‘Nuh uh, no way, baby. You having a problem?’
A couple of years ago, Mackenzie put one of her original songs on the ranch’s Instagram account, and it went absolutely crazy overnight, literally, so all these huge labels were beating a path to her door. Somewhat slightly inconveniently for my twin, Nash, a country music producer, who was pretty pissed that he was the last to know about Mackenzie’s secret talent. Since then, she’s been releasing songs her way, on her own TikTok, which has a huge following, and biding her time, working out what to do next.
‘Nothing I can’t sort out.’ She squares her shoulders in a gesture that’s classic Mackenzie.
‘What do you think of the merlot?’ Austin asks, sitting at the head of the table, swishing the wine around his glass. With Austin, it’s not wine-wanky though. He’s just really into the stuff, knows how to get the best out of it. I sit at the other end of the table and follow suit, moving the wine, then breathing it in. Wishing Bailey was here to be a part of this, before I can stop myself.
‘Smells … winey.’ I wink at Mackenzie quickly to cover my errant thought.
Cassidy rolls her eyes. ‘Don’t act like you haven’t had your own fair share of being wined and dined on the road, Beau Donovan,’ she chides. ‘We’ve seen the pictures. We know how you live it up when you’re away from here.’
‘All lies, I promise.’
‘How’s it going with that reporter?’ Austin asks conversationally, lifting his glass and taking a sip. It’s an effort to keep my eyes locked to his casually, when my heart’s started to thump against my ribs.
‘What reporter?’ My voice is all hoarse and strained.Nice attempt at casual, jackass.
‘The one who’s shadowing you,’ Cassidy jumps in. ‘I half expected her to arrive with you.’
I’d completely forgotten that I’d mentioned Bailey in our group chat the first day I met her. Not for any reason, it was just one of those things that came up, and now I can’t help but wish I hadn’t. Not that her covering me is some big secret, but it’s hard to speak about her without acting all self-conscious.
‘Where’s Cole?’ As far as subject changes go, it’s as subtle as a brick.
‘That bad, huh?’ Austin laughs. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve already pissed her off?’
‘No, she’s fine. She’s nice.’ I wince inwardly at how suspicious that sounds. ‘Super professional,’ I add, to clear up any doubts they might be having on that score. ‘She became an expert onbull riding basically overnight. Lots of intelligent questions. You know, that kind of thing.’
Cassidy’s eyes rest on my face a moment, then slide to Mackenzie’s, her lips twitching.
‘What?’ I take a drink of the wine and fail to appreciate anything about it except that it’s soothing a suddenly parched throat.
‘We’re just curious.’
‘What about?’
‘Well, whether a girl who spends three weeks withtheBeau Donovan can keep her panties on.’
Fierce, sharp and unmistakably protective instincts fire to life. The fact Bailey and I have slept together is neither here nor there. The nature of our relationship isnotup for discussion. That’s not her asking for privacy either, it’s my own damned feelings on the matter. I’ve never been one to kiss and tell, but with Bailey, that feels even more important.
‘She’s a professional,’ I repeat tersely.
‘So? Isn’t her job to get to know you?’ Mackenzie bats her lashes. ‘She could just say she’s been doing that real, real well …’
‘Quit it.’ There is no humour in my tone, no amusement on my face. A smile is the last thing I can find. The atmosphere changes instantly, sparking with electricity, as my temper whips around the room. I don’t know if they’ve ever heard me talk like this, except maybe that night Dad and I got into it about my career, or maybe with Cole, about the same thing. ‘Now let me get one thing straight.’ I press my fingers to the tabletop, feeling the familiar wood beneath me, taking courage and calm from it. I expel a long breath. ‘Bailey James is doing a job, and when youmeet her I don’t want any of you giving her a hard time. She’s not some woman I’m bringing home to meet the family. She’s a reporter, looking to piece together the fragments of my life, and no one—I meanno one—is gonna put her on the spot with this kind of bullshit. Got it?’
Three pairs of eyes stare back at me, in various states of surprise.
Cassidy nods first, holds her hand out and puts it over mine. ‘We were just messing around.’
I force myself to relax visibly. ‘Sure, I know that, because I’m used to you. I know what y’all are like, how you think I am with women. But Bailey’s not like us. For starters, she doesn’t have any brothers or sisters, so she doesn’t know how to let stuff roll off her back in the same way we do.’
I include Mackenzie in that, even though she’s an only child too.
Cassidy nods. ‘Don’t worry,’ she promises. ‘We’ll be on our best behaviour.’
‘Drink your wine, Beau, and relax,’ Austin advises. ‘We’re your family—no one’s going to do anything to mess you up. Promise.’
Bailey
