Easton's Claim (Colebrook Siblings Trilogy Book 3) (9 page)

The familiar sound of Wyatt’s truck pulling up out front minutes later signaled that his reprieve was over. He wandered back into the kitchen as both Wyatt and Charlie stepped onto the front porch. He’d asked both of them here so he’d only have to say this once.

“Hey,” he said, pushing the screen door open for them both. “Thanks for coming.”

“You got coffee on?” Charlie asked, rubbing at her eyes. She was definitely not a morning person.

“Just made a fresh pot.” He went to the coffee maker and poured them each a mug while his siblings sat at the small kitchen table.

“So,” Wyatt asked, cradling the mug between his big hands. “What was so important that you had to talk to both of us in person before the sun came up?”

“I have to fill you guys in on something.” And given last night, it couldn’t wait.

“Okay…” Charlie said, eyeing him with curiosity as she blew on her coffee. “So spill.”

They were both sitting down, so he might as well just go for it. “It’s Piper.”

“Something else happen?” Wyatt asked in concern.

“Not with the investigation, no. This is about me and her.”

Two pairs of eyes, one hazel and one deep brown, focused on him intently. “What about you guys?” Charlie asked, her expression suspicious.

“I’m gonna do whatever it takes to make her mine.”

Charlie’s mouth opened in shock and Wyatt’s eyebrows first shot upward, then crashed together in a foreboding scowl. “What the hell do you mean?” he growled out, his protective reaction exactly what Easton had expected, but it also meant that Wyatt didn’t trust Easton’s intentions.

He tamped down his annoyance and raised a hand in self-defense. “I love her.”

His brother and sister stared at him as a taut silence hummed between them.

“I’ve loved her a damn long time. When I came home this past spring and found out she was single, I made up my mind that I was going to make my move next time I was back.”

“Um, okay, wow,” Charlie said, face blank with surprise. “Does she have any idea you feel this way about her?”

“She does now.” He’d shocked her pretty bad last night but he hadn’t been able to keep his feelings buried any longer.

“And?”

“And…I’m hoping she’ll give us a chance, once she has time to think it over.”

“So this is serious, right?” Wyatt asked, his scowl now mellowed to a puzzled frown, in full concerned big brother mode. “You love her, and you’re going after her because you want…what?”

“It’s as serious as it gets. She’s it for me.”

At that both his siblings gawked at him. He sighed. “Yeah, I know this comes as a surprise to you guys. It did to her too.”

“Well no kidding,” Charlie remarked dryly, her dark eyes now gleaming with excitement.

“That’s why I wanted to tell you guys up front. She’s got certain…reservations, I guess you’d call them, about us being together. On top of that, Greg did a number on her self-esteem and she hates that she’s been the topic of town gossip for so long. She’s hell bent on moving to Minnesota for her dream job teaching at a private school.”

Charlie nodded. “This whole thing has been so hard on her. Piper’s strong, but it’s worn her down and she’s just started to find her footing again. It’s why she wants to start fresh elsewhere.”

“Well I’m gonna do everything I can to convince her to stay,” Easton said. “I laid most of my cards on the table for her last night.”

“Wait, wait. What do you mean,
most
of your cards?”

“I may have left out the L word. Didn’t want to freak her out completely and scare her off for good right out of the chute.”

“Yeah, I guess I can see your reasoning on that one.” Charlie set her mug down and leaned forward to rest her forearms on the table, her eyes intent on his. Worried, but hopeful. “So what did she say?”

“All the things I just said, plus she brought up our age difference, and her concern that anything romantic between her and I might wreck her relationship with the family.” He shrugged, still hoping she’d get over that part.

“And you said…?” Charlie prompted.

“I think it’s an excuse, so I told her to sleep on it and left it at that.”

His sister groaned and closed her eyes. “Seriously?”

Easton’s face started to heat up. “She was in shock. I wanted to give her time to process it and think things over without any pressure from me. I’m only telling you guys about it because I know she’ll be worried about what you think and I don’t want that to get in the way. I need you both to give us space while we figure this out,” he added, a slight edge to his voice.

