Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
“You mean Fletcher Wild?” I follow up her botching his name by using his last instead of his first.
“Yeah, that’s him. I bet he could do you a solid,” Michelle says.
“Are you questioning my abilities?” Madison interjects, which I’m glad for. Coming up with something to say when one of the Johnson brothers has basically been ignoring me has not been easy to talk about.
“No, never.” Michelle rolls her eyes. We stay on the phone a few more minutes, Maddie refusing to admit defeat, and I remain hopeful, but still there’s doubt lingering on my shoulder.
THREE
JW
“Motherfucking bullshit, god damn you and your dumbass self.” Two days, that’s how long it’s been since Juniper dropped the news about Maeve. Usually, I’d take my time with the cinnamon rolls she’d deliver. The same can’t be said this time around. I’m down to the last one out of the six Mae sent my way. My sweet tooth hit me harder than ever, probably because I haven’t seen the curvy baker since walking into Prime Cuts and seeing her with a man who wasn’t me. I’ve noticed the looks she sent my way, the way her cheeks blossom with color, how her nipples pebble beneath her thin shirt, and every time it’s taken all my might not to take her up on the offer she didn’t even know she was sending my way.
Unable to stay at my house any longer, the urge to see her too damn strong, I grab my keys off the kitchen counter and storm out of the house. The way everyone is set up on the family ranch makes it easy to come and go as we please without getting in each other’s business. Every brother now has their own place. Ryland was the last. Having Case meant it took longer between working on the ranch and raising his son, so it hasn’t been easy. We help each other out as much as we can. Still, being a single parent of any kind must sit heavy on your shoulders. He’s doing the damn thing, and Case is an amazing little guy to be around.
My truck is in the garage. When I built a place of my own, I knew I’d want a garage tall and big enough to house my vehicle, have space to work, and eventually to either have a second car or room for someone else’s. A click of the button rolls up the garage door. I step into my boots, grab my white Stetson off the hook, and open the driver’s side door to my truck. The damn thing needs to be washed, but with the way the dirt gets kicked up around here, it’s practically a lost cause. My own damn fault for buying a white four-door, four-wheel drive with a beige interior. Luckily, the inside is a hell of a lot cleaner than the outside. For the most part, we each drive our personal trucks to our parents', dump them by the barn, and head for the ranch trucks, four-wheelers, or horses.
My truck travels away from the house and ranch, plumes of dust swirling behind me as I take the dirt road away from the Johnson Ranch. A homestead that’s been in our family for generations, since my dad’s dad, and it’ll eventually be left to us six brothers.
“Well, shit.” Trey is coming down the lane, meaning I’m going to have to move over and allow him to pass. Damn this one-lane entrance and exit. I already know he’s going to roll his window down to talk. Then he’s going to play twenty-one questions, give me hell, and not leave me be until he’s damn good and ready. Trey rolls his window down as he pulls to a stop, and I reluctantly hit the button to lower my own.
“What’s up, brother?” Trey asks with a tilt of his lips. I settle back in my seat, crossing my arms over my chest, no doubt he’s up to something. What that something is I have no damn idea.
“Heading into town. You?” I’m keeping shit vague as fuck. One little slip-up, and Trey will open his mouth to the whole family. Me having a thing for Maeve isn’t a secret to most. Still, I don’t want my business out there for everyone to talk about.
“Just got back from Amos’ place.” Interesting turn of events. Trey and his friend Amos used to hang out before, but recently Sienna has been home. It seems for good this time. Trey having a thing for his best friend’s little sister is going to go over like a turd in a punch bowl. Amos is damn protective of Sienna, more than anyone we know. He’s had to be after their mom passed away when she was younger, then their dad’s health went in the toilet right before Sienna graduated high school, and he left this earth too damn early. An older brother does what they have to do. I know this all too well, and so does Trey. I’d hate to see what we’d be like had our parents had brought a girl into the mix.