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Unlike some of us.
Duke had been in a mood since the fire—tense, on edge, like a wolf pacing its cage. So, when Kaz Chase drove up to the ranch house, I patted Riot and followed the man who somehow seemed to be in the middle of all this drama.
Duke was on the porch, which told me he’d been informed about Kaz’s visit, and he’d let him in. Security was the bomb at the ranch now (pun intended); everyone was on high alert.
I thought some of the hands would quit, but they were all staying put.
“Assholes think they can fuck with us? We’ll show ‘em,” Cal declared.
Roy patted his holster. “I can shoot a dime off a fence post at fifty yards. Let’s see how they like that.”
Kaz tipped his hat to me, then settled it back on his head. “Howdy?”
“Doin’ about as well as you’d think we’d be doin’ after a fire.”
“I heard.”
“No kidding.”
“Kaz,” Duke cut in, his tone sharp. “Darlin’, why don’t you?—”
“Come on in and hear what Kaz has to say?” I offered sweetly, cutting him off.
“Fuckin’ hell,” my man muttered under his breath.
“Duke,” Kaz greeted with a nod.
“What is it you want?” Duke asked, hands planted firmly on his hips.
Kaz took the stairs to hit the porch. The man had a nice ass, I noted, but those jeans were a bit too designer and not cowboy at all. He tilted his head, looking way too relaxed. “Now, Duke, is that any way to greet a friend?”
“You ain’t my friend.”
“You slay me.” Kaz put a dramatic hand to his heart.
“He’s not in the mood,” I warned him as I walked past Kaz and Duke, standing across each other like they were gonna back up twenty paces and shoot. “So, youmay want to tone the cool cowboy down,” I threw over my shoulder and walked into the ranch house.
We settled in the dining room. I poured three cups of black coffee and set a plate of biscuits, Itzel and Miss Patsy had baked fresh that morning.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” Kaz picked up his coffee cup. “I hear you’ve had a couple of interesting days.”
“A few weeks.” I patted my shoulder where I’d been shot.
His eyes narrowed. “I stand corrected.”
Duke sighed. “You gonna talk about why you’re here, or are you gonna flirt with my woman?”
“The way they saymy womanaround these parts.” Kaz shook his head, feigning surprise as if he wasn’t born and bred in Wildflower Canyon.
Duke growled.
“Kaz, I just told you he’s holding it together by a string so if you don’t want your face rearranged, you’ll get to it.” I slouched on the chair, moving my shoulder to make myself comfortable. If I so as much as winced, Duke would be carrying me off to bed so I’d started to become careful about how much discomfort I showed, not that he didn’t catch on.
Duke shot me a look, but I just tilted my head. “Not stayin’ out of this.”
Kaz sighed dramatically. “Alright, I’ll make this quick. I need your help.”
Duke’s jaw ticked. “You’ve got some brass balls.”