Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek, #3) (24)

His head pops up, clearly trying to stay out of the conversation.

“We just had one last year!” Noah exclaims. “You boys are up next.”

“I wouldn’t mind more grandchildren.” Mom smiles as she holds Poppy, sneaking a dollop of cream cheese in her mouth.

“Just wait for the next cougar to be desperate enough for Wilder and he’ll knock her up in no time,” Waylon says.

“Waylon,” Dad mutters his name, and I swear to God, they’re the reason he’s going bald.

“Would you rather I date someone twenty years younger than me?” Wilder asks.

Again, Fisher looks up as if he’s trying desperately to stay out of it.

“Ew, that’d be gross!” Mallory makes a face.

I snort. “And illegal.”

Once everyone finishes eating, Mom and Noah bring out tubs filled with scrapbooks and supplies. I’ve been working on one of the family albums that Mom put me in charge of and thankfully, I’m almost done.

“Aww, look, Mallory when she was cute and sweet,” I taunt, holding up one of the pages. It was our first professional family shoot after Mallory moved in with us.

Her parents died in a car accident when she was nine and then she was sent to us. She’s been like a little annoying sister ever since. But I love her. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to lose your parents at such a young age and then be taken from the only home you’ve ever known and thrown into another.

She’s been a great addition to our family, though.

She scowls. “Are you sayin’ I’m not anymore?”

“I’m sayin’…now you’re a little less sweet.” I smirk, nudging her with my elbow again.

“You try being a young woman in a patriarchal world, who is less valued than a man simply because I have a vagina and see how sweet you are. Next, you’ll be tellin’ me to smile more.”

“Only if he wants a knee to his balls,” Magnolia says.

He does not.

“Alexa, play ‘The Man’ by Taylor Swift,” Noah says with a laugh, and within seconds, the song echoes throughout the house.

“Of course,” I mutter, shaking my head. It’s bad enough I had to listen to Ellie sing it during our jogs, but now my entire family is humming along.

“Can’t deny it’s a bop, though.” Wilder dances in his seat.

I throw a roll of washi tape toward him, and he laughs.

“It’s usually me pissin’ them off, so this is a nice change of pace,” he taunts.

Noah snorts. “Don’t worry, it’s only Sunday. You still got all week to do that.”





Chapter Seven


ELLIE




After successfully dominating in my division this weekend, I’m back at the stables to put Ranger in his stall for the evening. Dad and I stayed at the rodeo a little longer to watch the other events and indulge in their fried foods but then we ran into his new employee, Gage. Dad invited him to hang out with the rest of the evening, which ended up being awkward and annoying. It was nice to spend some extra time with him, especially since I’ll be traveling nonstop starting next weekend, and I’ll be going alone for those since Dad works and Mom stays home with Aunt Phoebe.

“Such a good boy,” I coo, sliding a brush across his back.

“Thank you.”

My heart drops to the floor at the familiar voice behind me. Of course he’d be here.

When I turn to face him, I’m greeted with his infamous smug grin and tilted cowboy hat.

“Oh, wait, were you not talkin’ to me?” He points to himself. “Damn. Thought you figured out my secret kink.”

“Why do you make it a habit to bother me every chance you get? Have I not been clear that I don’t like you or are you just a masochist who gets off on that? Do you need me to tattoo it on your forehead? Get a plane to write it in the sky, perhaps? Can you even read? Because I know you don’t listen…”

“All I’m hearin’ is how much effort you’re willin’ to put in to get my attention, Little Devil.” He rocks back on his boots like the cocky asshole he is. “But you can have it whenever you want if you say please.”

“Selective hearing…makes sense now.” I roll my eyes and then turn back to Ranger, who actually deserves my focus.

“After four years, you still won’t tell me what your problem with me is. Most people woulda by now, which is why I think you don’t have a valid reason not to like me.”

“I don’t have to tell you a damn thing.”

“But why not? Since the first day we met, you decided I was the bad guy, and I hadn’t even done anything.”

“My gut told me you were and it’s never wrong. And, well, look how insufferable you’ve been since then. Guess it was right.”

“Most women—”

My blood boils as I whip around with the brush in my hand, eager to throw it at him. “I’m not most women! I will not bow at your feet or pass out at your mere presence.” As I raise my voice at him, my breath comes out in short pants. “No, this ain’t me playin’ hard to get. I have my reasons, but I do not have to share them with you.” My jaw clenches before I add, “And stop calling me that.”