I head down to the cozy kitchen to have a cup of coffee before Rhett and I need to leave for the airport.
Butterflies dance in my stomach at the thought of coming face to face with him after practically climbing him last night. He was the perfect gentleman, never taking more than I was willing to give. But there’s this part of me that wishes he had. Then I wouldn’t be kicking myself for not telling him to kiss me again.
Because I just know that having Rhett Eaton kiss me for real, not because my ex is watching, would be different. Good different.
And I don’t know if I’m ready to cross that line with him. We’re already dangerously close, closer than is professional, but not career-ruining levels of unprofessional.
Friends.
I huff out a quiet laugh at how adept I am at lying to myself as I round the corner into the kitchen and plaster on my go-to smile, the one I wear like a suit of armor.
But I don’t need it. The only people here are Harvey and Cade.
“Good morning,” I sing-song as I breeze in and grab myself a mug from the wooden cabinet.
“Good morning, Summer,” Harvey smiles kindly, as always.
Cade crosses his arms and leans back in his chair. I think he offers a low grunt and a tip of his chin in way of greeting.
“Not a morning person, Cade?” I ask, knowing that I’m poking the bear and not really caring. He could use some poking.
“I’m a rancher. Of course, I’m a morning person. I’ve been up for hours already.”
I pour myself the last cup of coffee, lean back against the counter, and smile at him over the lip of the mug. “So, it’s just good moods in general that you have something against?”
His cheek tugs up momentarily before he hides it with his own cup of coffee. “No, I’m just working myself up to apologizing.”
“To who?” My head quirks as my eyes flip over to Harvey, who snorts.
“You,” Cade grumbles, like it physically pains him to do this. “Rhett is my little brother. I shouldn’t have left him there last night. I should have been the one to ride back and get him. I should have been there for him.”
“Hm.” I nod and sip at my coffee thoughtfully. “So, really you want to apologize to Rhett?”
His eyes roll. “Women,” is all he says. And it makes me want to deck him in his manly, chiseled face.
“If he gets caught getting into more trouble, it’ll tank his sponsorships. His career.”
“Good. It’s about time he outgrew riding bulls anyway.”
“Oh, good. This conversation again,” Rhett says, announcing his presence in the kitchen. He heads straight for the coffee maker.
“Shit, sorry, I’ll make more.” I reach for the container filled with beans just as Rhett does and our hands brush, sending sparks over my skin as I snatch my hand back and look up at him. At his scowl. At his warm golden eyes narrowed on where I’m clutching my hand against my chest now.
The Eaton boys are a whole mood this morning.
“It’s fine. I’ve got it.” He flicks a hand at me, signaling that I should move out of the way—away from him.
And it makes my stomach drop. He doesn’t even want to be near me. And who could blame him with the mixed signals I’ve been giving him?
“Did you know they developed rodeo events to showcase and develop usable ranching skills, Summer?” Cade asks as I gingerly pull out a seat at the table.
“I did not,” I say warily, watching Rhett’s back tense at the counter.
“And do you know what no one on a ranch or farm does?”
“No, but it sounds like you’re itching to tell me,” I mutter, knowing this is going to end poorly already. Years of watching Winter artfully set up an insult has my spidey senses tingling.
“Get on a bull,” Cade carries on, not reading his brother’s body language at all. “It serves no purpose, proves no point. It’s just dangerous and frivolous. So, while Rhett is out fucking buckle bunnies and taking his life in his hands—”
“Cade,” Harvey warns, eyes flicking between his two boys. I get the sense this isn’t the first time he’s been witness to this conversation.
“I’m here, day in and day out, working my ass off to keep this place afloat. Taking care of my son. Being responsible. Like I have been for years.”
Rhett spins instantly. “If you’re asking for my pity, brother, you have it. Your woe-is-me routine isn’t even what gets me. It’s that you have so much and you’re still so angry about everything.” He shakes his head and bites down on his cheek to keep from saying whatever he was about to, and then leaves the kitchen, tossing over his shoulder, “Let’s go, Summer. We can get coffees in town.”