Page 3 of Lucky in Love

“You’re sitting here with a goofy grin on your face.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, immediately adopting a scowl. The last thing I need is for my brother to get it in his head that something is going on with that vet. Ever since he moved back to Evergreen Mountain and got back together with his high school sweetheart Ginger, he’s been bugging me about finding someone too. He’s always been one for dates and flowers and all that lovey-dovey crap. I was never a relationship guy and since I left active duty, well… I’m not in any kind of shape for a relationship.

“Hey, didn’t that new vet come out this afternoon?”

“Uh huh.”

“How’d that go?”

“Fine.”

“Everything okay with the horses?”

“Yup.”

“I sure do love our long chats, Brother,” he quips. “It’s so nice to open up and share what’s going on in our lives.”

“Now that you’re back together with Ginger, aren’t y’all gonna get married so you can move out?” I snarl.

“You know you love me living here. It’s just like old times.” He’s grinning in a way that makes me want to smack him. If we were ten years younger, I would.

“Yeah, fighting over who gets the bathroom first in the morning is such a joy.” I roll my eyes.

When I was honorably discharged from the Marines, I came home to the ranch and hibernated, surviving on Hungry Man dinners I had delivered to my doorstep. If an old family friend hadn’t called a few months later, begging me to help him rehabilitate an injured horse, I might still be holed up in the house. That horse pulled me out of the worst of my depression and gave me something to focus on when PTSD reared its ugly head. A few months later, I reopened Ross Ranch and started training horses again, but I still avoid people like the plague. Although I’m glad my brother is home and being around him gives me a sense of normalcy, I prefer living alone.

“Are y’all going to tie the knot soon?”

“We’ve only been back together for a month and I don’t want to scare her off by rushing it. I’m waiting for the right moment.”

“Well, don’t wait too long,” I grumble.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be out of your hair soon enough and then you’ll have the house all to yourself again. Then, it’ll be your turn to go find you a woman,” he smirks.

“Don’t hold your breath.”

THREE

Paige

Delaney’s Cafe is packed when I walk in the next morning. I spot Fiona’s honey-blond ponytail at a table near the front window and squeeze past the other tables to reach her.

“Hey! Something smells good.” I toss my bag over the back of a wooden chair and sit down.

“That’s Delaney’s world-famous cinnamon rolls. You have to try one. Oh, there she is now.”

A woman with rich, chestnut brown hair approaches the table. “Good morning, ladies.”

“Hi, Delaney. This is my cousin, Paige. She just moved here from Nashville.”

“The vet, right?” she says with a smile.

“Word sure does travel fast around here,” I say, returning the smile.

“Small town and all. We’re glad you’re here. What can I get for you ladies?”

“I’ve got to have one of those cinnamon rolls. And a latte, if you have it.”

“I’ll have the same,” Fiona says.

---