Page 30 of Hearts on the Mend

Ethan only shrugs. I think he might even be blushing. “She deserves whatever she wants.”

This is what I mean. My brothers, two totally different guys, yet so completely obsessed with their women.

And then there’s me. Single, grumpy, getting caught jacking off in my parents’ house to the woman I had a one-night stand with almost a year ago.

“Thanks for the beer,” I say instead. “Need to head back.”

“Late night?”

“You’re such an asshole sometimes, Jack.”

“Learned from the best.”

Ethan chuckles beside him. “Have a good time with your friend. You going to have a slumber party soon?”

“Fuck,” I grumble. “Can’t wait to leave town.”

This only makes them laugh louder as I weave out of the crowded bar on Main Street. I dig my hands into my Carhartt jacket, the freezing salt air swirling around me. Weird, I usually crave the smell of pine and dirt. I’m used to smoke, the sound of the air whistling past me as I hurl myself out of a plane, straight into the path of a fire.

For some reason, stepping up into my truck to go back to Cassie’s house feels a lot like the same tonight.

Chapter 10

Cassie

“No, you’re the cuckoo head, Uncle Benny!”

Ruby twirls around in my room, holding my phone out as she FaceTimes my brother back in Wyoming.

“Nope, you are. For sure.” I hear him turn on the drip coffeemaker in the ranch bunkhouse. He’s always been able to get up before the sun.

“No way.” She giggles, shoving the phone back toward me as I struggle to put a sock on. “Here, talk to Mom. She’s grumpy this morning.”

“Okay, if I have to,” Benny teases. “Bye, monkey. Smell you later.”

“She’s already gone,” I say, putting on a smile for my brother. “Hi. I’m sorry it’s early, but she’s going to Matt’s today.”

Benny runs a hand through his messy wheat-blond hair. Growing up, people always asked if he was adopted, but the older he gets, the more he looks like my dad. “How’s that going?”

“It’s not,” I huff. “I swear he’s dragging everything out on purpose.”

“Need me to beat him up?”

“You’re spending too much time with cowboys.”

“The buckle bunnies are a good perk.” Someone says something off camera behind him that I can’t hear. Judging by the smirk on his face, it’s best I didn’t.

“Gross. Don’t need to know.”

“Good, then I def don’t need to know about your new roomie.”

“Ruby, that traitor!”

“Offered her free ice cream and five bucks the next time I see her.” His big smirk almost offsets his crooked nose.

“You’re bribing your niece for information now? Pathetic.”

Soft light filters in behind him as Benny steps outside. He dumps his cowboy hat on his head and winks. “Need to go, Cass. Call me before you need help. You wait too long to ask. Love you.”