A dry chuckle slips out, and I cover my mouth. “That issucha dick move, but it worked.”
“I’m glad it worked.” A bashful smile stretches across his lips. “So, will you be joining us for breakfast on this lovely morning?”
I tilt my head side to side, dragging out the silence, making him wait.
“I suppose. It’s not like I have anything better to do,” I say, offering a half-shrug as I brush past him and head downstairs.
Theyweren’tkiddingwhenthey said eating together was a big thing.
The table is set for four people. An oval platter sits in the center of the table lined with overlapping slices of French toast, thick strips of bacon, and maple sausage links. There’s also a serving bowl of cheesy scrambled eggs, and a smaller bowl of assorted berries.
My eyes slide to Emmett, and the corner of his mouth tips up in a smirk as he pulls out a chair and gestures for me to take a seat.
Heath walks out of the kitchen carrying a few coffee mugs and a fresh pot of coffee. He pauses when he sees me sitting at the table beside Emmett. He doesn’t say anything, but the wide grin pulling at his mouth says enough.
Emmett swaps out the empty plate in front of me with the one he’s filled with a little bit of everything. I smile in thanks and plop a fresh raspberry into my mouth.
Heath slides a steaming coffee mug over to me. “There’s cream in the fridge and sugar in the jar on the counter,” he says, hiking his thumb behind him toward the kitchen.
“Oh, thank you.”
I slip out of the wooden dining chair and pad into the kitchen. I’m reaching for the carton of half-and-half when the back screen door slams shut, making me jump. I spin around. Wesley’s at the sink, washing his hands before drying them on the gingham dish towel. Our eyes meet and his narrow, his jaw tightening as I stare back.
The refrigerator door closes behind me and Emmett shouts from the table, “Wes, is that you? Bring the sugar jar when you come in here.”
His brother’s words break the spell, finally freeing me from Wesley’s heavy glare.
Back at the table, I splash some cream into my coffee mug and stir before taking a long sip. I feel my body slowly start to wake up as the coffee kicks in, warmth spreading through me.
Nobody talks at first, but it’s a comfortable silence. The birds chirping and the clatter of silverware against plates fill the air.
This may be the best food I have ever had in my life, and I’ve been to several Michelin-star restaurants around the world.
“How’s he comin’ along?” Heath asks, looking at Wesley at the other end of the table.
“He won’t be ready in time for peak season, if that’s what you’re asking,” Wesley snorts. “He’s handsome, but so fucking stubborn. The son of a bitch almost killed me this morning.”
A loud giggle escapes my lips before I can stop it and everyone turns to look at me with raised eyebrows.
“Sorry,” I say quietly, and Emmett bumps his shoulder into mine, chuckling softly.
Heath bites his cheek, holding back a smile, too. “I wasn’t expecting him to be ready. He’s way too green for even the best handlers—but he makes a good passion project, and he sure is nice to look at.”
“Let him be your project then,” Wesley says bitterly.
Heath hums and takes a sip from his coffee mug.
“Who?” I ask, glancing between Heath and Wesley, taking a bite of French toast.
“Outlaw. He’s our newest stallion—“
“Outlaw?”Wesley interrupts, ignoring me entirely.
“What’s wrong with the name? I thought it was fitting. He was on his way to be turned into glue, had I not bid on him.”
“I’m sorry—did you sayglue?“ I ask, grimacing.
“Yeah, honey,” Heath says gently. “It’s not too common these days, but horses like him usually have two options: the glue factory or the slaughterhouse. I couldn’t stand to see such a good-lookin’ horse go to waste.”
