Page 9 of Reckless

Once her lesson’s done and she’s out of my hair, I hurry to ride one more horse before it gets too hot. By the time I’m finished, my face is burning from the searing heat. Stomping over to the faucet on the side of the barn, I bend over to splash some cold water on my face, but it comes outwarm.

“Damn it.” I wipe my face again and tell my two ranch hands that I’m headed to the house for a few minutes and they should take their lunch. I wish I could say we’re calling it a day, that I can pick up the rest of my workload this evening when it’s cooler, but that’s not an option if I want to get my kids fed, bathed, and tucked into bed before a potential buyer swings by tonight to look at one of ouryearlings.

My shoes kick up dirt as I trudge across our expansive yard, but I love this walk. A deep pride wells up in me as I approach my home through the field of dandelions and thistle. I inherited this house from my parents, and I’ve worked my ass off to take care of it. Some day, I hope to give it to my kids so they can have the same leg up in this world that my folks gave me andLogan.

My brother also inherited a house on the other side of the property, which we share for the sake of the business. Since Allison left, I’ve wondered if it would be easier to have my mom move back in with me and the kids instead of having her live with Logan, but I’m afraid that would make my dependence on her worse. The woman needs a break, which she won’t gethere.

Mila comes tearing by me when I open the back door, and Cody toddles after her. “No running in thehouse.”

Mila slows to a halt until Cody plows into her legs, and then she starts power-walking around the corner. My mom lumbers about ten pacesbehind.

“You doing okay,Ma?”

She rolls her eyes. “Of course I’m okay, but those little punks are gettingfaster.”

“Don’t you dare run afterthem.”

“Their mischief and mayhem know no bounds, so until you find that babysitter, don’t tell me what todo.”

I snicker at her snippy attitude. “I’m on it. I’m on it. Soon, you’ll be sipping mimosas with Aunt Hazel, missing yourrugrats.”

“Ain’t it the truth.” She pats my cheek like I’m a boy and shuffles off to track down mychildren.

Turning, I make my way to the kitchen, my least favorite part of the house. Everything about this room reminds me of my wife. The track lighting and the professional range oven. The dark marble counters and fancy cookware. All shit she wanted but never used orappreciated.

At least now I can bathe in the enormous double sink without her bitching aboutit.

Stripping off my sweat-soaked t-shirt, I duck under the cold faucet in the kitchen, get my head and neck wet, and hope to God the sudden change in temperature doesn’t make me strokeout.

This is when Allison would complain I was raised in a barn, which isn’t far from thetruth.

I’m twisting the faucet when I hear a familiarvoice.

“E, you back here?” my brother callsout.

“Yeah.Kitchen.”

Footsteps sound down the hall as I reach out for a dry dishtowel. My eyes are stinging with sweat, so it takes me a few tries to find the rightdrawer.

Finally, I wrap my hands around a towel and bring it to my face just as a throat clears behindme.

By the time I dry my face and open my eyes, I come face to face with Logan, who looks like a cat prowling a cage of canaries. Then I seewhy.

He’s notalone.

“Thought I’d bring Kat and her sister so you couldchat.”

He smirks as I take in the two women by hisside.

“Hey, Kat.” I motion with myhead.

“Hi, neighbor.” She gives me a sweet smile as she rubs her swollen stomach. Then she nudges the woman next to her. “This is my younger sisterTori.”

That’s when I finally get a good look at the sister.FuckingLogan.

My eyes dart back to my brother, who’s grinning so wide, I can count his molars. I glare at him, knowing full well what he’s doing right now. My brother is worse than my mother when it comes to matchmaking. Because if his expression is any indication, this is about more than finding ababysitter.

Some men are all about tits. Others like a girl’s ass. Me, I’m a hair man. So it sucked when Allison chopped hers off right after we got married and kept itshort.

---