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I drop my jaw. “Excuse me?”
His words should have me jubilant, ecstatic. One less thing to worry about—one less Steel in my sisters’ pants.
But I fear Maddie will be crushed, and this trip is supposed to be fun for her.
“And why exactly?” I finally ask when he doesn’t reply.
He takes a deep breath and sighs. “I’m not sure I know who I am anymore, Pike. When you see your life flash before your eyes, when you realize you haven’t done much of anything except be a spoiled rich boy who beds every woman he can, it makes you think.”
Chapter Five
Dave
Those were the thoughts raging through my head as we were plummeting downward.
I was frightened, yes. Nearly pissed myself.
But after that initial moment of dread, I had this moment—and there was a moment when time seemed to be suspended, and every thought in the world raced through my mind—when I realized how ridiculous my life has been up to now.
Chasing women.
Chasing women with Brock and Donny.
And alone, recently, since Brock and Donny are now spoken for.
But sure, I grew up on the ranch. Learned from my dad about the financial end, but I also worked with Uncle Talon, Uncle Joe, and Uncle Ryan, getting a taste of what each of them did on the ranch.
All of us kids did. Our rounds, we called them.
So yeah, I worked my ass off, learned about the ranch.
Learned to ride a horse nearly as soon as I learned to walk.
I even learned to cook from my mom, who’s a gourmet chef.
Went to college with Brock, and while he studied agriculture, I studied business, knowing I’d be working with my father on the business end someday. That’s what was expected of me.
So yeah, I did all of that.
Nothing really stood out.
It wasn’t my ranch.
Sure, I’ll inherit my tenth or whatever when we all get our share, but I’m not my grandfather, Bradford Steel. After I found out about his antics and what he cost my grandmother, I’m not sure I ever want to be him.
Still, I accepted that I was privileged. Born rich, and I would always be rich. Even if our ranch went down, the Steels have enough outside investments to keep us all in a luxurious lifestyle for the next hundred years.
So, yeah. Even knowing my family history is spotted, I still had few worries.
Until I looked my life in the eye, knowing it was coming to an end…
What the hell have I accomplished?
I learned the family business. I got a college degree. I had a cushy position at my father’s side handed to me.
Put me in a box with a million other guys who have done that.
Nothing makes me stand out.
