Page 6 of Spring Forward

He looks so lost for a moment, but I force a smile on my face. “Ready?”

August shakes off the fear about being in a new place, again, and flashes me a lopsided grin. “As I’ll ever be.”

I bark out a laugh as I get out, knowing he’ll be right behind me. There was a time when I would go around and open his door. Hell, there was a time when I had to help him out of a car seat since he was small for his age. He’s been making up for it over the last few years and now loves to remind me about how he’s surpassed me in height. The little pissant.

As I head toward the porch, my brother falls in step with me. I glance over the men, who are clearly brothers with the same dark hair and similar height and builds. The first one has his arm wrapped around the woman’s waist as she reaches down to run her fingers through the boy’s hair. He’s peeking out at us around the woman’s legs. He might be a little wary, but I can see the curiosity in his eyes.

The second guy is standing there with a cocky grin on his face and his arms crossed over his chest. He’s eyeing me like his favorite snack has just been delivered to his front door. I can only roll my eyes because guys like him are a dime a dozen. I’ve met them all over the country and I haven’t been impressed by many of them. They can start to grow on me after they lose the bullshit façade and let themselves be real. It’s usually all an act to protect themselves, not that I’d tell any of them that outright.

When I look at the third guy, my breath hitches. He has a full beard, but it’s impeccably groomed. His dark hair, which is short on the sides and much longer on the top, is styled back. He hassome jeans on which look like they’ve been molded to his strong legs. Then there’s the henley stretched across his chest. His eyes rake over me like he’s seeing something he likes, but there’s nothing comical or fake about the way he’s looking at me.

This is different. He’s looking at me like he’s found a treasure. My heart starts to pound in my chest, and I swear I can feel a bead of sweat rolling down my back. I have to force myself to take some good, deep breaths to ensure I don’t start panting.

I’ve never seen a man as hot as this one. He might be sexy as hell and making me feel something I’ve never felt before, but this is still a job. Reality slams into me. I’ve never crossed the line when it comes to my job and the people I work for or work with. I don’t need that kind of drama in my life.

With a fake as hell smile on my face, I step closer knowing August will follow me. The man who has no right to look as good as he does steps forward and around the rest of the people. I swear I can feel the heat coming off him the closer he gets.

“Delaney Reeves?” The timbre of his voice goes straight through me, and I have to fight against my body’s natural response.

Do not shiver in front of your new boss. Do not shiver in front of your new boss.

After sliding my hands over my jeans, hoping that my palms aren’t too sweaty, I chirp, “That’s me.”

I stick my hand out in front of me and have to lock my knees when he slides his hand into mine. His brown eyes flare with something like possession the moment he touches me. But it can’t happen. Not with him.

“This is my brother, August,” I make my voice a little louder to make sure everyone watching my world flip on its axis can hear me while I nod toward my brother.

“I’m glad you made it in safely,” the man still holding my hand, which has now gone on way too long, says. There’s something more in his voice, something I don’t want to examine at the moment. “I’m Noel Burns.”

Oh shit. He’s the one who reached out to me. I was already impressed with how passionate he was about starting an equine therapy program here. And now he looks like this?

He lets go of my hand, finally, but the moment he does I miss his touch. Keeping a neutral mask in place is harder than it should be.

Noel turns toward the other people on the porch where the couple is looking between us with knowing grins. “These are my brothers, Fletcher,” he gestures toward the man with his arm around the woman’s waist before motioning to the other, cockier one, “and Huxley. This is Fletcher’s fiancé, Eden, and my nephew, Macklin.”

I give the dorkiest wave I’ve ever managed in my life. “Nice to meet you,” my voice is far too high, and I can hear how forced it sounds. I need to get myself under control.

Noel turns to me, a mischievous glint in his eye, “Do you want to start the tour with the horses or with the house?”

“Horses,” I blurt. They’re safer; much safer.

I don’t think I can handle being near a bed and Noel right now. Having August at my side should be enough of a deterrent, but it’s not.

Do not climb your boss like a tree. Do not climb your boss like a tree.

“Horses it is,” there’s a tease in Noel’s voice which has me wishing I wasn’t as transparent as I, apparently, am. His gaze turns hungry, and his voice drops an octave, “I’ll show you your room later.”

Meeting the horses feels familiar and there’s nothing really surprising on the tour. I’m thankful because I don’t think I could deal with any more surprises today. August sticks to my side, his excitement over meeting new horses keeping me grounded in what needs to be done.

“This is Buttercup,” Noel’s voice holds a heap of affection as he introduces us to a beautiful mare.

August gushes, “You’re gorgeous.” The horse turns her head and takes in my brother before letting out a huff and moving closer to him. That’s all it takes for him to introduce himself with a quite murmur, “My name is August. We’re going to be best friends.”

Noel chuckles as he steps away and I join him, allowing them to have a little bonding moment. “Eden is going to be so jealous.” When I give him a curious look, he explains, “Buttercup and Eden were best friends, but then she left to go to college. Fletch and Eden couldn’t make a long-distance relationship work, but she recently came back with Macklin. That was all Fletch needed to make his woman his again.”

“Wow,” I breathe out, a little surprised with all the information he has shared with me. They looked so…secure together. I wouldn’t have guessed they spent years apart or that Macklin isn’t Fletcher’s son.

But, then again, I’ve learned over the years that blood doesn’t make a family.

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