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  “Don’t you see, Jane? I was trying to save our property and allow us to have a future. All we had was what we made on the ranch. We didn’t have any money to fall back on. We didn’t even have money to start breeding horses, which is why I bought from someone other than the guy Hal recommended in the first place, but it turned out to be too good to be true. I wanted to make something of our ranch for you. I wanted to be successful so you could be proud.” He turned away and rubbed his chin, then brought his attention back to his wife and spoke with a softer tone. “I failed at horse breeding because I tried to buy the horses for less than the normal price. I didn’t know they weren’t real thoroughbreds.”

  Jane gasped. “Oh dear.”

  “It’s not an excuse, Jane. It’s the truth. I was tricked, and it ruined me. Do you know what that felt like, to admit defeat? Do you have any idea what it felt like to fail so badly that I had no choice but to sell all those beautiful horses and go to work at that stupid company? That wasn’t our plan.” He turned to Hal. “Remember, Hal? Our plan was to be ranchers, breed horses. Well, no one wanted my horses because they weren’t thoroughbreds at all.”

  Hal’s jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed.

  Earl continued. “I’m not proud of what I did, but what choice did I have? I either had to admit that I’d been hoodwinked—which would only prove to you that I was cheap in the first place—or try to cheat the system once I realized that I’d been tricked. You know I’d never do that. I’m not that kind of man. My only other option was to do what I did and sell them to that cretin Richter. He was the only one who would buy them, and the only way I could keep the ranch was to do just that. Hal, it’s true that I knew what he’d done to Adriana, and I’m not proud of my decisions. But I couldn’t have looked you in the eye—or, Jane, heaven knows I couldn’t have looked into your trusting eyes—and told you what had happened. I couldn’t lose you both, so when it came down to it, I knew I couldn’t lose the woman I loved. Hal, this was the only way I could figure to at least keep my marriage alive.”

  “Earl,” Jane said, “I’ve never cared about material things. We could live in town, or in an apartment, and I never would have cared. Even now, we’re having financial issues again. So what? Sell it all off.”

  Earl grew silent. He took his wife’s hand in his. “We’re not having financial trouble, Jane. I told you that because I knew if I told you the truth, you’d fight me on it. I want to sell some of our land so that if something happens to me, you can remain in our house without needing to do anything more than have someone tend the yard. I’m tired, Jane. I want time with you. More than anything in this world, I want to spend less time worrying about horses and property and more time enjoying your company.” He held his hands out to his sides. “Look at me. I’m not gonna live forever.”

  “Oh, Earl.” Jane wiped a tear from her eye. “You make the worst decisions, for the best reasons.” She drew him into her arms.

  Jade watched her parents change right before her eyes. Her strong, self-assured father, the man she both feared and loved, approached her, looking deflated and relieved.

  “Darlin’, obviously I’m in the wrong here. I’m often in the wrong, though I am terribly embarrassed that my little girl has to know that.”

  “Daddy—”

  “Let me finish, please, before I lose my nerve. I’ve always tried to do the right thing by you. And now the cat’s out of the bag. Your daddy is not the man you thought he was, but my love for you and Steven and your mother is more real than the mud on my shoes. If you love Rex Braden, well, then I’ll love Rex Braden. If your heart hurts, my heart hurts.” He looked at Hal. “Ain’t that right, Hal?”

  Hal nodded.

  “Family knows no boundaries,” Earl said.

  “Family knows no boundaries,” Hal repeated.

  “Hal, I’m sorry about disrespecting Adriana by dealing with that thief, but if I was going to keep up with you and make a go of the ranch, I had no choice. It was the only way I could afford the horses—and, it turned out, I’d have been better off not having a ranch at all.”

  “I could have fronted you the money, Earl. You didn’t need to breed horses at all,” Hal said.

