Page 43 of She’s Like the Wind (A Modern Vintage Romance #12)

He’s an asshole, but he loves her and she loves him, so I haven’t had any reason to break his bones… lately .

“You know she’s already asked Duke if he’ll buy the place, in case you back out,” Elena tells me.

Celine is being careful, and I don’t blame her for that. Deals fall apart for a whole host of reasons, and she’s trying to protect herself. I wish she’d talked to me about it, but I don’t hold it against her. I’ll talk to her, calm her down, and we’ll figure this out.

“Come on, let’s get a drink,” I suggest.

We walk to the bar in the large living room where the party is being held.

A suited-up bartender pours us a whiskey each. Wild Turkey—strong, spicy, and a favorite among ranchers.

“Cheers.” I hold up my glass, and she clinks hers against it.

We drink down the alcohol like a shot.

After, we slam the glass down on the bar counter with a thud and a chuckle. Cowboys will treat every bar like a dive bar—that’s how we roll.

“You know the sister?” I ask once we take our second glass to the living room and find a quiet corner, where there aren’t a shit ton of people pretending grief.

“Sure. We all grew up together, ya know. But we weren’t friends. Bree and she are close. Kaz knows her well…or used to, considerin’ she’s been gone so many years.”

“She’s not exactly how I thought she’d be.”

“And what did you think?” she asks.

“I was expecting to find a polished flake in high heels, maybe a little Botox around the eyes. She’s in high heels, but no Botox, and I’m not sure about the flaky part. She doesn’t seem frivolous. Very serious eyes,” I explain.

“Why you lookin’ at her eyes, Mav?” Elena slaps my arm.

“The eyes, they say, are the windows to the soul,” I reply with mock seriousness.

She huffs out a laugh. “Well, she left a year after Duke did, so it’s been a minute. There weren’t any stories about her. Celine was the favorite Delgado sister, and she got all the attention.”

“She was an excellent foil to Rami.”

Elena seems to consider my words. “You know what? Rami was salty as fuck, but I’ll take his blunt cowboy manner over Miss Beauty Queen there, any day.”

I tug her ponytail. “Stop judgin’ people.”

“I’m not judgin’, I’m stating facts…based on my gut.” Elena’s phone beeps, and she pulls it out from the back pocket of her jeans and sighs dramatically. “Ah, damn! Got to go. Horse trouble.”

I shake my head, amused. “You made Hunt send you that text.”

Hunt is the Wilder Ranch foreman.

She gives me a ‘what you gonna do’ look.

“I hate this shit, but Duke knew Rami and felt he had to give his respects,” she admits. “But now that we have horse trouble….”

“Got it!”

She goes on tiptoe and kisses my cheek.

“Every time I turn around, you’ve got your hands on my wife.” Duke’s tone is only half playful.

“Don’t blame me because your wife prefers me to you,” I shoot back.

Duke wraps an arm around Elena.

Prickly, strong, prideful Elena, who melts into him. It warms my heart to see them so in love. She deserves all the good in the world…and maybe Duke does, too, when he isn’t pissing me off.

“Seriously, Kincaid, you need to find your own woman.” Duke brushes a kiss against his wife’s temple.

“Oh, hush.” Elena cuddles up to Duke. Never thought I’d ever see that sight, knowing Elena as well as I do.

“And you need to stop planting your lips on other men,” Duke admonishes her softly and then whispers something in her ear that sounds a lot like ‘ your lips are for my ….’

“Get the fuck outta here,” I groan. “I don’t need to see you both behaving like teenagers.”

As Elena tugs Duke away, she laughs. “You coming to the auction?” Duke asks over his shoulder.

“Yeah, I’ll see you there.”

He’s talking about the early-spring Canyon Heritage Sale—mostly cattle, a few bulls, some high-end breeding stock: good cattle, clean lines, no bullshit. You learn a lot about a ranch by what they bring to auction—and how they stand behind the rail.

This is where real ranchers show up and real money gets exchanged.

I know Wilder Ranch will be selling, which means I’ll be buying.

I walk around, make small talk, and occasionally bump into Celine and Hudson, who are making the rounds.

People are sympathetic and kind. Like I said, Wildflower Canyon likes Celine—sees her as a little vapid but sweet.

I talk to plenty of people—except the one I want to.

Where the fuck are you, Aria Delgado?

I go up to Kaz, who’s arguing with Bree as they both always seem to do.

I wish the two would just fuck and get it done with.

“Tell him that what I do with my land is none of his business, Mav,” Bree drags me into their discussion.

I raise my hands, palms out. “I’m Bennet, and I’m not in it!”

Kaz laughs.

Bree makes a sound that’s a cross between a screech and a sigh. She walks away.

I turn to Kaz. “I hear you know the older daughter.”

He quirks an eyebrow. “I do.”

“What’s she like?”

He gives me a puzzled look. “You worried she isn’t going to sell?”

No, I’m curious as fuck about her, but let’s go with that!

I nod.

“It’s been a while…so…I can’t really say. But from what I know from Bree, she’s pretty well settled in Napa. Has a senior position at a vineyard and makes decent money. I doubt she wants to come here and give all that up,” he muses.

“What does she do there?”

His brows draw together. “Fuck if I know, Mav.”

I’m about to probe some more when I see her . She’s got on a black cardigan over her dress, and she’s wearing Ugg boots over her tights.

I almost smile.

She finally gave up fashion for comfort.

Maybe she’s more practical than she appears, which means I have a good chance of convincing her to sell.