Rope the Moon (Runaway Ranch, #2)(69)

Ford cocks an eyebrow at me and picks up his beer. “Been busy.”

I move to stand with my brothers at the island. Cross my arms. “Not too busy for my family.”

Ford just stares at me.

A white-hot frustration boils under my skin. Ford likes to piss me off. Normally, I find it amusing, and give it back as good as I get it. Today, I’m damn close to dumping the entire pot of coffee over my twin’s head.

“Speaking of family…” The edges of Charlie’s lips twitch. “I hear congratulations are in order. You and Dakota being in a family way and all.”

Ruby giggles and stands, gently cradling a marmalade kitten in her arm.

“Christ.” I groan. “Who else knows?”

“I reckon the whole damn town after what y’all did at the market.”

A grin appears on my face before I can smother it out. Fuck, but I want the whole town to know what I do. That Dakota’s devastation is everywhere. My disheveled hair from where her hands have been. Scratches down my back. My rumpled shirt carries the scent of her perfume that not even ranch work can chase away.

Ford’s sullen voice carries across the room. “Just because y’all are humping like bunnies doesn’t mean you can forget about the ranch.”

“Don’t fucking start,” I growl, swinging his way. Next to me, Charlie tenses. “And I haven’t forgotten about the ranch.”

“Bullshit.” Ford shakes his head. “We got problems here, man. And you got too many distractions. Too much girl drama.”

“Yeah, you’d know all about girl drama, wouldn’t you?” I say, my voice low and dangerous.

Ford’s eyes flash. “What’s that supposed to fucking mean?”

“Easy, we’re all in this,” Charlie reminds us.

A charged silence falls over the kitchen as both of my brothers stare at me. One confused, the other pissed off.

They don’t understand the history between Dakota and me. If I finally opened up to them, would it make things easier? I’m a rock, but it’s not doing me any favors. They’re my brothers, and by holding back, I keep them at a distance. Every day I don’t tell them the truth, I push them away.

That changes today.

“Dakota and I…” I drag a hand through my hair, unused to letting my guard down. I face my brothers. “We were…screwing around back when I first came to town to help out Charlie.”

That gets me dropped jaws from Ruby and Charlie. Only a scowl from Ford.

On an inhale, I set my mug down. I’m holding it so tight it’s a wonder it hasn’t broken into a million pieces.

“I was depressed, okay?” I grit the words out, meet Charlie’s eyes. “I was going through some shit. Nightmares. PTSD. And she helped. She was there for me in a way no one’s ever been, which is why I’m here for her now. And I’m not walking away.”

I need my brothers to understand that this matters. She matters.

“Christ,” Ford says in exasperation, slugging down his beer.

“We’re picking up where we left off. I care for her. I’ve always cared for her. So, since you’re giving me the fucking third degree, there’s your answer, you fucking assholes.”

“Well, shit,” Charlie says, opening his arm to Ruby, who slips beneath it. The marmalade kitten has made a nest between her hair and collarbone. “That’s a long time, Davis.” He cracks a grin, but his eyes are soft. “Sure can keep secrets, man.”

“So you’re what?” Ford demands. “Dating? Fucking?”

“Not your business,” I tell him.

“Don’t do the no-label thing, Davis,” Ruby says, her eyes big and beseeching. She moves to clamp my bicep, and the kitten scampers up my arm. “You have to tell her.”

Ford’s jaw tightens, and he swears. “Whatever happened to not having time for a relationship? Whatever happened to priorities?”

“Priorities change,” I growl and pluck the kitten from my neck to hand it back to Ruby.

“Priorities.” He snorts. “Thinking with your dick’s your priority.”

Ruby squeaks.

“Okay.” Charlie lifts his hands. “Let’s just keep it above the belt.”

“You got sense, D,” Ford says, sounding aggrieved. “Why are you fucking with Stede’s daughter? She’s pregnant. She’s gonna have this guy’s baby and split.”

“Careful,” I warn. Ford’s skating on thin ice. Anyone shows the slightest interest in love, a relationship, and he gets a goddamn attitude.

“You’re my brother. I gotta look out for you.” He twists on the barstool to glare at me. “We need to get the ranch ready for the summer. We can’t have distractions. Not after last year.”

My eyes flick to Ruby, back to Ford. “Fuck you for using last year against me.” It’s a low blow, and he knows it. “Is this what you did with Charlie?” I snarl, anger slowly burning inside of me. “Warning him away from Ruby, telling him she had her secrets, and he was going to get hurt?”

“You’re an asshole,” Ford snaps.

“And you have to get a new MO, Ford. You have to get over the past and stop bringing everyone down with you.”