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“Ha!” Cooper’s laugh boomed through the phone. “So there is something going on with her.”

My throat tightened. I ran a hand down my face, already regretting this call. “I never said that.”

Brilliant cover, Colton. Really solid.

“Mm-hmm,” Cooper said, his amusement bleeding through. I could practically see him on the other end of the line, arms crossed, that smug grin spreading across his face. “And yet you referred to it as your ‘romantic life.’ I didn’t call it that.”

“You know damn well what I meant,” I growled, my tone sharper than I intended.

“Oh, I do,” he drawled. “So, if I were to tell you that I think she’s gorgeous and I was planning on asking her out when I fly to Utah in a couple of weeks…”

The air in my office turned molten. Heat climbed up my neck, my skin prickling with fury at the mere thought of Cooper even considering Eleanor as an option.

“Over my dead body,” I spat before I could stop myself.

A wicked laugh filled the phone, and I closed my eyes, knowing I’d just handed him exactly what he wanted.

“Point proven,” he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction.

“Nothing was proven, asshole,” I snapped, my jaw tightening.

“Okay, you’re right, Colton. You don’t like her at all. There’s no love life. You’ll be alone forever. Got it. Let’s move on,” Cooper said, sarcasm lacing his every word.

No. I wasn’t going to just move on.

“Don’t chastise me with your stupid reverse-psychology bullshit, trying to dig for information,” I growled.

Cooper was calm, like he had all the time in the world to toy with me. “What information could I possibly want?”

“Information about what’s going on between Eleanor and me,” I snapped, instantly regretting how easily I’d taken the bait.

Cooper hummed into the phone, the sound smug enough to make my blood boil. I straightened in my chair, leaning forward on my elbows like I was gearing up for a fight.

“But there’s nothing going on, remember?” he said innocently.

I growled again, my irritation reaching its peak.

“Okay, look,” Cooper said, his tone shifting slightly. “I know we don’t share things like we used to. Things have been…different since I turned down your offer to work at the ranch—”

“More than once,” I cut in sharply.

“Yes, more than once,” he conceded. “But that’s why I wanted to talk today. If you don’t want to share about Eleanor, fine. Keep it to yourself. But just know, I’m here for you if you ever need me.”

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard, and for a second, I didn’t know how to respond. A small pinch of something unfamiliar—gratitude, maybe—settled in my chest.

Hearing those words from my brother felt odd. Since adulthood had pulled us in different directions, there’d been a wall between us. He’d chosen a path far from Stone Ranch, building a life without me. I respected his choice, but it had created this growing distance.

“Go on,” I said, leaning into the shift in the conversation, curious where it would lead.

“If the offer still stands, I’d like to come to Stone Ranch,” he said, his voice steady. “Stay in Lucky Lake and work.”

Thank God I was sitting down. My free hand gripped the arm of my chair as I grounded myself from feeling thrown off balance.

“It’s about damn time,” I replied, my tone light with relief. “What changed your mind?”

Cooper let out a long exhale. “I think it’s just time for a change.”

I could tell there was more to the story, but I chose to let it slide. The farm Cooper worked for didn’t pay him nearly enough, and though he was in line for a promotion, I suspected he’d been passed over again.