Page 115 of On the Wild Side

“Here in Montana, we do things a little differently,”Brady’s voice fills the room as images from the ranch come on screen. The men fixing the fence, laughing with each other. Brady leading Blackjack around the arena, smiling up at him.

Of course, there are plenty of images of his ass in those jeans, and that makes my mouth water.

Brady doing just aboutanythingmakes my mouth water, but he looks particularly hot in this commercial.

“Family isn’t just meeting up for Thanksgiving dinner or saying hello at a wedding. Family is a way of life. A promise.”

And now, I’m choked up as Brady and his dad fill the screen, and then his siblings, all sitting on the fence line.Here at the Wild River Ranch, we take pride in our history. Of how our ancestors worked this land, long before we were here. They paved the way for us to succeed, far beyond their wildest imaginations. I like knowing that we live on the wild side here, taking what comes and not letting the small stuff bother us too much. It’s a quiet way of life that we plan to pass on to those who come after we’re long gone.With twenty seconds left to go, my tears dry up, and I stare in shock as I watch myself walk over to Brady in the arena, and he bends down to kiss me. His arms flex as they come around my waist, and he’s watching me with eyes so full of love that it takes my breath away.

I don’t remember taking his hat and putting it on my head, but I do, and now we’re laughing together.

“We live this life because we love it, who we are because of it, and those who care about us despite it. Bitterroot Valley, Montana is where my heart lives.”

The image shifts to the barn at the end of the day as soft music plays. Brady’s brushing Blackjack, then leads him into his stall and kisses his nose.

And there is my daughter, running to greet Brady. Every part of me goes cold.

“Please don’t show her face,” I murmur, watching closely. “Please, for fuck’s sake, donotshow my daughter’s face.”

But she turns and smiles up at me, and there she is. For all the world to see.

For all the goddamn world to see.

And my heart starts to hammer in my chest. Without another thought, I pick up my phone to call Brady. To rail at him. How could he do this without checking with me first? He has no idea the danger he just put us in.

We have to move, is all I can think. I have to go straight home and pack our things and get us the hell out of here.

Before I can dial his number, Erin’s calling.

“Hey,” I say, trying to act casual. “I can’t talk long.”

“You need to come to the ranch,” she says. “We all just saw the commercial, and everyone is pissed off. No one gave permission for them to use you, Daisy, or anyone else’s faces in the ad, and the men are on the warpath.”

Thank God.Brady didn’t know.

“I just saw it.” I swallow hard, trying to calm down despite the panic making its way through my body. The panic attack isright there, and I need to keep it at bay. “It’s a beautiful commercial, but yeah. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“We’re all here, Abbi. Even Chase is leaving work early to come here. We’re making a big dinner, and we can all be together to discuss the next steps. Trust me, this wasn’t on purpose. As a mom, I’d be freakingpissed.”

“Yeah. Yeah, okay.” We’ll be safe on the ranch, and then I can figure out what to do next. “I’ll be there in thirty.”

I lock the door and hurry out to my car, and as I’m driving out to the ranch, Brady calls.

“Hey,” I say as I answer.

“Baby, I’mso sorry.I didn’t know that they were going to put you and Daisy in that fucking commercial.”

“We’ll talk about it when I get there.” I swallow hard. Shit, I’m going to have to tell them everything. I don’t have a choice. “It’s going to be okay.”

But I don’t believe that. I don’t believe for a second that everything’s going to be okay after this.

“Wait. How did you know about it?”

I clear my throat. “Your old palJencame into my office to check me out and told me about it.”

“Fuck.” His voice is tired and irritated. “I’ll take care of her.”

“She was also sure to make it clear that you leftherfor a fat-ass bitch.”

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