“Of course I don’t!”

“I’m a thirty-five-year-old widow with two boys, and I live with my mother and father.”

He sighs. “Okay, maybe a little.”

I elbow him and he laughs. “Jerk.”

“Look, life is a gamble. You played your cards and lost. Doesn’t make you a loser. Means you need to find a new dealer.”

I shake my head and grin at him. “You need to stop watching The Hangover . You’ve never even been to Vegas.”

“I don’t need to go to Vegas to learn about gambling.”

“I guess it’s better than quoting Kenny Rogers lyrics.”

“I’m serious.” Wyatt’s tone shifts. “You’re not stupid for loving someone or trusting them. Sometimes the other person loves you back, other times they love your brother.”

“Wyatt,” I say softly.

“You know I’ve loved you since I can remember. I know we’ll never be. I accepted that a long time ago, but I like to give you shit when I can. One day you’ll get your heads out of your asses and fix this mess you both made.”

Wyatt told me about how he felt when Zach left for college. It wasn’t in a leave-your-brother-for-me type of way. He explained that he had to tell me so he could move on. I cried as he clarified his feelings. I loved him, but not in that way. He also told Zach, which didn’t go over well.

My hand finds his and he squeezes. “It would’ve been easier if it was you,” I admit.

“It would’ve been easier if it wasn’t you.”

We both fall quiet as the water rushes past us. I yawn and Wyatt pulls me close. I rest my head on his shoulder with my eyes closed. It would’ve been so different if I had chosen him. Wyatt would’ve grounded me. He never had intentions of leaving here. He wanted to run his family’s horse ranch, settle down, and have kids. Somehow we’ve both drifted so far off our paths we’re not even in the same state.

Wyatt clears his throat waking me from the half-dazed state I fell under. “The sun is coming up. Time to head back.”

I groan. “Five more minutes.”

Cold water pelts me as I squeal. “Stop!”

I jump up as he continues. “Good morning, Cowgirl. Glad to see you’re ready to head back. I was worried you were going to want to sleep here forever.”

“It’s a wonder why some girl hasn’t married you yet,” I tease.

“Am I throwing you over my shoulder or are you going to be a good girl?”

I climb on his back, and we head to the property. He moves with such ease as I rest my head on his shoulder. Wyatt doesn’t put me down when we get to the creek bank like I expect. He keeps going, and I relax. “Thanks for this,” I say as he gets closer to the house.

“If it’s not going to be me you talk to, find someone. There’s no shortage of people who love you. Even my half-wit brother—either of them.”

We get to the house, and I climb off his back. “I don’t think Zach and I will be talking any time soon.”

He looks up and smiles. “Don’t be so sure of that, darlin’.”

I turn and find Zach sitting on the step. His hat covers his face and it’s clear he’s asleep. Son of a bitch. “Why?” I ask the sky. “Why do you torture me?”

Wyatt kisses my cheek before pushing me toward him. “Either you wake him or I do.”

“I’m going inside. Let him know I have nothing to say to him.”

I’m not dealing with him. That kiss was two weeks ago, and he’s been radio silent since. And there’s no gossip about him and the evil bitch breaking up. So it’s clear that once again, Zach chose something else. I shouldn’t be surprised. I shouldn’t be hurt. I’m nothing to him. Hell, I’d be the homewrecker in this situation. Well, if I had instigated it.

Whatever, it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to talk to him, and I don’t have to.

“I swear,” Wyatt mutters as I walk around to the front of the house. I don’t care if he thinks I’m being a child. I wonder if he knows what his brother did on the ride he manipulated to happen. I would’ve loved to have seen that, then I could’ve had the pleasure of watching him kick Zach’s ass.

I gasp as I sit up in my bed. The clock reads twelve o’clock in the afternoon. I don’t remember going to sleep, but I clearly did.

Quickly I get dressed and head downstairs. “Hello there, sugar,” Mama says as she peels potatoes. “I was wondering when you were going to join us.”

“Sorry, Mama. I must’ve fallen back asleep.”

She smiles and goes back to cooking. “You haven’t been sleeping. I figured you could use the rest.”

My eyes snap up at her words. I thought I’d been hiding it well. Apparently not. “My mind never stops.”

She puts the knife on the board, wipes her hands, and comes around the counter. “You could take today and go into town. Maybe get your hair done?”

I fight back the groan. Going to the beauty shop here is like stepping back into 1980. And not just because they haven’t remodeled since then, the hair styles seem to have been stuck there as well. The thing is, I can’t keep hiding out. “Maybe I’ll head to Nashville,” I say casually.

She scoffs. “I think you get much better service in town. I’ll call over and see if Victoria has any openings.”

Mama doesn’t waste any time as she heads over to the phone. “Mornin’,” Daddy says as he walks in.

My mother yaps on the phone as Daddy flashes a grin. “Save me, Daddy.”

He laughs and kisses my cheek. “Oh, baby girl, there’s no saving you when she gets her mind set. The boys are planning to help Cooper with baling hay later if you want to help.”

“My most dreaded chore.”

“They seem to like it here.” He tosses his hat on the table.

I sit and grab a muffin.

As much as I subconsciously wanted them to hate it here, I’m glad they’re fitting in. They’ve had as much change and hard times as I have. I’m grateful for my brother, Wyatt, and my father being here to help guide them.

“They’re trying. I think it’s hard going from the city to here.”

“It’s been great watching them with the horses. They’re naturals. They didn’t even hesitate with helping Zachary.”

The muffin falls to the floor. “What?” I almost scream. “What do you mean helping him?”

I stand and try to calm myself, but every muscle in my body is tight.

“Zach brought the horses that you refused to go get. If you would stop being so damn obstinate, he wouldn’t have had to come all this way.”

I scoff. “All this way?” Please. It’s less than a mile and he used to walk it every day. “When did he leave?”

Daddy stands, puts his hat back on, and lets out a long breath. “He’s with the boys now.”

I don’t say a word. I leave and head right out the door. He’s not allowed near my kids. I don’t want him anywhere around us. If they were to ever find out the truth about Zach and me, it would drum up too many questions. Plus, I don’t want them to like him.