“No family?” she asked.
“Not worth keeping in contact with.”
He really didn’t want to hash out his fucked-up childhood. It was one of those things he tried to forget, not reflect on. He’d spent more time in foster care than with his mother. That bitch didn’t deserve anything from him now that he was finally making a life for himself.
“Same for me, I guess.”
“I know about the stepfather. What’s all that about?” he asked.
She shrugged. “My mom remarried when I was a kid. Her new husband had two daughters from a previous marriage. For some reason, my mother took to them and brushed me off the best she could. I was unwanted and I knew they’d be rid of me if that were an option.”
“I can’t even begin to understand that.”
“I spent most of my time away in my room, out of sight, out of mind. My stepsisters were given every opportunity. I was tolerated until I finally moved off on my own.”
He squeezed her hand and took a cleansing breath. “And him?”
She looked down at her lap. “He wasn’t a father figure, let’s just say that and be done with it.”
“Yeah, let’s not talk about family anymore,” he said. “The past shouldn’t be allowed to have so much power over us.”
“I thought I’d left it all behind. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. I don’t know why my stepfather would show up and try to sabotage my life.”
“He’s an asshole.”
Vinny would love a few minutes alone with that bastard.
“I agree.”
They had burgers and coffee. Both of them stopped talking about the past and focused on happier things like the zoo animals they kept, and how he wanted to take her on a horse ride through the forest trails one day soon. They even talked about Christmas on the ranch, and he described how the snow would blanket the land and the old wood stove that would keep them warm. Talking with Annalise came so easily, like he’d known her for years. He supposed that was what happened when a man fell in love.
After paying the bill, he gave her a wink. “We’d better head home before they think I’ve kidnapped you.”
She smiled and slid out of their booth ahead of him.
“I’ll be out in a second. Just going to use the bathroom,” he said.
When he exited the diner a couple of minutes later, he saw a couple of men he’d never seen before. They were tourists, probably heading to the next rodeo town.
Both of them looked to be in their mid-thirties, and they had Annalise cornered.
“Come on, sweetheart, just tell us your name.”
Vinny bounded down the few steps and headed straight to the men with no hesitation.
“Problem here?” he asked, getting between them and Annalise.
“Nothing that’s your business, big boy.”
He smirked. “Well, she’s my business.”
“She’s got a mind of her own. And she can choose who to go home with tonight.”
As he lunged forward, all he could remember was Annalise screaming his name. His Irish blood ran hot, and all he saw was red. He punched the asshole with the big mouth in the face, and he kept pummeling, ignoring the pain in his knuckles. When the other guy tried to step in, Vinny took him down to the dusty ground, rolling with him before straddling the fucker so he could dish out more punishment.
All he kept thinking about was the fact they’d disrespected his woman. His territorial nature ran off the charts and he barely recognized himself.
It was Gabe’s booming voice that pulled him back into reality.
Chapter Nine
Several hours later, Gabe still paced the length of the living room. Every few seconds or so, he’d stop, glance over at Vinny, shake his head, then carry on pacing.
He was so pissed off.
No, disappointed.
At this very moment, he couldn’t even put into words exactly how he felt.
“You know, just being an outsider in all of this, you didn’t have to straddle the guy and repeatedly punch him. That vibe got a little nasty,” Archie said.
“Shut up.” Vinny sounded pissed.
As far as Gabe was concerned, Vinny didn’t have a right to be feeling anything.
“Please, don’t fight,” Annalise said.
She was the only reason he was staying sane right now. If he’d been left to deal with Vinny on his own, he’d have throttled the little bastard. He couldn’t believe Vinny had been so reckless.
He figured Vinny and Annalise were having a good time. Sure, he’d missed her, and wanted her home, but that didn’t mean he wanted her to stop having fun.
“Babe, why don’t you go and start some dinner for us all? I know I’m starving,” Gabe said.
She glanced over at Vinny, biting her lip. For a split second, all Gabe could imagine was those plump lips wrapped around his dick, sucking him down. She would look so pretty on her knees with his cock in her mouth. He’d have to teach her how to suck him just how he liked it.
Damn it.
Annalise messed with his head.
Vinny nodded, and she stood, about to leave the room, but Gabe couldn’t have her doing that. He captured her wrist and pulled her right back against him. “Where’s my kiss?”
“You don’t seem in the mood to have a kiss.”
“When it comes to you, I will always be in the mood.” He wasn’t angry with Annalise. She’d been scared around those men and the way the creeps had reacted. He got it. If he was completely honest with himself, he wasn’t even angry at Vinny. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t have reacted in a similar way if he’d been placed in that same position. However, Vinny clearly didn’t have all the facts.
Annalise’s smile was a big enough distraction for him as she went on her tiptoes, seeing as he was a lot taller than her, and those lips of hers landed right on his.
He cupped her hip with one hand, and with the other, he grabbed the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Gabe wasn’t in the mood for sweetness and light. He had this overwhelming need to claim Annalise. To mark her so the world knew he meant business in claiming her.
When he finished, she stepped back. Her lips were slightly reddened as she looked dazed.
“Wow,” she said.
He chuckled. “Go ahead.”
“Wait a damn minute,” Archie said. “I want a kiss too.”
Annalise giggled and went over to him, cupping his face, and kissing him. Archie grabbed her around the waist, dragging her down to the sofa and nuzzling her neck.
“Now, I can let you go,” Archie said.
Annalise rolled her eyes, and went to Vinny, who stood, stroked her face, and grazed his lips across hers. “I loved today,” he whispered.
Gabe couldn’t help the twinge of guilt he felt for being such a damn ogre about this. All of them would have reacted to what happened. He couldn’t blame Vinny, but clearly, his friend didn’t know what was at stake and he needed to let him know.
Sometimes being the oldest sucked.
Annalise left the room, and Vinny turned toward him. “Okay, let me have it. Whatever you’ve got to say to get shit off your chest, do it!”
“Do you have any idea what you were fucking thinking?” Gabe asked.