you reading?” Ruby asked. “I’ve been looking for a new novel to start.”
Okay. Caught in a big-time lie. I wasn’t reading a book. I’d been planning to stalk the bookshelves in the library next to Talon’s office and find something. Or not. Maybe I just wanted to go to my room and wallow in my loneliness.
Yeah. That sounded good.
“I’m starting something new,” I said. “I’ll let you know if it’s any good.”
“Great,” Ruby said. “I’d appreciate that. I have so little time to read anymore. I miss it.”
I’d had no idea Ruby was an avid reader. She and I weren’t as close as Melanie and I were, but that was only because Mel was my therapist.
Now I had to go to the library. I walked past Talon’s office and into the bedroom my father had converted to a library long ago. He had a great collection. Classics, mostly, and a lot of nonfiction about the ranching business. Over the years, though, we’d all added to it, and we had a good amount of commercial fiction as well.
Nothing screamed out at me. I definitely wasn’t in the mood for a classic. They were slow and often dull. Moby Dick, anyone? A few romance novels sat on the shelf. Nope. Not in the mood for that, either. Happy endings? If I couldn’t have my own happy ending with the man I loved, I didn’t particularly want to read about anyone else’s.
Ranching and farming? God, no. I truly was a silent partner here. I just wasn’t interested.
I sighed. Nothing. I didn’t want to read. I didn’t want to go to town. I didn’t want to go shopping.
I didn’t want to do anything.
Was this what depression felt like? Losing interest in the things that usually made you happy? Even cooking had become a chore. I no longer pored over my recipe books to try new things for dinner. Last night we’d had pot roast and potatoes with winter vegetables. Ho-hum.
I sat down in one of the comfortable wingback chairs. Still, I perused the shelves.
Nothing.
Nothing stood out.
I rose and walked to the shelves, determined to take the first book I found that sounded remotely interesting.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. A classic, yes, but by an author who wasn’t more intent on making his word-count than he was on telling a good story. That would work.
I grabbed the book and walked out of the library—
And met the blue gaze of Bryce Simpson.
Of all the…
I walked past him, determined to ignore him, but—
He grabbed my arm.
“Hey!” I said.
“You’re going to ignore me?”
“It’s what you want, isn’t it? And you’d better lower your voice. My brothers are right there in the office.”
He stood silently for a minute, and then he eyed my book. “Reading?”
“I thought it would be nice for a lazy Sunday afternoon.” I held up the book.
And he turned white.
Of course. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A man who lived a double life with two distinct personalities.
Just like Bryce’s father.
“Have you read it?” I asked.
“A long time ago.”
“I wasn’t…”
“I know. It’s okay. I should read it again.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I can’t just make the fact that he existed disappear, and I can’t make everything that reminds me of him disappear.”
I nodded. “Enjoy your meeting. Excuse me.”
“Marj?”
I looked over my shoulder. “What?”
“I…uh…” Then he shook his head. “Nothing.” He knocked on the door of the office.
“Bryce?” Joe’s voice.
“Yeah.”
“Come on in.”
He walked inside and closed the door. I stood in the hall for a minute, thinking of listening in, but they’d be talking business. Bryce would certainly not be talking about me.
I took the book and went to my bedroom.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Tom Simpson wasn’t the only one. Bryce had two personalities. One where he wanted me, and one where he didn’t.
Nothing I could do.
Chapter Nineteen
Bryce
The meeting went nearly until dinnertime. “You want to stay?” Talon asked. “Joe and Ryan are staying. We’re having grilled rib eye steaks. Jade’s feeling better, so she and I are making dinner. Marj is getting the night off.”
“She deserves it,” Ryan said.
“I agree. She’s been great. She was going to stay until Felicia returned, but I just got a call from her this morning. She’s not coming back.”
“Oh?” I said.
“Nope. She’s happy being back with her family, and she already has a new job. I guess I’ll be interviewing for a new housekeeper and cook. Probably a nanny too. We’ll need someone to look after the boys and the baby once Jade goes back