Charlie sighed and picked up her coffee while Wyatt continued to study him from across the table. “So did she seem receptive to the idea of you two together, or not?” his brother asked.

He grimaced. “She was pretty dead set about not being willing to go there.” God, he hoped he’d be able to change her mind. He didn’t know what he’d do if he couldn’t. “But you guys know that no matter what she decides about us, I’m standing with her through this mess. I’ll protect her either way, with everything I have.”

Wyatt’s frown disappeared and Charlie’s lips curved in an approving grin. “Oh my God, you really are in love with her,” she murmured.

“Yeah. If I had my way, I’d move her into my place in Alexandria right now. Permanently. But I guess she’s not quite ready for something like that yet,” he added with a sheepish grin.

Wyatt shook his head. “This isn’t at all what I expected you to tell us this morning,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee, amusement in his eyes. “I knew you had a thing for her for a long time, but I never realized it ran this deep. I hope things work out for you.”

The pressure in his chest eased slightly. It shouldn’t have surprised him that Wyatt had picked up on it. “Thanks. Me too.”

“Gonna be weird for the first little while,” Charlie said. “If you guys do get together, I mean. She’s been like a sister to us all for like, almost twenty years.”

“Not to me,” Easton said. “Not ever.” Hell, he didn’t know if things were going to turn out in his favor or not, but he’d been dying to tell her how he felt and was glad he’d finally put it out there last night. Well, most of it anyway.

“Well then. Hope she gives you a chance.” Charlie’s eyes filled with sympathy. “But try to remember how bad she’s been hurt, Easton. She’s not going to trust a man easily after what she went through, not even you, and if she’s always seen you as just a friend or a brother before now… Be patient with her.”

“I’m trying. It’s why I decided to tell her last night and then give her space to think. I don’t want to pressure her but I’m also not gonna stand back and let her walk away from me without a fight.”

Wyatt nodded in approval, something that wasn’t easily earned from his gruff eldest brother. “And what about her security situation? Have the cops found anything else yet?”

“No, and she insisted on starting work again today. I’ll be going with her to all her appointments and showings. What do you think in terms of a timeline to finish the repairs on her place? Another day or two?”

“That should be plenty. I’m just waiting for the patches in the drywall to finish drying so I can sand and then paint. Austen’s almost done with the repairs on the furniture. You said you’re going to take care of buffing out the worst of the scratches in the hardwood floor, and all that’s left after that is to clean and stage the place. Which we all know Piper will see to personally.”

Easton smiled. Piper loved that kind of thing and would never let anyone else handle it. “Well, now that you know what’s up, I’d appreciate it if you guys would make yourselves scarce around here for a while.” His gaze strayed to the window next to the front door and out to the main house before looking back at his siblings. “I’m not sure what to expect from her this morning, so I’d like to have some time alone with her. I have a feeling she’s going to either avoid me, or try to pretend last night didn’t happen.”

“Sure, no problem.” Charlie looked at Wyatt. “Can I come by your place in a bit then? I’ll go visit with Austen until we start work at Piper’s place.”

“Sure, yeah.”

Easton saw them both out. Wyatt clapped him on the shoulder. “Good luck with everything.”

“Thanks.”

Charlie wrapped him up in a tight hug he returned. “Remember what I said. She’s going to be skittish with anyone now. Don’t take it personally.”

“I won’t.”

After they left he closed the door and geared up for the coming challenges the day would bring. Piper was going to fight this, he was pretty sure.

Fortunately for him, he was a professional warrior. Even if she pulled away, he wasn’t giving up. Piper was worth fighting for and he would do everything in his power to win her heart.

Okay, she couldn’t stay up here forever. Sooner or later she had to go downstairs and face the day.

Piper pushed a hand through her shower-damp hair and took a calming breath. After a few restless hours last night spent staring at the ceiling and trying to figure out where to go from here, she’d somehow dropped off into a long, dreamless sleep.

Now that she was up and dressed, she had to face the music. Because no matter how much she wanted to avoid them, the situation with Greg and the new development with Easton had to be dealt with.

