“Ah, so that would be Wyatt you’re asking about then? Yes, he was in here last night.” She takes the five-dollar bill I’ve handed her and doesn’t offer me change. I’ve been coming here to grab coffee long enough that she knows I don’t want change. I could go to Marigold’s, the fancy coffee shop at the end of the street, but I like the strong, no nonsense cup Cherilyn brews.
She rests her forearm parallel to the edge of the countertop and leans in a couple inches. “And it’s a good thing he was in here, too, because the place was overrun by teenagers trying to get a glimpse of that poor actress. She couldn’t even finish her food. Wyatt showed up in the middle of it all and helped her get out.”
My brother, a real knight in shining armor.Nobody knows what he does half the fucking time and yet he somehow manages to be the one who beds a person like Tenley.
“Thanks for the coffee, Cherilyn. Have a good day.” I push back from the counter with the hot paper cup in my hand, backing out the entrance and walking to my truck.
When I pull up to the homestead, I find Pearl parked out front. Tenley stands beneath the shade of a tree, her back to the yard, deep in conversation with Wyatt. Neither hear me walk up, and Tenley jumps when I say, “Hey there, lovebirds.”
I’m aiming for playful, the way I’d normally be. The way I was when Dakota started coming around, and Wes was refusing to admit he liked her. But even I can hear how short of the mark I am. I sound brusque and grumpy. Tenley turns, and I see her dog in her arms.
I still haven’t figured out how she came upon a dog since that day on the side of the road.
Tenley and Wyatt both look at me. Wyatt’s lips stretch like he’s fighting a laugh, and a shadow of irritation passes over Tenley’s features.
“I’ll be ready in a minute, Warner,” Tenley says, in a voice that makes no attempt to conceal how she feels.
My jaw clamps. She… dismissed me. The same way Peyton did this morning, when she asked me not to get out and hug her goodbye when I dropped her off at school.
Thank God for Charlie. He waited next to my truck for me to get out and come around, while his big sister walked on ahead.
I step away from Wyatt and Tenley’s hushed tones, then whip around and bark, “You can’t have that dog with you during shadowing.” I didn’t mean to sound so harsh, but there’s no taking it back now.
The screen door slams and Dakota steps out. Tenley’s mouth is open, preparing to retort, but Dakota gets there first. “She won’t, asshole. Libby is staying with me while Tenley shadows.” Dakota glares at me pointedly as she comes down the porch steps and walks over, taking Libby from Tenley’s arms. “You’d know that if you weren’t late.” Her tone is even, her message clear, her delivery so much like my own mother’s.
I shake my head and smirk. “You’re going to make a good mom, Dakota. Already laying down the law with your brother-in-law.” Brushing a swift, affectionate kiss on her cheek, I keep going across the yard.
The screen door slams again, and I look back, expecting to see Gramps. It’s Wes, his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Don’t let me catch you putting your lips on my wife ever again.”
I hold up my hands like I’m innocent. “No problem, I won’t let you catch me next time.” I flip him off and keep walking. Wyatt’s laughing, and so is Tenley.
“Come to the barn when you’re done, Tenley,” I call out. “We’re getting ready to turn out the bulls.”
She starts after me, but there’s a good fifteen feet between us and she shouts, “What does that mean?”
All three members of my family snicker. I turn around and form a megaphone around my mouth with cupped hands. “It means the bulls are going to spend the next month acting like they’re on spring break in Cancun without condoms, regrets, or cell phones with video capabilities.”
Tenley halts, her eyes wide, while Wes, Wyatt and Dakota shake their heads and laugh.
11
Warner
Tenley is a mess.Mud on her boots, a swipe of it dried across her backside.
It does nothing to change how attractive she is, and I’m far from the only man who realizes it.
“Eyes on your work, Troy,” I growl for the seventh time. The rest of the cowboys took the hint the first time I gave it, but Troy is slow on the uptake.
Tenley rode out to the pasture with Josh and Ham, two of our other cowboys, and Troy can’t seem to stop staring at her as she climbs from the vehicle. I was a little annoyed when she didn’t get into my truck, but I can’t blame her. She can learn just as much from the other cowboys, with the exception of that shit-for-brains Troy, as she can with me. The only difference between us is that my last name is Hayden.
“Give me a break,” Troy says, shrugging as he opens the passenger door. “She’s famous and hot. Don’t act like you’ve never jacked off to the thought of her.”
My arm shoots out, shoving his shoulder. He flies against the open passenger door, scrambling to keep himself from falling out, and doing a half-ass job. No shock there.
“Go unlatch the trailer, Troy.”
He grumbles as he goes. He’s damn lucky my fist didn’t meet his jaw for a comment like that.
