Page 33 of Brands

Do I want to tie myself to that kind of heartache?

I’m too used to being on the road, traveling…flirting.

But her little jab about going back to the bar and picking up that asshole who was getting grabby with her made my guts roll in a way I didn’t expect.

Who am I to get all possessive of her?

It’s because she’s Clay’s daughter. That has to be it.

I’m just being protective.

Not because I like to see her pouty lips purse when I tease her.

Or how I never know what she’s going to say next, keeping me wanting to hear more.

It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with how well her body molded to mine as I spun her around the dance floor.

How fucking sexy she looks even in a raggedy set of overalls with her hair in a messy braid.

God damn it.

The buzzing of my phone rescues me from my spiraling thoughts.

“Hey Wade, tell me you need help.” I needanythingto distract me.

“Remember that incident at the silos over Christmas? I’m finally getting some shit off this laptop and could use another set of eyes.” He sounds tired.

“How could I forget? You left Mason’s house early to go rescue Ford. Any word on when the other guy gets sifted out of the corn load?” I know Ford had a shitter of a day, nearly dying fighting the two men who had attacked his girl.

I’d say they deserved it.

“Nope. Plan is to fetch him out before the thaw and he starts to stink though,” Wade chuckles. “He ain’t going nowhere in the meantime.”

I flip on my blinker at the next turn, veering for the sheriff’s office. “Your deputy can’t help you figure out thecomputer? They ain’t exactly your strong suit.” I grew up with Wade, so know I can rib him without worrying.

“He’s the one who pointed this shit out, smarty. I need your expertise on what all this crap means,” he grumbles.

“I’ll bring my crayons.” I hang up before he has a chance to reply.

I’m still grinning when I push the door open with the badge on the nameplate.

“Did you have to stop for directions?” He pokes back, threading his fingers behind his head as he leans in his chair.

“Yea, your mom.” I fold myself into the seat across from him and prop my ankle on my knee, careful not to get the lingering cow shit on my jeans.

Wade shakes his head, making the wild tufts of copper hair bounce over his ears. “Tell her I miss her,” he says absentmindedly while waving me closer. “Check this out.” Spinning his screen around, he shows me a compiled list of videos.

“These were all on that jackass’s harddrive. That night, when Ford caught them, it wasn’t their first flight. They’ve been doing surveillance and hassling cows from multiple ranches.”

I let out a low whistle. “Well I’ll be fucked. I thought Black Gulch was the only target.”

“Same. Mason’s had the most problems by far. But this—” He points at the tiny boxes on the monitor. “—this indicates that the issues are more widespread. I need to know what all of these places have in common. That’s why you’re here.” His mouth flattens and reaches for a pile of papers.

After he hands them to me, I start rifling through. “This is more than I realized.” With a sinking feeling in my gut, I know this is also going to delay me getting back to the Taylor Dairy…and Libby.

Why in the hell is that my first thought?

“What is it?” Wade asks, propping his elbows on his desk.

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