Montana Secrets Read Online Free

match his grumpiness with almost no effort.“Today you don’t,” she countered, drawing on a nearly empty stock of patience.
    â€œI don’t want or need you to babysit me.”
    â€œGood, because I—” She broke off when she realized his scowling attention was focused on something happening outside the window.
    She followed his gaze and found Jake standing beside the older ranch hand, Hank, who’d driven her from the airport. Both men leaned against the paddock rails and watched as another man worked with a horse.
    She glanced back at Seth and found his hands white with strain, gripping the curved arms of his wheelchair. Eyes dark with pain and fury. Envy.
    Despite her anger over his behavior with Lexi, her heart softened even though she told herself to stand firm. But to see how dearly Seth wanted to be out there—
    â€œLeave me alone.”
    She closed her eyes briefly and inhaled. “Sorry. There are some medical forms and evaluation sheets I need to fill out with your input. We can share lunch while we get the technical stuff out of the way.”
    She grabbed a straight-backed chair from beside his bed and carried it to a spot opposite his wheelchair. She lowered it smack dab in front of him so he’d have a hard time ignoring her.
    â€œI’m not hungry.”
    Seth’s stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, and Grace hid her smile when he actually glanced down and frowned, acting genuinely surprised by the noise.
    â€œMaura told me she was going to fix your favorites for lunch. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans—”
    He stared out the window again. “I don’t want to eat with you. You got me to therapy this morning. Be happy with that.”
    â€œLook, Seth—”
    His black eyes fixated on her and it was everything she could do not to flinch. Seth was dynamite ready to explode and she was the match lit to fire.
    â€œNo, you look—I don’t want to eat with you, I don’t want to sit with you, I don’t want to look at you. I-don’t-want-you-here! ”
    Someone coughed quietly, and Grace turned to find Maura hovering in the doorway with a loaded tray in her hands.
    Hurt when she knew she had no right to be, Grace waved Jake’s pregnant wife inside the now-spotless room and met her halfway, grateful for the distraction and the chance to curb her doubts and memories before they got out of hand.
    â€œPlease, don’t let him throw it,” Maura begged in a hushed voice. “We’re out of carpet cleaner.”
    â€œDon’t talk over me,” Seth barked. “I’m righthere, Maura. If you don’t want me to throw the damn tray then tell me, not her!”
    â€œS-sorry, Seth. I just—”
    â€œGet out! Both of you, just get the hell out! ”
    Grace forced a smile at the now teary-eyed Maura and took the tray from her trembling hands. “Thank you for all your hard work, Maura. I’m sure Seth will enjoy his favorite foods so much, he won’t consider doing anything as childish as wasting it,” she said before turning her attention back to Seth. “After all, it would be pretty embarrassing for a grown man to make his pregnant sister-in-law come in and clean his room because of a tantrum, now wouldn’t it?”
    Seth didn’t respond to her scolding and Maura used the break in conversation to duck out the door, wiping her cheeks as she went.
    â€œAnd I know you’re not keen on my being here,” she continued. “You’ve made your feelings perfectly clear, but I’m staying…if not for what we used to—to mean to each other, then for Jake and Maura and Lexi.”
    A gruff laugh escaped him, lacking all traces of humor. “Don’t pretend feelings you never had, Grace. And leave my niece out of this.”
    Feelings she didn’t have? Seth had meant everything to her, that’s why she hadn’t wanted to hurt