Page 36 of Red Hot Rancher

But she hadn’t shown yet. She’d surprised him and messaged him to ask where he’d be and when. Without her own vehicle, she was dependent on Justin. And if Justin up and left her, she’d have to ask her mom. An image flashed through his mind of prim Joan Walker sneaking out of the house to puncture a tire or remove the battery cables so she could blame a vehicle breakdown for not being able to deliver her precious daughter into his dirty arms.

A silly worry, but one that felt more likely with each minute that ticked by.

He needed to talk to Justin. The man’s sister had been in Caleb’s bed all night. Justin had loaned his vehicle to Brigit, but he probably hadn’t expected her to spend the night. What did he think?

A loud rumble punctured his doubt spiral. Justin swung his pickup into the spot next to Caleb’s. Justin lifted his chin and turned to say something to Brigit as she climbed out.

Caleb got out. He might as well find out if there was bad blood between them. Brigit slanted him a small smile as she walked around to the passenger side. She didn’t stop but got inside like she knew he had to clear the air with Justin.

Justin lowered the window. “What’s up?”

“Just wanted to know… We good?”

Justin’s gaze slid to where Brigit was settling in, then back. “Because you kept Brigit out past her curfew?”

“Well…”

“Kidding, man.” Justin grinned, but turned serious. “Not that you or Brigit need my approval, but if I’d ever thought you were bad for her, you wouldn’t have been to my house so often.”

Caleb nodded, a lump forming in his throat. Justin’s support was no little deal, and he hadn’t realized how much the secret had bothered him until its weight was lifted from his chest. “I guess I need to get right by your parents, but I don’t know if she’s ready for that level of commitment.”

“Dad just wants Brigit to be happy and he’s always gotten along with you. Mom might be a little raw that you’re stealing her time with her baby girl, but I don’t think you need to be terrified of her like you have been since I’ve known you.”

Caleb cast him a droll look.

Justin shrugged. “Okay, I mean, I don’t think it’s as personal as you think. Brigit was kind of a loner as a kid and we all worried about her.”

“She still plans on leaving.”

“Can you blame her?” Justin draped an arm over the steering wheel and peered out the window. “It was kind of like, ‘Hey, all the land and cattle you worked growing up, we’re giving Travis everything. Fly, little birdie.’ We had the world open to us, but I don’t know that either of us really wanted to go. I thought I did, but city life didn’t agree with me. I got to come home because the guys expanded and needed extra help. But they’re having kids and if they took on extra people, it’d be as a hired hand. I can’t blame her for wanting more than to be someone’s bitch her whole life.”

“I don’t, either,” Caleb said quietly.

Justin looked directly at him. “I know. And that’s why I’m worried about you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you only had eyes for her when we were younger, and you’ve never been serious with anyone else. Now she’s back and you’re standing here asking for my blessing even when you know it’s temporary.”

Someone’s bitch. Would that be how everyone saw it if by some miracle she stayed in Moore and built a life with him? Would that be how she felt?

Acid turned his breakfast sour. He’d be ecstatic, living the life he wanted with the woman he’d loved his whole life, while she’d be settling, doing the work he couldn’t get to while he was on duty.

“I wish there were more job opportunities here.”

“If there were, we’d have a population that hit five figures. Anyway.” He flipped his truck into gear. “Let me know if she needs a ride home. I’m going out with Maisy tonight, but we can swing by and get her.”

“I’d rather get chewed out by your mom than put Brigit through facing Maisy again.”

Justin shifted back into park. “She said something similar. Were there really problems with Maisy?”

Other than the girl being selfish, arrogant, and callous and not one bit better as a woman? “I don’t know specifics. I just know there were.”

A muscle jumped in Justin’s jaw. “I guess this might be the last date, then.”

“Let’s hope it goes better than when you two broke up junior year.”

Justin frowned as he tried to remember. “What, you mean my car getting keyed? That wasn’t her.”

The hell it wasn’t. “She just didn’t get caught. But it wasn’t a coincidence that it happened while you were at your rebound’s house.”

His brow furrowed. “I just can’t picture Maisy doing that.”

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