9781618853011NoHoldsBarredChelcee Read online

  “Sex? I’m not talking about sex.”

  “Yeah, well, if you want me to make babies, little brother, I think sex is part of the equation.” His lips curved into a wicked smile, “unless, of course, you’re suggesting sperm donation?” He sighed. “Personally, I always thought that route was a little clinical, no pun intended—”

  “Will you be serious?” He interrupted. “I can’t begin to count all the blind dates I’ve set up for you—”

  “Is that what you call them? Don’t forget all the women you’ve sent to the ranch for—” he paused for effect, held up two fingers suggesting quotation marks, and wiggled them—“job interviews,” he concluded scathingly.

  “Only you’re too busy and refuse to meet the ladies in question.”

  “Damned right, I find it difficult to believe some of the women you’ve sent to the ranch even know what the words job interview, mean. And the word ‘lady’ isn’t in their vocabulary.”

  Duel bit his lip. “I was trying to help. I know it’s been well over a year since you got laid.”

  Jace choked. “Damn it, Duel, I can’t believe you keep track of how long in between times I get laid. You must lead a boring life here. Jesus…” his voice trailed off with disbelief.

  “Not nearly as boring as yours is. You rarely take the time to get laid. It’s not difficult to keep track.” He gestured toward Jace’s crotch. “If you don’t use that thing, it’s gonna shrivel up and fall off.” He grinned, watching the multiple expressions of horror flit across his brother’s face.

  “It doesn’t matter how much time goes by before I get laid,” he choked out the words with difficulty. “I still don’t want to marry or make babies.”

  “I’m only trying to help you make a selection.”

  “Did it ever occur to you I prefer to do my own choosing?” he asked dryly. “For hiring, fucking, or God forbid—making babies with?”

  “That’s just the problem, J.D.,” he shot back. “You never select anyone. You spend every free minute you have with those damn horses.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve yet to meet a woman I find more interesting than my horses.”

  “You don’t give them a chance. I can see you’re miserable, even if you can’t. You need a wife.”

  “Well, if nothing else, you’re stubborn to a fault. Swear to God, if I hear that statement one more time from your lips, I’ll explode.”

  Duel leaned back in his chair and eyed Jace thoughtfully. Somehow, he had to stampede him into meeting Kaycee, then give her a job. Throw the two of them together.

  Keep them together. How could it fail?

  “Much as you might be disillusioned by this, Duel, I’m too busy to get seriously involved with some feather-brained female. So get this straight in your mind, I don’t want a wife. I have no desire to father babies. I don’t know how many different ways I can say it.”

  “You’re always going to be too busy. Look at you, for Christ’s sake. You look like crap. You neglect your own care and happiness.”

  And he intended to make every effort to amend the problem, starting tonight. Once Jace met the right woman, he’d topple like a house of cards. It was up to him to make sure he toppled in the right direction.

  Kaycee Spencer was the right direction. He knew it. There was something different about her. He knew Jace would fall for her. He felt it in his bones.

  He couldn’t remember a time when Jace hadn’t been there for him, or for Dianna, and Wild. There was no question of their love and loyalty to their older brother. The three of them adored him, and if necessary, they’d die for him. They owed him.

  But living up to Jace’s expectations could sometimes be daunting. He never did anything in half-measures. When he loved, it was all or nothing. He demanded no less in return from those he loved. To their chagrin, Jace could care less that his younger siblings were all adults. He took care of the things that belonged to him.

  And sometimes—the things that did not.

  Duel frowned. Now he just had to figure out how to get Jace and Kaycee together. Hell, they both loved horses. To his way of thinking, it was a start in the right direction. Love of horses, sure, that was a good base to build a permanent relationship on.

  What more did they need?

  Kaycee was lovely enough to keep Jace occupied for the next forty years or so.

  When Jace arrived at the casino unexpectedly this afternoon, he decided he’d be a fool not to take advantage of the situation and get the two of them together.

