Daredevil's Mistress

Chapter 26

“Love, hah. You’re seriously ignorant about its meaning. Love is virgin pure. It grows with time and you don’t go yellin’ it out to every damn person you meet. It means a helluva lot more than a roll in the sack.” His tone contained a wealth of icy cynicism.

Samantha recoiled in disbelief. His words pierced her heart. Is this seriously happening, or did she step into a freaking Twilight Zone. Tears stung the back of her eyelids and threatened to fall. How dare he ridicule her? There was no way she’d cry in front of him, not now. Swallowing hard to stall the tears, her chin angled in defiance. “And I suppose you know exactly what love means, its boundaries, and its shortcomings,” she retorted. “You can’t force love, Cody. You have to let it find you.”

“And I reckon its normal professin’ eternal love to every man you meet.”

“I beg your pardon?” she asked hotly. “What exactly do you mean?”

“You eagerly declare love for someone else. Barely seconds later, you’re proclaiming love for me. How do I believe you? You can’t seriously be in love with two people at the same time. It’s not right.” His emotionless face changed. Disgust and anger followed one after the other.

“Care to elaborate?” What’s he on about now?

“Don’t play innocent with me. You know exactly what I’m talkin’ about.” His stare steamrolled her with an impatient scowl.

“As a matter of fact I don’t. You’re being obscure as usual. If you’ve got something to say, then why the hell don’t you spit it out?”

“I was there in the barn.” Cody tilted his head in the direction of window. “I witnessed your chat with Chance.” His eyes narrowed, and his lips thinned. “I take it you know what I’m talkin’ about.”

Surely if he heard her conversation then he knew exactly how she felt about him? Puzzled, she asked, “Do you mind telling me what you meant by me declaring love for someone else?”

“Think back to your discussion with Chance and you’ll know exactly what I am on about.”

Red hot anger flashed before her eyes. “Cody, stop this silliness and tell me what you heard in the barn. Quite clearly you’re upset.” He was seriously the most frustrating man she…no, make that the second most frustrating man she ever met. Her father ranked high at the number one spot.

“You’re smart, Samantha, I’ll give you that. But, do you honestly think Chance will share you with someone else. I know I couldn’t. You tell the man you love him and then minutes later you spew out the same to me?”

His sarcastic words were like a hard smack to her face. Again, he only caught half the conversation. Samantha shook her head and sighed. “Cody, I do love you. If only you sta—”

He held up his hand abruptly cutting her off. “Enough, I don’t want to hear anymore. As far as I’m concerned, you’re like the rest of the women I’ve known. You want your bread buttered on both sides. My money and sack rolls with the ranch hands.”

Samantha gasped. Pain rippled through her taut body. His words slammed into her and stung her to the core. Oh, no, he didn’t. He compared her to his mother. Really. God, this man is an insufferably arrogant brute assuming the worst of her, yet again. “You’re a foolish chauvinist who thinks he knows everything. And—”

“Spare me the melodramatic routine.” Cody shrugged with an air of nonchalance and spun away.

That’s it. “I feel sorry for you. You’ve once again proven you’re too thick headed to understand anything, let alone the feelings of someone else.” Irritation sharpened her tongue, not caring in the least if she hurt him with her brash words.

Cody swung around once more, his eyes filled with equal vehemence. “You—”

“I didn’t realize falling in love meant we were required to exchange bank account details first.” She didn’t give him a chance to talk. “Had I known, you may’ve gotten a better introduction. And if that is the case, then let me fill you in on a little secret. I’m rich enough to buy this ranch ten times over. Unlike you, money means nothing if there’s no love or happiness to give it meaning. I hope other women have the sense to never fall in love with the uncivilized brute you are,” she ranted breathlessly.

Cody scowled and moved toward her. She stepped back. “Samantha, I didn’t—”

“Save it, Mr. Bentley.” Again, she cut him off. “I regret ever getting involved with you. I do, however, wonder when you’ll change your arrogant views of women. Maybe becoming an uncle will earn you some much needed sensitivity. Not that it will amount to much since you’re too damn pig-headed for your own good.”

His damning expression flipped, now a mixture of confusion and disbelief. “What?” He clearly couldn’t believe his ears.

“Yes, you’re going to be an uncle, like it or not. And for her sake, I hope Deborah does the right thing and accepts Steven’s proposal instead of aborting the baby to please her big brother. I really don’t think you’re worth any kind of sacrifice.” Rude, she was beyond caring.

Tears burned her eyes and tightened her throat. Wiping the one tear that inadvertently escaped, Samantha swiveled on her heels and stomped off. She needed air. At the door, she stopped and half-turned to offer one final parting shot. “I sincerely hope someday you realize love is beautiful even if it comes with a little pain. And despite it, I hope with every breath, I never set eyes on you again, regardless of how I feel about you.”

Angered and humiliated, she stepped out and slammed the door behind her as the tears started. Helpless, she hated the feeling. Torn, between staying and leaving, Samantha glanced behind her one more time and then ran down the stairs.

****

“Samantha.” Cody started after her, but she shot out the door before he reached it.

Oh, fuck. What just happened? Abruptly, he halted at the door. Indecision ate at his insides. Go after her or give her time to calm down. Her harsh words stung his ears, and shook him with a debilitating jolt which left him weak at the knees. The confrontation he intended avoiding just blew seriously out of proportion. What did he expect? He hadn’t heard wrong. She didn’t deny loving Chance.

