“Just that Gavin Jeffries seems to like spending time with you.” The way he said it told her that he was leaving something unsaid.
Brenne filled in the blanks. “And I would like spending some of his dollars in return?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“No, you just implied it.” Her face was flushed, her hands balled into fists that she was having trouble keeping at her sides.
“Don’t get all riled up about it,” he said firmly. “All I implied was that you had a thing for him, and that he has one for you.”
“So what? It’s none of your damn business!” Her temper was too high to calm, and before she hit him, Brenne turned her back on him instead and walked away.
“It’s the whole town’s business, dammit!” he called after her. “You’re talking about the man who plans to completely transform Whiskey River!”
“That ain’t got nothing to do with me,” she called back, storming away from the stables and from Alex Parsons. “And the whole town can mind its own damn business because I can handle mine.”
“Fucking Gavin Jeffries!” She barely heard it because Alex muttered the curse to himself, but it was loud enough to penetrate.
The footsteps behind her faded, and soon Brenne found herself alone with her thoughts. They were barely thoughts, more just snippets of a furious one-sided argument. She breathed deeply, trying to calm down before she reached the farmhouse.
He’s jealous. That’s the only explanation. Her conversation with Lou in the saloon office replayed in her head, how Alex’s critique of her behavior with other men happened after he broke up with her amounted to jealousy. He was avoiding me, and now he keeps popping up on the ranch. He’s got plenty to say about the time I spend with Gavin, and he about laid me out with his kissing in the stall. All that adds up to envy.
It didn’t matter, she realized. Just because he was jealous didn’t mean he was enamored with her. He’s like a child that doesn’t give a squat for a certain toy until another child wants to play with it. Well I am not a toy.
And he’s going to have to grow the hell up.
CHAPTER 19
ALEX
“If you slam one more cabinet, Dad is going to lock you up in the fruit cellar like he used to when you wouldn’t do your chores.”
Alex turned to fix his sister with a look that told her exactly what he thought of her remark. He let out a sigh, then set his plate down on the counter. Fixing himself a plate of dinner was the reason he’d entered the kitchen, but he realized now that he wasn’t hungry.
He settled into the chair next to Peggy, feeling suddenly weary. His sister turned to look at him, concern plain on her features. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Gavin Jeffries, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Instant Gratification, has been spending almost every day since last week on the MacAllen ranch.”
“Gavin Jeffries?” Peggy’s jaw dropped. “What is he doing at our neighbors’ house?”
“Evan didn’t know who he was and invited him home for dinner one night, and he’s been hanging around like a stray dog looking for a hot meal ever since.”
Peggy shook her head, a look between fascination and repulsion on her face. “Gavin Jeffries and the MacAllens. What the heck are they up to?”
“To make matters worse, Jameson is dead set against Gavin and hates having him around, but Brenne keeps inviting him back.”
“Brenne has always done what she thought was best, ever since we were kids,” Peggy said, her words coming out slow and haltingly, her expression shell-shocked.
“And that damn Gavin is following after her like a puppy dog with his tail wagging.” Alex folded his arms over his chest and scowled at the memory of Gavin holding Brenne in his arms. If Alex hadn’t shown up when he did, the billionaire would likely have had his lips on her too. A burst of white-hot jealousy almost crippled him. He touched what’s mine. That is not allowed.
She’s not yours, his rational mind tried to say, but he couldn’t hear it. The green monster was in full control of his faculties.
“First a stray dog, now a puppy dog. It’s pretty clear how you feel about this Gavin guy,” his sister pointed out.
Alex tried to get control of himself. The last thing I need is Peggy thinking there’s something between me and Brenne again. “He’s going to destroy the town, remember? There are much worse names I could be calling him.”
“So Gavin likes Brenne?” A twinkle came into his sister’s eye.
“What?” Alex asked, sitting up straight. “What’s the look?”
“Well, you’re talking about how this guy is going to screw up Whiskey River, right? But if he’s got a crush on Brenne, she can—”
“Oh no, we are not going there.” Alex’s voice was firm. He didn’t want Brenne any closer to the billionaire than she already was.
“Why not? She loves this town. Maybe she can persuade him to take his business elsewhere.”
“She might as well tell him to bulldoze it to the ground and build a giant horse farm in its place. Brenne is too unpredictable to put in charge of the town’s fate.” Alex didn’t exactly believe what he was saying, but it made a compelling argument for his sister’s sake, he hoped. “Now let’s just drop it.”
Peggy shrugged and continued picking at the dessert she was still finishing. “I’d think you’d take any chance you could get.”
Alex stood, no longer in the mood for discussion. He let himself out of the main house and followed the trail that led to his clinic. It was lit with small solar lights, meaning he found his way easily in the encroaching darkness.
He let himself into the clinic and climbed the stairs to his living space. It was an open loft, with a sitting area with a fireplace, a small kitchen with a table for eating, and his bedroom space. He headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Alex was waiting for the water to get hot when his phone chimed.
It was Emma. Any chance we can coordinate outfits for the event?
He leaned in to turn off the shower, knowing this wasn’t going to be a short conversation. What did you have in mind? he texted as he sat on the side of the bathtub.
My dress is forest green, and I thought you might have a tie to match?
Alex closed his eyes, already feeling exhausted. Formal attire was the last thing he wanted to think about. I’ll see what I have.
The text back had a thanks!! followed by three emojis: a thumbs up, a blushing smiling face, and a heart.
A fucking heart.
He stood, tossing his phone on the counter by the sink. Alex turned the shower back on and pulled off his clothing. He stepped inside and pressed his head to the cold tile as the water sluiced over him. This is worse than I thought.
Not only did Brenne hate him, but she was getting entangled with another man. A man who had billions of dollars and apparently nothing but time for her. And Emma, the friendly vet tech, was now talking about dates and sending him digital hearts.
“Maybe she’s just being friendly,” he said to himself. “Lots of people send hearts.” Then he recalled the way she’d been trying to use his Christian name instead of calling him “Doctor Parsons” as she always had.