Page 94 of Knox

Knox felt it like a gut punch.

“I wanted this ranch too. I loved working with Dad, and if I hadn’t broken both my legs while I wasworking the ranch,then he would have never turned to you.”

“Rube—you wanted to go away, play college ball. The ranch was never on your radar.”

“It is now.”

Knox opened his mouth, not sure how to form the words that boiled inside. Finally. “Fine, yes. Come back as our foreman.”

Reuben shook his head.

And Knox never wanted to hit his brother more than he did at this moment.

“Hey, guys, so long as we’re sharing secrets, I’ve got one.” Ruby Jane to the rescue, but Knox just couldn’t tear his gaze away from Reuben.

Of all the arrogant—

“So, you know how I said I’m a travel agent…that’s not quite accurate…”

Knox looked at her. Frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“That’s just…a cover story. Sorta.”

Now she had Reuben’s attention too.

“What—are you a spy or something?” Wyatt said.

She made a face, lifted a shoulder.

“I knew it!” Tate said, then cut his voice lower. “I knew it. I thought I saw you in Vegas once—”

She glanced at him, raised an eyebrow, and he went silent.

“You’re a spy? With the CIA? The FBI?” Reuben said darkly.

“CIA. And not a spy. An analyst.”

“More travel agency speak?”

She gave Knox a half smile. “That’s all I can tell you, but I thought you should know.”

“Why, so if you disappear we know who to blame?”

“Or maybe where to start looking for me?” She laughed.

No one else did.

“That’s great, RJ. It’s not enough that Ford is out there risking his life and that Tate disappeared for three years and shows up with the skills of a mafia thug, but now you’ve decided to make us live in secrecy.”

“Tate was a mafia thug?” Wyatt said.

Knox shook his head, turned back to Reuben. “No. You can’t come back. Not as the boss. Dad wanted me to run it.”

“Dad defaulted to you when I got laid up. You took this ranch, just like you took Chelsea!”

Knox jerked back, shook his head, his eyes meeting Reuben’s, hot in his.

Gilly put her hand on Reuben’s arm. “C’mon, Rube. That’s not fair.”

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