Fire Line (The Griffith Brothers, #3)

by Maggie C. Gates

I had never been this far gone for a woman. Sure, I had short-lived flings and hookups when the mood struck, but I had never wanted what my brothers had settled on early in life. The ring. The partner. The family. I had never cared about settling down because I hadn’t found someone like Lennon. Screw that. I just hadn’t found Lennon yet. And now that I had, I wasn’t letting her go. If she was running away, I’d pack a bag and follow her to the ends of the earth.

I wanted her disciplined, organized, and methodical mind. I wanted her soft side. The stolen moments when she trusted me enough to take her armor off and hide in my arms.

“You’re not just staff.” Her eyes were shrewd and mistrusting. “Then what am I?” Her palms flattened against my chest. “I’m not a cowboy.” “You’re mine. And that’s all that matters.”

She had Cassandra’s tenacity, Brooke’s heart, and Becks’s intuition. But more than that, she had a strength that I had only seen in one other person. My mom.

Few men would fake a job offer and pay her salary out of his pocket to keep her near. Few people would willingly endure rejection for an entire year. But my dad always swore up and down that my mom was the only woman he wanted to live this life with. I never understood it until now.

“I know it’s self-sabotage to take a world-class chef out to dinner, but can I take you on a date?” She laughed. “I’m far from world class. Chef DeRossi is world class, but I’m not.” “Well.” I kissed her again. “Considering the ranch is my world, I’d say that makes you world class to me.”

I lifted my cowboy hat from my head and pressed it to my chest. My God, that woman was going to give me a heart attack.

He’s such a cowboy 🤣

“Apparently, I don’t own anything that isn’t black, and I haven’t worn this in forever and⁠—” “Len.” I pushed away from the hood of my truck and stalked toward her. “Shut up. You look beautiful.” Her eyebrows lifted. “Don’t believe me?” I said as I slid my hands up and down, digging my fingers into her waist, hips, and the soft curve of her lower stomach. “Turn around.” Eyes peered through every window shade in the bunkhouse. Lennon’s lips parted in shock when she saw what I saw. “They can’t stop staring at you, and I can’t blame ’em.”

Everything about Lennon threw me off. I had never been in love before. I didn’t even know what it felt like, just that it had completely fucked up my brothers in every conceivable way. But now, I understood it.

“I fell for you the moment you punched a guy in a bar and pushed me out of the way so you could get some ice. Because you’re tough, but you’re human. I like watching you kick ass. But more than that, I like it when you feel safe enough to be hurt around me.”

“Why are we eating in Cassandra’s office?” “Dinner at home is easy.” I took the office chair across the desk from her. “I told you I play for keeps, trouble. And once upon a time, this was how a Griffith brother got his girl.”

His chest was my favorite place in the world.

Blood is thicker than water. I have eyes everywhere. See you soon, Sis.

He held me like I deserved to be protected. Like I was valuable.

“We dug the fire line, remember? That doesn’t mean the fire won’t happen. But it means that you don’t have to face it alone. I’m right here with you. I’m on your side.”

“It’s not where you’re born or who you’re related to, Len. It’s who you choose.” His lips met mine in a kiss so soft it rivaled the heavens. “And I choose you.”

“Hi!” the little boy squeaked. “Color you?” “What?” Ray grinned. “It’s kind of a thing around here. If you have tattoos, the youngins think you’re a human coloring book.”

“EeeeeeeJ!” Seth squealed. CJ laughed and reached out for his nephew, propping him up on his hip. CJ tipped his head to me. “Seth can’t say ‘CJ’ yet. Eeeeeej is the best we can do.” “Eeeeeeej! Cow!” CJ smiled from ear to ear. “I know. He’s just a baby. Did your dad and Len give you a look?” “Len! Cow!” he shrieked.

