“Great.”
West on a horse... that’s a stilted image.
“If you’ll excuse me...” I clap Rogue on the back as I pass him. “I’m going to go spend some time with my woman.”
Leaving them to it, I make my way up to the main house.
Owen rises from one of the rocking chairs on the wrap around veranda like he’s been waiting. The wooden stairs creak under his heavy boots. The brim of his hat is low over his eyes. “I’ve been looking for you, Hollywood.”
The way he sneers when he says Hollywood coupled with the quiet disdain he’s sent my way since we arrived... he doesn’t believe I’m good enough for his sister.
It’s an opinion I need to rectify, although the timing could be better.
What is it they say to do when dealing with bears? Make oneself appear bigger and scary to intimidate them. Unless it’s a grizzly bear. Fuck, I hope Owen doesn’t react like a grizzly.
I take a deep breath, puff out my chest and spread my arms wide like I really am dealing with a bear. Stare Summer’s biggest, oldest brother dead in the eye. “Here I am.”
18
Rebel
Baring his teeth in a grin, Owen clamps his paw on my shoulder and steers me away from the house. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?” I dig my heels into the crushed pebbles that make up the path while I glance over my shoulder. I should at least tell Summer that I’m going with her brother.
“Mudding,” his voice rumbles out of his barrel chest.
“I wasn’t planning on—”
His grip is bruising. “It’s time we all did some bonding. You, me—”
“Sure, but—” I focus on keeping my jaw loose and my hands relaxed at my sides. It would not be a good look if I punched any of Summer’s brothers.
“Is he in?” Kale lopes toward us with an easy grin. He’s tall like Owen, but far leaner.
“Of course he is.” Owen isn’t asking as much as telling me what I’m going to do. “Aren’t you, Hollywood?”
“Yeah.” Backing out would give Owen another reason to dislike his sister and I together.
“Great.” A dimple appears in Kale’s cheek. His gaze has a glint to it that leaves me uneasy.
“Let me go check in with Summer first.” Whatever this bonding involves I’m down with it, but we made plans. She’s waiting.
“She’s fine. Having a lie down.” The dark-haired Jett closes the wide screen door and stomps down the steps. “Could hear her snoring from the kitchen.”
“See? She won’t notice you’re missing for hours.” Owen ushers me forward. “Storm got the quad bikes ready?”
“He’s waiting.” Jett smiles from under the brim of his hat.
These guys have been giving me malicious looks since we arrived at the ranch. I’m in the midst of a set up. They want me to know they’ll protect their sister at all costs. That they’ll bring me pain if I hurt her. And they won’t accept anything less than my commitment to her.
It’s nothing I wouldn’t do myself if I had a sister or if our twins are girls. It’s nothing I’m not willing to go through to win over Summer’s brothers.
Burke’s already on my side.
Adira and Henry walk toward us, deep in conversation. As they get close enough to hear it becomes clear that they’re talking about the details of the wedding. The queen looks up when he realizes we’re in front of them.
Stopping in the middle of our path, he places one hand on his jutted hip. “Hello, boys. What are we up to?”
