Claiming His Brother's Baby Read Online Free PDF Page B

“It’s not your fault. Some things even
you
can’t fix.”
    Tanner took the mug she offered. “I can try.”
    She tutted. “And get your heart broke all over again? I dunno if that makes you a fool or a saint.”
    “I’m no saint,” he said with a half grin. “You know that better than anyone.”
    “What I know is that you can’t keep cleaning up his chaos,” Ruthie said, her voice harder than usual. “That girl should be told the truth about him.”
    The truth about Doug? To the outside world he was charming and likable and there was no doubt he’d been a fine soldier. But he’d had troubles, too. In civilian life he’d been unreliable. The army had sorted him out eventually. But it wasn’t a truth that Cassie needed to know.
    “I’ll tell her enough,” he said quietly.
    Ruthie looked unconvinced. “And will you tell her that Doug McCord got your eighteen-year-old girlfriend pregnant and then dumped her right before he stole your inheritance?”
     

Chapter Three
    N o. Tanner had decided. He wouldn’t be telling Cassie anything about the girl who’d cheated on him with his brother and when she’d gotten pregnant how Doug had bailed on his responsibility. Or that his brother had taken the money put in trust for Tanner when he reached twenty-one, and used it to fund his partying and gambling. It had ended badly. For him. For Doug. For everyone. But telling tales wasn’t his style. And it had been twelve years ago. There was no point in rehashing old betrayals.
    “Still protecting him?”
    Ruthie’s voice got his attention again. “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt unnecessarily.”
    “Anyone?” Her silvery brows came up. “You mean Cassie Duncan?”
    “I mean
anyone
,” he emphasized.
    “She should be told,” Ruthie said, relentless. “Putting him on a pedestal won’t change the truth. You were too quick to forgive and forget.”
    I haven’t forgiven.
    Not yet. It was why he’d come back. Why he had to make things right for his nephew.
    Losing Leah had hurt. Even though their relationship was new and filled with the usual teenage angst, he’d fallen for her quickly. Four months later she’d announced she was pregnant and in love with his brother. But Doug made it clear he didn’t want her or the baby and skipped town, taking Tanner’s inheritance with him. Unable to get past such a betrayal, it was all the motivation Tanner needed to pack his bags and leave Crystal Point. He spent close to two years backpacking in Europe before Doug finally tracked him down and by then Leah and the baby she’d tragically miscarried were a distant memory to his brother. Doug returned some of the money, said he was sorry, and Tanner did his best to believe him. But the experience had forever changed their relationship. He came home, stayed with Ruthie for a month and then moved to South Dakota.
    And he’d never really looked back.
    Until now.
    Until Cassie.
    But he’d already loved one woman who’d preferred his brother. He wasn’t about to do that again. No matter how much her blue eyes haunted his dreams.
    Still, he was tired of being angry. Tired of resenting Doug and wishing things were different. Tired of living in the past. For years Tanner had battled the anger he’d felt toward his brother. It had kept him shut off and restrained in relationships with almost everyone he knew. Except for Ruthie and his closest friend, Grady Parker, who knew some of what happened between him and his brother.
    Almost losing his life in the accident had shifted his perspective. Tanner didn’t want to be angry anymore. He wanted to live the rest of his life without blame and bitterness. And to do that he had to truly forgive Doug. Only then would he find the peace of mind he craved.
    “I know what I’m doing,” he assured the old woman sitting opposite.
    But he was pretty sure she didn’t believe it.
    She nodded anyway. “So, you gonna stay there tonight?”
    “No,” he replied. “I’ll check