“Aunt?” Seth said. “Cassandra is your aunt,” I said as I awkwardly took him from CJ and mimicked the hip-holding position. Seth shook his head and stabbed me in the forehead with his finger. “Aunt.” “I’m not your aunt,” I said, then pointed to myself. “My name is Lennon.” “Aunt,” Seth declared. Ray choked on a laugh. “Good job, buddy,” CJ said as he filled a bottle and carried it over. “That’s your Aunt Lennon.” I glared at him, and that motherfucker smiled.

Seth wiggled until I set him down. He grabbed my hand and tugged. “Aunt. Pat cow.”

“I’d come out here and sit with the animals. When my brother, Nate, got hurt overseas, I came out here after my parents told me. When Christian’s first wife died, this was where I grieved. When Ray got hurt, this place was my altar. The animals will never tell how much you cry.” He pressed a soft kiss to my temple. “And neither will I.”

“Wear flowers on your sleeve rather than your heart. You’ve bled enough, darling. Let yourself bloom.”

“You make me feel delicate.” “Glass is always delicate, even if it’s sharp and shattered.” I pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. “It just takes someone picking up the pieces and forging them back together to make cathedrals.” I cupped her chin, craned my neck, and kissed her. “I’d worship you every day of my life if you let me.”

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever.”

I wanted you the night we fucked in that bar, and the moment you showed up at my door, you were mine. We can fill in the gaps at any pace you need, but the beginning was us, and the end will be us.”

“If I had it my way, you’d never leave my bed, but we both have work to do.” She tossed her head to the side, causing her black and white hair to spill out of her bun. “And what if I want to work at another restaurant?” “Then I will build it right here with my own two hands. Every inch of my land is yours. It was yours long before you ever came through the gates.”

“I thought you said your name would never be mine.” The memory hit me like a shot to the heart. “I was wrong.” A self-satisfied smirk winked at the corner of her mouth. “I think those are the three sexiest words a man can say.”

Seth, Ray’s son, bolted into the kitchen. “Aunt!” Lennon lifted her eyebrows as she started to slice through the ham. “What’s up, little man?” “Cow?” “Yeah, I saw the cow,” she said. “Did your dad take you down there again?” Seth nodded. Lennon cocked her head in my direction. “Tell your Uncle CJ the cow needs a name.”

“She fits.” I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Lennon in this place. Lennon in my jacket. Lennon in my family. “Yeah,” I said as Seth climbed up onto my hip. “She fits.”

“Put it on the menu.” I cackled. “We’ll see.” Cassandra cut me an exacting glare. “I believe the proper response is ‘yes, Mrs. Griffith.’” I lifted an eyebrow. “I’d recommend changing the tone you’re using with me, Cassandra,” I clipped as I crossed my arms and rested my hip on the countertop. “What you actually mean is, ‘That was delicious, Chef Maddox. I’d love to see that on the summer menu of your restaurant.’ Shall we try that again?”

Aaaahhhh👏👏👏 someone to match Cassandra !!!

“CJ didn’t tell you?” Brooke asked. “When you get a jacket, it means you’re part of the ranch. We all have one. They’re only for the family. Ranch hands have different jackets. The lodge and restaurant staff have their uniforms. Wearing the ranch jacket tells everyone you’re part of the family.” Her eyes softened. “I thought you knew. You’ve been wearing one forever.”

“No one’s ever wanted me before,” I admitted in a whimper. CJ pressed his lips to the crown of my head. “That’s because you were always meant to be here, Len. It just took you a long time to find us.”

The ranch didn’t need a full-time accountant, so my granddad told my dad that her salary would have to come out of his. So, for a whole year, he lived on next to nothing, just so my mom would work at the ranch. He spent that year making her fall in love with him. Showing her around. Teaching her how to ride horses. Talking to her. Bringing her flowers he found in the fields.”

Since my dad had been giving her most of his salary, he didn’t have any money for an engagement ring. So, he gave her his ranch jacket. It was the best way he could think of to let everyone know that she was his. And ever since then, a woman getting a ranch jacket has been our way of bringing them in. Making it known that they carry the weight of the Griffith name, even before there’s a ring.”

