Free Winter Harvest by Susan Jaymes Page A

marched toward him wrapped like a mummy, a glare on his face. Traye reached out blindly to the mound in his bed and tried to shake Victoria awake as he kept his eyes on her brother.
    "What are you doing in bed in the buff with my sister, Peterson?"
    Victoria tried to sit up, but Traye pushed her back down.
    "No. You're naked," he whispered.
    She looked down at herself before looking back at her brother. "Oh, shit."
    "You promised me you'd never touch my sister, and now I find her in your bed?" Andrew took off his scarf and tossed it aside. He followed with his jacket.
    "I know. I have no excuse."
    "That's it? That's your story?" Andrew scowled at him.
    Victoria slammed her fist into Traye's forearm, and he winced. "Andrew, this isn't your business. Is the storm over?"
    "Seriously?" Andrew looked at his sister as if she'd grown two heads. "All you care about is the storm? I've been worried sick about you. Dad and I have been calling all over looking for you. Why didn't you answer your cell phone?"
    "I left it in Abbey's car."
    Was that the truth? Traye blinked. If not, it was damn good cover. Andrew's eyes bore into his. He shrugged. "Mine's dead. You know how bad I am at remembering to charge it."
    Andrew shook his head. "Get dressed, Victoria."
    She looked at Traye once her brother turned around, and he nodded to tell her to do as Andrew said. She glared at him.
    He wished he could take her back in his arms and never let her go. After bearing his soul to her, he'd sort of believed she could be his and that this could be their life. A life he'd never believed he deserved. One look at Andrew's deep scowl, however, and that belief had died. Her brother would never welcome Traye into their family. Maybe before Andrew had turned on Traye he would have, but not after this. No, now Traye recognized the hatred Andrew carried for him, even though he didn't have a clue what he'd done -- and he knew he could never take Victoria down that rough road.
    Goose bumps popped out on Traye's skin as Victoria pulled the blanket from his body and wrapped it around her shoulders. He strutted over to the clothes basket and grabbed a clean pair of jeans. He yanked them on just as she went into the bathroom. Andrew slammed his fist into Traye's eye the minute she shut the door. Traye never saw it coming.
    "Damn." He doubled over and covered his face with his hands.
    Andrew rushed him. Traye had always been the stronger one, but Andrew could pack quite a wallop when he wanted to. Traye grabbed Andrew's shoulders and shoved him back.
    "Andrew, stop it."
    Victoria's brother rushed him again, and again Traye pushed him aside.
    "Don't make me hurt you," Traye said.
    Andrew cursed. "You won't have a chance, you bastard, because I'm going to kill you."
    This time when he rushed forward, he slugged Traye in the gut. On instinct, Traye swung back and grazed Andrew's lip. They locked together in a struggle, with Traye trying to avoid Andrew's flailing fists as he fought to keep the other man under control. A cold blast stopped Andrew and gave Traye the chance to push him away.
    Before Traye could recover, the cabin door slammed shut and footsteps echoed from the front porch. Then Andrew's truck roared to life.
    He ran over to the door, jerked it open, and stood there slack jawed as Victoria fishtailed down the lane toward the main house.
    "Damn her." Andrew slammed the door shut and rounded on Traye. "This is all your fault. She'll probably hit the ditch, and I'll have to rescue her again."
    "Your sister has a mind of her own I've never pretended to control. That's your deal."
    "Excuse me?"
    "You never let her just live." Traye found an insulated flannel shirt and dragged it on. Thanks to anger that matched Andrew's, he fumbled with the buttons. "She can't even have a life without you trying to control it."
    "You mean like keeping her away from the likes of you?"
    "Jeez, I always thought you liked me… or at least, you did at one time. I have no idea what