Page 47 of When the Storm Breaks
The guy laughed. “Sorry to cockblock you ...”
“No, you’re not.”
“You’re right. I don’t give a shit. You told me to come over at five. Guess you lost track of time, huh?”
“Shit,” Brody said. “It’s five already?”
“Yup. You gonna help me load ‘em into the trailer or just leave me to my own devices?”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Gonna introduce me to your friend, Bro-Bro?”
“Get the fuck out of here.”
“Hey Austin, whassup?”
That sounded like Ridge. I was still standing behind Brody’s back with his hand on my thigh.
“Hey man. How you been? Hear you and my nephew got lit the other night.”
Ridge laughed. “Yeah. It was pretty sick.”
“Have your fun now. When football practice starts, I’m gonna kick your asses into shape.”
“Will I have to call you Coach?”
“Damn straight. Second thought, Sir will do.”
Brody snort-laughed. “Whoever made you one of the coaches of a high school football team must be dumber than a box of rocks.”
“I’m still a high school football legend.”
“In your own mind.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to see who Brody was joking around with. I moved out from behind his protective stance and stood next to him. The guy standing in the stables was as big as Jude and built like a football player with dark brown hair cropped close to his head. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “Holy shit. You look a lot like that singer.” He clicked his fingers, trying to come up with the name.
“Yeah, I get that all the time.”
Brody’s lips quirked in amusement. He looped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close to his side. Austin’s eyes widened. “Well, I’ll be damned. When did this happen?”
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, okay. Brody Commitment-Phobe McCallister. I’m Austin Armacost.” He extended his hand and I stepped forward to shake it.
“I’m ...” I looked over at Brody. He nodded, and I got the feeling he trusted this guy. “My name is Shiloh.”
He released my hand. “Damn. That’s it. Shiloh. It was on the tip of my tongue. Not sure what you see in this guy.” He puffed out his chest. “My ranch is bigger than his.”
“You inherited your ranch. Doesn’t count.”
“Still counts.”
I laughed.
“Is she the reason you needed my pickup?” he asked Brody.
Brody nodded.