“My jacket’s yours, Len. I wasn’t waiting for Cass to order a new one for you. What’s mine is yours. That jacket. This land. My family. My name. I’m a prideful man, but I will lay it all down for you. Because you have me, too.”

“I left work early because I can, and because I wanted to. You’re not an imposition.” Her long lashes softly closed as she looked down. “I’m sorry.” “Stop apologizing,” I said with a chuckle. The bashful blush on her cheeks was so fucking adorable. “I know you and your guys are busy.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “My guys would light themselves on fire for you, if you so much as hinted that you were cold. And that doesn’t even begin to cover what I’d do for you.”

“I can handle it.” “But you shouldn’t have to,” I countered. “Len, that’s the whole purpose of having a person who loves you. I’m on your side. I want to know what’s going on, even if you have it handled.”

“Did you just say the ‘L’ word?” “Why do you look so surprised?” I asked. Truth be told, I was trying my best to keep my cool, but I was a goddamn wreck inside. Her lip quivered. “Will you say it again?” If Lennon Maddox wanted to break me, she leveled me with those five words. I reached across the table and laid my hand over hers. “I love you, trouble. I love all your sweetness, and the sass and spite you use to protect it.” “You sure?”

those pretty brown eyes. Brown like the earth I worked day in and day out. Brown like the soil that had coated her when she showed up, rain-drenched on my doorstep. Brown like the dust that found its way into every part of me no matter how hard I tried to keep it out. Brown like the jacket that carried a storied legacy I would die for.

I valued peace and quiet, but if my days were filled with the sound of Lennon humming around each bite and telling me the pros and cons of the floor plan, I’d die a happy man.

I loved her. I knew it in my bones.

“Ma’am, we believe your brother was the one who broke into the house here last night.” Not a surprise. There were only two possible suspects. “This morning, he was found deceased in a vehicle about thirty miles from here, just outside of the town limits. Investigators found evidence of the burglary inside the vehicle.”

Seth was busy scribbling in a coloring book. He spotted me and slid down two seats, grabbing my arm and filling in my tattoos with washable markers. He did a terrible job.

“Do I smell brisket corn chowder?” Brooke squealed as she struggled to get up from the recliner she was parked in. “If I weren’t already married, I’d kiss you on the mouth.” Julian laughed and gave a salute as he slipped out the door. “What are you gonna do if the craving passes when the baby’s born?” I asked. Brooke shrugged and tore into the soup container. “That will be future Brooke’s problem. I’m sure you’ll dream up something for the restaurant that will make the postpartum phase suck a little less.” “You know where to find me when you want food.”

Becks looked a little misty-eyed as she watched from the doorway with CJ’s mom. “The boys did good, didn’t they?” Claire said. Becks’s smile was soft. “It was a lot quieter when it was just you and me. But this is so much better.”

You need a woman who’s not afraid to tell you when you’re wrong.” That made me crack a smile. Lennon pulled no punches. “She’s a lot like Becks.” Nate cracked a grin. “Mouthy as hell?” I snickered. “Maybe more than Becks.” “Then she’s good for you.”

“Just wait until Seth is driving,” Christian said. “It’ll change your life.” “I’ll take him out with me,” I said as I snagged a beer from the cardboard pack. “Get him driving around the ranch before he’s tall enough to reach the pedals like Dad did with us.” Ray grinned. “That’s the beauty of my truck. No pedals. All hand controls.”

The thought of proposing to Lennon was a given. It wasn’t that I had sat down and thought about the event of it—the ring, the location, and the words I would say. It was simply that I knew deep in my soul that I was at peace with her.

For most of my adult life, I had been waiting for the fire to die down, when I should have been looking for the person I wanted to walk through it with. I should have known she was the one the minute I saw that phoenix tattooed on her arm.

“Cass has been texting me updates. She hasn’t said much, but she’s been letting Seth color her tattoos. That practically makes her family. Once you get your tattoos colored, there’s no going back.” “Wait,” Christian said. “You and my wife text?” “Yeah,” Ray said as he looked at his phone. “And I kick her ass in our crossword puzzle game.”