Outside the window the sun touched the edge of the mountain with brushstrokes of gold and orange, and birdsong filled the air. A perfect fall morning on a picturesque property in the middle of one of the most gorgeous places on earth. Except her heart and mind were in chaos.

Greg’s kidnapping was enough to deal with, but the bombshell Easton had dropped on her last night had left her reeling. All this time she’d been friends with him, she’d had no idea he’d felt that way about her.

Now she was torn, and his admission had awakened a whole new level of need and forbidden thoughts about him. Maybe her physical attraction to him had been growing, but that didn’t mean she was ready to act on it. She
couldn’t
act on it. The prospect of getting involved with him romantically was definitely another disaster in the making.

As tempted as she was in some respects, she didn’t see how this could end in any other way but heartbreak for her. She’d already taken the job in Minnesota and she wasn’t prepared to give that up for anyone.

His life was here in Virginia. His family was solidly rooted here in Sugar Hollow, the one place she was desperate to escape from. If she gave into temptation and if things ended badly when she left, she would lose one of her dearest friends and make staying in contact with the rest of his family awkward for everyone.

And yet, as strong as all those arguments were to turn him down, none of them stopped her from wanting him.

She let out a groan of frustration and rubbed a hand over her face, dreading seeing him again, but it couldn’t be helped and the sooner she dealt with it, the better. After putting on mascara, liner and lip-gloss, she gathered her courage and went downstairs to face him.

It wasn’t Easton she found in the kitchen, however. It was Charlie.

Her friend smiled in greeting as she rinsed out a cup in the sink, dark brown waves spilling over her back. “Morning. You look fresh and rested. Feeling better?”

Not even a little.
“Yeah, amazing what a good night’s sleep will do for a girl.”
I was up all night fantasizing about your brother.
She cringed inside, feeling dirty.
God, she was nothing but a pervy cougar. The shame of it made her cheeks go hot.

Charlie shut off the water and reached for the kitchen towel hanging on the oven door handle to dry her hands, her deep brown gaze intent on Piper. “So, uh… Easton just told Wyatt and me about what he said to you last night.”

She let out a soft gasp, feeling like she’d just been sucker punched, and stood there feeling self-conscious as she tried to think of something to say. “Oh,” was all she came up with. Why the hell would he have told them that?

“I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but you’re one of my best friends and I thought you should know. We were both pretty surprised.”

Uh, yeah. “Well then that makes three of us.”

Charlie tipped her head to the side and crossed her arms over the plaid flannel shirt she wore. “Just so you know, he’s dead serious about you.”

Piper resisted the urge to squirm and rub a hand over the back of her tightening neck. “I really don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know, in case you didn’t believe him. I know you’ve been through a lot and that he took you off guard last night, but I’ve never seen him like this. I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”

“Nothing’s going to happen between us, Charlie. I’ll be leaving for Minnesota soon,” she said, as if that explained everything. “I already took the job, so my mind’s made up.”

Charlie’s eyes filled with sympathy. “We’ll all miss you when you go.” She hugged Piper and stepped back with a sunny smile, then changed the subject. “I’m heading out to Wyatt’s for a bit, but we’ll see you at your place later, once you’re finished with your showings.”

Piper nodded, dreading seeing Easton and being alone with him in between appointments today. She owed him an answer, but didn’t want to hurt his feelings and couldn’t bear to break his heart. Had to be done though. She’d just do it as gently as possible and do whatever she could to salvage the friendship.

“Thanks. You guys don’t know what it means to me to have friends like you.”

“Yeah we do, we have you.”

After Charlie left, Piper glanced at the window above the farmhouse sink and spotted Easton walking toward the house from the barn. Her heart did a funny little roll at the sight of him in a worn pair of jeans and a button-down chambray blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose his thick forearms.

When she’d first moved here from Minnesota he’d been an awkward, gangly teenager. A wild, annoying kid with a bratty attitude and a penchant for irritating the hell out of her. She’d been the victim of more than her fair share of his practical jokes.