Page 14 of Saving Jared

“Sometimes. Like Bruce Banner,” Jude said, straightening. “I call him that when I’m trying to keep him from hulking out.”

“How are we twins?”

“Huh…” Russ’s low huff grabbed Jared’s attention away from his smirking brother.

“What?” Jared followed Russ’s craned gaze over the horses moving in front of them.

“Something’s going on with Joe.” Russ shook his head. “Shit. It looks like we’ve got that damned Arnold kid trying to do a handstand on his saddle.”

“Son of a…” Jared tightened his reins. “I can—“

“No, I got it,” his foreman said on a deep sigh. “I’ve had to deal with that one a couple of times already.” He glanced at Jared. “I’ll radio in for a truck to come pick the kid up and have Joe lead his horse back to the ranch.” With that, he clucked his tongue and pressed his heels into his horse’s sides.

Jared kept his eyes on the nineteen-year-old guest who didn’t appear to be taking a yelling, wildly-gesturing Joe seriously. “Damned kid’s gonna end up maiming himself."

That was all he needed. Someone pulling a foolish stunt and getting hurt. Every guest signed a waiver stating the ranch wasn’t responsible for any injuries they might sustain. This was a working ranch, and anything could happen. But they didn’t need the publicity of someone breaking their neck—from their own stupidity or not.

The kid and his parents were now officially on the perpetually “we’re booked” list.

“Russ’ll straighten him out,” Jude said. Several heartbeats of silence followed while Russ looked to be taking the situation well in hand. “Who knows. Maybe I can get him to straighten you out too.”

Jared gave Jude his full attention. “Why would I need straightening out?”

Jude held his stare for several seconds. “Willa.”

Jared tensed. “What does Willa have to do with anything?”

“You know exactly what she has to do with everything. What do you think the Taggert brothers, especially Darin—our best friend—would do if they knew you had a thing for their baby sister?”

“You’re way off base.” He wasn’t, of course, but Jared didn’t need a lecture from his brother. If Jude even knew half of what had gone on between him and Willa—

“Am I? You have to know I’m not the only one who’s noticed. Kinsley has too. And if we’ve noticed, so have her brothers. And now that she’ll be staying with us…” Jude maneuvered his horse closer. “You need to tread carefully with that. Sure, she’s beautiful, but—”

“Why are you noticing she’s beautiful?”

A small, understanding grin touched Jude’s lips. “I’m not blind.”

“I didn’t say you were,” he said with some heat before taking in a calming breath. What was he doing? “You know what? It doesn’t matter to me who thinks she’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it does. We’re almost mirror images of each other.” They were except for the scar bisecting Jude’s left eyebrow—one he’d gotten after running into a barbed wire fence when he was six. Lucky for him it hadn’t been any worse. “And brother, I know the look you’re trying to hide when Willa’s close. It’s the same one I see in the mirror when I have my mind on Emma Flowers.”

Jared had never been able to lie to his brother. They knew each other too well. “So, how are you planning on handling your attraction?”

Jude let out a low, harsh laugh. “I have no idea. I’m guessing nothing since I’m fairly positive she’s doing her best to avoid me.” A fleeting look of sorrow crossed his brother’s face—one he covered with a quick grin. It didn’t fool Jared one bit. How had he not known his brother had feelings for someone? Dammit, he shouldn’t have teased him. “And what about you?”

“She’s the Taggerts’s little sister.” That was the only answer that mattered. Because what Jude might think about him and Willa being together wouldn’t compare to what would happen if her brothers found out. If anything, he didn’t want to cause a rift between their families.

Now if he could just keep remembering it.

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