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HOLDEN

I've seen my brothers fall in love before. Hell, these dudes can’t stop having weddings, babies, and bringing chics into our lives that want to clean up this place .

But watching Geoffrey and Brynn Rose together is different. He and I were the hold outs. It was the two of us, never growing up together. Now he’s walking around staring at her all the time with the kind of heat that could burn down half of Texas.

Even worse, they can't keep their hands off each other. I’ve run into them in the barn, naked. Hayloft, naked. Out in the damn wheat field, naked. Now I feel like I’ve got to knock on the door of every room before I enter. I’m not trying to see this dude’s balls, again.

Right now, Geoffrey's supposed to be participating in lining up yoga mats for the Mane Event Hair Salon team retreat. This is a monthly event now. Monthly. How much fucking yoga can one possibly need. As the employees file in and find their places, it looks like chaos to me.

Geoffrey doesn’t seem to notice. He has Brynn Rose pressed up against the fence post. He’s whispering something in her ear that's making her giggle like a teenager. A baby goat is literally chewing on his boot, and he doesn't even notice because he's too busy being completely gone over this woman.

"Get a room!" I call out, grinning when they both flip me off without breaking apart.

"Ignore him," Priya says as she appears at my elbow with her phone out. She’s capturing candid footage of the chaos around us. "This is perfect content for the ranch's social media. Look at them. They're like a walking advertisement for romance at the ranch."

“All y’all are at this point.” I bite back a chuckle. “I’m happy for them, but it’s also like, keep it in your pants dude.”

Priya laughs when a little black goat goes flopping off a platform and squeals. It sends the others into pure chaos. Baby goats bounce off yoga mats, salon employees try to find their zen while livestock treats them like jungle gyms.

Geoffrey spins Brynn Rose around and both of them laugh as baby goats scatter around their feet. When he sets her down, he doesn't let go. He keeps her close. It’s like he needs the contact to breathe properly.

"This is going to get so many views," Priya pans her camera across the mayhem. "Oh, and Holden? My sister Zara is flying in for the Fourth of July party next week. She has like two million followers on Instagram. This kind of authentic ranch content is exactly what she specializes in. I’m hoping you’ll be around to help. "

"Great," I mutter, dodging a particularly ambitious goat that seems to think my hat is edible. "Another social media person."

"She's not just social media. She's an influencer." Priya says it like there's a difference. "She does lifestyle and travel content. Very aspirational stuff."

"Sounds riveting."

Priya laughs and elbows me. "You know, with Geoffrey officially off the market, you're the only single Kingridge brother left."

"I'm in no hurry," I say, and mean it.

"Famous last words," Priya sings, then turns back to her filming. "Oh, this is perfect. Brynn Rose, can you try that pose again? The goats are being so photogenic."

Brynn Rose glances over and I think she’s just realized that we’re standing here.

She obliges, attempting some kind of yoga position while three baby goats immediately use her as a climbing structure.

She dissolves into laughter as Priya snaps away.

Geoffrey catches Brynn when she tips over, goats still attached.

Instead of helping her up right away, he holds her there and kisses her forehead.

"They're going to be insufferable, aren't they?" I ask Priya.

"Completely," she agrees cheerfully. "And we're going to love every minute of it."

Somewhere deep inside of me, a slight ache pings within me. It’d be nice to have someone light me up like that. I just don’t see it happening. All the women who come to the ranch are the same… Hell, all the women in Sagebrush Creek feel more like sisters than lovers.

I wonder if I am really going to be the only Kingridge brother without a partner. Hell, Pa’s had so many loves he’s lost count. They’re out here preparing for wild nights in the hay. Meanwhile I’m getting ready to entertain Priya’s sister… apparently.