Page 34 of Kicking Up Dust

He gets the dish rag. “It’s June or Mama, son. I don’t know how many times I’ve gotta tell you that!”

“Shh!” I scold her. “There’s people resting.”

Maddox snorts as I get the dish rag as well.

Despite Mama’s best efforts, Blair’s nap is short. She texts me as I’m finishing up my sandwich that she’s awake, and I laugh at her shyness.

Colt

Come downstairs. I’m in the kitchen.

Mama spots her before I do, drying her hands on the bottom of her apron as she grins toward the bottom of the stairs. I turn to look behind me and see Blair’s green eyes go wide at the men staring back at her.

“What would you like for lunch, sweetheart?” Mama asks her.

I hold my arm out for her and try very hard not to look like a lovesick fool as she sidles closer to me. We might not be together, but she’s my girl and I want every man in this room to be well aware of it.

“If you’re done eating, grab your water bottles and head back out to the corral. We’ll be out there in a few minutes,” Maddox tells the ranch hands. I’m not sure if he does it to lessen the attention on Blair or prevent me from making a fool of myself with the whole territorial bullshit, but I appreciate it regardless.

“That’s okay. I can make something,” Blair insists as she takes the seat beside me that Eric just left.

“Nonsense. I’ve already fed all of these men. I might as well make one more plate.”

Blair’s eyes dart around the table, clearly anxious. I slide my hand beneath the table to settle it on her knee, giving it a squeeze.

“I’ll get her something to eat in a bit, Mama. She just woke up, she’s probably not hungry yet.”

Mama looks like she wants to argue, but her desire to make Blair comfortable here must outweigh her concern about Blair possibly starving to death. She nods and busies herself at the stove again, prepping for dinner so she can have her afternoon clear to watch the soap operas she’s been watching since she was a teenager.

“Blair, this is Maddox, Jameson, and Tyler.”

Maddie nods, but doesn’t stop eating.

“Jamie,” Jameson corrects, putting his hand forward for her to shake with a giant grin on his maw. “I’d like to personally extend my gratitude for managing to lock Colton down for us.”

“Oh, we’re not⁠—”

Tyler snorts, well-versed in the way this family completely disregards relationship statuses. “Good luck convincing anyone in this house of that. I’m Tyler, the next-door neighbor.”

“Close friend of the family,” Maddox corrects.

“Practically another brother,” Jamie adds.

“The love of Tate’s life,” I tell Blair, who blinks at the overwhelming influx of information.

“Literally just Tyler, but okay,” Tyler argues. “See what I mean?”

There’s another commotion as the screen door squeaks open again, Tate and Bailey trailing in. I take the opportunity to lean over toward Blair.

“You okay? I know it’s a lot.”

Blair looks around to see if anyone’s listening and people most definitely are, but they at least have the manners to pretend they aren’t.

“Yeah. I’m never going to remember everyone’s names though.”

Jamie snorts, and I glare at him when it causes Blair to blush and cage up.

“Don’t worry about it. Just call everyone ‘Whittaker.’ We’ll all answer to it. Even Tyler.”