Page 39 of Sweet Whiskey
Maverick’s cheeks turn a shade of red and he looks down at her with a soft smile before sighing and looking back at me. “I just don’t want my pops toget his hopes up. He always wanted more kids. It’s why he collected so many strays on the ranch.”
Colt snorts. “Strays? Please, some of us were better house-trained than you.”
I stifle a laugh, glancing between them. “So you grew up together then?”
The man next to me shrugs. “Kind of. I’m a few years older, so more like Mav followed me around like a lost puppy.”
“A puppy?” Maverick scoffs before shaking his head. “Sorry I looked up to you.” He rolls his eyes, both of them smirking at each other.
“So are all the men on the ranch close?” Brielle asks, shoving a bite of her food into her mouth right after. She innocently looks up at Maverick as she chews.
He watches her, amused.
Colt clears his throat. “For the most part,” he answers Brielle's question. “You kind of have to be, need to trust each other with your lives.”
Her eyebrows raise. “It’s that dangerous?”
Maverick nods. “Horses can be. They have some of the gentlest souls, but all it takes is one wrong hoof to the chest or head. Lights out.”
“I hadn’t thought about that,” I say, musing over it. “And I assume with the rodeo too. Lots of trust.”
He shrugs, glancing at Colt. “Sure, but that’s a bit different. Those horses are trained for that. A lot of the ranch horses are more to drive the cattle and what not. They’re a bit more wild.”
“And by wild he means less disciplined,” Colt chimes in. “The rodeo horses are trained, but pampered beyond belief. Think of a prince taught how to rule the kingdom, living a life of luxury.”
Brielle sighs. “Well, I think it’s cool. A family business, something to teach the next generation and hand over. It builds character.”
The mention of afamilybusiness has Maverick glancing over at me, as if I’m preparing to steal it. I give him a bitter smile and turn to Colt. “What about you? You imagine taking over the ranch when you were younger?”
His throat bobs as he stares down at me, his soft brown eyes swimming with affection. “Not at first, but as the summers passed, I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.”
“Pops probably would have dragged you back anyway,” Maverick says with an eyeroll. He stuffs a bite of food into his mouth, barely chewing before swallowing. “Always liked you better.”
A flash of guilt streaks across Colt’s face before he shakes his head. “I’m just a few years older than you. Easier to connect with is all. Your dad loves you.”
Brielle claps her hands. “Oh, good reminder. How old are you? Kinsey and I just turned twenty-four, so y'all are obviously around the same age.”
I shake my head, amused at her very obvious attempt at getting information.
Maverick grunts. “Twenty-eight.”
My heart sinks. That means when or if his dad cheated on his mom with my mom, he was only a toddler. I swallow down the sadness while Colt reaches under the table to squeeze my hand.
“Thirty-three. Brooks is only a year older than you, but the twins are the same age as Mav.”
Brielle’s eyes light up. “The twins. It’s so cute when people refer to twins like that.”
Maverick snorts. “They hate it. If anything, Dallas and Duke couldn’t be any more different if they tried.”
Colt nudges my shoulder. “Let’s finish our food and then head out to see Levi.”
I blow out a long breath and smiled at him in thanks.
My stomach churns, threatening to upchuck the food I just forced down as Maverick opens the door to Levi’s apartment within the complex.
“Hey, Son.” The man greets Maverick.
My heart catches in my throat. The usualness of it makes me miss my mom.
