Page 52 of Tempting Wyatt

“Maybe mind your own business on this one, Hollywood.” His voice is low, deliberate. “You don’t have a damn clue what I go through just to keep the lights on. Instead of pulling his weight, he’s out there risking his life. Guess who will foot the bill if he lands himself in the hospital. What Caleb is doing isn’t just reckless. It’s selfish. And I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

His words hit like a slap.

My throat constricts but I keep my chin up.

“Thought you might want to talk about it,” I say, quieter now.

“I don’t.” He lets out a bitter sounding laugh, sharp and hollow. “You’ve been here, what, a few days? What the hell do you know about any of it?”

That comment doesn’t sting.

It burns. Deep, like a brand.

Because he’s right.

I’ve only been here a handful of days, and I don’t know much about any of it—ranching or family.

Maybe that’s why I’m taking this so personally.

My whole life, I’ve wished for a sibling. Wyatt has five of them and is so closed off that he might as well be an only child.

I open my mouth to argue but come up empty.

Maybe I am overstepping. Maybe I shouldn’t care this much.

“You’re right. I don’t know much about ranching or about family,” I admit, my throat tight. “This is my first real experience on a ranch, and I don’t have a family to speak of. But you do, so maybe turn off the robot rancher version of yourself and act like you give a shit about them occasionally.”

His whole body locks up before my eyes. “Everything I fucking do is for them,” he grits out.

“Maybe tell them that once in a while,” I throw back.

“Yeah? And who made you the expert?”

“No one.” I swallow hard. “You don’t want to tell Caleb you’re proud of him, but you’re also scared to damn death he’ll get hurt or worse? Fine. But maybe consider why you’re so stubborn and can’t admit the truth. Even to yourself.”

He’s scared.I know it and he knows it.

That jaw tick again, then his voice is as hard and heavy as his glare. “Maybe consider that none of this involves you.”

He isn’t wrong. Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to shake off the weight of Wyatt’s words, but they’ve already sunk deep.

“You’re right. I don’t know why I bothered. I’d have better luck having a rational conversation with Jasper.”

With that, I leave, high tailing it to the safety of my cabin. I don’t know why I pushed so hard.

No wonder I pissed him off. I’m just an outsider, sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.

Even as I burrow into the warmth of bed later that night, I can’t help but wonder if I got through to him.

Even just a little.

Because if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that family shouldn’t be taken for granted.

I’m pretty sure Wyatt’s anger isn’t really about Caleb riding bulls instead of working the ranch.

It’s about the weight of everything he carries. The fear of failing the people he loves. And all that weight, that fear, he’s shouldering it alone.

I don’t know much about families or ranches.