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I’m leaning my back against Ranger’s chest, his long legs outstretched, one ankle over the other on the coffee table as he drinks a beer.
“Dad wants to expand the ranch.”
“Oh? That’s a problem?”
He hesitates, taking another long drink. “Not a problem, just a lot of work. Nothing has been decided on yet—it’s all still up in the air—but if it goes through, it’s going to be a hell of an ordeal.”
I can’t read his mood by his tone, so I sit up and spin around to face him. “You don’t sound enthusiastic about it.”
“I am.” He runs his hands through his hair. “Just not sure how it’s all going to play out yet. There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of decisions to be made yet, plus with the open board seat, it just complicates things.”
I can tell that even just talking about it has him stressed. I want him to enjoy the remaining hours of downtime we have at the cabin, so I don’t push the issue. I know in time he’ll share more.
“Well, I’m always here to listen to you vent about it or talk through things. I know I don’t know much of anything about ranching or running a billion-dollar brewery, but I’m happy to listen.” I offer a genuine smile and see his jaw unclench.
“Thanks, Doll. As with the Mill stuff from earlier, this stays between us, okay?”
“Yeah, of course. Oh, speaking of secrets, is there something going on between Decker and Juniper Riley?”
“He says no.” He shakes his head. “He says she’s a kid with a crush, but I feel like he might have one on her, too.”
“She’s not a kid! She’ll be 22 this year and she’s graduating college in May.”
“I know, but she’s nine years younger than Deck, and considering that Deck and I are friends with her dad, who happens to be good friends withourdad, I think it’s got ‘taboo’ written all over it.”
“I could see that. Maybe they just need a few years. Sometimes it can take people a long time to find their way to each other.” I say the words strategically and he lifts a brow at me, clearly catching on.
“What’s the plan for tonight? Got any games in these cabinets?” He stands up, walking over to the built-in cabinets to the left of the fireplace. “Let’s see, we’ve gotUno, playing cards, andBattleship.”
“Battleshipis still in there? I think that’s the one I used to play Dean when we were kids.”
“Battleshipit is,” he says, pulling it out and placing it on the coffee table.
“Should we make a bet?” I ask as I place my ships on my game board.
“What’s with you and bets?”
“Makes it more fun. Come on.”
“Fine. What’s it going to be this time?”
“Hmm.” I think about it for a moment. “How about if you win, you get the bed, and if I win, you have to sleep with me in the bed.” He gives me a look—one that tells me I’m pushing it. “I mean, if you think about it, you win either way, because you end up in the bed instead of this old couch.”
“Yeah, sounds like a real recipe for trouble. That bed is tiny.”
“It’s a queen.”
“That’s the smallest queen I’ve ever seen.”
“Is it a deal or not, Ranger Danger?” I use his nickname, which always gets me what I want.
“I hope you’re ready to sleep on this couch, because if there’s one game I always win, it’sBattleship.”
Less than 40 minutes later, Ranger is staring at his last remaining ship with only one unbombed spot left. “How is this possible?” He cradles his face in his hands, devastation written all over it. “I never lose.”
“You’ve never played me, though.” I smile and he scowls, clearly a sore loser. “D4,” I say triumphantly, sending the final missile over to sink his carrier.
“You cheated, didn’t you?” He narrows his gaze at me.
