Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Fuck.
“Rooster isn’t homeless. He’s a coach. Well, of sorts.”
“That explains your team’s losing record last season,” Tucker responds. Asshole.
“If you’re done being a dick, I’m going to do some errands so I can pick my girl up from work this evening. I actually have a life instead of tearing other people apart,” I mutter, turning to walk away and grabbing my coffee mug as I go.
“Leave her alone, Ryder. I’m warning you now, I won’t let you hurt her again.”
I stop immediately and spin around to face him. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“I’m the man that actually cares about Tillie,” he responds, standing up and walking over to me.
“It’s none of your business what Tillie and I do, we’re both adults, Tucker.”
“Tillie may be an adult, but she’s been sheltered. She couldn’t take you hurting her again.”
“I haven’t hurt Tillie, and I won’t. What we do together is none of your concern. In fact, nothing concerning Tillie is your concern. I’m her man and taking care of her is my responsibility.”
“You’re not a man. You wouldn’t know how to take care of Tillie if your life depended on it. You’re too worried about yourself.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that if I were you. I took care of her five—or six—times last night while you were home with your hand, brother.”
“You son of a bitch!” Tucker barks, losing complete control.
I brace myself for the fight that’s to come. I welcome it. If he doesn’t get that Tillie is off the market, I’ll beat the fact into him.
“What’s going on here?” Mom asks, coming into the kitchen.
My gaze drops down to Tucker’s hand. He flexes his fist as he tries to rein in the need to punch me. I wait. I don’t care if Mom is here, I’ll give him the first hit and then after that, all bets are off.
“Nothing, Mom,” he says, stepping back a twitch in his lower jaw as he tries to get control of his anger.
The urge to push him over the edge is so strong, I nearly do it. The only thing that stops me is that I already hate myself for responding to him earlier. I shouldn’t have told the asshole how many times I made Tillie come. That was mine and mine alone. I know Tillie would hate me forever if she knew what I did. That’s the last thing I want. I don’t want to give her a reason to push me away.
I clear my throat and step back myself. “It’s nothing, Mom. We were just catching up.”
“It looks more like you were getting ready to kill each other.”
“Nah, Tucker was just upset I drank the last cup of coffee. He wanted it for himself.”
I hear my brother suck in a breath.
“Geez. You don’t need to fight over that. I can make another pot,” Mom says, clicking her tongue and moving over to the counter.
“It’s fine, Ma. I’m not on vacation like Ryder. I have to get back out to the pasture.”
“Ryder’s vacation is almost over. I sure hate to see you go back tomorrow, Son,” Mom responds, and I frown.
“Yeah. I really hate it, too, Ryder,” Tucker practically purrs, and I throw up a middle finger as soon as Mom turns her back.
He leaves without another word. I watch the door close behind him and realize he doesn’t need to say anything else. The two of us are going to have it out. For now, though, I need to call Green. I can’t leave Tillie yet.
I need more time.
Ryder
“Do you know what amazes me, son?” Mom asks, bringing me over a piece of the coffee cake that she baked this morning.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“That my sons still think I’m stupid after all these years,” she says, a little more bite into her words. I look up at the woman who has remained the constant in my life. It didn’t matter what was going on or what mistakes I had made. She loved me and never tried to hide it. I didn’t appreciate that enough when I was young. Now, as an adult, I do, but I know I don’t show her how much—at least not enough.
“It’s okay, Mom. Tucker and I just have some shi—crap to work through.”
“You would have to be blind not to see that your brother has been sweet on Tillie Carter for months now, Ryder.”
Her words threaten to reignite the anger I felt mere moments ago. I don’t bother hiding the displeasure I find on my face. There’s no point really. My mother is right. She’s not stupid.
“I’m aware,” I mutter, staring down at the slice of cake she put down.
“For all your blustering, the two of you are a lot alike, Ryder. You both are passionate about what you love in life and you’re both good, strong men who refuse to bend. He just happens to love ranching and your heart was never in this life.”