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Chapter One
Sky
I lean back in Carson’s office chair and stare up at the ceiling. He’s not here yet, but his brothers are. Ox is up front talking to Henry about rodeo security, Perry is working on the computer, Hank is beside him, and Gentry is leaning against the doorframe, giving me a full-on lecture.
“Buy new stuff. You don’t need to go stirring shit up with that asshole.”
“It’s all I have left in the world, dude. I want it back.”
“You really think he hasn’t destroyed those things by now?” Gentry’s tone is low and gruff. I’ve known these brothers for what seems like forever. My brother is best friends with Carson. So, we all lived in Wyoming at one point, and we all happened to end up on Rugged Mountain, though for different reasons. The guys came out here to help with Ox’s big dream of a security firm and I came to escape my ex.
“Why are you being an ass? I hired Carson, which means I’m paying him. That’s how this works, right?”
Gentry is the oldest of the brothers. Their parents died when they were young, and he took over care of all of them. Maybe being forced into adulthood early has something to do with the attitude thing he’s got going on.
I’m not completely sure because Gentry and I don’t have a close relationship. I knowofhim, but that’s about it.
His jaw tightens, and he leans away from the door frame as though he’s frustrated with me, but I can’t figure out why. “I… I know you have a thing—”
“Hey!” Carson slaps his brother on the back and shoves him out of the way so he can squeeze through the doorframe.
Immediately, my heart rate picks up. I don’t know what it is about this man, but I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with him since I was a kid. He’s always been everything I’ve ever wanted. Big, tall, protective, and he’s only gotten better. Now, he sports a long salt and pepper beard, and he’s covered in tattoos. I don’t know why no one has tied him down yet.
“Why are you harassing my client?” he grumbles playfully toward Gentry. “She looks stressed. She shouldn’t be stressed in her condition.” It’s been a while since Carson and I have really connected, but hearing him talk about me like this has my heart hammering against my chest.
I glance at Gentry with a churn in my stomach. He was in the middle of a sentence and I’m pretty sure he was going to say that he knew I had a thing for Carson.
His mouth opens again, but there’s a pause.
Please don’t say it. Please, please don’t say it.
Honestly, girl, how would he know? I don’t talk about it. Am I acting like it? What am I doing that makes him think I’m into Carson?
I mean, what else starts with‘I know you have a thing?’He wasn’t going to say he knows I’m into fried chicken. He wasn’t going to say he knows I’m into green mint chip ice cream. He was going to say that he knows I’m into my brother's best friend.
Gentry closes his mouth again and spins out of the room.
My shoulders relax. Thank God! If my brother ever found out I was into his best friend, he’d lose his mind. Not only isCarson much, much older than me, but he’s also the closest thing that my older brother has to family… outside of me.
Carson looks my way. “What the hell is up his ass? He seems even more ornery than usual.”
I shrug and chew at the inside of my lip, nervous that someone is onto me. “Not sure. He’s probably tired. You said he’s been burning the candle at both ends, right?”
“Yeah,” Carson rolls his eyes, “I guess.” His gaze draws toward me, and his brows narrow as though he’s feeling my energy. “You doing okay today, bug?”
Bug.He’s called me that since I was a kid. It was cute at first, now… I hate it. There’s nothing sexual about bug. Bug is the little girl that annoys you when you have better things to do. Bug is the little girl that remains a little girl in your head forever. Bug is your best friend’slittlesister.
I guess by definition, then, I am his bug. A little girl who will never, ever be seen as a grown woman.
“You can sleep in the truck on the way. I got everything set up for you. Water bottle, blanket, pillow, phone charger, a basket of snacks, and some fancy decaf drink. Plus, I’ve mapped out every clean restroom from here to Cheyenne.”
I pull myself up from the chair and smile. “I still don’t understand how you’re not married off with a houseful of kids. You’re like… the perfect human being.”
He laughs. “You’re the only one that thinks that.” His hand lands on my lower back and the roughness snags against the sweater dress I’m wearing. Despite the chill in the air, dresses are the only things that seem remotely comfortable anymore. Pants are just a hassle.
“I see women checking you out all the time.” It’s true, I do. We can’t walk a few steps down Main Street without someone giving him a second glance. It’s been like that for as long as I can remember. And for just as long, it’s made my stomach churn.
Jealousy would be an understatement. The unease that rattles through me after a woman checks him out is more like a sickness. A psychotic sickness.
