Page 40 of Bravo

We do hardly know each other.“Sorry, Sharon, it’s the nature of my business. Thanks for stopping by.”

“Anytime, honey. You know that.” She flirtatiously bats her eyelashes, really making sure she drives the invitation home.

I turn to leave, but I don’t have to look behind me to know she’s following. Bravo is padding along beside me, not paying her any mind. I have to say, the fact that he doesn’t have to deal with her makes me momentarily jealous that I’m not a dog.

Elliot, Tucker, Riley, and Dylan are nowhere to be seen, likely avoiding Sharon like the plague she is. Which I know is not a very kind way to look at her. But given that she rotates which of us she’s trying to land, her lack of genuine affection and simple desire to bear the Hunt surname makes her unwelcome on this ranch.

“Bradyn!” I stop and turn to the right, breathing a sigh of relief when I see Lani moving toward me, her gaze narrowed on Sharon, who’s still behind me.

“Hey, Lani.”

“Sharon,” she clips. “If you don’t mind, I need to speak to my brother. In private.”

“Oh, well, if it’s about the damage, I should be a part?—”

“No. You shouldn’t.” Lani’s sweet smile is laced with venom as she wraps her hand around my wrist and tugs me away. Bravo follows happily, tail wagging.

“Call me if your ranch hand wants to talk!” Sharon calls out.

I don’t respond, just let Lani drag me into the house and slam the door behind us. Elliot, Riley, Dylan, and Tucker all look up from where they’re sitting on the couches. My dad, looking just as guilty, grins sheepishly from his recliner.

“Cowards, all of you,” she accuses.

“Hey, don’t look at us. It’s Bradyn she’s really after,” Tucker replies.

“Then why are you hiding?” she asks.

“Because now that Bradyn is back, she finally stopped coming after me,” Elliot quips. “And I’m not interested in rekindling her affections.”

Rolling my eyes, I remove my boots and head into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. “Thanks for the rescue, sis.”

“No problem.” Lani sets her bag down. “One date eons ago, and she’s still trying to sink her claws into you. I know we’re supposed to forgive, and I’m not holding a grudge exactly, but the idea of letting her anywhere near you after what she did makes my skin crawl.”

Years ago, I’d had a crush on Sharon. I was homeschooled my entire life, and she was the head cheerleader. Beautiful, seemingly confident, and we’d met at church camp. When I’d finally gotten up the courage to ask her out, she’d agreed. Our relationship lasted all of a month before I found out she’d been cheating on me with Billy Granger, who ended up being her first husband.

It was messy, and even though Lani was only twelve at the time, she’d been out the door, ready to get vengeance for my broken teenage heart.

She’s always had a fiery soul, and if she’d been open to it, I would’ve had her join the Search & Rescue team. But God has a different plan for her, and she found her calling in the medical field, helping people heal.

“It’s not worth the grudge,” I tell her truthfully. “But I appreciate the backup.”

“Yeah, well, anytime.” She smiles. “Sammy’s doing okay, by the way. I don’t think her ankle is broken, but she won’t let me take her in for X-rays.”

Curious.“Why not?”

She shrugs. “Won’t say. Money, maybe?”

“Maybe. I’ll head up to talk to her. Remind her that the ranch will cover all medical expenses for employees injured during working hours.”

“Well, don’t be too pushy. I don’t think it’s anything more than a sprain. And the laceration on her shin has been stitched, so it should heal up nicely. Still, I need to remind you that you both are really lucky neither of you froze to death.” She arches a brow.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Next time, maybe don’t go running out in the middle of a storm.”

“Tell Sammy that. She’s the reason I went out.”

Lani arches a brow. “First of all, I already did. And second, we both know that, even if Sammy hadn’t gone after the horses, you would have.”

---