Page 24 of Peaches

I shake my head. “I don’t want to hear it.”

A horse behind me whinnies, no doubt sensing the tension in the air. “Well, you’re gonna,” Kasey asserts with a sharp tone. He leans against the saddle rack like this isn’t going to be a quick conversation. “I shouldn’t have said you always fuck things up. That wasn’t fair. Everything just feels so upside down right now and I’m stressed out and honestly a little scared.”

My brows scrunch. “Why are you scared?”

Kasey sighs and hangs his head—a mirror image to the way he looked this morning, except now the purpling of the skin below his eyes is more pronounced. “I told you earlier, if things take a turn . . . if Melody—” He swallows hard. “If Melody doesn’t pull through, it’s going towreckBrooks. And rodeo season starts soon, which means Wells will be in and out of town. Sawyer has another year of school, and Mom and Dad are getting too old to help in any meaningful way.”

I can’t help the scoff that breaks loose.

Kasey narrows his eyes but ignores it. “It’s just you and me, Rhett. Between the ranch and the bar, we have to keep this shit going. I . . . Ineedyou to be reliable. And the stress makes me anxious, and I took it out on you this morning and . . .” He takes a breath, eyes locked on me. “The truth is, I’m fucking terrified.”

My stomach lurches at his admission. Of all my brothers, Kasey has always stayed closest to me, but it’s been out of necessity. His way of keeping an eye on me. For as much as he worries about what I’m doing, he’s never shared much about his own life with me.

As frustrated as I am with his lack of confidence in me, I recognize this moment for what it is: a shift in our dynamic. A surge of determination floods my chest, a near desperation to show him that I can be trusted. That I can be reliable.

“We’ve got this, Kase,” I tell him, hoping he can hear that I mean it. “No matter what, I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for this family, okay? I’m here foryou.”

Kasey exhales, his narrowed eyes loosening. He scratches at his nose with a dirty knuckle and then nods. “Okay,” he says. “Thank you.”

I tuck the stall fork into the corner and start to pull off my gloves. “For the record, I’m scared too,” I admit. “For Brooks.”

He sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t believe in miracles. But we sure as hell need one.”

The statement sends my heart pounding.

CHAPTERTEN

OLIVIA

“Ineed a remake of that chili, please,” I shout through the kitchen window where I can see Mark working over the stove. “Without cheese this time.”

He turns to face me, his brows pulling together. “Shit, did I mess up the order?”

I shake my head. “No, Maeve conveniently decided she didn’t want cheese the moment the bowl hit the table.” It’s not the first time the old crone has forced us to waste perfectly good food, but where my usual patience runs limitless, I’m struggling today.

Mark rolls his eyes, the silver ring in his right earlobe glinting under the fluorescent lights. “Last week she asked for both cheddar and Gruyere in her grilled cheese sandwich. Is she suddenly lactose intolerant?”

I shrug. “Who knows. Sorry!” I call sincerely before returning to the stack of cutlery that needs polishing. It hasn’t been as busy as some Fridays are, but the day has drained me just the same. I’m sluggish on my feet, mind scattered after the way last night ended. I wasn’t able to sleep much as my mind spun with what I’d done.

But you don’t regret it, I remind myself.

Because I definitely don’t regret it.

Kissing Rhett Bennett is one of the most idiotic and reckless things I’ve probably ever done. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I could move with such blatant spontaneity or disregard for consequences, so much so that it would catch someone likehimoff guard. But in a fit of bravery, I’d captured his mouth with mine and changed everything between us.

Okay, maybe not everything . . . It wasn’t some sort of declaration of wanting more than he was already giving me. I mean, wearetechnically dating, right? Even if it’s just an arrangement and not a real brewing romance, surely a kiss at the end of the night is acceptable. It’s not like I brought him inside to ravage him.

I shudder, dropping the spoons back into the ramekin of warm vinegar water and bracing my hands on the counter.

“Liv?” my mother says from the computer to my left, bringing my mind back to the café.

“Yeah?” I hope like hell she doesn’t notice the heat crawling up my neck.

She taps at the screen with a delicate finger, sending the kitchen an order before looking at me with a wry grin. “Charlotte just got here—she’s at table nine. You didn’t tell me you had a date!” Her eyes dance with excitement and my heart skitters.

“Which one?” My hand flies to cover my mouth.Crap.

Her eyes flare wide. “Olivia Danvers, what do you meanwhich one?”

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