  He hadn’t wasted a minute once he knew Jace had landed in Reno. He immediately contacted Kaycee and scheduled an appointment for nine tonight. After he sent the note to Jace, all he’d had to do was sit back and wait for the fireworks. He knew Jace would take immediate action and he’d known his brother would dig in his heels and turn hard ass.

  So—

  He shrugged as doubts assailed him. So—he figured he could work his way around the little problems. “I scheduled you an appointment to meet Kaycee—tonight.”

  He instilled confidence in his voice and ignored Jace’s scowl.

  “Then I guess you have a problem,” he replied. “You made the appointment, you keep it. You know darn good and well I’ll never—read my lips—never allow a woman anywhere near those thoroughbreds.”

  “Hell, J.D., if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you hate women.”

  “I like women,” he gritted. “Damn it, I adore them. So long as the little sweethearts aren’t within fifty miles of my horses, I like them just fine. And don’t call me J.D.” He whipped off his Stetson and thrust agitated fingers through his dark hair. “I can’t believe you did this.”

  Duel grinned, not the least bit daunted. “Kaycee’s an excellent trainer, J.D. When she’s working a horse, she’s pure poetry in motion. And like you, she doesn’t like imprint training. I thought it would be a plus in her favor.”

  “There are no pluses in her favor, not when it comes to the horses.”

  He sighed. “You’re making a huge mistake not hiring her simply because of the prejudice you have against her sex.”

  “I am not prejudiced.” He sounded like a wounded bull. “In case you’ve forgotten, we have a sister I happen to adore. She’s female. Just because she’s idiotic enough to hare off to New York, have I shown any bigotry toward her because she’s a woman? Do I treat her like an imbecile?”

  “Yes—”

  “Don’t interrupt me. How would you like it if I intruded in your management of the Deuce? You wouldn’t appreciate me butting in one bit.”

  “That’s a horse of a different color. Pardon the pun. Besides, the Deuce is mine.”

  “The horses are mine.” He thumped his chest with one fist. “Quit interfering in my love life. When I get ready for a little action, I’ll find it. When I want a wife, I’ll damned well find one of those too. And when I get ready to make a baby, I think I can manage the deed without your instructions. The damned thing hasn’t shriveled up and fallen off yet and I still know how to use it.”

  Duel’s cheeks heated. “I never figured you needed instructions, J.D.—just more opportunities.”

  “I don’t need more opportunities,” he snapped. “Jesus, you already send every opportunity my way that wiggles when it walks. I don’t need another trainer, either.” All pretense of patience gone now, he glared at him. “I have three trainers, three male trainers whom I’m perfectly happy to have working for me.”

  Duel snickered. “You aren’t gay, are you?”

  Jace’s face reddened. His mouth worked, but no words came out.

  He held up a hand. “Okay. Scratch that remark. I was teasing.”

  Jace shoved his hat back on his head and glowered at him. “Some things are not funny, Duel. Casting doubt on my sexual preference is one of the things I classify as not the least bit humorous and a good way for you to wind up on your ass with a bloody nose.” He paused and sucked in a deep breath. “While we’re on the subject, just where in blue blaze
s did you even get an idea I wanted another trainer?”

  Duel shrugged, and crossed his fingers behind his back. “Dianna said she heard you mention it at Christmas when we were home for the holidays.”

  “Then by God, she’s hearing things. I never said any such thing, and I have no desire to meet this Kat woman—”

  “Kaycee—”

  “Whatever.” He shrugged. “I’m even less inclined to allow her on the ranch near my horses. I certainly am not interested in making her my wife.”

  “For Christ’s sake, J.D., no one said you have to marry her. You can at least interview her for the job. Hell’s bells, if you don’t want her as a trainer, give her a job as a groomsman or sweeping out the stables. Something. Anything.”

  “No. I don’t trust you, Duel. You’re scheming. Damn, I know you’re scheming.”

  “What can it hurt? At least meet her. I promise you, you’ll love her as much as I do.”