  “That was our plan. I wanted our plan to work. Then one thing led to another, and suddenly I was trying to save my family. I wasn’t trying to cause any more hurt to her. Treat, Rex, Savannah, Josh, your mother loved you more than life itself, and I’m sorry that your father and I stood between my wife and each of you.” When he looked into Jade’s eyes, tears welled in his. “Darlin’…”

  Jade jumped into his arms. “It’s okay, Daddy. I love you.” She hadn’t realized how much anger she’d been carrying about the feud, but suddenly she felt lighter, even with the tears in her eyes and the discomfort that wrapped around each of them, tying them all together, pulling them down while they tried so hard to stay above the surface.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON, after the horse show had ended, the Bradens gathered for their typical afternoon barbeque. Josh manned the grill while Treat and Max stood arm in arm beside him, teasing him about adding too much pepper to the chicken. Treat pulled Max into a deep, passionate kiss, and this time, when Rex watched them, he didn’t experience the familiar flash of jealousy. He pulled Jade closer to his side and lowered his mouth onto hers. She leaned in to him, and he wrapped his hand beneath her long, dark hair and kissed her. He could kiss her forever and never tire of it—and he planned on it.

  Savannah came out of the house. “Get a room!” Her cell phone rang, and she looked at the number, then said, “I’m gonna take this over there.” She walked back toward the house.

  Rex finally let Jade up for air. He loved the rosy flush that covered her cheeks and the breathless way she tried to recover from their kisses. “I love you,” he said to her.

  She touched his cheek. “Those words…that kiss…you’re just trying to get into my pants,” she teased.

  Their families were just beginning to clear a path toward each other. It would take time, but they were making strides, and Rex wasn’t going to stop pushing until the path was no longer hidden beneath the brush, but cleared and lined with olive branches.

  Hope had been fine ever since their families reconciled, although, when Rex noticed the parallel, Josh was quick to correct him. You mean since Jade gave her that massage.

  He watched his father leaning against the fence, and for the hundredth time that day, was thankful for their reconciliation.

  “I’m gonna talk to my dad for a sec.” Rex kissed Jade and went to his father’s side.

  “Hey, Dad.” He leaned his forearms on the fence, just as his father did.

  “Son.”

  “I’m sorry about lying to you. I never meant to hurt you or to disrespect the family.” He touched the silver charm that he now wore above his T-shirt.

  “I know you didn’t, son.” His father looked out over the pasture, and after a minute or two, he said, without looking at Rex, “You know how I told you that your mother wanted me to tell you something?”

  “Yeah.”

  His father nodded, then put an arm around Rex. “She said you were doing the right thing.”

  Rex looked into his father’s eyes. “I don’t know if you’re delusional or not, Dad, but right this second, I’d like to believe you’re the sanest man alive.”

  His father let out a laugh and slung an arm over Rex’s shoulder as they walked toward the driveway, where Earl and Jane were stepping out of their car.

  “Thank you, Dad. I know it’s not easy to welcome the Johnsons back into your life. I don’t know what that Richter guy did to Mom, but I respect your need to protect her, and I’m sorry to have put you on the spot like that with Jade.”

  “You know I’ll love Jade as much as you do. She made a difference in Hope’s health, and I appreciate that you cared enough about Hope to risk our relationship and bring Jade by to help her.” They walked in silence for a minute, and
then his father stopped walking and looked into Rex’s eyes. “Son, you’ve never let me down a day in your life, and I wish I could say the same for myself, but I can’t. Fifteen years is a long time to wait for the woman you love. I’m sorry.”

  Savannah charged up the driveway with a suitcase in her hands. Treat, Max, and Josh were right behind her. “I have to leave earlier than anticipated.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re running back to Connor Dean,” her father said as he took her into his arms.

  “No, Dad. That was a call from my office. There’s a new client coming into New York City, and they need to meet me tomorrow afternoon,” Savannah assured him.

  “Before you go, Vanny, Max and I have an announcement.” Treat stood arm in arm with Max, both flashing enormous smiles.

  “She’s pregnant?” Savannah asked.

  Max put her hand on her stomach. “No. Gosh, way to make me feel self-conscious.”

