Page 11 of Wrangled Love

The last time I saw her, she was a freckle-faced ten-year-oldwith a wild mess of curls who was curious about how everything worked. She followed Julie around like a shadow, determined to prove she could do anything the ranch hands could, even if that meant hauling hay bales half her size and wearing her blisters like a badge of honor.

Fourteen years later, she’s nearly unrecognizable. The woman before me has long, brown hair tied back into a ponytail, a few loose tendrils framing her face. Her tanned skin has a natural glow from countless hours spent under the sun, and her brown eyes sparkle with curiosity as they meet mine.

Damn, she’s stunning.

Heath talks about her often but conveniently left out the part where she’s drop-dead gorgeous. Why couldn’t I be sharing a house for the summer with someone less distracting—like a retired librarian or a male ranch hand—instead of a woman who looks like she stepped out of a country music video and right into the chaos that is my life?

“Earth to Jensen.” Briar waves a hand in front of my face, her brow creased with worry.

I clear my throat. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“How was your flight?”

“All right.” I glance down at Caleb, who’s quiet and withdrawn. “It’s been a long day for us both.”

She crouches to Caleb’s level, offering him a warm smile. “Hey, Caleb, I’m Briar. It’s great to meet you.” She gestures to the stuffed dinosaur in his arms. “Looks like you’ve got a loyal friend there. Is it an Ankylosaurus?”

I’m about to explain that he won’t respond when he gives her a small nod. It catches me off guard since he hasn’t had this response with anyone else in the past week. Then again, no one else has guessed what kind of dinosaur it is—myself included.

“That’s really cool. Your stuffie looks like a strong and brave protector. You two make a great team.” She reaches out to rufflethe top of the dinosaur’s head, and I swear Caleb’s lips twitch to a hint of a smile. “Since you’re a fan of dinos, I think you’ll like your new room. Want to see it?” Briar extends her hand toward him.

Caleb’s whole face seems to brighten as he tentatively places his hand in hers.

This is the most emotion he’s shown since I’ve met him. A wave of jealousy hits me, knowing that Briar managed to get this kind of response from him within the first five minutes. It’s an irrational thought, and I should feel relieved that he’s warming up to her so quickly, especially since we’ll be living together for the summer. Still, it serves as yet another reminder that I’m falling short as his dad, and I wonder if he’ll ever look at me with that same kind of light in his eyes.

Caleb’s small hand grips mine as we climb the stairs to the second floor. He keeps stealing glances, clearly still unsure of the situation. I don’t fault him for being cautious—he’s in an unfamiliar place with someone he’s only just met. That’s enough to make anyone uneasy.

The pain in his brown eyes breaks my heart—it’s raw, unspoken, and far too much for a kid his age. If I can ease even a fraction of it, or find a way to give him a moment of peace, I will.

“We’re almost to your room,” I say, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

His only response is to clutch his stuffie to his chest and trace its worn belly with the pad of his finger.

“You’ve done some work on the place,” Jensen remarks from behind us.

I glance back to see him motioning toward the wall I painted cream last year and the light fixture I added shortly after.

“Yeah, I’ve been updating things when I can,but between managing the cabins and keeping up with repairs, it’s a slow process.”

Every time I fix one thing, two more break, and it feels like an endless cycle I can’t escape.

“Tell me these creaky stairs made the renovation list,” Jensen says, testing each step like it might give out at any moment.

Okay, sure. The stairs creak a little, and the handrail wobbles if you lean on it wrong, but it’s nothing dangerous. I’d never invite someone into a place that wasn’t safe. Still, I make a mental note to grab some screws tomorrow. Jensen can live with it for one more night.

“They are,” I assure him. “It’s no New York City penthouse, but it’s got plenty of character.”

“What makes you think that because I live in the city, I can’t appreciate rustic charm?” he says with a tired smile.

“You’ve been away so long, I figured you’d gotten used to fancy city life.” I flash him a playful smirk as we reach the landing. “Might want to consider blending in while you’re here unless you’re hoping to be the talk of the town.”

“They’ll talk no matter what. That’s Bluebell for you. Lots of nosy-ass charm packed into a tiny zip code,” he says with a dry chuckle.

I widen my eyes, nodding toward Caleb.

“Right. Sorry,” Jensen whispers under his breath.

My conscience is quick to step in, reminding me they’ve only been recently acquainted despite their striking resemblance to each other. Caleb isn’t the only one struggling to adapt to the situation.

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