Page 14 of Claimed By the Cowboy
The question hangs between us. Because the truth is sitting in my chest like a brand. What I want is upstairs, sleeping in the guest room opposite mine, probably curled up small under one of Mom’s quilts.
“Doesn’t matter what I want,” I say finally. “What matters is keeping my promise. I made a commitment to Delaney. I can’t go back on that.”
Dad studies me for a long moment, then nods slowly. “Your mom used to say the heart sees clearer than the mind. Might be worth listening to yours before you end up with a future you can’t live with.”
His words are still sinking in when the back door swings open. Angus and Henry stomp into the kitchen, bringing a summer breeze and the smell of hay with them.
“Mornin’, lover boy,” Angussays, heading straight for the coffee pot. “What’s got you looking like you swallowed a fence post?”
Henry smirks as Angus hands him a mug. “Maybe his mouth is still frozen.”
Angus leans against the counter and takes a slow sip of his coffee. “Still can’t believe you introduced your future sister-in-law with a name that could headline at a Vegas gentlemen’s club.”
“I was waiting for a spotlight, a glitter curtain, and thebow-chicka-bow-wowmusic,” Henry adds.
Angus points his mug at me. “Don’t forget the dollar bills. Could’ve passed a hat around.”
Henry tilts his head as if he’s replaying the scene. “You know my favorite part? That shade of red you turned, Tom. I swear, you looked like a ripe tomato in cowboy boots. Thought you were gonna spontaneously combust right there in front of her.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Jackass.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Angus says. “Slippery tongue… Sutton family curse, but the rest of us save it for the bedroom.”
I shoot him a look over my coffee. “Yeah? Well, the walls in this house aren’t as thick as you think. I’ve heard the Sutton family curse in actionmultipletimes.”
Henry shrugs. “Can’t help it if Angus and I have wives who can’t keep their hands off us.”
“Now, now, boys. Let’s keep this PG,” Dad cuts in, stealing a biscuit from the counter. “Tom will have his own wife soon enough… and then we can all invest in noise-canceling headphones. Or soundproofing.”
Henry and Angus laugh again, and I seriously consider moving into the barn.
“Question is,” Henry says with a knowing smile, “which woman will Tom be making his wife?”
“Jesus, not you too,” I grumble. “I’m marrying Delaney. End of.”
Angus raises an eyebrow. “Right. That’s why you couldn’t take your eyes off Klitty all night.”
“Kitty. K-I-T-T-Y.” I spell her name clearly.
They snicker like the annoyingbastards they are.
I drop my forehead onto the table with a groan. “You’re never letting this go, are you?”
Henry grins. “Oh, no, baby brother. This one’s going on a t-shirt.”
Angus’s face lights up. “In big block letters: TEAM KLITTY.”
I throw a piece of toast at him. He catches it midair and takes a bite.
Henry claps me on the back. “Relax. We’re just saying… for a guy who’s supposed to be marrying Delaney, you seem mighty interested in her sister.”
“Right. Let me just add ‘run off with my fiancée’s sister’ to today’s to-do list, right after ‘milk the cows’ and ‘deal with my idiot brothers,’” I say sarcastically.
Angus lifts his mug, unfazed. “Say what you want, but I’m pretty sure your subconscious already eloped with Klitty.”
“Haven’t you two got work to do?” Usually, I’d have a smartass comeback, but the truth in their remarks stings, and my trademark humor is nowhere to be found.
Angus sets his empty mug in the sink. “Lucky for you, we’ve got fences to check.”
