Page 2

Just seeing the name on the screen jerked his mind away from his own problems to the second job offer he’d received since leaving DEVGRU, the navy special warfare development group. Ross Wynton of the WEST Protection security agency had been trying to recruit him for the two months it took to get out of Iraq and back to the States.

Ross wanted him on his team bad. And it was a great option for Colton.

Just not one he could accept.

Sure I can’t change your mind, Nox? Ross texted.

Thanks for the offer, but I made a promise I intend to keep. I’m going to help save the ranch. For Forest.

I understand. The offer is always on the table for you.

Colton saw no need to reply and pocketed the phone. As he left the plane, an older man stared at him hard.

Colton gave him a single nod.

“Thank you for your service.”

Damn, even in civvies he stuck out as military. People always knew. Something about the way he carried himself.

He ducked his head in response but said nothing. When he reached the gate, a woman threw him a smile and also thanked him for his service.

He didn’t grin, but he did bear it. The last thing he wanted was thanked for serving his country. Especially now.

Moving with the flow of passengers, he reached baggage claim and glanced around at the crowd. Many wore cowboy hats and boots. Plenty wore jeans and heavy work jackets that made his own worn black leather one stick out just as much as he did due to his size.

Nearby, a woman rushed up to a man and threw her arms around him. He engulfed her in his arms, crushing her to his chest and burying his face in her hair. The display of affection made Colton look away.

His gaze landed on a couple of kids bouncing up and down as an older lady made her way toward them.

“Nana!” One child hurled herself at the woman and wrapped herself around the woman’s knees.

Colton shifted his gaze yet again and stopped on a stunning blonde. Her thick tresses fell down her back in a straight mass to the waist of the pair of tiny cutoff shorts she wore. Toned legs had been bronzed by the sun and were mouthwateringly long, ending in tan cowgirl boots with embroidered threads.

When she pivoted, his gaze moved up her body again and landed on the sign she held.

A sign with his name on it.

His heart stopped.

Peering closer, he saw her resemblance to the freckled, lanky girl in the photos Forest carried with him for so many years.

This alluring beauty must be the only girl Colton could never touch.

Forest’s baby sister, Meadow.

* * * * *

Meadow schooled her expression into the bored one she was so used to adopting. Daddy always sent her on the worst errands. When he told her to pick up the new ranch hand at the airport, she argued that the ranch manager could do it.

Of course, then Daddy gave her a look over the rim of his coffee cup that told her, arguing was pointless. When he did speak to her, it was usually about staying out of trouble.

Half-heartedly gripping the sign she’d scribbled a name on with little care, she glanced over the group of passengers.

She’d never admit it, but deep down, her stomach fluttered with butterflies of excitement. She was about to meet someone else who knew her brother—who might want to talk about him with her.

As always when she thought of Forest, a leaden pang hit her stomach. In this godawful world, Forest was the one person who understood her. He even understood her more than their baby sister Ivy.

Now he was gone.