Page 23 of Sunrise & Serenity

One of her booted feet taps the hardwood floor, and when I look back up, her hands are on her hips, just like my sister’s were a moment ago. She doesn’t say anything, but her narrowed eyes tell me she got the message. It’s enough to drag a grin out of me, though I quickly scrub my hand over my mouth to hide it.

Oblivious to the silent exchange, Taryn pokes me in the ribs. “See? That’s why this house needs more estrogen.”

Tossing her hair over her shoulder the way only a seventeen-year-old can, she addresses the only other estrogen-loaded person in the room. “Come on. Let’s leave my brother here and go shopping.”

Sage slants one more look in my direction, then smiles at my sister. “Sounds good to me.”

Taryn bats her lashes at me, and I know exactly what’s coming.

“Can we take your truck?”

Dad confiscated Taryn’s car keys last week after she was caught trying to sneak out of the house to go to a party. Can’t say I wouldn’t have tried the same thing at her age if parties had been on my mind back then.

But nothing much was except leaving.

I pull my keys from my pocket and toss them to her. “Bring it back in one piece.”

She catches them with ease. “Have I told you before that you’re my favorite brother?”

“Not as many times as you’ve told Chance,” I grumble.

With a smirk, she heads for the door.

As Sage follows, I do my best to keep my focus fixed above her waist rather than stare at her heart-shaped ass.

But just before she slips out the door, she glances back at me. And it’s the soft bemusement on her face that stays with me for the rest of the morning.

CHAPTER 6

SAGE

Taryn handles Holden’s big truck with ease, maneuvering it along the ranch’s long driveway.

Much as Holden did on his tour this morning, she points out various details as we go.

“That building over there will be the main guest lodge. We’ll have a restaurant, and eventually a spa and gym inside. I’ve never been to a spa, so I’m looking forward to it. And this road takes us past the river, where guests can go fly-fishing.”

She’s enthusiastic about it all. Unlike Holden. “You seem pretty excited about the expansion.”

She grins. “I can’t wait to have more people around. I love my brothers, but they can be exhausting. New faces will be nice.”

A vision of Holden’s frowning face drifts through my mind. “I can imagine,” I mutter.

We drive under the Wild Ember entrance sign and turn down a road opposite to the one Holden and I came in on last night.

“Are you still in school, or do you work at the ranch as well?” I ask her.

“Both. I’m a senior, but I work with the horses after school and on weekends. Taking you shopping is a nice change from my normal Sunday morning routine, though.”

I laugh. “So I’m doing you a favor?”

She shoots me a grin. “Maybe.”

“What do you want to do once you’ve graduated?”

“I want to be a professional trainer. But first I’d like to compete. Prove I can make it to the top myself.”

“What sort of competition? Rodeo?” I take a guess.