Page 55 of Catching Sparks

“But you are seeing someone.” It’s a statement, her mind already made up.

“Where’s Dad?”

She whirls to face me, narrowing her stare. “You don’t get to call the Dad card to get out of this one.”

“Dad?” I shout, earning a swat on the arm from Mom.

“I’m pretty sure he’s hiding outside. The two of you have been alone for all of ten minutes, and you’re already calling for backup?” Darren asks from somewhere behind us. I don’t bother looking for him.

“How is your dating life looking, D? Got any potential stepmommy candidates?” I ask, folding in the melting cheese.

“Mom, have you heard about the new hotshot CEO that’s been staying at the Steele ranch?”

A smirk is so damn evident in that know-it-all tone of his that I can’t help but spin to face him, glowering.

“You’re a jackass, Darren.”

“And you’re involved with Garrison Beckett.”

I struggle to keep my face blank, a thousand questions slashing through my thoughts. “What are you talking about?”

My brother rolls his eyes, and for the first time since I stepped into the kitchen, Mom keeps quiet. I glare at her just as hard.

“That guy is a douche, yet he found the decency somewhere inside of him to stand up for you at the fire station on Monday for no reason? Nah, I’m not buying it.”

I plant my hands on my hips. “And you know him so well to be able to make a conclusion like that?”

“Are you admitting that you know differently?”

“I’m going to smack that smirk off your face, Darren,” I warn before facing the stove again and shovelling the eggs onto a huge round plate.

“Try it, little sis. I’ll smack you right back.”

“Daddy! Hitting girls is mean!” Abbie hollers from the living room.

I roll my lips and suck back my laugh, even though I want to do it right in my brother’s face. Mom is quick to intervene now, which is oh-so sweet of her after letting Darren completely throw me under the bus a minute ago.

Aren’t older brothers supposed to not want you to date men that they know? Or at all, for that matter? I’m pretty sure mine is broken, considering he thinks it’s funny instead.

“Darren, take over for your sister and start the bacon,” she orders, offering me an apologetic smile.

“I hope you get burnt with grease,” I tell him before dropping my spatula in the sink amongst the other dirty dishes and strolling past him.

“I’ll make sure your pieces are raw,” he returns.

Mom continues flipping pancakes, exhaling loud enough we know she’s annoyed. “You are both children.”

I nearly run face first into my dad as he finally decides to join us in the kitchen. Relief hits me, knowing that he’s going to take my side like he always does. My brother may be broken in the sense of not caring who and if I date, but my dad doesn’t share that nonchalance. Talking about my dating life is the last thing he’s going to want to talk about.

“Nice of you to finally join us,” I grumble but hug him despite my annoyance.

He wraps heavy arms around me and kisses the top of my head. “I was busy.”

“Busy hiding.”

A steady hand rubs my back, and I relax. My dad is a huge, burly dude, but he’s also an absolute teddy bear. We’re almost as close as me and Mom are and have been for forever.

“I’d never hide from you and your mother.”

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