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“Just working on the ranch. You?”
“Well, I told you I finished law school. Oh, rather, I guess I didn’t tell you, but I’m sure you saw on Facebook.”
“Nah,” I shook my head. “I don’t really use Facebook or Instagram or any of those social media things. Waste of time, I think.”
“Oh, Wyatt, you sound like my granddad.” Sadie rolled her eyes. “So, congratulations on the law degree, Shane. Didn’t you go to like Duke or something?”
“Yep,” he nodded “But I’m back home now. Dad wants to expand, and we’re thinking about …” He paused, “Well, I guess I shouldn’t say anything right now as its private information, and you’re a competing ranch.” He looked at me.
“Okay,” I muttered.
I really didn’t give a rat’s ass what he and his dad’s ranch were going to do. Horseshoe Ranch, my family’s ranch, was one of the largest ranches in the state of Montana, and we were at the forefront of everything. There was nothing that Shane’s dad could do that we couldn’t do, but I wasn’t about to get into a competition. I was the youngest of seven brothers, so what I had to say didn’t really matter at Horseshoe Ranch.
On the other hand, Shane Wakefield was the oldest in his family, so he could make decisions because one day he’d inherit the whole thing. I chewed on my lower lip. I didn’t mind being the youngest brother most times, but sometimes it irked me. Having six older brothers meant you didn’t really have much of a say in anything. And I had a lot of ideas, a lot of really good ideas, but no one listened to me because I was the baby of the family. It was annoying as shit.
“Hey, Wyatt,” Sadie sat in the chair next mine, “what do you think?” I blinked looked at her. She was smiling, her blue eyes alight with happiness.
“What do I think about what?”
“Shane just invited us to come over tonight. He said we could go canoeing.”
“Canoeing?” I looked at her and then I looked at him. “I don’t think so. We have plans.”
Sadie looked confused. “What plans?”
“It was going to be a surprise,” I lied. There was no surprise, but there was no way in hell I was spending the evening with Shane and Sadie. I knew Shane would start flirting. And the last thing I wanted was for Sadie to flirt back with him. She had the absolute worst taste in men. I didn’t know what she would do without me looking after her. She’d probably end up with some douche bag.
“Is it something that I can join?” Shane grabbed a seat and sat at the table with us.
“No.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Nice manners, taking a seat before you’ve even been invited.”
“Wyatt!” Sadie hit me in the shoulder. “He’s just joking,” she said to Shane. “Why’d you say that?”
“Why did I say what?” I looked at her. “We were enjoying a meal—”
“Oh, Wyatt, stop being so grumpy.” She looked over at Shane. “He’s just pissed off because I was going on some dates in Idaho, and he thinks that I have bad taste in men. And I guess I hurt his feelings because I said I might have stayed in Idaho, but I didn’t stay in Idaho. I’m here. So there’s no need to be grumpy.”
“I’m not being grumpy. And if you move to Idaho, that’s on you. Though why would you move to Idaho from Montana? It’s a significantly inferior state.”
“I’ve got to agree with Wyatt there,” Shane agreed. “Idaho?”
“I have cousins there.” She glared at me. “And you know that I’m …” she paused. “Anyway,” she said quickly looking over at Shane. I realized she didn’t want Shane to know that she was looking for a husband. I cleared my throat.
“So, Shane, you know that Sadie’s looking for a husband. She wants to get married and have lots of kids right away. Don’t you Sadie?”
“No!” She glared at me.
“Is that what you’re looking for, Shane?”
“Um, well, you know, I just got back into town.” He got up quickly, glancing between Sadie and me. “But I guess you guys are busy and eating. I’ll see what you’re up to later. Okay?”
“Okay.” I raised my cowboy hat and nodded at him before turning to Sadie. “Well, I guess he’s not Mr. Right.”
“You’re such an asshole. Why would you tell him that?”
“Why would I tell him what?” I shrugged innocently. “Aren’t you looking to get married and have kids soon?”
“Yeah, but that’s not something you tell a guy before you even go on the first date.”
