Her eyes rolled.“Yes, because cast-iron bitch will almostsurely get you fired because her ego can’t handle a few insults.Let me tellyou how I grew up.Yes, we had money and I didn’t go hungry or worry aboutwhere we would stay, but the minute I stepped off that ranch I got looks.Theycalled my dad the devil and my momthat woman.Some of them still doto this day.My papa was the dirty little secret they forgot to keep.Do youknow how many times I heard my mother called a whore?”
“I’m sorry.That had to be hard.”Keane hadn’t expected thatfrom her.He was every bit as guilty as Garrett since he thought OliviaBarnes-Fleetwood likely didn’t have a care in the world.Growing up rich didn’tkeep the world from taking a bite out of her soul.“I heard my mom called that,too.Except it was her job.It was how she paid for the cheap motel room andall the drugs.”
Her mouth dropped open and then she did something he didn’texpect.She laughed.Long and hard, until tears fell from her eyes.When shegot her breath back she looked at Keane and then Garrett.“Please tell me youmet in foster care.”
He wasn’t sure how that was funny.“We did.”
She took a long breath as though she needed a minute to calmdown from the hilarity.
Garrett’s jaw went tight.“That was rude.He’s not joking.I’m not joking.”
“It’s irony.”She wiped tears from her eyes and held up ahand which brought the flight attendant forth.“Sherri, could you get me acouple of fingers of whiskey?The good stuff.I know my dad hides it, but hewould understand.”
“Of course, Olivia.I think Mr.Barnes only put that rule inbecause Josh and Grim drank and entire fifth of twenty-five-year-old Scotchduring their bachelor party.I told him it was the only wild thing they did.They went to Vegas and from what they said on the way back they played somecards and mostly missed Nicole.”
Olivia’s lips turned up in a bittersweet smile.“That soundslike my brothers.”
The flight attendant turned his way.“And for thegentlemen?”
Garrett frowned.“I’m not sure we’re staying.”
Oh, he was going to be so dramatic.“I’d like a beer,please.Whatever you have is fine.”
Garrett leaned in.“I’m not going to let her talk to youthat way.”
Olivia’s brow rose again.“I think the counselor will have aScotch, too.The cowboy prefers beer.And maybe some snacks.Thank you so much,Sherri.”
“Of course.We’ll be taking off shortly,” the flightattendant said and walked to the galley.
“I’m serious.She was mean,” Garrett insisted.
“And you take everything seriously, Counselor.I waslaughing because your story sounds very much like my dads.They met in fostercare after their families blew up.”
Keane couldn’t quite process that information.He’d met Mr.Barnes and Mr.Fleetwood several times.While they were down to earth andfriendly, they both knew how to move in a wealthy world.He knew they hadn’talways been wealthy, but he expected they had normal childhoods.“They werefoster kids?”
She nodded and sobered.“Yes, they were, and it was bad.Mydad… That’s what I call Jack Barnes.He’s dad and Sam is papa.At some point mybrother started calling him Pops because he thought Papa made him sound like akid.My dad was in from a young age.His mom died and his biological dad had nouse for a bastard kid, so he had no one and went into the system.Papa wasolder when his parents and brother died in a car accident.I don’t suppose thetwo of you…” She hesitated and then seemed to find the courage to go on.“Idon’t suppose the two of you play together.”
“Of course we do,” Garrett replied.“We top subs together.”
But Keane knew what she was asking.“We’ve never had sextogether.Garrett is straight.”
Her lips curled up in the sexiest smile.“But you aren’t.”
Keane said nothing, simply stared at her.
Garrett sat back, crossing his arms over his chest.“Olivia,could you please put us out of our misery?Are you firing us?Could you do itbefore the plane takes off?I don’t want to get stuck in Willow Fork with noway to get home.”
She wasn’t going to fire them.She was going to put themthrough the hell of being near her and not being able to touch her.She wasgoing to show them exactly what they lost.What they never actually had.
“My Uncle Lucas adores you, and Aidan does, too.I wouldnever piss my sister off that way.Your jobs are secure, but unfortunately I’mgoing to have to ask you to find a motel.Or rather check into the only one wehave in town.I’m sure Keane could stay in the bunkhouse, but I don’t think alawyer would fit in there.”
“I thought we were staying in the big house,” Garrett said.
She shrugged.“The big house is being renovated because myparents are now empty nesters and want to put the kink back in their marriage.My mother asked me to host you at my place, but obviously I wouldn’t want Keaneto have to stay with such a common woman and Garrett can’t possibly live with aball-busting bitch.”
“I never used that word,” Garrett said quietly.“I wouldn’tcall you that.We’ve got a lot to get through.I’ll stay at the motel and Keanecan have a place in the bunkhouse if I can’t stay there.He needs to be close.Aren’t there some heifers calving soon?”
“According to the meticulous notes Grim left, yes.So I doneed to be close.”Keane watched her.If she didn’t toss them out, they mighthave a chance.Might.