The harsh scrunch of rubber against the gravel outside snapped his attention. Cody rushed to the window and caught the tail lights of Samantha’s jeep as it sped down the driveway. Where in God’s name is she going? Maybe she needed a drive to clear her head. Lord knew he needed one.

Jesus. Cody gripped his head with both hands and groaned in frustration. How did it come to this? Her last words were like a dagger to his heart. Those beautiful eyes saturated with disgusted accusations and intense hate.

He assumed she wanted money and all this time she ruled as queen of her own kingdom, yet possessed such humbleness. You’re an idiot, Cody. A real fucking, off the crater, idiot.

The urge to take her into his arms and console her, seized his heart. He wanted to wipe away her pain, her tears. Yet again, he made a real ass of himself. When she returned, he’d apologize and talk it over rationally.

Deborah’s pregnant. Suddenly, the other realization dawned on him. How the hell did he not see that coming? It pained him she chose not to talk about it. Hell, his sister wanted to abort the baby ’cause her big brother ain’t happy with her choice of husband.

Dammit, did everyone see him as a cold heartless son of a bitch.

He had to find Deborah. Cody opened the door, stepped out onto the landing, and stopped. Deborah came bounding up the stairs. “Hi.” His pulverized brain finally understood the term ‘feel like shit’ as he struggled for serenity.

“Don’t you hi me,” Deborah let out the minute she arrived at the top stair. “What’s the matter with you?”

Wincing at the sharpness of her tone, he stepped aside. “We need to talk.”

“Damn right we do and it better be good.” She entered the room.

“I guess Samantha told you what happened.”

“You guessed right. Not everything though, so you’d better start talking and fast too.” Her brow puckered in evident irritation.

Cody flinched. Deborah’s behavior, a definite first, stunned him for a second. “What did she tell you?”

“You two argued and that your big head played a part in it. What did you do this time?” His sister sat at the bottom of the bed.

“Heck, sis, I asked how she felt about me.” He grinned sheepishly.

“A freakin’ unusual way of asking, don’t you agree?”

“I didn’t mean for it to get out of hand, Debs. We got to a point where I didn’t agree with her and one thing led to another. You know the rest.”

“Couldn’t you two say ‘I love you’ like the rest of us without getting into a damn argument?” She shook her head. “Dammit, Cody, Samantha’s the best damn thing that’s happened to you and why you’d wanna botch it up is beyond me.”

“Don’t you think I know that already? Hell, I can’t be sorrier. I guess when she gets back we’ll have a sit down and sort this problem out.”

“You better.”

“Deborah?” Cody plunked his large frame down next to her and took her hand.

“Yes?” Her confused gaze dropped to his hand. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”

Her head snapped up sharply. “H—How did you find out?”

“Samantha told me.”

“When?”

“It sort of came out.” Cody grimaced. Definitely not the way he wanted to learn of his sister’s pregnancy.

“I—I wasn’t sure of your reaction.”

“Hell, you’re my sister. I’m not a heartless bastard, you know.”

“I know. But after what happened with Steven, I didn’t want to upset you.”

“Did you really plan to abort the baby if I got upset?” Saddened, Cody shook his head. “I can’t believe the idea even crossed your mind.”

“I’m sorry. Our family is so close, and I didn’t wanna create conflict among us.”

“I’ll never allow you to abort the baby. Hell, sis, I don’t care if Steven is the father. There’s a part of us in there.” The sudden tears on her cheek gripped Cody’s heart. He slid a hand across her shoulder and hugged her close. “You have my sincere blessings. Only if I’m allowed to give you away at your wedding, and after you bring Steven home. I’ve gotta apologize for being a ruthless bastard,” he whispered against the top of her head.

“You’re not a ruthless bastard, just an overprotective bully.” Deborah leaned back, wiped her tears, and kissed him softly on the cheek.

The light tap drew his attention to the door. Rising, he strode over and opened it.

Jace stood there. “Is Debbie here?”

“What’s up?” Cody stepped back.

Jace waited at the door. “Hey, sis, Samantha’s on the phone for you.”

“Samantha?” Deborah approached them, her brow creased in concern.

“Let me speak to her.”

“No, Cody, let me chat first.” Deborah made her way downstairs. Cody followed.

He waited patiently, listening to the one sided conversation. Her smile waned as she dropped the phone back onto its cradle. Cody’s heart thudded harshly.

Uncertainty seized him with condemning speed. “And?”

“She’s headed back home.”

“What?” He gripped the bridge of his nose in frustration. This ain’t happenin’.

“I’m sorry. Samantha’s upset and says she can’t face you again.”

He paced the room anxiously then stopped. “Dammit, Debs, she can’t go. She’s angry.” He resumed pacing. His hands dragged through his hair in frustration. Swear words spilled out, and then he abruptly halted in the middle of the room. “She ain’t gettin’ a flight now?”

Deborah winced. She squinted and shook her head from side to side. “Hate to disappoint you. She called the airport while driving and got a cancelled booking. I really am sorry, Cody.”

“Shit,” he grunted and fisted his palm in anger. “What time does her flight leave?”

“She didn’t say.”

“I’m headin’ to the airport. See you later.” He sprinted outside, jumped into the pick-up truck, and sped off. Silently, Cody prayed for the planes delay. To give him time to get there and stop Samantha. This wasn’t how he imagined their goodbye.