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Braxton: Re-read. I said “need.” Emerson’s sister is here and threatening to take Colt.
This is about the only thing that could get my ass out of this bed. My family. My brothers. And now that cute little nephew of mine. And I don’t know who Emerson’s sister is. But she picked the wrong fucking day to mess with my family.
Headachey.
Exhausted.
Elated.
Nauseated.
Me: On my way.
I regret it the moment I send it, but as Pop would say I “Ranger Up” and slide to the edge of the bed. The Tylenol and the sports drink are downed before both feet hit the floor.
“Luna, girl? Want to go see Brax?” She lifts one eyebrow, though her ears do perk a bit. My dog gets me. “I know. Me too. We can sleep in tomorrow. Today we’ll go save the world.”
I gag a little as I stand and shuffle to the bathroom, avoiding turning on the lights and just doing what I can manage in the dark.
Teeth brushed, face washed and moisturized, I slide on jeans and boots—my everyday uniform—and pull my hair back to let the cool air conditioning hit my neck. I throw on a butter yellow tee with That Girl Is a Cowboy written across the front in ranch-esque script and grab my shades. These are staying on. Just until I can get back home to my welcoming bed.
I throw back all the water I can stomach on the drive. I very rarely regret my Wrangler, but this morning, I’m wishing I had a truck like Braxton’s with its soft suspension. I bounce with each dip or bump in the road, my guts reminding me that even at twenty-nine, I don’t recover like I used to.
It just adds insult to injury.
I park at the barn and leave Luna here since she has a love affair with Strait. As young and vibrant as he is, he loves Luna’s demeanor. Always has. She works her way into his stall and circles in the hay to take a nap.
“Jealous. So damn jealous,” I say to my girl as I wander to Braxton’s house wondering what fresh hell has befallen us today.
I let myself in and beeline it for the kitchen and the coffeepot. My steps falter when I see my big brother, holding my tiny nephew. My brain knows, but my heart didn’t remember. Such a cutie. So tiny and pale compared to my olive-skinned brother with his perpetual tan from working outside.
I tap his cheek and say hello, wary that my breath says barroom floor and not minty fresh goodness.
I grab a to-go mug and fill it. This one is mine, actually. Seems we’ve traded coffee cups between the houses, barn, and offices so many times that they’re coming back to me. Coffee in one hand, I tilt my head to Brax, asking if he’s ready. I really want to say as little as possible now that I’m here. It’s not my typical M.O., but my mouth has decided to salivate, and nothing good can come of that. Besides, I need this coffee, and my head is screaming at me to get to a quiet, cool, dark place.
The blonde, who’s beautiful but obviously out of her element, tries to stop us as we go. “Excuse me?” Her voice is too loud on a morning after drinking too much.
“Yes?”
“And you would be?”
“Brighton.”
“Where are you taking my nephew?”
I say as little as possible since I need to keep my focus on making it to the barn in one piece without vomiting. Brax must be out of his element too because the woman, the kind he’d normally chase, is left on his porch, tapping her toe as if owed an explanation.
When we’ve successfully left her in our wake, Brax shifts Colt from one arm to the other. “Thanks, Bright.”
“Anything for you. I’ve got to say, though, that girl in there is just your type, except for the rich bitch written all over her. Is she younger or older than Colt’s mom?”
He sighs. “Twin sister. Colt’s only aunt on that side.”
“So, she’s my competition for favorite aunt? Oh, I totally have this in the bag. Dog, horses, exploring the ranch on a gator.” I count off on my fingers before turning to him. “What can she do? Buy him a car?”
“A Maserati, probably. She’s loaded.”
“Yeah, but that’s eons from now. I have years of winning that start immediately.”
