Page 220 of Forbidden Heroes

“In fact, I want to stay on as a ranch hand. Work with y’all.”

“The hell. No. You're not getting stuck on this ranch,” I cut in, crossing my arms. “College is non-negotiable.”

Hunter sighs heavily beside me. His arms are crossed and his gaze shoots daggers into me. “What asshole here is trying to say is, let’s talk about it. You know you are always welcome here. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“That’s beside the point. Our girl needs college. You’re better than hay bales and horseshoes, long hours in the sun and dirt.”

“Really? It seems to be good enough for the three of you.”

She takes a stubborn stance, mirroring Hunter’s crossed arms. Only she looks fucking kissable in the kind of way that you know she doesn’t even realize just how much of a dick tease she really is to a man.

When I return her unblinking stare, she breaks first. She takes my hand and the frustration building up into a long talk deflates. “Thank you for the birthday gift. I love it.” She turns to my brothers. “Thank you all. I can’t thank you enough for this and everything you’ve done for me. Maybe Hunter is right. Let’s talk about all this later.”

I chuckle darkly. Damn, she knows how to work us like an expert negotiator. No wonder she got what she wants.

Tears start to rim those pretty eyes.

“Hey, none of that.” Hunter has his arms around her. Thank God it’s him right now and not me. I’d either throw her in the back of the truck and fuck her until we both forgot about her leaving the ranch this fall or make sure she has a reason to stay. Like putting a baby in her womb. Neither of us needed that. A town this small? Fuck me. The scandal would kill us. We depend on the people of this state trusting our impeccable reputation of being a solid family who is trustworthy. Not a pervert wanting to fuck a barely legal woman in the back of pickups.

I hold my arm out, and she pushes all of herself against me. “Glad you like it, sweetheart. It’ll take care of you wherever you're going. Let's talk about this later. For now, let’s get back to the party.”

“Deal.”

Somehow, I let her leave my side and go back to her friends who are all eager to check out her new present. I notice a backward glance and a tiny wave before I put a door between us.

Hunter lets the door slam behind him. “What the holy fuck, man?”

No surprise Austin and Hunter are hot on my ass as I pop the top on a beer. The guests are all outside and it’s just the three of us in the kitchen.

I pass each of them a fresh bottle. Maybe it will cool their jets long enough for me to make my swift exit. I sigh when the fire in their eyes burns a hole through the back of my head. I turn on my heel. “What?”

“What the fuck was that about?” Hunter again. A table is between us and it looks like he wants to jump to land a solid right hook in the jaw.

I shrug. “What do you mean?”

“Are you trying to scare her off? You might as well pack her fucking bags for her and tell her to get out. Bad enough half the town shunned her for years after her parents went away. She’s just now coming out of her shell.”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” I arch a brow. “And scare her off? What the fuck are you spouting off about, Austin?”

Austin shoves a hand into the pocket of his jeans as though his other option is to bury into the other side of my face. He could try.

Hunter keeps pushing. “Dude, you gave her a truck and told her everything she owns will fit in the back and told her wherever she goes she'll be fine. Do you want to tape an eviction notice to her bedroom door next?”

Confusion pinches my face and when I don't offer up an answer, Hunter growls and tosses his hat on the table. “Play that back in your head from a woman's point of view, man. She's probably out there wondering how long it is before she's kicked out.”

“Maybe that's for the best?”

“HA! For who? Who, Boone? You?”

Pointing my beer at Austin, I say, “Ain't you got anything to say? You're damn quiet for being the loudest of us all.”

“Hunter seems to be saying what we’re both thinkin’ for once.”

“Well, she's your goddaughter. Don’t you have an opinion of your own?”

“Nope,” he says flatly. The darkness of the Urban eyes like empty pits of hell staring back at me. “We've all taken a hand in raising her. Seeing her leave will hurt us all. Even the rock that you’ve become.”

I lean back against the counter, crossing my arms and hooking one booted foot over the other.

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