See? Grumpy. And defensive. If you need help, ask me, you stubborn asshole.”
“Right, like you ask for help or time off when your leg hurts?”
“My leg is fine.”
“What a coincidence,” Cole said. “I’m fine too. I’m so damn fine it’s not even funny. Everything’s
great. The ranch is great.”
“Seems like it.”
“Obviously.”
“You’re as screwed up as I am,

Wouldn’t hurt if you used your connections to grease the wheels.”
“I can do that. But damn, Cole how hard is it to just ask?”
“Hard,” Cole said, pushing his hand through his hair. “Especially when you’re afraid asking is going
to blow up the family.”
Cade nodded. “So we both know.”
“Yeah.”
“And Lark doesn’t.”
“Nope.”
“Keep it that way?”
Cole tapped the side of his beer bottle. “I don’t know. I don’t like being a part of the deception.”
“We didn’t lie, Cole; he did.”
“But we know the truth. Do we keep covering for him?”
“He never covered for us. He’d tell Mom on us, and then she’d whup our asses.”
Cole laughed. Sometimes the memories were still good. They still seemed intact and not just like a
facade that hadn’t meant a damn thing. “Yeah, he did. But he’s not alive to answer for it, or learn from
it.”
“How about we drink alcohol and make no decisions?”
“I’m cool with that.”
Cade took the bottle opener off the fridge and popped the top off his beer, taking a long drink

What the hell, Cade? You knew, and you never thought . . . ‘Hey, maybe I should tell my
brother’?”
“No, Cole, I never thought that,” Cade said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
“And why the hell not?

Yeah, I will. Why do you
care so much all of a sudden?”
Cade shrugged. “I don’t have anything else to do. And like I said . . . you and Lark and this ranch
are all I have. Makes you cling to things tighter when you realize how easy it is to lose them.

And Amber?”
Cade looked stricken at the mention. “I knew her before she had breasts, so she doesn’t count.”
“I’m sure she’d love to hear that.”
“She won’t.” His eyes narrowed in warning. “Ever. Now seriously, what’s the deal with you and
Kelsey?

Relax, Cole, I wasn’t proposing.” She put her hand on his shoulder for a second, and when she
removed it, the impression of her warmth lingered. Burned.
And for a moment he wondered if marriage wouldn’t be such a bad idea.