Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Chapter Twenty-Five
Grayson
“Can you hand me that screwdriver?” I asked Adler. Winter meant a chance to catch up on chores that were easy to put off in the busier summer months. Today, I was working on repairing a wonky door in the machine shed. Much as I’d prefer working alone, it was a two-person job, and as always, Adler had been quick to volunteer.
“Of course.” Despite the fact that we were alone, his tone was formal, with the stiff edge he’d had since New Year’s Eve. “Need me to steady the door?”
“Sure. Thanks.” I moved so he could come up alongside me and brace the heavy metal door, allowing me to work on the hinges. His cautious demeanor and less chatty self were entirely my fault. We were in a weird place ever since the wedding, one where we were reserved strangers during the day and desperate lovers at night.
“No problem.” Like me, Adler was avoiding the conversation we’d needed to have the past few weeks. A better man than I would find his damn spine and set Adler free instead of clinging to the late-night secret moments we shared, knowing perfectly well that he wanted more. Deserved more.
Watching Colt and Maverick get married had underscored two things for me. One, that sort of domestic happiness wasn’t for me. Maverick had practically jumped out of his skin with nerves the whole week prior. And no wonder. He was taking the biggest leap of faith a person could. His whole heart had been on display at the wedding, right there for the crushing. Which, admittedly, Colt wasn’t about to do, but the level of risk both were undertaking scared the fuck out of me.
The other thing the wedding had shown me was that Adler deserved what Maverick and Colt had. His terrible poker face meant he couldn’t disguise his longing. He wanted that sort of happy ending. And he deserved it, but not with a broken-down, cynical cowboy who didn’t trust him to stay. Adler’s happy ending would undoubtedly come in a big city, back at some glittery hotel, long after he’d tired of the cowboy life.
And that thought made me want to chew gravel.
“Fuck.” In my frustration, I damn near stripped a screw by overly tightening it.
“Careful.”
“I’ve got it.” My voice came out as terse as the rest of me felt. Maybe it was time to have this out, reluctant as I was. I exhaled hard, mentally yanking up my Wranglers and girding my heart. “Should we talk?”
“I don’t know. Should we?” Not surprisingly, Adler was defiant. As well he should be, given that I was the one stringing him along. We might both be avoiding the hard conversation, but I was the one at fault.
“I—”
“Grayson?” Maverick saved me from figuring out what the hell I’d been about to say as he strode in through the other machine shop door, bringing a gust of cold air with him. “Oh good. Adler’s here too.”
“What’s up?” My senses instantly went on high alert, the way I could always tell when a horse was about to spook or a piece of equipment was about to break. Something was wrong, as evidenced by Maverick’s wild eyes and pink cheeks.
“We’ve got a situation.”
“What sort of situation?” I kept my voice wary, hoping to God this wasn’t a problem with the trust or needing to sell the ranch. We’d come this far. I wasn’t sure what I’d do if he were tossing in the towel.
“Not ranch business.” Maverick sounded like he’d run the whole way to the machine shed. “Colt’s brother was injured in the line of duty.”
“Fuck.” Adler summed up my own reaction. “How badly?”
“Pretty bad.” Maverick clenched and unclenched his hands, the sort of restless energy he hadn’t had since before the wedding. “They’ve taken him to Germany, and the current plan is to get him to DC for more long-term treatment. Colt and his mom want to be in DC when he arrives on a medical transport flight.”
“You want to go too,” Adler guessed before I could. “Colt will need you.”
“Yup,” I agreed. “You should go.”
“Well, Colt says he’s fine to go alone.” Maverick gestured dismissively to show what he thought of that notion. “But yes, I want to go along.”
“Can Faith handle the girls? I can help.” Adler was quick as ever to volunteer.
“That’s what I was hoping.” Maverick gave a tight nod. “Colt’s aunt can help with the girls as well.”
“I can hold down the fort with ranch business.” Finally, something concrete I could offer. “No need to worry about us. Slow time of year, but I’ve got it covered regardless.”
“I know I can count on you.” Maverick exhaled and rubbed his gloved hands on his jeans. “I have a bunch of meetings scheduled for next week, relating to the dude ranch project. I’ll need you to cover for me, Adler.”