  Treat and Rex laughed. They pulled Earl over to where they stood. “We came to a deal that we think will work for everyone. Earl has agreed to sell Max and me the parcel that he’s selling off, and he’s offered us first right of refusal for any other parcels that he might want to sell.”

  “And last night Dad, Earl and Jane, and Jade and I came to an agreement about the unoccupied property, which will no longer be unoccupied. When Treat and Max build, Jade and I will be building our home as well.” Rex kissed Jade’s forehead.

  Savannah jumped up and down. “So I’ll have two sister types living right by Dad that I can visit? This gets better by the second.”

  “Give them your biggest news, Treat,” Josh urged.

  “You suck at keeping secrets,” Treat teased.

  “What? I didn’t tell them.”

  Treat put his arm over Josh’s shoulder and pretended to punch him in the stomach. “I love you, bro.”

  Max sighed. “I’ll tell them.” Her eyes lit up. “We’re getting married! We finally set the date for next spring!”

  “Yes!” Savannah yelled, and hugged Max.

  “And Josh is designing my wedding dress. Nothing too fancy,” Max said.

  “Of course not,” Josh said, winking at Savannah.

  “Oh, Max! I’m so excited for you.” Jade hugged Max.

  In the past few hours, Rex had watched Jade and each of his siblings, as well as his father and Max, get to know one another, and he could tell by the smile on her face that Jade was just as thrilled about being included in their family as he was.

  Hal slung an arm casually over Jade’s shoulder. “Now let’s see if Rex’ll make an honest woman out of you, too.”

  Rex beamed. “One day. You’ll be the second person to know.” He blew a kiss at Jade.

  Riley’s red Camry pulled into the driveway. She stepped out with a wide smile. “I’m sorry. I had no idea that there was a family gathering going on. Josh asked me to bring by my portfolio.”

  Rex cast a curious glance at Josh.

  Josh leaned in close to him. “I learned from your mistake.” Then louder, he said, “Riley, welcome to our home. Come on into the yard.”

  Rex and Jade laughed. “What have we done?” he asked.

  Ready for more Bradens?

  Fall in love with Josh and Riley in Unraveling the Truth About Love

  Chapter One

  RILEY BANKS HURRIED down Thirty-Seventh Street in her red Catherine Malandrino dress and Giuseppe Zanotti leopard-print, calf-hair pumps. It was the week after Thanksgiving, and Manhattan was buzzing with the feverish zeal of the holidays. Riley slowed her pace to catch her breath. Tomorrow I’ll find the courage to take the subway. Maybe. She tugged her coat tighter across her chest to ward off the chilly air and silently hoped that nobody would figure out that she’d purchased her outfit on Outnet.com, an online designer outlet store. She felt like such a hypocrite, heading to her first day at her new job as one of world-renowned designer Josh Braden’s assistants wearing discounted clothing. The thought turned her stomach—but not as much as showing up in her hometown jeans and cowgirl boots would have. She was a long way from Weston, Colorado, and she’d spent the last few weeks gathering discount designer clothes and practicing omitting “y’all” from her vocabulary.

  She stood before the thick glass door of Josh Braden Designs and took a deep breath. The sign above the door read, JBD. This is it. She closed her eyes for a split second to repeat the mantra she’d been playing in her mind like a broken record for weeks: I’m educated, knowledgeable, and eager. I can do this.

  A warm hand on her lower back pulled her from her thoughts.

  “Have any trouble finding us?” Josh Braden stood beside her with a friendly smile and perfectly shorn, thick dark hair. His black Armani suit fit his lean, muscular frame perfectly. A few years earlier, he’d been named one of America’s Most Eligible Bachelors. Back then she hadn’t given the magazine cover a second thought. He was in New York, and she was back in Colorado, so far removed from him that she’d still thought of him as Josh Braden, the boy she’d had a crush on for too many years to count. Now, standing on the streets of New York City beside the man whose name rivaled Vera Wang, she felt the air sucked from her lungs.

