Page 311 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
“Did she sneak in or did you leave a trail of flannel?” Dean’s tone is pure bait.
I grunt. “Go choke on a cactus.”
They all laugh like they’re so damn funny.
“So, when we get back home, what’s the deal?” Levi switches the coffee cup between his hands, playing a game of hot potato. “You guys dating now? Taking it slow? Moving in? Have you been thinking about where you two will move? You’re still living at Ma and Pa’s.”
“In a cabin by the bunkhouses.” I glare at him. “You were living right beside me until last year, after the town awarded you and Hope Nofarre Stretch as a wedding gift.”
“Then I guess you gotta get married.”
The Matchmakers were right. What is with the shotgun weddings and my brothers?
“Maybe they’ll just be frequent tent-mates? Hey, darlin’, you need a hand?” And just like that, Bronx veers off the path like a damn bloodhound, tracking down some random woman carrying a handful of something to a car.
“And he’s gone.” Dean turns to watch while he keeps up with our pace. “Bet he gets her number.”
“There’s room to build another house close to us.” Levi ducks under a branch on the path.
Doesn’t he think we’ve lived close enough up until this point?
“We own lots of land, I’m sure we can figure out a location. Like the North Wilde Ridge.” I name off the first property that pops into my head to shut him up.
“That house is a dump.” Dean straightens, scratching the back of his neck. “It’s falling apart. Why would you want to fix that shithole?”
I shouldn’t be surprised that he only finds more to discuss.
“Why not?” I haven’t thought much beyond today with her, let alone our future.
But as long as we’re together, I’m good. I also wonder if I can get this setup organized and slip back into bed with her before she wakes up.
“The ceiling is falling in at the North Wilde Ridge. You’d be lucky one doesn’t fall on your head while you’re sleeping or fucking.” Dean snorts.
“We could fix it up.” I pray he leaves it at that and finds something else—anything else—to talk about.
The first taste of coffee hits my tongue with a rush of warmth and bitterness, pulling me out of the morning fog.
“That place would take a miracle and a hell of a lot more than your weekend handyman skills.” He yawns loud enough to wake the campground.
“I got Levi, right?” I glance at my brother, only to find that his surprise quickly shifts to happiness.
Good Lord, don’t get too happy, I don’t even know what the hell we’re doing yet.
Hell, maybe I’ll move in with her. Or perhaps we won’t move in at all. That idea of not spending every night with her and not waking up next to her doesn’t sit well with me. But we’ve beenan item for less than twenty-four hours, so I don’t know what the fuck we’re doing.
I don’t say any of this.
“Yeah, for sure, man.” Levi claps a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll always be here to help you with whatever you need.”
He’s the fix-it guy on the ranch. He can patch a pipe, wrangle a fence, and rebuild a carburetor before breakfast.
“Jade crawled into your tent like a possum on a mission.” Bronx is back and missing most of our conversation. “Zipper woke me up. Sounded like a damn chainsaw. Thought a raccoon was eating you. It turns out you were the one eating. Metaphorically speaking but not metaphorically speaking.” He sticks his tongue and waggles it like he’s between a pair of legs.
“Ah, hell,” I mutter, rubbing my eyes.
Bronx chuckles. “All I’m sayin’ is, you’re a grown man. She’s a grown woman. She could’ve walked in with you last night when the rest of us went to bed. Why the sneaky sneak? Huh? What was that about?”
“None of your damn business.”
