Page 46 of Relentless

Spewing cheap beer all over the cute, popular boy would be a dreadful start to the evening.

“Want to get into a little more trouble?” he asked. His white toothy grin accentuated his chiseled jawline as he slipped his arm around her waist.

“I’m serious,” Harper insisted, impatiently tapping her finger on the side of her red plastic cup. “Did you get sent home?”

“No?” Chet scoffed. “The coach just went on about respecting women or something.” He arched a confused eyebrow. “Why?”

Before she could answer, Delia emerged through the crowd of rowdy teenagers, balancing a drink in each hand with beer sloshing haphazardly over the rim. “Oh, you already have a drink,” she murmured, stifling the annoyance in her voice.

“I’ll take another,” Harper said, snatching the cup from her hands. “Thanks, Delia.”

Swirling the beer around in the cup, Harper wanted to drown in it. She tilted it back and gulped down the drink in an unladylike swallow. Dashing a smile at Chet, she ran herfingers down the nape of his neck, pulling him close. He put his arm around her and leaned in for a kiss that curled her toes.

Savoring the jealous gaze of Delia and the other girls around them, she closed her eyes and pulled him closer.

The alcohol was hitting her fast and hard, and when he led her upstairs, the world around her was beginning to spin. If Harper was going to get into a little bit of trouble that night, she was determined to make it count.

Chapter 14

Kindness

Oakleigh leaned an elbow on the kitchen island as she sipped her morning coffee. Nugget had started the day early, causing the windows to rattle with his thunderous call for dawn. The dark circles around Oakleigh’s eyes betrayed her defiance on the matter of her newest favorite pet.

The frigid winters always felt a little isolating on the ranch. Their efforts outside consisted mainly of keeping the fenceline secure and their body temperature above freezing. Their lack of preparation for the early cold snap made it feel like the work around the ranch was stacking up at a pace they could barely maintain.

On top of it all, while Maeve poured herself a mug of coffee, she gently brought up one obligation that had nearly slipped Oakleigh’s mind.

“You know I don’t mind making cinnamon rolls—” Maeve nudged.

“I’ll do it,” Oakleigh sighed, running her fingers down her chin. She had gladly taken over operations of the shop, and thelast thing she wanted was for Maeve to feel the need to pick up her slack.

“There’s something else I’d like you to take off my plate,” Maeve cleared her throat. She swirled her coffee around in her cup as though she were considering if the request she was about to make was a fair one. “Orsomeone,I should say.”

“Not going to happen,” Oakleigh fired back. “No way.” Her mother had not come down the stairs that day, and the house felt wonderfully peaceful again in her absence.

Maeve gave her a silent look that conveyed the matter wasn’t actually up for debate.

“Fine,” Oakleigh conceded, her words accompanied by a deep eye roll.

“Just please keep your cool,” Maeve replied. “Kill her—”

“Is that permission?” Oakleigh cut in, smirking as she drank down her last swallow of coffee.

“With kindness, Oakleigh,” Maeve emphasized. “Kill her withkindness.” Her amusement traveled to her eyes despite her attempt to hide it behind a long drink from her mug.

Oakleigh had something else on her mind as she bit her lip nervously. “How’s the church coming along?”

Maeve shrugged. “If the roads clear up, they’ll finish the final touches.”

“You think it’ll be done in time?” Oakleigh asked, her tone going high despite her efforts to remain casual.

“In time for what?” Maeve asked. Adjusting her posture, she raised a curious eyebrow.

“Oh, um—” Oakleigh corrected. “Nothing.” That morning, she had checked her latest update on the church. To her surprise, it had not only gone viral but was still trending. She couldn’t imagine anyone being foolish enough to show up in the middle of the harsh Montana winter.

Right?

“You and Dallas are supposed to be away and enjoying your time together,” Oakleigh pivoted. “Not worried about ranch work, andyou know who.”

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