Page 21 of Falling

“I’d feel better if you were seen by a doctor and it doesn’t have to be me,” Wyatt says. “My colleague Dr. Emma Langley is great. But at least try this.” He waves the bag again.

“Okay, thank you.” She smiles again when she takes the bag, and Dolly takes off in a spirited run.

Wyatt laughs, watching the way she runs off. “Dakota would flip over her,” he says. He turns to look at Ruby. “How long are you staying? I’d love to bring my fiancé and her daughter over to see…Dolly.”

I drag in a deep inhale, wishing I could bop my brother on the head. Could he be any more obvious? I can only hope that Ruby doesn’t catch on to what he’s up to.

Ruby’s cheeks turn a deeper pink as she turns and looks at me. “I’m trying to get out of Callum’s hair as soon as possible. The last thing he needs is us disrupting his peace.”

Wyatt can barely pull off the frown he tries to manufacture, his laugh still too close to the surface. “Nonsense. Callum needs some excitement in his life. Can’t you tell? If my family and I didn’t drag him out occasionally, he’d never talk to anyone but these cows and goats.”

I roll my eyes. “Better company than you.”

He just laughs. “Ignore him. All bark.” His eyes twinkle as he leans in. “And he’s got plenty of room, as you can see. You’d be doing him a favor by sticking around for as long as possible.”

“You should get that stuff on your burns,” I tell Ruby. “Let it start working.”

“At least sayplease, brother,” Wyatt says. He grins at Ruby. “I swear he just gets bossier every day.”

She laughs a little too much for my liking.

“Shut it.” I point at Wyatt.

He lifts a shoulder at Ruby likesee what I mean?

“I’ll keep an eye on the girls if you wanna leave Dolly out,” I add.

“It seems like they’re all getting along okay.” Her tone is reluctant, but I can tell she’s thinking about trying it.

“They’ll be fine.” Just as I say it, Dolly walks over and stares at me, and then she moves so she’s standing next to me. I make sure to stay still so I don’t scare her off, and we quietly survey the land together.

Ruby giggles. “Well, she certainly seems fine. I’ll be right back.”

She walks away and Dolly turns and follows her to the gate, watching as Ruby walks away. Dolly then looks back at me likeare you really letting her leave us like that?

“She’ll be right back,” I tell her.

Wyatt starts laughing and I try to ignore him, but the bastard makes it hard to do.

He slides his hands together, back and forth. “Well, I, for one, amlovingthis turn of events,” he says.

“You need to get on back to your newly engaged life. It’s giving you ideas that aren’t there.”

“Oh, I’d say the ideas are clearly there. The way she flushes every time she looks your way? The way your eyes haven’t left her for more than a second at a time?” He gives my back a few hearty slaps and then squeezes my shoulder. “Can’t tell me the ideas haven’t crossed both your minds.”

I turn back to see if she’s in sight. “She showed up here ina wedding dress,” I say under my breath. “Trust me, it’s all in your head.”

Wyatt looks stunned for a second, frowning as he looks back at the house. He starts to say something and clears his throat.

“I’m gonna head out. It’s really nice to meet you, Ruby,” he calls.

I turn and Ruby is heading our way, but still far enough out that hopefully she doesn’t hear when Wyatt leans close to me and quietly says, “You better work your magic quickly then because I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you so mesmerized.”

“Mesmerized?” I snort. “Get your deranged lovesick self off my property.”

Wyatt just laughs harder, squeezing my shoulder one more time before he walks toward the gate. He holds it open for Ruby and they exchange a smile.

“Keep me posted on those burns, would you, Ruby?”

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