Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders 6)

Kade looked at India. “Colt was here?”

“He came by to help out.”

“Did the girls give you enough trouble so you had to call in reinforcements?”

“Yes. My God, at one point I think we all were crying at the same time.”

Skylar laughed. “Not as easy as it looks, is it?”

“I never said it was, Sis.”

“Shannie and Peyton asleep?” Kade asked.

“I put them down about an hour ago.”

“We’ve got a couple hours before they’re up again,” Sky said.

“Thanks for pinch hitting, India. We really appreciate it.”

“So you guys had a good time?”

Kade grinned. “Oh yeah.”

Skylar blushed and handed Eliza to India. “Give your Auntie Indy a bye-bye kiss and Daddy will tuck you in.”

“Unka Cole kiss Innie bye-bye too.”

India whispered, “You are a traitor, Eliza Belle. See if you get cookies from me again.” Then she blew a raspberry on her neck.

Eliza giggled and held her arms out to Skylar. “Mama tuck me.”

“I’ll be up in a minute,” Kade said to Skylar’s back.

“Well, I’m pooped. I don’t know how you guys do it.”

“Take it day by day. Sometimes hour by hour.”

Almost word for word on how to deal with addiction, but India doubted Kade would appreciate the comparison.

“Twins were a surprise, that’s for damn sure. Not that I’m complainin’.” He smiled. “Much as I love our girls, I love spendin’ time alone with my wife, so thanks.”

“You guys deserve it.” She picked up her overnight bag. “And you’re welcome. See you later.”

“Huh-uh, not so fast. Tell me about this goodbye kiss Uncle Colt laid on you that impressed Eliza.”

Dammit. “It was no big deal.”

“So, it ain’t gonna bother Colt if I tell him you said that kiss wasn’t a big deal?”

India spun around. “Don’t say that to him.”

“Your words, not mine.”

“Fine. It was a big deal, okay? A very, very big deal. And while I’m confessing, you should know he spent the night here too.”

Kade’s eyes narrowed. “Were you two havin’ wild monkey sex while you were supposed to be watchin’ our kids?”

“No! Colt and I aren’t having sex, which is why the kiss was such a big deal.” She took a deep breath. “Colt and I have had our…issues come to a head in the last two weeks. We’ve been friends for so long that it shocked both of us to figure out we don’t want to be friends anymore…ah hell, we’re dating, okay?”

“Since when?”

“Since last night. He came over and helped me with the girls, because I was stressed. After they were in bed, we ended up talking for hours. Which was different than all the other times he and I have talked for hours. Then this morning, he played outside with Eliza while the twins napped. But he did lay a sloppy, wet kiss on me before he left and Little Miss Tattle-Tale saw it.”

Kade didn’t utter a word, which bothered India worse than if he would’ve chewed her out. “I don’t know how to say this.”

Not good. “Just spit it out, Kade.”

“You’re family, Colt is family. There’s more at stake here for everyone than the two of you datin’ for a while and then callin’ it quits. I’m as close to him as I am to Buck. I don’t wanna see him get hurt. He’s been hurt enough.”

India looked away.

Kade put his finger under her chin and lifted her face back up.

“But I don’t wanna see you get hurt either. You’ve had your share of hurts too, Indy.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I don’t know. Just be careful, okay? Be mindful. And just so you know, I’m gonna tell him the same thing. Even if it pisses him off. Ever since he sobered up, he’s wary of family getting into his personal business.”

Yeah. She’d figured that out before he’d shared some of his backstory with her.

She opened her mouth. Closed it. But ultimately blurted, “Colt was involved in a big fight with his family last night before he came over.”

“Ah hell. What happened?”

“I don’t know. He said something to his dad, Colby and Cord said something back, and then Cam jumped in.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. Evidently Cam told everyone off. Then he took off.

Colt wasn’t real anxious to get to the ranch today.”

“I can imagine. Is that why he was hanging around, teaching Eliza to throw rocks?”

“Teaching her? That kid is a deadeye. She was teaching him.”

Kade grinned. “That’s my girl.”

“You might give him a call tomorrow to see if he’s all right.

And remind him of our date.” She winked. “It wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all if you hinted around to him that I’d liked to be romanced. Flowers, poetry, expensive chocolate, hand holding at the movies, walks in the park, fine dining…you know, normal, traditional dating stuff.”

“That ain’t you at all, Indy,” he scoffed.

“Maybe that’s who I’d like to be with him.”

The dumbfounded look on Kade’s face was priceless.

Chapter Ten

Dating Week One

The back door opened. India craned her neck and her stomach performed a loop-de-loop when Colt sauntered inside.

The man simply didn’t play fair. He wore a pair of faded Levis that hugged his every thigh muscle. Her gaze followed the contours of the black long sleeved T-shirt molded to his broad chest and wide shoulders, giving him the appearance of a sleek, black panther. He exuded confidence, sexiness and raw magnetism.

And she wasn’t supposed to sleep with him? For two weeks?

Right.

Be interesting to see which one of them broke first.

When he grinned and stalked her, India felt kinship with prey and fought against taking cover. “You’re early.”

“Just anxious.” He grabbed her hand and brought her fingers to his lips, in a gesture both corny and sweet. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah. Where are we going?”

“The Pizza Barn in Moorcroft.”

Why were they going out of Sundance? Was Colt embarrassed to be seen with her?

He must’ve seen the questions in her eyes. “Have you been there?”

“No.”