Page 17 of Forbidden Cowboy
My granddad strolls out. I swear he’s wearing yesterday’s overalls and a blue button-front shirt.
I drive alongside him, one hand on the wheel, the other leaning out the rolled-down window. I tap my hand on the side of the truck. “Granddad, what are you doing out here?”
He runs a hand through his unkempt, partly slicked up, and brushed back thick grey waves of hair. “Getting my morning exercise.”
“You’re awfully far away from the house.”
“So are you.”
“I’m fixing the fence.” I hitch a thumb to the mess behind me.
“Once I find Betty, I’m heading to the main house for your mother’s blueberry flapjacks.” Betty is the all-terrain vehicle he named after my grandmother when she passed. He rides Betty all over the property but doesn’t generally misplace her.
“You lost Betty?”
“I just can’t seem to remember where I parked her.”
The old man isn’t forgetful. He’s quick as a whip. He can be a growly son of a bitch like my pa and a softie like my ma.
“Jump in, and I’ll drop you off at the house.”
He climbs in the passenger seat, a wrinkled mess like he’s been out all day. “You’re not staying for breakfast?”
Not when my girl is out with another man. “Granddad, it’s lunchtime.”
Chapter Six
HOPE
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“I CAN HAVE the wood delivered to the ranch Friday.” Wyatt leans his hip on the side of a wood pile.
His family has been dropping off firewood at Fox Lodge for as long as I can remember. He’s handsome enough—built like a logger, thick and all muscles. Blonde hair. Blue eyes.
But he isn’t Levi.
My womanly parts warm at the thought of Levi. Is this how it’s going to be now? Heating up like a fool for a man who chose a family feud over me?
“Thanks for all your help, Wyatt. I’m sure between me and my sisters; we’ll be able to build this bad boy.”
“My offer stands. I'm a call away if you need help or find yourself in a jam.” Wyatt would use any reason to pop by the ranch. He fancies my middle sister Hannah, but she’s too busy chasing her twin five-year-olds to notice.
“What the hell’s going on here?” Levi’s voice sends my heart racing.
I turn to face him, my insides giddy like Christmas morning.
The sight of the man’s dirt-stained T-shirt and the torn knee in his dark denim pants floods my body with warmth and all kinds of pulsating reminders of last night.
“Levi.” Wyatt straightens. “Did you have an issue with your order?”
Levi doesn’t even give Wyatt a glance. He stops in my personal space, which I enjoy more than I’d like to admit. Soap and the woodsy outdoors mix with his distinct primal smell.
“I told you we were working on the kissing booth together.” Is the jealous lion coming out to play? I’d never pegged Levi as the jealous type.
“There were some mixed signals yesterday.”
“Mixed signals? Care to elaborate?” I want to kiss his pinched lips until they relax.