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C ane Creek Ranch.

The old wooden sign that my papaw hand-carved churns the emotions wrestling inside of me.

Maverick stirs from his nap as the gravel crunches under the tires of the Silverado.

“Shit, that wasn’t long enough,” he groans, his voice thick with tiredness.

I roll my eyes. “Maybe if you hadn’t stayed out till sunrise, you wouldn’t be hurting so bad today.”

He grunts. “Whatever. Maybe if you would’ve come out with me, you wouldn’t have a stick up your ass today.”

“No… Someone had to stay home and cover for you when mom started asking where you were on our last night with her.”

My brother mumbles something under his breath, but I ignore him, admiring the view of our ranch as the trees fade and the land opens up. The white two-story house my parents built sits on top of one of the rolling hills surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Painful memories try pushing their way into the forefront of my mind. But I replace them with anger from down deep in my gut when I spot the unfamiliar truck in the driveway.

Maverick must see what I’m looking at, because he sits up straighter, turning his body toward mine. I feel him examining me before he speaks, “Look, I know you’re pissed about Dad moving strangers into our house but, like always, it's me and you…forever. No matter what.”

Nodding, I park the truck.

As I take a deep breath, Mav’s hand lands on my chest. “It’s going to be alright, bubs…” The use of the nickname makes my heart crack. “Don’t be an asshole. Give them a chance. Okay?”

I close my eyes and answer, “Okay.”

“Thank God it's not a stepbrother… You know we’d probably be throwing hands within days,” Mav chuckles, and I shake my head, correcting him. “ She isn’t our stepsister.”

“Not yet…” He shrugs and hops out.

The door slamming behind him gives me a second to steady myself.

Feeling tense all over, I walk toward the house. The smell of freshly cut grass and the sight of the horse barn right down the hill eases my nerves.

Be nice.

Smile.

Speak.

Be nice.

Don’t be an asshole.

I remind myself on repeat. I know this will all be easier if I appease my father. At the end of the day, I want him to be happy. So, if this is what it takes, then I need to pull up my big boy Levi’s and deal with it.

Mav stops at the front door, waiting for me. When I stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder, it's like we take a simultaneous deep breath before he turns the doorknob.

“Honey, we’re home,” Maverick shouts through the house.

I wish I was more like my twin. I envy the way he can tuck his feelings away and make light of any situation.

“In here,” my dad calls out from what sounds like the kitchen. I can’t help but notice the hint of joy in his voice. Something I haven’t heard in quite some time.

Our father meets us at the doorway to the kitchen. He embraces Maverick in a hug first.

“Missed you boys… How was Mom?” Dad asks as he pulls away from Maverick, reaching for me.

“Mom’s good,” Mav answers as I hug my father back.

The truth is, Maverick and I are blessed with two great parents. The past few years have been full of pain, hurtful words, and mistakes on everyone’s part, but through it all, we were loved.

“Come, I want y’all to meet Andrea and her daughter.” He waves for us to follow him into our kitchen area, where two strangers sit. Adrenaline thrums through me with the anticipation of meeting the two people who will be in my personal space for the foreseeable future.

I hate change. And God only knows we have been through enough of that.

We follow behind our dad and a pretty brunette woman stands from the kitchen island with a wide smile on her face.

“Hi, guys.” She steps toward us to shake our hands.

“I’m Andrea, and this is my daughter, Bellamy.

” Her attention shifts to the breakfast nook table, where long red hair grabs my attention, and then she sets her iced coffee down and turns around.

When her green eyes meet mine, I forget how to breathe.

Breathe.

Smile.

Fuck, she’s pretty.

Breathe.

Don’t be an asshole.

Why does she have to look like that?

A light dusting of freckles scatters across her cheeks, and I can’t help but wonder how many she has.

Maverick looks at me with wide eyes, and I’m not sure if it's because he wasn’t expecting her to be so gorgeous or to remind me to smile.

“Hi.” She waves. “So who’s who?” she asks immediately, pointing between the two of us, no shyness in sight. Her southern accent reminds me that Dad mentioned they were from just over the Tennessee line.

I’m begging myself to keep my eyes on her face and not admire the way her white tank top and cotton shorts hug her perfect body.

“I’m Maverick,” he beams at her and slaps his hand to my chest, making me snatch my eyes away from the sparkling belly button ring barely peeking out from below her top.

