Page 111 of Ride the Sky

“She shaved the lamb not long after that,” Dakota offers.

I chuckle and set the frame in its place. “Hellraiser even then.”

As she boxes up her famous cinnamon rolls, Dakota says, “It’s nice having her home.”

“Yeah. It is.”

She slides the box of pastries my way. “Stay for dinner?”

“Can’t.” I hitch my thumbs through my belt loops. “Gonna grill out, have some beers, and watchHousewives.” Damn. I sound too eager. But hell, if I don’t love our nights together.

Dakota arches a brow. “Housewives?”

I clear my throat. Try to play it cool. “Fallon likes all those shitty TV shows, ya know? She says they take her mind off the real world, and I don’t blame her…” I trail off.

Dakota stares like I’ve grown two heads. Then she smiles and says, “You love my sister.”

My head jerks back in surprise. Shit. Clearly, I haven’t hid it as well as I thought.

Amusement twinkles in Dakota’s dark eyes. “You don’t expect me to believe you married her, you’re taking care of her, all because you’rejust friends, do you?”

My jaw works. I debate whether to lie or not, but I’ve already been there done that.

“Living without her killed me,” I admit hoarsely.

“Same.” Face creased in sympathy, Dakota pours me a whiskey. “You’re doing fine.”

I grin. “I was gone for her the day she slapped me in the face at the Whitefish Rodeo.”

Dakota’s lips twitch. Folding her arms, she leans down low on the island. “So? Now what?” When I’m silent, she shakes her head. “Tell me you’ll tell her. You two can’t keep doing this.”

I gulp down my whiskey. “Hell, that’s why I went to Arizona.”

Understanding paints Dakota’s pretty face. Two months ago, I was all in on telling Fallon how I fucking feel. “You planned to tell her then.”

“I did, but now…”

Now it’s Koty’s turn to nod. “Now she needs to heal.” On a groan, she rubs her face in her hands then looks at me. “I don’t know how this bodes, Wyatt. You two are both proud. Stubborn. Stupid.”

“Tell me how you really feel, Koty,” I say dryly.

A sly arch of her brow. “Maybeyoushould tell her how you really feel.”

I finally got her to open up, finally got somewhere. What if I drop anI love youand it freaks her out? Worse, what if she runs again? Christ, I just barely got her back.

“I’m tryin’.” I shake my head. “Somehow, I got this insane idea I can convince her over the summer that we’re better off married.”

She studies me for a moment. “You need to talk to our daddy. Do it right this time, Wyatt.”

“I will.”

Dakota straightens. “Whatever you do, don’t let Fallon scare you off. She’s icy on the outside, but deep down, she’s all black heart.” She takes a step toward me, her face turning venomous. “You better keep making our girl happy, or there will be millions of people dedicated to your downfall. No pressure.”

“No pressure about what?”

We both turn to see Fallon standing there with her walker. In her hair, a sparkly pink tiara. Duke toddles beside her, one hand on the rail of her walker.

Koty and I exchange a look.

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