Page 6 of Undeniable Love

“He’s nineteen.”

“Exactly. One year into adulthood.”

“And when I was his age?—”

“Nope.” I threw my hand up. “Don’t start that. You were groomed from the day you could say cow to take over that land. I’m thrilled for the family you want it, but that’s been your birthright since Mom peed on a stick and you know it. Bryce is different. Ease up on him. And would it really hurt to consider any of his ideas? Give him a plot of land. Let him sink or swim. Might as well try now when there’s two of the best men around to teach him.”

Dalton’s nose twitched like he smelled sour milk. “College is making you too damn smart. You should move back home.”

“When the Tennessee rivers run dry is when I’ll head home.”

A soft, sad smile pushed through his beard. “Then I’ll start praying for a drought.”

He threw his arm around me, yanked me to his side, and kissed the top of my head. “Miss you, baby sis.”

I wrapped my arms around my oldest brother. “I miss you too. But stop being so grumpy all the time. I need you around for a while.”

“I’m twenty-six.”

“Practically ancient,” I teased. He went to swat at me, and I ducked, laughing before he could make contact with the back of my head.

His chin tipped up. “You really stepped in a pile of manure with Tuevo, you know.”

“Thanks for the reminder.”

“Go apologize. He’s Caleb’s best friend, and he’ll be bummed his friend isn’t around us tonight to celebrate. If you need us to explain the magic shit that goes on around you, we’ve got your back, you know. Always.”

A lump lodged in my throat. Damn, I missed my brothers. Phone calls and annual visits weren’t enough.

I turned to Hailey. “You going to be okay if I go find Tuevo for a few minutes?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure your brothers will keep me out of trouble.”

I kissed her cheek. “Be back as fast as possible.”

“Make sure you bring your fiancé back with you.”

She laughed. Caleb and Cameron joined her.

My family and friends were the best.

They were also idiots.

Caleb wasn’t wrong.

As soon as I reached the rooftop level of the bar, I went as far away as I could from both the music stage and the bar. Passed the bar and around the corner, there was a roof overhang that shadowed most of the area. There were no tables out there, standing area only with a drink ledge at the railing that overlooked a side street off Broadway. There was no point in putting furniture out there because who wanted to not be able to see the stage or people watch?

Tuevo Skyye apparently, because he was there, elbows resting on the railing, two hands cupping a bottle of beer. One foot was crossed over the other and the way he was bent slightly forward, head down, ball cap now spun around facing the front and tugged lower over his eyes, his ass looked amazing in his jeans.

Not Wranglers. Definitely not country guy, Tuevo was known in the social media stratosphere for being a jerk on and off the ice but had a wicked fashion sense. Those jeans probably cost more than one head of cattle during a high-profit season.

But they sure did make his ass look good.

I wasn’t immune to him. I’d seen his pictures. I’d seen him wave hello as he walked behind Caleb during a FaceTime call. And I was certainly one of the hundreds of women who stalked his social media pages. He was sexy. No doubt about it. I just hadn’t thought the attraction I felt when I looked at those pictures like any other fan girl would have turned into the disaster I created. And all because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

He turned his head in my direction and didn’t seem the least bit surprised to see me standing there, checking him out.

“You going to stand there and stare at me all night?”

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