“Nice try, Cruz,” I called back.
More than one guy laughed on the other side of the door. I unlocked it and found Lane and Cruz Foster staring back, giant grins on their faces.
“We’re here to kidnap you,” Lane said. His dark hair was slicked off his face and he had sunglasses on despite the sinking sun.
When I’d first met the guy, he’d worn grease-stained jeans and ratty T-shirts. His hair had been longer, and he’d probably trimmed it himself. Cruz hadn’t been much different. He still wore his hair stylishly long, but their clothing had a Western flair. Gone were the heavy biker boots. They wore cowboy boots, dusty jeans if they’d been working, and T-shirts that had holes from work, not because they couldn’t afford more clothing.
Cruz rubbernecked around me. “Damn. It looks the same but different. Can we see inside?”
I stepped aside. Madison probably wouldn’t mind. Cruz and Lane weren’t from Bourbon Canyon. When Myles had returned to win Wynter back, he’d learned he had brothers who were already young adults. Mama had taken the two brothers in, and my siblings and I had shown them the ranching ropes. In turn, Lane and Cruz worked for Bailey Beef and Lane had saved us a ton doing mechanic work for us on the side. All billable hours. Tate had made sure of it.
Lane sauntered in, hands stuffed in his jeans pockets. “Flatlanders resurrected, huh?”
“Almost.” I ushered them in and locked the door behind us.
The tour only took a few minutes. I stayed away from Madison’s room, and I didn’t mention that she’d been staying here. “I was just going to mount a urinal before you showed up.”
Cruz made a disgusted sound. “Don’t need to know your personal life, Teller.”
I shot him a glare, barely holding back my snicker.
Lane appraised me. “We’ll give you a hand if you let me grab a bottle of Original for us for the evening.” A sly smile spread across his face. “I heard you’ve been trying to mount something else. A pretty little bar owner.”
This time, I turned serious. “Who’d you hear that from?”
“As if bringing a woman to a family gathering wouldn’t make the rounds.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Why not?” Lane crossed his arms and his biceps bulged a whole lot more than they had before he’d worked on the ranch.
“It’s just not,” I said, irritated. It was like they were cracking open the door to my private time with Madison. She might run out if it opened too far.
Cruz’s grin told me I’d get even crankier. “It’s absolutely like that. What’s going on? She friend-zone you?”
A friend wouldn’t have done what I had earlier. “No.”
They stared at me.
I would use Madison’s tactics. “It’s none of your business. Either of you.”
Cruz’s smile only widened. “Hot damn. You’re into her.”
“So into her.” Lane smirked. He wandered toward the boarded windows. “Tenor said the windows got busted, so she’s staying with you. For safety.” I didn’t respond, so he continued to pace along the exposed brick, running his fingers over the cool stone. “I’ve seen her around. She’s quiet for someone who grew up here.”
I worked my jaw back and forth. “She didn’t have the best childhood.” I wasn’t giving away her secrets. All of Bourbon Canyon had known what her parents had been like. “Things weren’t easy for her. Neither were people.”
Cruz grimaced, clicking his tongue. “She’d identify better with us than the loving Bailey crew?”
I nodded. “And now she’s got this bar to try and earn a living from. She doesn’t need people around town speculating about us.”
“They already do.” Cruz shrugged when Lane shot him a glare. “What? It’s true.”
“We stopped in at Copper Summit to see Tenor,” Lane added. “Hit up a couple of girls we thought were tourists, but they were just home for a reunion. They were mourning that all the Bailey men were off the market. Tenor’s getting married and you’re hooking up with Scooter’s sister.”
“She deserves better than just hooking up,” I said vehemently.
Both guys studied me.
