Page 29 of My Rancher Valentine

“She could be happy with you.” Daphne came over and reached for my hand. “You aren’t the same guy you were in high school.” She smiled. “I’m your sister, so take this with all the love that entails, but you were a little shit in high school.”

“What?” That had not been what I thought she was going to say.

“It’s true.” She nodded. “Like we loved you 'cause you are our baby brother, and we would have kicked anyone’s ass for you, but honestly, neither of us really liked you.”

I looked between her and Hailey, who was sitting on the bed nodding.

“Are you serious right now?” I didn’t know what to say.

“Pretty much.” She kept nodding. “You were always trying to prove something and none of us could figure out what,” Hailey added. “You would walk around like you were running shit, you were mean, and as far as keeping it in your pants. God, Mom was beside herself with worry that you would fuck up and make her a grandma before you turned eighteen. Not that any of us wouldn’t have been there for you if you had, but when you graduated from high school and then college without a kid, we were all relieved.”

I couldn’t believe any of this. I had never been irresponsible in the past. I knew how to protect myself and whoever I was with. The idea my family thought I would have a kid without planning it kind of hurt. I knew accidents happened, but I also knew if it had, then I would have stepped up.

“We don’t know if it was the rodeo or going away to college or what, but somewhere between both graduations, you calmed the hell down,” Daphne said. “Maybe you just grew up, but you stopped trying to be big man on campus, and you also stopped trying to get every girl in bed. Sure, you never learned how to stop flirting, but mom stopped slipping condoms in your luggage every time you left for a trip.” They both laughed.

My eyes had never been so big. “She did not.”

“Old man Davis had to think Mom and Dad were going at it non-stop for the amount of condoms she bought for like three years straight,” Daphne spoke through her giggles.

“I think he sent Father Richards over to check on them once,” Hailey added. “And we aren’t catholic.”

I remembered the priest coming for dinner, but I didn’t know that was why. I flopped down in the chair beside the desk in the room. My mind on overdrive.

“My point isn’t to make you feel bad or make fun of you. It isn’t like it’s Tuesday.” Daphne joked, kneeling beside me. “My point is for you to see that you have grown into a good man who any woman would be lucky to have.”

“And we not only love you because you’re our little brother, but we like you too.” Hailey came over and joined us.

“Bliss Creamery doesn’t sponsor you because you’re family. We sponsor you because you’re good.” She smiled up at me. “You’re like incredibly good, and I’m not going out and finding other companies. They contact me.”

“Really?” All this time, I thought she had to chase down all the other sponsors.

“Really.” She nodded. “The only thing I do is negotiate the money and time. Everything else is because of your riding. I actually have sponsors lined up for months and some waiting for a spot.”

“As far as having a stable career, this is your career.” Daphne squeezed my hand. “You will always be a Wynters which means farming and ice cream are in your blood, but riding is what gives you purpose. It’s what you were meant to do.”

“And when Dad and I mention having more in your life, we aren’t talking about the business.” Hailey shook her head. “None of us have missed how you still stare at Kat all these years later.”

“You’ve known you were going to marry her half your life.” Daphne smiled. “Now that you’ve faked your way into being engaged, don’t lose her now.”

They were right. I’d be a fool to let her go, and if there was one thing a Wynters never was, it was a fool.

Chapter 11

Kat

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