“I can’t help that my breathing pisses him off. That’s actually not my fault. I did my job today. That’s all I can do.”
For now…
The idea of messing with Rhett just enough to make him squirm is too good to resist, though.
I love it when my man gets wound up easily.
She rolls her eyes and walks off to help another customer at the other end of the bar, and a strong hand pats me on the back.
“I heard you made it through the day without fucking anything up. Congratulations.” Cash laughs and Dawson joins in.
Rhett stands off to the side, clearly uncomfortable that he has to deal with me again today. The scrunch in his nose as he feigns indifference tells me everything I need to know.
Game on, Golden Boy.
I cut my eyes back to Cash before anyone notices how long I lingered on Rhett. “Yeah man, it wasn’t so bad. I just didn’t realize how much the farm had expanded since high school. It’s got to be at least double or so now—way more animals.”
Before Cash can say another word, Dawson butts in. “Yeah, I asked for more land to breed and train the horses as a graduation present from Grandpa. Thank God the old man sawmy vision and let me add on, which is why you’re seeing more animals than before.”
Jerking his thumb toward Rhett, as if he’s oblivious to his brother’s discomfort at being around me, he says, “Rhett knows everything there is to know about the ranch—picked it all up from Grandpa and Dad. He’ll be the one taking over when Uncle Luke retires.”
“Do you think he will ever retire?”
“Aunt Sarah will make him eventually…she’s scarily convincing,” Dawson says.
Cash just rolls his eyes, flagging Halle down to order drinks. “Yeah, yeah, Golden Boy is good at being a Golden Boy—how surprising. He’ll pop out little carbon copies of him and Molly once he figures out how to seal that deal.” He leans into Rhett, nudging him with his elbow playfully before turning to Halle to order some beers.
The idea of Rhett popping out kids with Molly turns my blood to ice as jealousy floods my system.
Dawson shrugs. “She seems a bit clingy for my taste.”
Cash turns back around and passes out beers to me and Rhett before making his way back to the pool tables.
He sets his beer down to rack the balls and beckons all of us over.
Once the three of us make our way over, he starts handing out orders. “We’ve got four so we can play teams. Dawson, you’re with me.”
Rhett finally speaks up, his tone clearly annoyed. “Why the hell do you get Dawson? I want him on my team.”
“Because I want to win, and you told Dad that you and Colt worked well together today. So you can do it again, right?” He cocks his brow, knowing he’s backed Rhett into a corner.
Before things get heated—and to throw out a peace offering for the summer—I step between them, nodding at Dawson,who’s chalking his cue with a grin from ear to ear. “What is so special about Pony Boy over there and pool? You two look like you’re about to murder each other over a game that hasn’t even started.”
All three of them laugh—partly at the joke, partly at my naivety.
I arch an eyebrow, chalk my own cue, and catch Rhett’s eye, testing just how far I can push the friendly vibe. Snagging an extra cue from the wall, I hand it to him.
“Saddle up, cowboy. It’s time to kick some ass.”
Cash and Dawson watch the awkward interaction to see what their brother will do, and when he tenses slightly, all three of us hold our breath.
Rhett squares his shoulders and takes the cue from me. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
Our fingers touch for a brief moment, and his eyes go wide. He instantly shakes off whatever feeling he got as he puts a few feet between us.
Getting under Rhett Thornwood’s skin probably shouldn’t be a hobby, but somehow, it’s turning into one this summer.
Once we all agree on who’s going to break, by playing two-to-three rounds of rock-paper-scissors, we are finally ready to play.
