“So, what?” Jett asks, her eyebrow raised as she pops her hip out, hands on her waist. “You go to my brother’s house a week ago, and I don’t hear from you again. Then you’re helping with his horses? How did he rope you into this?”
“Wait, his horses? I thought they belonged to the Flynns.”
“Most of them do, but those two are Bubba’s. He rescued the pair not long after he started working for Declan. If you ask me, I think they are why he moved here to begin with. He loves those two beasts.”
“He didn’t tell me that part.”
“Of course not. I didn’t even know about them until recently,” she says with a shrug. “Besides, it’d be too much proof that he has a heart. Talk about ruining the frenemies-to-lovers thing you two have going on.”
I nearly spew coffee all over both of us. “I’m sorry. What?”
She waves me off. “Oh, please. I used to think the two of you really hated each other until I realized something crazy. He has a nickname for you.”
“So?”
“So, you’re the only person in his life that has one. Ever. And seeing as I was usually glued to his hip and hated the only girl he was ever serious about, I know he never had one for her.”
“You are delusional, my friend.”
“I am many things, including occasionally delusional. But you mark my words, sister. My big brother has a thing for you. And I, for one, think it would be pretty dang cool.”
“Let’s go, chaos,” says Noah as he comes back around with a bag of goodies. “Sadie has probably already knocked the tree over again.”
“Again?”
“Three times, actually.”
“The first time wasn’t entirely her fault,” Jett adds. “Noah threw the tennis ball. It bounced off the wall and rolled toward the tree. Sadie couldn’t stop in time.”
“The only reason we have a tree is because you wanted to look at the pretty lights from the couch.”
“Well, yeah. Because you love me and think I’m awesome.”
Noah sighs, but I can see the way he hides a smile. I am beyond grateful that my best friend found someone like him. Jett deserves it after how her ex treated her.
“See you in the morning, Kenna!” Jett says as she loops her arm through Noah’s and skips—yes, skips—away.
Chapter 7
McKenna
“You didn’t really need my help tonight, did you?” I ask Reece as he adds wood to the small fireplace. We came back home after making sure both horses were groomed and content.
He pauses long enough to glance over his shoulder at me before staring into the fire. “What makes you say that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. The fact that everyone knew where to stand, how many could ride at a time, and how old kids had to be to go unsupervised probably had something to do with it.”
I catch the slightest twitch of his jaw, as if he’s trying not to grin. “Butterbean loved the peppermints you stashed in my jacket pocket.”
I huff and cross my arms over my chest as I collapse onto the second-hand couch. “You’re impossible.”
“No, I’m not. I’m right here.” He pushes to his feet, wincing as he does so.
“For once in your life, could you not be a sarcastic pain in the ass?”
“According to every woman in my life—and most of the men, too—no, I cannot do that.”
“I am ready to strangle you with those Christmas lights. You realize that, right?”
