“Has anyone ever told you it’s not polite to eavesdrop? And anyway, Tori told me she doesn’t like children. That she’d fail a background check. Who saysthat?”
Though she obviously has a way with kids. Mila hasn’t stopped talking about her thisevening.
My mom laughs under her breath. “Sounds like you were both lying to each other. You know, in my day, we called thatforeplay.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Please,pleasestoptalking.”
She stirs the pot like she hasn’t just grossed me the fuck out. “I never thought Allison was right for you.” Here we go again. “She never had any spark. Boring as adishrag.”
“She wasn’t boring.” I groan as I rub the ache in my chest. For some reason, I feel the need to defend her. “We grew apart. When we were at A&M, things were different. Our relationship was easier.” Of course shit’s easier before you havekids.
I guess I always knew Allison wasn’t exactly wired to be home all the time. To be so domestic. She liked hanging with her circle of rich friends. Being social. Beingseen.
Rubbing that spot again, I shake my head. “I don’t think she realized how hard it was gonna be living out here in the middle ofnowhere.”
I thought we’d be a team and help each other. Sure, it’s my parents’ ranch, but I was putting in long days for our family. For her and our kids. Not for shits andgiggles.
My mom waves a wooden spoon at me. “Don’t be dramatic. Austin is forty minutes away, and there’s a Walmart down the road. We’re not totalhicks.”
I chuckle. Beverly Carter is as feisty as they come. “You know what I mean. Being isolated on the ranch. I think she needed to be around more people. And it’s not like she was prepared to have a baby so soon.” Ain’t no way to prepare for a baby when you’re a senior incollege.
“What she needs is to take care of her kids and be a good mother. What she needs is to be a woman of her word and live up to her marriagevows.”
That ache grows, and I open the fridge to grab a beer. “It is what it is. Nothing I can do about it now.” Trust me, I’vetried.
“Good riddance. At least this way, I know Allison won’t be taking off with my jewelry when Idie.”
“Ma, c’mon.” I reach for this teeny woman who somehow birthed me and my brother. Kissing the top of her head, I laugh. “No more talk about dying,okay?”
“Ethan?”
“Yeah.”
She puts her hand on my shoulder and looks up at me. “Your daddy would be proud of you. So proud of everything you’ve donehere.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. “Thanks. I try.” Filling my dad’s shoes when he passed six years ago was something none of us expected I’d have to do so soon. He was young and healthy. I thought I’d have more time. More time to travel with Allison. More time to enjoy being young. More time to learn from myfather.
“I know it, son. I’m proud of you too. The last few years have been tough, but you hang in there. You’re a damn good father and a damn good rancher.” She presses her lips together. “I’m sorry your wife didn’t appreciateyou.”
Blowing out a breath, I hug her tight and let her go before we both start crying like little girls. “What’s for dinner? I need something with beef before I wasteaway.”
She chuckles and pats my gut. “I got just thething.”
The next morning,I skim my emails and am surprised to see a message from Kat. All it says is, “My sister may seem crabby, but she’s a sweetheart under that tough shell, and she’s wonderful with kids. Thought you might need this if she hasn’t scared you away.” When I open the attachment, Tori’s driver’s license pops up on thescreen.
Yes, I was a dick to Tori yesterday. Yes, I deserved her animosity. But I wasn’t prepared to like her smart mouth and all that sass. In fact, I haven’t stopped thinking about it—about her—since.
Of course, she’s beautiful in this photo. Hazel eyes twinkling with mischief. Plump lips smiling. All that fuckinghair.
Hair that would feel damn good dragging along my chest while she rodeme.
Scrubbing my face, I groan. Jesus, the last thing I need is to be thinking about her likethis.
“Why so forlorn, bro?” Logan plops down into the chair on the other side of my desk with a smirk and a shrug like he’s footloose and fancy-free.
I love my brother, but I really want to kick his ass for springing Tori on me. “That stunt you pulled yesterday was hysterical. Thanks forthat.”
“No problemo. Thought you needed anudge.”
