Page 105 of Holiday Hire

My thoughts go around and around, adding to my frustration. So I leave the house, stepping into the crisp air. The pink morning glow lights up the ranch, creating a false hope that everything will be okay.

I meet my brothers at the corral.

Jagger grins, taunting, "Well, well, well. How did your date with Phoebe go?"

"Yeah. Was your bed rocking last night?" Mason asks.

I try to hit Jagger and Mason simultaneously, but they both duck. I advise, "Shut up. I won't tell you again not to disrespect Phoebe."

"You two looked pretty cozy coming back," Jagger declares.

I freeze, my heart thumping hard in my chest. "What are you talking about?"

He smirks. "I saw you two. It looks like there was a little kissy-kissy face going on."

I go to smack him again.

He jumps back, holding his hands in the air. "Calm down. I don't blame you. I'd bend Little Miss Nanny over my knee too if she were in my house."

I grab him by the collar and pull him close to me. I seethe, "Don't you ever talk about her again."

He pushes back, ordering, "Get off me."

I don't let go, warning, "Listen to me right now. You saw nothing. You understand?"

He gives me a sarcastic look. "Sure I didn't."

Mason shoves us apart. "Calm down, Alexander."

"I mean it. I don't need this," I spout.

Mason declares, "It's not a big deal, so chill out."

I turn to face him. "It is a big deal. I have two young boys who are already attached to her. I don't need them getting ideas in their heads. Do you understand?"

Jagger scoffs. "Ah. So you're admitting that you banged her?"

I spin in his direction and throw a punch. He leans back and it hits his shoulder.

"Jesus, Alexander, calm the fuck down," Mason commands.

"You two better watch it," I say, then go to the barn.

What the fuck have I done?

Visions of everything I did with Phoebe the night before fill my head. My dick hardens, and I groan. I've gotten myself into a mess. It's going to be hard not to want to get her back into my bed.

I open the stall, and Calypso takes a few steps forward. I pet him and coo, "Hey, buddy." Then I put on his harness and attach the leather lead. I take him out of the barn and over to the corral.

Mason and Jagger have three horses running in circles. They don't say anything else to me, but I know how they are. The whole time I'm working, I can't stop thinking about how to keepPhoebe's and my situation hidden from the boys so they don't get the wrong idea.

The bell at the main house rings, and Willow yells, "Breakfast."

I glance over.

Phoebe's magenta hair blows in the wind. She's bundled up in an oversized sweater and has on her skinny jeans and the too-small boots she shoved her feet into the night before.

She quickly moves toward the house, and I stare at her, wanting to run over and kiss her.

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