Lennox had beaten me to the stables, made evident by the sound of Strider noisily munching on his dinner from his stall. I was just grateful we’d made it back before the thunderstorm rolled in. While Titan was a massive fucker, he wasn’t fast by any means. He hated when I made him go any quicker than a lope.
But the rain was coming down in a steady deluge by the time I’d made it back to my cabin and showered. Normally, I’d walk to the main house, but no way in hell was that happening tonight.
My old white truck was parked beneath a covered awning on my front lawn. I hurried out, sighing as I settled into the patched leather seats. It’d seen its fair share of wear and tear since Doug passed it down to me so many years ago.
When I’d started on the ranch, I had five bucks in my pocket and a chip on my shoulder. My mom kicked me out of the house at seventeen. With nowhere to go, I decided to walk out here and ask for a job.
I’d gotten to know Doug by working at Tractor Supply. He’d stop by to pick up feed and shoot the shit until his wife called asking where he was. I’d come to idolize him in a lot of ways. He was the type of man I wanted to become—dependable, kind, and hard-working—and I was determined to prove myself worthy.
I didn’t want to think where I’d be if he’d turned me away.
Turning over the ignition, I listened to the comforting hum of the diesel engine. I rested my forehead against the steering wheel, praying for patience, which I knew was already in short supply. I'd need all I could get to make it through this dinner.
I followed the gravel road to the main house, parking next to Lincoln’s truck. I was glad he and Josie had gotten together. He’d become a damn fine addition to the ranch’s ranks, holding his own and not needing someone to constantly oversee him.
Though, I did notice there were a few times he’d disappear into his and Josie’s new office, only to come out grinning like the damn devil.
“’Bout damn time you showed up, son!” Doug boomed as I stepped into the foyer. He stopped in the doorway, holding a big salad bowl for the table. “I was about to send Lincoln to look for your ass.”
“No need,” I said, toeing off my boots. I looked down, scrutinizing the bowl of greens. “The fuck is that, though?”
Doug rolled his eyes, ready to smart off as his wife, Ruby, came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle. They were complete opposites. Where she was fair with soft edges, he had hard lines and leathered skin. Her blonde hair was cropped around her shoulders, loosely swinging as she kissed his cheek.
It was crazy how much Lennox and Cleo took after Ruby, while Josie was the spitting image of her dad. All three girls, however, seemed to inherit their dad’s mile-wide stubborn streak.
“Doctor’s orders,” Ruby said. “This one talked the girls into bending the rules on his red meat restrictions too many times over the summer, but that shit stops now.”
It didn’t matter how long I’d been an honorary member of the Hayes household; I was still caught off guard by two people so disgustingly in love after so many years of marriage. As a kid, the only relationships I saw were incredibly one-sided. Maybe it’s why I was so damn jaded as an adult.
I’d never been in an honest-to-God relationship in all my forty years. There’d been casual hook-ups and shit—I wasn’t celibate—but when it came to dating, I was clueless.
The closest thing I’d found was the ranch. I was married to my work and dedicated to it like most people would be to another. My job would always come first, and a lot of women didn’t understand that. Not that I blamed them by any means. They deserved more than coming in second, but I’d never found anyone worth putting first.
“Criminal,” I laughed, shaking my head and clearing my thoughts. No point in dwelling on things that didn’t matter.
“That’s what I said,” Doug muttered. “But they don’t seem to care.”
“We don’t!” Cleo chimed in, carrying a tray of grilled chicken. “You’ll thank us someday.”
“Highly unlikely,” he called back. “Get in here and help me with these women. They’re ruthless, and Lincoln’s switched sides.”
I removed my hat, hanging it on one of the designated hooks. “Yes, sir.”
Lincoln set down two pitchers of sweet tea in the center of the table. “Sorry, Doug. I sleep next to one of those women at night, and I’m not looking to change that,” he said. “Josie’d have my fucking balls.”
“Smart man,” Ruby said with a smile. “I knew I liked you.”
“Castration seems more like my thing,” Lennox said, striding out of the kitchen. “I did learn how in 4H as a kid, I bet it’s like riding a bike.” Her hair was still wet, pulled back in a low ponytail. She wore a distressed Black Springs Ranch t-shirt that looked to be about three sizes too big, nearly swallowing her body whole.
I tried not to gawk, to look away, but all I could think about was how she looked wearing my shirt not long ago. Suddenly, my pants felt tighter. I adjusted myself, trying to be discreet, but Lennox caught me.
Her eyes dipped to my crotch, jaw ticking as she met my stare. I couldn’t tell if she was pissed or turned on or both. It was impossible to know with her.
Doug chuckled. “Baby girl, I pray for the man who decides to bunk beside you. He’s gonna have to be strong as hell.”
Lennox smirked. “He sure will. I won’t accept anything less.”
“Ain’t that the fucking truth,” I mumbled beneath my breath.
