Page 27 of Secret Baby for the Triplets

“Nothing,” I say quickly.

Now it’s my turn to give Owen a dirty look, but he doesn’t see it as we continue toward our house.

“Doesn’t sound like nothing,” Toby presses.

“Brock fired Lana,” Owen explains. “Andy didn’t take it well.”

“Actually,” I add quickly. “You should have a chat with him. His attitude was a little unprofessional. Lana was here temporarily. They both knew that. I don’t want him causing problems for Emerson.”

“You sure do have a way with people, Brock,” Toby chuckles, throwing open the front door and kicking off his filthy boots.

A pile of dirt tracks into the house with us anyway, and we pad over the hardwood floor toward the kitchen, tossing our hats on the table as we pass by.

“I do have a way with people,” I snap back. “That’s why I’ve been the one dealing with them.”

“You deal with their money,” Toby retorts. “I deal with them in the dirt.”

I scowl. “Good. Then, make sure that Andy understands that Emerson deserves respect. I won’t have him giving her a hard time.”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Toby insists. “But I’ll talk to him.”

If he remembers,I think sourly. Asking Toby to do anything had a fifty-fifty chance of getting accomplished.

Owen opens the fridge and pulls out a Tupperware container with last night’s leftovers: grilled chicken breast and vegetables. I collapse onto one of the stools at the kitchen island and lean over the countertop as Owen fixes sandwich wraps for lunch.

Toby pulls out a beer and offers me one, but my look of disapproval makes him roll his eyes.

“Oh, give me a break. I don’t have any lessons today,” he complains, popping off the cap and swigging back defiantly.

Owen pulls the chicken from the container and cuts it into strips, eying me warningly again.

“Anyway, I don’t get the luxury of spending time with our hot new employee,” Toby taunts. “I got to take my pleasures where I can.”

I bristle slightly. “Don’t talk about Emerson like that,” I scold him. “She’s the ranch administrator, not another notch for your bedpost.”

“Ourbedpost, brother,” Toby remarks sarcastically. “I told you; I always share.”

My hands curl into fists. “I’m not fucking around, Toby. Leave her alone. I think she’ll be a good fit around here, and I don’t want her quitting.”

Owen’s dark eyebrows shoot up at my tone.

Toby laughs again. “Oh relax. I’m not going to do anything. Our only backup option for that job right now is Lana.”

I glower at him. “That’s why you won’t hit on her? Because we won’t have a backup administrator?”

Toby shrugs nonchalantly. “See? I can be business-minded, too.”

Owen snorts. “One of these days, I’m going to start keeping a tally of how many days you two can go without getting into an argument.”

Toby points at me. “Tell it to him. He’s the one who starts it.”

Owen ignores our bickering and continues to chop the red peppers. “I thought you were meeting with the Pine Sky town council today.”

I tense as I stare at Toby.

My brother freezes, his beer bottle suspended midway to his mouth. His expression goes blank. “What’s today?” he mumbles, looking from one of us to the other.

“Monday,” we chorus.

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