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Ford gives a dubious grunt. “I can’t play baseball now. Too damn old.” He nods to me. “Besides, I wouldn’t go anywhere if I could, Charlie. Fishing and riding every day, I got it made.”
“I want to be here,” Wyatt adds, and my gaze flickers to him. A muscle jerks in his jaw. He’s hurt I haven’t talked to him about this. “This is my town. We’re fucking family, man. You’re not getting rid of us now that you got yourself a girl.”
I hear conviction in my brother’s voice and relief fills me.
My brothers want to be here.
It’s like the anchor of guilt in the pit of my stomach has finally been freed.
Goddamn, it’s nice to be back.
“I’ve been pissed,” Davis admits slowly, shaking his head. “But it’s not because of you, C.” He pauses, suddenly looking like he wishes he could walk back his statement. “But Wy’s right and you’re wrong. As usual.”
Wyatt and Ford swing their heads in my direction and laugh.
“Oh, fuck y’all,” I say, giving the room the finger, but there’s no fight in it.
Ford leans across the table to ruffle my hair. “Yeah, yeah, we love you too, dick.”
A rare grin twists Davis’s lips. “We want to be here. And I’m sure as hell glad that girl of yours pulled your head out of your stubborn ass.”
I snort.
“She staying?” Davis asks, still grinning.
“Yeah,” I rasp. “She is.”
“How long?”
“As long as I can have her,” I say. “When you know, you know.”
“Yeah.” Giving an approving nod, Davis drops his eyes to my boots, where I’ve scrawled Ruby’s name on the outsole. He looks up at me. “Don’t let her go, you hear me?” Davis clears his throat and digs through the desk drawers, pretending to search for something I doubt is there.
Strange. Ford and I share a look. If Ford seems confused about his twin’s statement, then I sure as hell am. There was something in Davis’s voice, an undercurrent of rough resentment. Only not directed toward us. As close as we all are, a brick wall would open up more than Davis.
“So, what’s next with y’all?” Wyatt drums his hands on the desk. “Take her home to Mama?”
I snort. “I take her home, we’re gonna lay down some laws real fast.”
No way in hell am I subjecting the sweetest girl in the world to Mama Belle’s sharp-tongued antics.
Wyatt smiles. “I don’t know what kind of spell that girl put you under, Charlie, but hell ...” A muscle works in his jaw and throat. “It’s nice to see you.”
“Good to be seen,” I reply gruffly.
Nothing’s ever felt this right. Ruby. My brothers. My ranch.
“Shit,” Davis growls, immediately punching the keyboard. His radio appears in his hands.
My head snaps up, whipping to the first security monitor. A long black Cadillac snakes its way up the gravel drive to my cabin.
A chill freezes my heart.
Ruby.
I shove out of my chair, my hands balling into fists. “Meet me at the house,” I say and take off running.
By the time I make it to the cabin, Ruby’s at the front door, hands propped on her hips, smiling politely at the black-suited man in front of her.
