Her Best Men

“Got it. Family reunion shit and no work shit.”

“Language,” he said.

“You know I’m gonna keep cussin’ just to piss you off.”

CHAPTER 6

WYATT

Sunday was an optional work day for me, and I decided to take it. With this new property we’d acquired for the resort, there were marketing and advertising decisions that had to take place. Coming up with slogans and planning out commercials, trying to find a way to tap into the East Coast and how we could get them excited about going and booking a room at our new Charleston resort. My eyes were going cross-eyed looking at everything, and I knew I had to get up from my desk. I’d drive myself fuckin’ insane trying to come up with things on the spot if I didn’t clear my head. That was my job: marketing and advertising for the resort. That and helping Andrew out with the animals when he got swamped with other stuff Dylan was always throwing at him.

And the best thing to clear my head during a day like that was a good horseback ride.

“Wyatt?”

I turned around as I walked toward the back door and saw the prettiest sight alive. Katie was standing there with her curly hair bouncing around her cheeks. It used to be so long and big with poof but having those curls all around her face suited her now that she was in her twenties. She came up to me smiling and threw her arms around me, and I soaked up her warmth for as long as I could.

“You look good for someone’ nursin’ a hangover,” I said.

“I see you talked to Andrew,” she said.

“Briefly. You get a nap in?” I asked.

“I did. But when I woke up, Lizzie and Whitney weren’t around. You know where they headed off to?”

“My guess is either back to the bar or the pool, though they might’ve been scheduled to leave today. Most of the guests were before things happened.”

“Oh, man. I didn’t think about that. You think Dylan would look it up for me and see if they’ve checked out?”

“I’m sure he’d do anythin’ for you if you flashed him that pretty smile of yours,” I said. “You gettin’ yourself into anythin’ today?”

“Just a horseback ride. I was going to see if the girls wanted to come with me, but since there’s a chance they aren’t even here, you want to go with?”

“That’s actually what I was headin’ to do. Work’s got me all tangled up in my brain, and I need a chance to clear my head.”

“Awesome. I went to see if Hunter wanted to come, but he’s nursing a pretty bad hangover himself. He was still throwing up when I knocked on his door.”

“Yep. That’s a bad one all right. So, what you’re sayin’ is that I was your third choice to go ridin’ with?”

“You weren’t even on my list until I saw you,” she said with a grin.

“Oh, I’m hurt. My poor heart.”

“Come on, Mr. Sensitive. Let’s get us some horses.”

“Sensitive? I ain’t sensitive. I’m a cowboy.”

“With emotions,” she said with a giggle. “Now come on. We’re burning daylight.”

Katie took my hand and tugged me out the back door. Her skin was soft and smooth against mine. Inviting, just like her hug had been. I held her hand tightly as we walked toward the stables and I released her to pick out her horse. She came trotting back with the all-black stallion and a big smile on her face. I watched as everything came rushing back to her. How to put a saddle

on a horse. Cleaning his hooves before we went out. I watched her fluid movements as she mounted the horse, throwing her leg over Midnight’s back as she sat tall with pride.

It was really good to see her smiling.

“You coming?” Katie asked. “Or are you gonna rearrange that saddle one last time?”

“Just makin’ sure the horse is comfortable, too. This one here’s Sunshine. She’s a spitfire with an attitude. Gotta make sure she’s comfy, otherwise, she’ll buck ya off,” I said.