  His deep voice sent a shiver right through her. Not only had she had the good fortune to be reconnected with Josh when he was back home visiting his family, but during his visit, the two of them had also spent a few days getting reacquainted. Riley hadn’t been sure if it was her crush going haywire or if there was something more real blossoming between them, but those few days had each felt a little more intimate than the last. And while their lips never touched and their bodies remained apart, she’d felt like they were always one breath away from falling into each other’s arms.

  “Uh…ye…no.” Oh, please kill me now.

  Josh smiled, lighting up his brown eyes. “Nervous?”

  At five foot eight, she was a full seven inches shorter than him. She wondered what it might be like to stand on her tiptoes and kiss him on those luscious lips of his. Stop it! The way he held her gaze brought goose bumps to her arms. Stopitstopitstopit. She envisioned him at seventeen; he’d reached his full height by then, thin but well muscled, with testosterone practically oozing from his pores. She’d wanted him then, but those schoolgirl feelings didn’t come close to the desire that begged to be set free now. She cast her eyes away and took a deep breath, trying to ignore her thundering heart. The last thing she needed was to become one of those girls who swooned every time her boss appeared. She was here to build a career, not a reputation.

  “A little,” she answered honestly.

  He pulled the heavy door open and waited for her to walk through before placing his hand on the small of her back once again. Josh spoke softly, his mouth close to her ear as he guided her through the expansive lobby.

  “Think of this as Macy’s back home. There’s the customer service area.” He nodded toward the elegant mahogany and granite reception desk.

  Her heels clacked across the marble tile as they passed the desk.

  “Good morning, Chantal.” Josh smiled at the blond woman behind the desk, who looked like she’d come straight from an eight-hour session at a local salon. Her hair glistened, and her green eyes were perfectly shadowed to match her emerald-green blouse.

  Riley reached up and touched her shoulder-length brown hair, feeling the little confidence she’d mustered being whittled away. If the receptionist is that perfect, what are the other employees like?

  “Good morning, Mr. Braden,” Chantal said with a practiced smile. “Good morning, Riley.”

  You know my name? Riley pushed past her rattled nerves, forcing her mouth to obey her thoughts, and felt the grace of a smile. “Good morning…Chantal.” She pulled her shoulders back, reclaiming a bit of her lost confidence. She knows my name!

  “Chantal is an assistant in the design studio. She fills in for our receptionist when she steps away from her desk. I’m sure you’ll see her in the design studio later,” Josh explained.


  Riley felt like she was in a dream as she walked beside Josh through the elegant offices. She’d spent years dreaming of what it might feel like to work in New York City, and more specifically, in a design studio. After graduating with a degree in fashion design with a 3.8 GPA and winning two design awards, she’d longed to move to New York City and land a job in the design field. After several months of applying for positions and receiving enough rejection letters to wallpaper her bedroom, Riley had given up and settled into her life in Weston, working at Macy’s and designing clothes no one would ever see. Riley had come to accept that working in the fashion industry had more to do with connections than skills. She’d given up that dream until Jade had begun dating Rex, one of Josh’s older brothers, and she’d worn one of Riley’s dresses on their first date. One recommendation from Rex, and a few days later, Riley was having lunch at his father’s ranch, Josh eagerly reviewed her portfolio, and the next thing she knew, she had a job offer and was packing to move to New York City. Now, as she walked beside Josh, Riley wondered if he was thinking about the time they’d spent together as much as she was.

  They rounded a hall and Riley stifled a gasp. Racks of designer clothing lined the walls; dozens of fabric samples were strewn across long drawing tables, and sketches littered an entire wall. The combination sent her pulse soaring. Men and women milled about, talking quietly and fingering through the samples. A woman wearing jeans, her jet-black hair cut short, pulled a rolling cart filled with clothes across the floor. A man scurried around her with a notebook in hand, talking into an earpiece.

  Without thinking, Riley grabbed Josh’s arm—as if they were back in Weston at a farm show and he were Jade. “Oh my goodness. This is amazing!” she exclaimed.