  “I’m not looking for love,” he replied stubbornly. “And I’m certainly not interested in taking your little entanglement off your hands. I didn’t come all the way to Reno to interview a prospective employee for the Star. I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t important, and you know it. I detest Reno. I don’t know why the hell you ever moved here.”

  He rose to his feet. “Entanglement? What is that supposed to mean? Kaycee isn’t—”

  “Please!” Jace held up a hand as if he were halting traffic. “Save me the hard sell. I said no. I mean no. I came to discuss other issues more important than providing a job to some broad you’ve lost interest in—”

  “Christ, you’re bull-headed.” He completely forgot to maintain his cool. “But you know what? I don’t need your authorization to hire Kaycee to work on the ranch. So I’m hiring her with or without your permission.”

  “You do that,” he said softly. “I promise you, I’ll make the woman’s life a living hell. She’ll rue the day she set foot on Dancing Star.”

  “You would, too.”

  “Damn straight.”

  Duel flung up his arms in surrender. “All right. Okay. You win. But if you came to discuss business, forget it. I’m not in the mood.”

  “Fine. I’ll handle the sale of one our hotels myself.”

  “Why are we getting rid of one of the hotels?”

  He whipped around and rubbed a hand down his face. Haunted shadows filled his eyes. “Jillian’s back. She’s demanding more money.”

  “Jillian? What does that bitch want now?” Duel rose from the chair and paced about the office, as deeply disturbed by this turn of events as his brother.

  “Another piece of the Star.” Jace slid a thumb across his brow and sighed. “This time she wants ten million deposited in her checking account. She wants the rest in her savings.”

  Duel whistled softly. “Do you realize how much money that is?”

  A brow arched. “Don’t ask stupid questions.”

  “Why now?”

  “Another stupid question, you’re on a roll. Who the hell ever knows what Jillian thinks? I don’t want to discuss her or what sick plans she might be scheming.”

  Duel shifted his glance away and swallowed the lump in his throat. “You never want to discuss Jillian. Christ, J.D., do you think for one minute I want the details of what went on between the two of you?”

  He shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”

  “No. It was yesterday for you. You’ll always carry the scars from those days—physically, as well as mentally.”

  “I’ve thought about killing her many times.” Jace looked up, anguish in his dark eyes. “I’ve plotted all the ways I can torture her.”

  “You’ve never said exactly what she did to you.”

  Instantly, a mask stole over Jace’s face. “Like I said, a long time ago, leave it alone.”

  Duel frowned. Jace never wanted to talk about the past. He could never decide if he was glad or if he wanted to know what happened between his brother and their stepmother. He was afraid it was so ugly he’d have to look at Jace in a different light. No, he never wanted to go there.

  “We have to get her out of our lives before I commit murder.”

  “Agreed,” Duel said somberly. “She’s done enough damage to the family.”

  Jace made a sound filled with disgust. “I’ll never understand why Dad married her. I’d like to believe—in his more lucid moments—he thought he was doing the right thing for us, that he loved us.”

  “Loved?” He shifted, uncomfortable with the change in topic, love and their father—another taboo subject. The two simply did not go hand in hand. He buzzed around the room like a restless fly, pacing here and there. He paused to pick up a paperweight, set it down, fiddled with the container of paper clips and ink pens, before returning to his pacing. “Listen Jace, Dad had no notion of the meaning of love, just like you have no concept of the word. If you did, you wouldn’t shut out every woman you meet.”

  He stopped roaming the office long enough to flip a look at Jace that dared him to deny his accusation.

  Jace stared back at him. Pain etched his face. His eyes darkened, wounded by the words. He looked as if he’d been cut by a knife and left to bleed to death. Shit!

  “Jace, I’m—”

  Jace held up his hand and shook his head. He squared his shoulders and allowed a mask to slide in place, shielding the damage done to his soul. “You think I’m like Dad?” he asked huskily. “You honestly believe I’d turn my back on the ones who need me most? That I’m incapable of loving?”

  “I didn’t mean—”

  He broke off abruptly at Jace’s harsh expression.

  “Yeah, I think you did.”

