Page 7 of Unexpected Second Chance For Love

Three, two, o?—

“The Raingers? They don’t have an equine therapy program. And why are they renting? They don’t need the income.”

“They’re starting the program. And my background is a good fit for their needs.”

Griffin scowled. “Are you working for them or renting?”

Payton squirmed under her brother’s stare. “A bit of both, actually. But don’t worry—it won’t affect my time here. This is strictly a side gig.”

For now. She planned to apply for the full time position when it was posted.

“You working for Liam?”

“No.” She didn’t have to make it easy for Griffin to figure this out. He’d lose it when he realized who she was working for—and living with.

Griffin narrowed his eyes. “Who then? None of his sisters are involved with the equine side of things.”

Payton took a deep breath and huffed it out. “Austin.”

The name hung between them like a grenade. Griffin looked like she’d just told him unicorns were real. Owen gasped from across the room. No one spoke for a long moment until Griffin broke the silence.

“The hell you’ll live with that man. He has some nerve showing his face in this town again.”

“I’m a grown adult. And I’m not living with him. I’m renting an apartment. What do you care anyway? I never understood your issue with him.”

“Because you were a kid when it happened. Where’s this apartment?”

“A separate apartment attached to the main house.” Payton didn’t add that Austin would also be living there, though they had their own separate entrances. She’d have no interaction with him except regarding the business.

Payton wondered what had happened between Austin and her brother. She assumed it had been a fight of some sort but Griffin’s tone suggested it was more serious than that. Her gut clenched. She trusted her brother, but she’d never had anything but a positive interaction with Austin.

Except this afternoon. That had been weird. Her pulse usually didn’t skitter when she was around him. And butterflies had seemed to take up residence in her stomach the moment she’d seen him again. That was a fluke, she was sure of it. She surely wasn’t still harboring a childhood crush. The man she met today bore no resemblance to the young man she’d known.

“Where will Austin live?” Griffin didn’t give up.

“He lives in the main house. But we agreed to keep to our separate quarters and only interact when it relates the the business.”

Griffin’s frown deepened. “I don’t like this, Pay.”

“You don’t have to like it, but you have to respect my decision. I’m a grown adult with my own income—and it’s time I live on my own.”

“Except you’re living with Austin,” Owen pointed out. Most unhelpful brother on the planet.

“He’s my landlord. It’s completely different from living with him.”

Owen looked thoughtful. “But it’s preferable to living at home with us. If we’ve done something to make you uncomfortable…” He trailed off, seemingly uncertain how to continue.

“It’s nothing any of you have done. It’s just something I need to do for myself.”

Why couldn’t her brothers understand this?

“What day do you move? We’ll be there to help.” Owen, as the middle brother, was always trying to smooth things over and keep peace between stoic Griffin and exuberant Payton.

“I don’t have much to bring because the place is furnished. So, I should be ok on my own.” She walked over and ruffled Owen’s hair. “Thanks for the offer. It means a lot.”

The Walker siblings weren’t much for talking about emotions, but they were there for each other and their love ran deep.

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