Page 30 of One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch 1)

“Holt? You still there?” Knox asked.

“I’m still here,” Holt growled. “Someone needs to take you down, and I’m gonna do it if no one else does.”

“Hold up,” Knox said. “You serious, man?”

“Come on home, and I’ll show you how serious I am.”

Knox laughed. But it wasn’t a friendly laugh. I was more of an I dare you laugh. “You’re still crushing on my wife, aren’t you?” He whistled. “She chose me, dude, and she’d still choose me over you any day.”

Holt really shouldn’t be driving. He was going thirty over the speed limit. “I’m going to say this once,” he said, slowing and pulling over to the side of the road. “You come home, you’re going to tell Mom and Dad what you’ve done. None of this hero bull crap. You own up to your mistakes, you hear me?”

Knox scoffed. “Always the older brother, aren’t you? The boy scout making sure that everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to. That everything’s fair and even. You’d love to see me groveling, wouldn’t you? Maybe watch Dad kick me out again?”

“Frankly, I don’t care what you do on your own,” Holt cut in. “But leave the innocent people out of your disgusting habits.”

“That’s big talk for you, pansy,” Knox said. “Have you ever been anything but boring and responsible? Have you ever just lived in the moment? Enjoyed a single day? Saw an opportunity and took it just because you could? Are you even human, Holt?”

“I’m human, just like any other guy,” Holt spat out. “But that doesn’t mean I have to be cruel and selfish.”

“Whatever, man,” Knox said. “I’m done with the conversation. I’ll be there in two weeks, and you can go preach to another choir, ‘cause this one ain’t listening.”

The phone went dead, and Holt chucked his cell across the dash. He released a groan. Knox was coming home. He’d cheated on Macie. Probably more than once. Unbelievable. Holt slammed his palm against the steering wheel, over and over.

Would it be better or worse if Macie knew Knox was coming back? Would she pack up and leave? Or would Holt have to watch the two reconcile?

Don’t do it, Macie,he wanted to say. Don’t take Knox back. He’ll just break your heart again.

But Holt knew as well as anyone that he had no right to say anything to her.

Because Knox had been right. Holt was still crushing on her.