“Well, of course, Beck,” TJ said, picking up his smile once again as he walked forward, slapping Beck on the back and dragging him with. “You’ve always been a helper. Of course you’re helping the nice lady. Now let’s go meet her. Anyone who treats you well is fine by me.” TJ smiled. “And if she makes you happy…”
“She does,” Beck said. “So watch what you tell her about our old shenanigans. She don’t know about dragons.”
TJ raised an eyebrow. “Of course not. Have you ever known me to misbehave?”
“No,” Beck said, shaking his head to try and remove the odd paranoia he couldn’t shake. Was this what having a mate was like? Not even wanting another man to look at them?
But when they reached the porch and Sierra’s smile set his heart on fire again, he could mostly push away that odd feeling of reservation in his chest and introduce two of his most important people.
But as Sierra led them both inside, inviting TJ to dinner, Beck couldn’t quite shake a sense of unrest that he’d never felt before.
15
As Sierra ate dinner next to Beck and across from TJ, she didn’t know what to make of Beck’s friend.
He wasn’t anything like Harrison or Clancy or even Dallas or Reno.
There was an air of refinement around him, and charm, but something held back. Like he was hiding something.
Perhaps he was just the polar opposite of Beck. They were both clearly Texas men. Tall. Muscled. No-nonsense. But while Beck was huge, TJ was merely tall and built. They were both handsome men, but she preferred Beck’s roughhewn handsomeness to TJ’s almost pretty-boy looks.
Just her preference.
Though, after knowing Beck for a while, after feeling his embrace and tasting his kisses, she’d probably take him no matter what he looked like.
She was more smitten by this man than she’d ever thought possible.
Beck was laughing at a story TJ was telling, and there did seem to be a good rapport between the two.
But there was just something nudging at her.
“Now, how did Beck win over the prettiest little lady in these parts?” TJ asked playfully. “This big ol’ brute. Sweet little thing like yourself oughta be with someone more refined.” He gave her a smile.
She gave him one back but didn’t quite feel it reach her eyes. There was something in the way he called Beck a brute.
Something hidden.
“Not at all,” she said. “Beck’s totally my type. I like a mountain man.”
Beck’s beaming smile was all the thanks she needed, and she leaned into him, blushing and bumping him with her shoulder.
“That’s good for Beck, then,” TJ said amiably. “This is a pretty little spread too. Nothing like Dragonclaw, but real nice. Homey.”
She smiled. “Thank you. It’s been in my family a lot of years. My ancestors homesteaded it.”
TJ nodded. “Back then, a man could take what he could hold.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Sounds so lawless. I don’t think I would have liked to live back then.”
Beck opened his mouth, then closed it as if he’d been about to say something but changed his mind.
“Beck?” She nudged him. “What is it?”
“I think it was probably beautiful back then,” he says. “Wild and free. I think… it was an improvement. When it was just the mountains and wild plains and humans hadn’t tamed it.”
“But isn’t that a little hypocritical since we’re humans?” she teased.
“Well…” He flushed, averting his gaze, and she wondered what that was about. “Yes, we take up resources here too. But we ain’t building shopping malls for people to buy stuff they plumb don’t need. We’re losing what’s important for what’s fleeting.”
She smiled at him, feeling her heart fill up every time he spoke lately. He was just such a sweet, deep man beneath that rough, growly exterior. She didn’t think she would ever get enough of him.
She might even love him.
“You’re right. This land,” she said. “Other people we care about. That’s what matters. Not things. I agree.”
“You two are made for each other,” TJ said, leaning back in his chair and looking easily between them. “I’m glad to see Beck happy, even if this isn’t long-term.”
In her heart, it was forever, but she knew she might never be able to have that. It would be up to Beck. She’d never force him.
She felt him stiffen beside her and put her hand over his to relax him slightly. “Hey. However this works out, I’m glad for what we have.” She smiled at him until his face finally relaxed and his eyes met hers gratefully. “I’m never gonna be mad at you, Beck. Not for doing what you want or think is best for you to do.”
Beck nodded. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Well, with that kind of mush, I’d better be going,” TJ said, winking at them and standing to get his hat.
She brought it to him while Beck handed him his jacket, and TJ surprised her by taking her hand to bring it up to his lips for a kiss.
Beck’s growl was loud and immediate, and TJ dropped it.
“Same ol’ Beck,” he said. “Hates to share. Sorry, I lost myself to my usual gentlemanly habits.” He put his hat on and tipped it. “No harm done.”
Beck was just standing there looking surprised by his own jealous reaction. But Sierra couldn’t help but be happy about it.
Beck moved in to give his friend a quick hug, and the men patted each other hard on the back as they parted.
“No hard feelings?” TJ asked.
“Of course not,” Beck said, opening the door for him. “You headed back to Wyoming?”
TJ shook his head. “Think I’ll stay around Dragonclaw for a while. See if you change your mind.”
“About what?” Sierra asked.
“Nothing,” Beck said. “And I won’t. But you’re welcome to visit. We could go for a ride, talk about the old times.”
“We’ll see,” TJ said, tipping his hat again. He leaped down off the steps with one easy stride of his long legs.
Then he was off down the drive,
