Savior Complex: A Small Town Love Triangle Romance

“But your mother…”

“My mother wanted to be a part of this. Jordy doesn’t.”

My dad breathes in sharply, his nostrils flaring as he grips the arms of his recliner.

“Not at first,” he finally says. “Before me, your mom had her whole life mapped out. She was going to travel the world as a flight attendant. But when we fell in love, she joined my life and became a valuable part of running this ranch. If you’re going to run this ranch, you need…”

“Dad, I’m already running this ranch,” I remind him. “ I don’t need Jordy to give up her dreams for me to do that. I have staff that can help out. I have Mom, and I have you.”

“You won’t have us forever.” He looks out the window now, away from me, and I sigh heavily.

“I know that, Dad. Believe me, I’m dreading that day more than you know. But it’s not because of the ranch. The work here will continue without you and Mom. Hell, it can continue without me.”

Dad’s head whips to mine, and I let the words sink in, ready for him to question me. Ask me, old man, I silently beg him. Ask me and I’ll tell you again.

“We can talk about this in the morning, I suppose,” is all he says, which is his way of ending the conversation until the next time he brings it up. “But I’m concerned about this new hire. Tina?”

“Nina,” I correct him. “And she’ll be fine, you’ll see. Even Mom thinks so, and Hazel is right, Mom is never wrong.”

My dad grunts, his attempt at a laugh that got stuck in his throat. “This is true,” he says. “But we don’t know her. Did you do a background check? Call her references? Do you know anything about her?”

“I know she’s Jordy’s cousin, which means she’ll be my family soon.” And that her hair smells like sunshine and wind, and how her body feels when I hug her. How I want to feel more. “I know she worked at Insomniacs, that coffee shop on the boulevard, for years now, which proves she commits to her jobs.”

“Coffee,” he grumbles. “Why does anyone buy $5 coffee when you can make it for pennies at home.”

“I know she let her cousin move in with her so that we could be closer together, which says a lot about her dedication to family.” Okay, so Jordy and Nina hated each other just a few weeks ago, but my dad doesn’t need to know that. “And I know when I told her to show up today, she not only got here early, but wore clothes that were appropriate for a ranch, showing that she’s insightful and understands the level of work we do here. Not only that, but she connected immediately with Mom and Hazel, which I’d say is the most important part of all.”

“And what about with you?” he asks.

My breath hitches in my throat, and I wonder if he somehow caught on that I have feelings for Nina. But I realize that’s not what he’s asking.

“Well, I wouldn’t have hired her if I didn’t have faith in her. You know how choosy I’ve been about finding someone to take Hazel’s place in the house. I believe Nina is a fast learner and will be the perfect addition to the Winters Salt and Sea Ranch.”

He doesn’t say anything, and I stand there awkwardly, wondering what else he’ll grill me on, or if he’ll ever trust me to run this ranch completely.

Or if it even matters, since I could be gone in less than a year.

“I’m ready.” My dad lowers the recliner, and I position his wheelchair next to it at a ninety-degree angle. We count off, and I lift on three, pivoting before placing him gently in the seat. He grunts his thanks, which is something he always does when we help him. He hates being vulnerable, but he never fails to say thank you. Then he rolls through the doorway, disappearing down the hall where my mom will help him into bed.

I stay where I am, watching the dying embers in the fireplace. Can I really leave this place? I feel like I’m stuck trying to please everyone here, and things are starting to fall apart. And now I’m close to disappointing everyone. Once again, I’m proving what a piece of shit I am, and how I destroy everything I touch. If it weren’t for me, none of this would be an issue. Amber would still be here. My dad wouldn’t have had a heart attack from the stress or be in a wheelchair now. I never would have gone to college and met Jordy and ruined her life as well.

I wouldn’t have to face this predicament of living her dream or mine—stay with the ranch or move to New York.

To Jordy, this decision is made, and I haven’t done much to fight the issue because everything I do is to make her happy.

I’m trying my best to make everyone happy and failing at every turn.

And in the process, I’m losing myself.

Chapter Fourteen

Nina

Ang is going over the schedule for today, which is a lot, even though we’re not expecting guests until this afternoon. I’m trying to pay attention, but goddamn if Brayden isn’t outside, washing down the horses with his goddamn shirt missing from his goddamn body. How am I supposed to remember anything when his muscles are rippling like that? Even his back has abs, and I just want to run my hands all over him to feel the dips and curves of his body.

“You can prep the marinade and steaks while I make the potato casserole,” Angie says, oblivious that her son is a fucking monument, and he’s taking up the whole view with his sexiness.

“Absolutely,” I say, tearing my eyes away from the window for the millionth time. But her smile says she caught me.