.”

“Also, I talked to Jesse. He promises to not be an ass. Well, not more than usual.”

This time a definite conflict of emotions hit. Relief and panic. “Did he give you hell for…hooking up with me?”

Joel hesitated. Long enough for her to notice, but his honest words soothed the sting. “He’s my brother, and I’d have done the same thing to him. But I kept your secrets, and he’s not going to bother us. We can move forward, okay?”

“Sure.” Focus on the things she needed. Horses. That was first priority.

“So. Vicki.”

“Yeah?”

“Can I buy you a coffee tomorrow?”

“Goof,” she laughed.

Joel joined in, the deep rumble of his laughter heating her from the inside out. “I can take a break for a few hours. You want me to pick you up from work or meet you at the café?”

“The café? Oh God, you are a glutton for punishment. Gossip will spread like wildfire throughout all of Rocky before we even get the cheque.”

“Good. Let’s get this thing started. Also…” He cleared his throat. “Head’s up. You’re invited to Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday.”

“Whoa, seriously?” That was heading past fun into freaking-out territory. “You want to do that already?”

“I’m sure.” Solidly spoken. “Although you’re going to kick my ass for this part. Everyone is supposed to bring something to contribute.”