Rebel (Renegades 2)

“Can’t beat first class. ”

“Are you raking in the big bucks, or did Jax buy it for you?”

“What do you think?”

“I like that guy. ” Whitney’s grin was light and easy. “Mom’s going to love the black eye. Do you have a suitable story made up, or do you need my help?”

“You always did come up with the best stories. ” He sent her a conspiratorial grin. “You tell her yours first. If it doesn’t fly, I’ll try mine. ”

“Deal. ”

“How are things at h

ome?”

“Crowded. Crazy. The usual,” she said. “I forget how many relatives we have until they besiege us. They exhaust me. I don’t know how Mom does it. ”

“We have a new puppy, Uncle Wes,” Emma said from above him, her little hands curved around his face to hold on.

“I heard. ” He cut a glance at Whitney, who rolled her eyes. “Can’t wait to meet him. ”

“And we’re going to see Daddy now,” Abby added.

They stepped onto the escalator toward baggage claim and parking, and Wes turned to Whitney. “We are?”

“Only if Uncle Wes isn’t too tired. ”

“Never too tired to see Wyatt. ” When the girls’ cheers faded, he asked Whitney, “Is Grams moving in with Mom and Dad?”

“Yeah. She’s deteriorating. Don’t be surprised if she introduces herself to you. She is completely, physically capable. A real help to Mom most days. She does laundry, cooks, even pitches in at harvest, but her mind is really slipping. We can’t leave her alone anymore. Mom hired a home care nurse who comes when she needs extra help. ”

“And Wyatt?”

“Baggage claim!” Abby yelled. “Baggage claim!”

They stepped off the escalator, and Wes traded the girls’ positions.

“Wyatt’s about the same,” Whit said as they headed toward the garage. As soon as they walked through the doors, a familiar, soothing humidity hit Wes. The air felt heavier, smelled richer. And told him he was home. “A bit of a plateau he’s frustrated with. What do you think about the rig?”

Wes’s mind took a sharp turn and slammed into Rubi. His heart clenched.

“It’s really something. ” He followed Whit to her Tahoe, pulled open the rear passenger door, and eased Emma to the seat first, then whipped Abby from his shoulders and tossed her in the air just to hear her giggle before sliding her in beside her sister and buckling her seat belt. When he was in the passenger seat, he said, “There’s no telling, but Melissa is optimistic. ”

“Yeah. ” Whitney drew out the word as she backed out and steered toward the exit with a discreet but suspicious glance his way. “I’ve heard. What’s happening there?”

“Nothing. ” Wes held up a stop hand just to reinforce. “We’ve e-mailed a few times about the rig. That’s it. ”

When Whit went suspiciously quiet, he pushed out a frustrated breath. “Why?”

She lifted a shoulder. “She asks about you every time she sees me. Specifically whether or not you’re seeing anyone. ”

“What the—? She’s engaged. ”

“Not anymore. ”

Old, old, old emotions gnawed at Wes’s gut. Anger, loss, disillusionment. Feelings that felt centuries old…but still had bite. “What happened there?”

“Don’t really know. I’ve only heard through the rumor mill and confirmed when the ring was gone from her finger. ”