Page 10 of Burn the Wild

“Sad,” a deep voice booms. Davis rushes into the kitchen, his face set with the intense focus only a dad can muster. Keena, at his heels, beelines for Mouse.

My twin flashes me a dry smile. “Bullied by a one-year-old.”

I grin back. “Learns from his father.”

Davis swears as he trips over a monster truck. I smirk. A Marine, Davis runs a tight ship, but Duke’s blown up his neat and orderly world. He loves it.

Davis scoops up his wriggling son. Instantly, the kid quiets and proceeds to squish my brother’s cheeks, babbling away. Davis does his best to look dignified.

“What’s on your schedule today?” he asks.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. My twin’s bossy as hell. In return, I take great enjoyment in pissing him off. We don’t look alike and we’re complete opposites, but he’s my best friend, thefucking thorn in my side and the never-ending conscience in my ear.

“I’m taking a group horseback riding.” I lean over to inspect the tray of biscuits Dakota’s pulled from the oven. “Then tending bar before the welcome toast at the lodge.”

I’ve used the last seven years on the ranch to teach myself odd jobs. I can change a carburetor, mix a perfect martini, and cast the best line ever seen. There’s a reason I live above the garage. I can tinker whenever I want, live my solitary, no-strings life, and when the day is done, kick back with a cold one and a ballgame.

“Fuck. I forgot about that.” Davis looks frazzled. “Can you take a group fishing? We’re short-staffed.”

“On opening day?”

Davis swears as Duke does a free fall in his arms. Before the kid can defy death a second time, Davis tucks him tight against his muscled chest. “Son,” he drawls. “Hold your britches.” To me, he says, “Yeah, well, shit happened.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t,” I say. “I’m headed to the dome.” Nothing comes between me and the mountain.

“What about Charlie?” Davis turns, clocks the room with his sharp gaze, then looks at Ruby. “Where is he?”

Ruby bites her lip.“Someone yelled at me in the parking lot of the market last week and he finally found the truck.”

“Jesus,” Davis mutters, hustling around the island. With one hand, he crams a protein bar in his mouth, with the other, he lifts Duke by his diaper and places him in Ruby’s arms. She smiles and nuzzles his hair.

Davis rolls out his neck and shoulders. “It’s opening day. I’m not getting into this.”

I cross my arms. “So don’t. Not your problem.”

“Yeah, don’t.” Dakota comes up behind my brother. Her hand slides over his shoulder and all the tension in his framemelts away. Not a surprise. Dakota’s the best thing that’s ever happened to my uptight twin.

My brothers drew the rarest of hands when they married their wives. Lucky bastards the both of them.

The door swings open. Charlie strides in with a squirrelly-looking smile and a crazed glint in his eye.

Davis pivots from Dakota. Frowns. “Let me see your knuckles,” he orders.

Charlie rolls his eyes but sticks both fists out.

Davis scrutinizes Charlie’s knuckles. I do too, but mostly to know how proud of him I should be.

When it comes to our younger siblings, my twin and I play good cop, bad cop. He’s the hands-on type. Me? I only pull the big brother card when there’s imminent danger of death.

Satisfied, Davis nods and turns back to his wife.

While Davis isn’t looking, Charlie, proud as hell, takes a busted windshield wiper out of the back pocket of his jeans and sets it on the kitchen table.

Ruby squeaks and covers Duke’s eyes.

“Fucker had it coming,” Charlie says to me in a low voice.

I snicker. “Who was it?” I feel for the poor bastard on the other end of Charlie’s wrath.

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