“Ya need anything, let me know,” he hollers as I make my way across the pasture.
When I make my way to the barn, I see Payton pushing a wheelbarrow full of manure. Sure, the goats can be cute, but they’re shady assholes most of the time and shit a lot. I’d almost rather clean up after the horses.
“Glad to see ya.” Payton shoots me a knowing grin. He’s worked with Ethan for a couple of years now and is also good friends with my sister, Kaitlyn. Though he’s more of a keep to himself type, he’s a nice guy. He’s not a Bishop and didn’t grow up in Eldorado, but we treat him like family.
“You’re the first person to say that to me all day,” I admit, walking inside and grabbing a pair of extra gloves.
He shakes his head. “Didn’t think you’d be here after your wild night out with Hadleigh.”
I tilt my head at him with a smirk. “How’d you know about that?”
“Are you kidding me? It was the talk of the breakfast table this morning. Everyone on the ranch, and when I say everyone, I mean even your grandma knows.”
I shrug. “Oh well. I have nothing to hide. She won me at the auction. We went out on a date that she paid for,” I say those words as if they’re an excuse for how the evening ended.
“Whatever ya say. Anyway, I started on the stalls on the left-hand side, so you can do the right.”
“Sounds good.” I grab a rake and get to work. I pick up the soiled hay and scrape what I can into a pile so I can dump it in the back.
“Ethan said we need to lay out some fresh bedding,” I tell him.
“Yeah, we might have to load some more bales. There are about five stored up in the loft,” he says, and I shake my head in annoyance.
“Whoever worked here last should’ve done that.”
He gives me a pointed look. “Yeah, well, tell that to your brother.”
“Figures,” I grunt, then get back to work.
After two hours of cleaning stalls, Payton and I take a quick break before we attach the lowboy so we can go to the storage area and load it with more hay.
As we stand outside the barn, a truck hauling ass down the gravel road kicks up dust as it speeds toward us.
Payton looks puzzled. “Is that Kane?”
I take off my hat and smooth my hair down as my brother pulls up and heads right for me.
“This is gonna be bad,” Payton mutters, “and awkward.”
Kane jumps out of the truck and rushes over. Just by the look on his face, I can tell he’s livid.
As I open my mouth to speak, he rears back his fist and decks me right in the face.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I stumble back, but just barely. I should lay him out for that, but then I get another look at his face, and realization sets in.
He’s jealous.
I act like I’m going to punch him back, but I don’t. Kane doesn’t even flinch, though. He knows I won’t react when it’s not merited. We end up in a stare down.
“Why the hell didn’t you come home last night? You slept over at Hadleigh’s?”
I shrug. “Yeah, who cares? What’s it to you if you’re just friends?”
“Are you kiddin’ me? So what, you’re fuckin’ her now?”
“Don’t think that’s any of your goddamn business. I don’t ask who you’re screwing on the weekends.” I match his glare, watching him grow angrier by the second as his Adam’s apple throbs.
“She’s my best friend, so I make it my business. You’re a piece of shit because all you’re gonna do is hurt her, and then I’ll have to give you a second black eye.”
I bark out a laugh. “The only person you should be mad at is yourself. No one told you to wait fifteen years to make a move. She’s supposed to stay single until you grew some fuckin’ balls?” I shrug off his murderous gaze.
“You’re a bastard,” he seethes with clenched fists, then walks back to his truck. When he’s out of sight, I glance over at Payton.
“Yeah, definitely awkward,” he says.
“Too damn bad. I still have zero regrets.”
“Yeah, well, you’re probably gonna have a shiner.”
“Good. That means he’ll have to explain to everyone why he lost his temper.”
He gives me a half-grin. “Considering Thanksgiving is a few days away, I imagine they’ll all be asking.”
“Shit,” I whisper because I completely forgot. “That’s just great.”
“But did you deserve it? Did you do what he thinks you did?” He arches a brow.
“No comment.” I chuckle under my breath, then get back to work.
CHAPTER FOUR
HADLEIGH
Monday morning comes way too quickly. I look at my phone with one eye open, then force myself out of bed. I’m usually a morning person, but I didn’t sleep great last night. I couldn’t stop thinking about the twins.