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I raise my brow. “That was fast.”
She flashes a grin, takes a small sip of coffee like she’s savoring it. “No time to waste, right? In fact, I thought we could get started today.”
“We?”
I already don’t like where this is going.
“Well, yes,” she says, her bright smile growing. “I can do the whole setup on my own, but I’d like to see the ranch. So I can get a real sense of how it operates.”
“Like research?” Wyatt’s leaning in, so close he could smell her damn neck. If she turned her face, they’d be inches apart.
I glare at him. We’re a close family, but that doesn’t mean I won’t run my little brother’s head into a fucking wall if he crosses a line.
“Exactly. It won’t be so bad,” Ruby reassures, no doubt seeing us all wilt. “I already snagged the username, and I’ll spend a few weeks creating the content I need for the channel before I ramp up. I just have a few questions. Like how many acres is it? And how many employees? And the obvious—why is it called Runaway Ranch?”
She chirps on, her voice like a melody as she rattles off questions, oblivious to the silence that’s fallen, but I’m not.
Tension as thick as fog rolls in.
I don’t miss the concerned look Ford trades with Davis. I try to ignore how damn hard my jaw is clenching, how my fists have balled up, and my stomach’s in a goddamn knot.
I grunt and shove back from the counter. I don’t want to talk about Maggie. Diving into the specifics of how the ranch got its name isn’t high on my list of priorities today. Neither is giving Ruby a personal tour of the property.
“I got morning chores to get to,” I say roughly, dropping my coffee cup into the sink. “So, I’m afraid I can’t help you right now.”
“I could go with you,” she offers, looking at me hopefully over the top of her laptop. Her eyes are wide and eager. “I can help with chores.”
Silence.
Ruby bites her lip. “If you’re busy, maybe someone else can give me a tour?” She glances around the kitchen, flashing all of us an encouraging smile.
The sound of her voice—cheery and relentless—has irritation washing over me. She won’t back down, and the thought of someone else showing her around the ranch raises my hackles.
That’s when I realize what my fucking problem is.
There’s something hypnotic about her sitting there with her bold blue eyes and cherry-red lips. In my kitchen, at my counter, drinking a cup of coffee like it’s another normal morning on the ranch. She’s a pleasant person to be around and I haven’t had that in a damn long time.
She’s pretty. Too pretty.
It scares the fuck out of me.
“Can’t.” Davis is already moving to the door. “Ford and I are taking a group up on the ridge for a cattle drive.”
“I can’t either,” Wyatt says, slamming a Diet Coke and grabbing a pastry. His sweet tooth knows no bounds. “I’m training Fallon in the pasture today.”
“Y’all gonna kill each other,” Ford points out.
Wyatt laughs. “I keep hoping she falls off a bull, but I’m not gonna get that lucky.” He wiggles his eyebrows at Ruby. “You get bored with Charlie, come see the show.”
“Get outta here,” I growl.
“See y’all around,” Ford says, flipping a wave, and in return, I flip him off.
I watch as my brothers exit the house, their laughter carrying through the screen door.
Assholes.
Ruby slides off the barstool, the hem of her pink sundress riding up to expose long tan legs and a flash of a curvy ass. Her big blue eyes land on me, expectant. Her pretty face all business. “Should we get to it? Chores?”
