Page 119 of Ride the Sky

“Here,” Dakota rushes over. “Let me help you.”

“I can do it, Koty,” Fallon warns, settling her walker near the hallway. Her face is irritated as her sister helps her limp across the hardwood floor. From over her shoulder, she shoots me a glare. Like it’s my fault she’s here.

Like every damn thing that’s happened to her is my fault.

Hell, maybe it is.

If I had found that letter…

If I had told her I loved her before Aiden…

We wouldn’t be in this mess.

I sigh and lean back against the wall. Since Ruby moved in, Charlie’s log cabin has been upgraded. Plants and candles on the windowsills. Kittens in every nook and corner. The scent of sunshine and flowers and vanilla lingering in the air.

Ruby and Dakota prep dinner at the counter, while Reese tops off glasses of wine and whiskey.

Fallon sits on the floor with the kids, Keena, and the cats. Content to lone wolf it for the night.

Davis shakes his head. “I shouldn’t even have to fuckin’ say it.”

“He’s gonna to be late the rest of his life,” Ford drawls, handing me a beer. “Get used to it, brother.”

“Blame Fallon,” I grumble. It took everything in me to drag Fallon’s ass to the ranch. She argued with me before we left the cottage then sat arms crossed and silent the entire drive here. She’s shutting me out.

“By the way,” Davis says, “your Airstream. I need your ass to grab some boxes and get to packin’.”

I roll my eyes. Back for one family dinner and already they’re giving me chores. “You decide what you’re doin’ with the land?”

“Casino,” Ford drawls.

“Dick,” I mutter, flipping him the bird.

Ford adjusts the baseball cap on his head. “You hear about the break-in at Zeke’s?”

“What happened?”

“Fucker stole some animal pens and horse tranq.” He jerks his chin at Davis. “But we got Rambo on the case.”

“Again, not a cop.” Davis rolls out his shoulders then leans down on the counter to let us in on the town chatter. “Richter pulled cameras. Didn’t get shit since they went out the back door.”

Dakota walks by. Davis jerks up as she slaps his ass. “Like I said,” she tells the room, “blue-collar gossip.”

Davis growls and lunges. Dakota squeals, trying to juggle a tray of cookies as he grabs her hips and tugs her against him.

For a long second, I watch my brother and his wife. Hell if I don’t want that same exact damn thing. My body aches to claim Fallon with more than just words. To call hermy wifeand tell her to get fucking used to it. To kiss her in front of everyone. To claim her. For good.

A blur of motion catches my eye.

I take a swig of my beer then nod at Charlie, who follows Ruby into the living room. “What’s with them?”

My brother has Ruby pressed back against the wall, his hands cupped to her pretty face. Tight lines of tension strain Charlie’s mouth.

“Ain’t sure,” Ford says. “Been at it all night.”

I arch a brow. “Fightin’?”

Ford snorts. “Charlie knows better than to fight with Fairy Tale.”

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