Page 11 of Imperfectly Ours

“Charlotte’s sixteen!” he exclaimed.

“Like that’s any better? Since when do you keep secrets? Especially one as big as having a girlfriend?” I glanced at Tenley whose face was turning red from holding back her laughter.

“Since when doyoukeep secrets from your family?” Butch shot back. “Why doesn’t Cassidy know that the vet is here? I didn’t think we had…” His voice trailed off as his gaze flashed between Tenley and me.

Caught.

I’d been wanting to keep things quiet from my family until Tenley and I became more established. At least after one date, otherwise, they would meddle. My mom would go above and beyond the usual meddling that normal families did. But I knew by that look that we’d been caught.

“Hypocrite!” Butch finally shouted, gesturing at me. “Accusing me of keeping a secret as big as having a girlfriend when you’re doing the exact same thing!”

“Butch,” I cautioned as Tenley’s mouth fell open.

She swung her gaze to me. “Your family doesn’t know?” Tenley gasped.

“No, his family doesn’t know,” Butch replied triumphantly, and he slyly grinned, pushing upright from the rail.

I glared at him, and he immediately slunk away. “And you’re not going to say anything to anyone. I don’t need our family getting all nosy yet,” I commanded.

“What’s to stop me?” he defiantly argued, and I uncrossed my arms.

“Here’s the deal. I won’t say anything to your mother on two conditions,” I stated and Butch raised a brow. “One, you keep Tenley and I’s relationship to yourself for the time being.”

“Done.” Butch nodded.

“Two, you and Charlotte will restack all of this hay. Cover it properly as it should’ve been. And then, you two also get to take the broken bales and feed the cattle tonight,” I finished, and his mouth fell open.

Scrambling over the fence, he came as close as he could so only I could hear him speak. My eyes quickly glanced at Charlotte, who was remaining as quiet as a mouse. “Weston, Charlotte has never, you know, done those things before,” he whispered.

“Well, then she will get hands-on learning. How exciting,” I replied with a grin and stepped away.

“What?” Charlotte finally gasped, widening her eyes in shock.

“Or I can call both of your parents right now, and let them know what I found.” I looked at Butch and then back at Charlotte. “You're Danny and Michelle Baker’s kid, aren’t you?”

She nodded, hanging her head.

“Off you go then.” I gestured at the scattered bales around me. Butch rolled his eyes but jumped off the railing and walked to Charlotte.

“He’s as scary as everyone says,” she muttered to Butch, who merely chuckled.

“Who, Uncle Weston?” Butch asked.

“Yes.”

“Nah, he’s actually the opposite. I’m glad it was him who caught us and not Remington. Or worse, my dad,” Butch replied, and began showing Charlotte what to do.

Sighing, I leaned against the hood of the truck, since there was no way I was going to leave Butch and his girl alone to make this mess worse. He began tossing the bales of hay, one by one, back onto the pile. Charlotte could barely pick up a bale, so she began raking the loose hay into a pile instead.

I glanced at Tenley as she calmly watched the work begin. Footsteps crunched over the snowy ground as she walked directly up to me. Without hesitation, she stepped in between my legs and leaned her back against my body. My heart began to race, thumping loudly in my chest as she relaxed against me. Openly expressing comfort in me. Wrapping the blanket tighter, she tipped her head onto my chest.

I waited one more second, enjoying her gesture, and feeling her body backed against mine. Then I slung my arms around her shoulders snuggling her in closely.

“Our first date redo is going to need a redo itself, isn’t it?” she quietly mumbled.

I sighed. “Sorry, darling.”

And I was genuinely disappointed. But she merely giggled.

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