  Shame settled around him like an old worn out blanket. He sighed, surprised at the way his eyes burned and the raw ache in his throat. The last person in the world he’d ever deliberately hurt was Jace.

  He’d done exactly that—deliberately.

  But for one tiny moment, he’d thought Jace was going to share what had happened between him and Jillian. He didn’t want to know. Ghosts were best left undisturbed. He had a feeling the skeletons in Jace’s closet were much worse than he ever imagined. If someone didn’t kill Jillian Remington, he might have to do the deed himself.

  Jace’s next words were so distant he could have dipped them in ice before speaking. “If this is how you see me, how you truly feel about me, I guess there’s nothing left to say. Maybe it’s a good thing you do live in Reno.”

  “Damn it, J.D.,” Duel shouted. “Will you just listen?”

  Jace held up a restraining hand. “I think there’s been enough said. Let’s stop while we’re still on speaking terms, and I haven’t belted you one. Don’t send that Kat woman to the ranch. I won’t be responsible for what happens if you do. All I want is a little peace in my life. Is that asking too much of you?”

  He turned on his boot heel and headed to the door.

  “Where are you going?” Frustration gnawed at him. “We’re not done here, J.D.”

  “Like hell.” Jace tore open the door.

  “Where can I find you when Kaycee arrives? I can’t just leave her waiting.”

  “Don’t you send that woman anywhere near me. I’m warning you, I can be a nasty drunk. Right now, I feel a lot of nasty building up.”

  “That would prove you are just like Dad,” he taunted.

  Jace paused at the door and turned to face him. “You can’t leave it alone, can you?”

  He shrugged.

  “Here’s a news flash for you, little brother. I’m getting good and drunk, then I’m going to find my own woman and get laid. Practice making those babies you’re so concerned about.”

  The door slammed hard enough to jar the windowpanes in their frames.

  Suddenly, he shoved it back open and snapped, “I just might marry her. That ought to make you happy!”

  Duel dived for the papers sailing across his desk when the door slammed for the second time. He flung his body across the time
sheets to keep the rest of them from gliding to the floor. Wincing, he rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. That hadn’t gone too badly. No, not bad at all.

  Then why in hell was he lying spread-eagled across the surface of his desk like some damned pagan sacrifice? By God, first thing Monday morning, he was getting a crew in here to move his desk farther back from the door.

  He straightened up, ran fingers through his hair and swore softly. He couldn’t remember a time in his life when he and Jace had seriously quarreled.

  Hadn’t gone too badly?

  Who was he kidding, it’d been a frickin’ disaster.

  Worse, he still hadn’t persuaded Jace to meet Kaycee Spencer. He’d have to call her and cancel the appointment he’d scheduled for tonight. The thought of disappointing her didn’t set well, but until he persuaded Jace to hire her, he had little choice but to make other arrangements.

  In Jace’s present frame of mind, he’d squash Kaycee like a bug under his boot heel. Damn it! He should have realized not to spring it on Jace or push too hard. Once Jace decided against something, it wasn’t easy to change his brother’s mind.

  I just might marry her.

  The words reverberated through his mind.

  “He wouldn’t really marry some woman he’d just met.”

  Nah. Jace was making idle threats.

  He moaned. His brother didn’t make idle threats.

  Duel pinched the bridge of his nose. Damn if he didn’t feel the beginnings of a headache. Sighing, he reached for the phone and dialed Kaycee’s number. Drumming his fingertips on top of the desk, he waited for an answer. When none came, he slammed the phone back on its cradle.

  He glanced at his watch. There was less than thirty minutes before she was due to arrive. She was probably already on her way. If Kaycee Spencer showed up for the meeting—and Jace happened to meet her—Christ, all hell could break loose. He didn’t want them to meet accidentally. He wanted to be there, introduce them, and smooth the way, so to speak.

  Heaven above and hell below, could anything else go wrong tonight?

  Impatiently, he walked toward the monitors. The minute Kaycee entered the casino he’d spot her and head her off—explain to her Jace was in a very foul mood—schedule another appointment.