Page 19 of The Rancher's Heart

“I’m starving. What did you expect to find on the app?” Nathan asked, following closely.

The truth? Or a half-truth? “I wanted to make sure the app is legit.”

“Sloane’s not going to like you checking up on her.” Blake got colas from the fridge. “You don’t think she’s in trouble, do you?”

Maybe.“No,” Jonas said after concern crept into his brothers’ expressions. “She’s a smart lady. I’m sure she thoroughly investigated the app.” So far he hadn’t seen anything that raised the hair on his arms.

“Did you call the association about Duke?” Nathan asked, taking a seat at the table. Blake followed suit.

“Yes.” Jonas was grateful for the change of subject as he placed the pizza and napkins in front of his brothers. It was embarrassing to be caught sneaking around Sloane’s back. “I got all the information we need to move forward on the DNA testing and registration once we get the results back.”

“How long will all that take?” Blake grabbed a slice and a napkin.

“Under normal circumstances, seven to ten business days after we get the kit. So, maybe two to three weeks?” It was a good thing Jonas was a just-in-case kind of cook. “The lady I contacted at CRHA said we can send a sample of Duke’s hair for genetic testing to Gluck. I’ve already contacted them and had them overnight the kit.”

“You know”—Nathan started, after finishing his first slice in silence. His gaze was thoughtful, then brightened with a familiar mischievousness as he studied Jonas—“you should sign up for Perfect Match. When was the last time you went on a date? Sloane could probably show you the ropes.”

“I like that idea,” Blake said in agreement.

Jonas straightened. “I am not asking Sloane to coach me on how to use a dating app.” Brothers could be a pain in the backside, but at the end of the day, they were his brothers. He pointed his half-eaten pizza at Blake. “How was the honeymoon?”

Blake responded with a ready grin. “It was great. Angel Point is a cute little town. They had their centennial celebration while we were there. Malorie loved it.”

“Sloane’s on a date tonight,” Nathan said out of nowhere. Clearly, he wasn’t ready to drop the subject.

Jonas rolled his eyes. “I know. She told me.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?” Blake asked, looking at Nathan, brows raised.

“Nope.” Jonas took the last slice. “Why should it?”

“You guys have been friends for a long time.” If Nathan thought his usual stubborn push would change Jonas’s mind, his brother needed to rethink that strategy.

“Exactly. We’re friends. Good friends. Look, you guys, just because you’ve found sweet women who are willing to overlook your faults, and who want to spend the rest of their lives with you doesn’t mean I’m ready to follow you down the aisle,” Jonas informed the brats.

Or was he? For a second, he could see him and Sloane standing under the arbor at the cottage. Would she wait for him to get all his ducks sorted out? The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint his best friend.

“Why wouldn’t you want to marry a woman as wonderful as Sloane?” Nathan demanded. “She’s put up with your crap since you were kids.”

Jonas stood, his hands balling into fists before he could control his exasperation. “Are you suggesting I’ve been hard on Sloane?”

“No.” Nathan rose to face Jonas, his expression fierce. “I’m saying you haven’t always realized how lucky you are to have a best friend like Sloane. Over the years, she’s cut you a lot of slack.”

Jonas’s annoyance slipped away as quickly as it had sprung up. He took the empty pizza pan to the sink. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Okay. Be that way.” Nathan put up his hands in surrender. Jonas was pretty sure this wouldn’t be the end of the conversation. “We’re just trying to help.”

“I know.” Maybe he should reconsider what Nathan was saying. The more Jonas thought about it, the more he wondered. “I can take care of my relationships without any interference from you boys.”

“And what relationship is that?” Blake asked, then also backed away with his hands raised.

Jonas rinsed the pizza pan, then stuck it in the dishwasher, wishing his brothers would find someone else to annoy. Grabbing his laptop, he headed for the stairs that led to the bedrooms. When he hit the landing, they were still there, huddling together, talking softly.

“Hey, I’ll let you know when I get the results of Duke’s DNA test,” he tossed at them, hoping to move them along. He knew that huddle from when they were kids. They were up to something.

Shrugging, he continued up to his room, where he had a desk and workspace. Whatever they were plotting, he didn’t want to know. They were grown men, according to their ages, anyway, and he had issues to sort out of his own. Including figuring out if he should consider asking Sloane to forget that Ken guy and go on a real date with him.

The last time he’d asked, because at the time he’d only been half serious, it hadn’t worked out that well. Maybe a better idea would be to get her help with the horses until he worked up the nerve to ask again.

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