Page 28 of Hearts Storm

“Three. All older. They’re a pain in my ass, but I’d do anything for them.” I lean forward, resting my forearms on the table. “What about you? Any family?”

Something shifts in her expression—a flicker of pain before she masks it. “Just me.”

“Come on, Pretty. You gotta give me something.”

Dina returns with our coffee, setting down two steaming mugs. “You two ready to order?”

“Whatever she wants. It’s on me.”

I glance across the table. Pretty’s mouth is parted like she’s ready to protest, and it makes my dick twitch.

When I hike an eyebrow, daring her to argue, she smiles and shakes her head. “I’ll have the French toast with a side of fruit.”

“Good choice,” Dina says with a wink before heading back to the kitchen.

“So,” I continue when we’re alone again. “Siblings? Parents?”

Wrapping her hands around her mug, she frowns into the dark liquid. “My parents are... not really in the picture anymore.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be.” Her voice is clipped. “I’m much better for it.”

“Any brother’s or sister’s?”

When she hesitates, I can practically feel the tension, see the wheels turning as she contemplates her next words. “I had a sister. She died when we were kids.”

The way she says it makes me want to dig deeper, but the fire in her eyes warns me off. So I change the subject. “Do you live around here?”

“Not exactly.” She takes a sip of her coffee. “I’m just here for the weekend. Training for my new job.”

“What kind of training?”

She hesitates. “Last round of my firefighter certification. I’m an EMT.”

The fact that her job coincides so closely with mine, makes my heart lurch.

The food arrives, and our conversation lulls as we both dig in.

After a few minutes, she finally speaks up. “Tell me about your brother’s.”

Smile tugging at my lips, I lean back in the booth. “For starters, we grew up on a ranch in a little town called Chaos. Ever heard of it?”

She shakes her head, taking another bite of her French toast.

“Not surprised. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of place. Population’s maybe around twelve hundred on a good day.” I take a sip of my coffee. “My family’s been there for generations. We’ve got cattle, horses, a few crops. The usual.”

I take a sip of my coffee.

“My brother, Dex, is an MMA fighter. Fucker’s built like a tank. He’s got a beard and this permanent scowl. You know, the kind that makes people hurry and cross the street when they see him coming their way?”

Pink lips quirk up at the corner. “Sounds charming.”

“Oh, he’s a fucking delight.” I laugh. “But he’s also the most loyal person I’ve ever known. Would literally take a bullet for any of us without blinking.”

Her eyes soften. “That’s... really nice, actually.”

“Yeah, well, don’t tell him I said that. He’d kick my ass for being sentimental.”