“This is Cash. He forgets to smile most days, so it should be easy for you to tell us apart.”

I give her a nod because I can’t think of anything to say that won’t sound stupid as hell. My eyes trail down her long legs, landing on her bare feet. It’s a reminder that she isn’t a guest here; she’s living with us now, likely as my future stepsister.

“Boys, I know y’all are probably tired, and ranch chores won’t start till tomorrow, but I do have one favor to ask before you take it easy the rest of today.”

“What’s up, Dad?” I finally speak. I’m hoping he needs me to do something for the horses so I can get away from the house and clear my mind.

“Bellamy needed a new dresser, so we had one delivered this morning, but we couldn’t get it up the stairs.”

“Where is it?” I ask, wanting to get this over and go see Dom.

“It’s out here.” He nods toward the garage.

Andrea steps forward again with a kind smile.

“Thanks, boys. We appreciate your help. It’s nice to meet you both.

I’d love to get to know you more, maybe tonight, at your grandparents’ house.

” My eyes unavoidably travel back to Bellamy, who’s watching her mom with a look of annoyance on her beautiful face.

“Nice to meet you guys,” Maverick says and nudges me.

“Yep, see you at dinner,” I force out.

“What’s Gigi cooking?” Maverick asks Dad as we head toward the garage.

“You know your grandmother. She asked Bellamy her favorite foods, so she’s cooking that.”

Maverick huffs. “Well, let’s hope it's something good, because it was supposed to be my turn to pick.”

My dad chuckles, but the sound of feet pattering behind us pulls our attention to turn around.

“I wanted to offer my help. I could carry some drawers to make it lighter,” Bellamy shrugs.

“Thanks, Amy,” Maverick teases Bellamy, and she stares, trying to figure him out for a few beats. “But first, please tell me you didn’t choose something disgusting for dinner.”

My dad tells her to ignore him, but a grin spreads across her face. “Well, Rick, unless you aren’t a real southern boy, you’ll love it.”

“Oh, yeah, is that right?” he taunts, and why do I hate this little inside thing they have going on all of a sudden?

“Yep, barbecue, fried okra, and cream potatoes.” She smirks and pats her belly.

Damn, her smile. I don’t like the way it makes me feel.

Mav laughs. “Well, shit, that does sound good… Two of Cash’s faves too.”

I nod because it’s true. “Just missing Gigi’s meatloaf.”

A few minutes later, we enter the door next to mine… Bellamy’s new room. Even though I wish there was more space between us, the only other open bedroom would be worse.

“I’ll go get the other drawers. Bellamy, tell them where ya want it, honey,” my dad directs before walking out.

“Just stick it in a hole. I don’t care.” She waves her hand to the two empty spaces on the wall.

“That’s what she said,” Maverick chimes in.

Bellamy rolls her eyes. “How old are you?” she asks with a quirked eyebrow, more in reference to his joke, but I find myself wanting to know how old she is. Dad had said she was around our age.

“Seventeen, and before you ask… Cash is two minutes older, so he’s the mature one.”

“I can tell,” she retorts, reaching for something on her bed, and I notice a birthmark on her left upper thigh. It’s perfectly round and light brown, like a penny.

“How old are you?” I ask, and she turns around with a surprised look, probably because I’ve barely spoken to her.

“I turned seventeen in April.”

“So, will you go to Cane Ridge High with us at the end of the summer?” Maverick asks.

“I guess so.” Her eyes stay on me, and I can’t explain what I see inside of her gaze, but with the way she watches me, it's like she sees the same in mine.

My dad’s voice interrupts.

“Boys, let's chat in my office for a few while Bellamy sets up her stuff,” he says as he places the last two drawers down on her bed.

“Do we have another horse lover in the house?” Maverick asks from behind me, and I turn around to see a picture of her and a quarter horse.

She nods while looking longingly at the picture. “Yes, I’ve been riding for basically my whole life.”

“She used to be a barrel racer, boys,” Dad says proudly, and now I’m remembering him saying he met her mother at a horse show.

“Oh good, someone else who can help Cash with the horses. I’m more of a city boy, truly,” Maverick claims, even though he loved this ranch and everything on it up until a year and a half ago.

“See you later, Amy.”

“Thank you all,” she calls out, and I throw my hand up as we walk out, needing the space before those green eyes see into my soul and discover all the painful darkness inside.

We’ve been under the same roof for less than thirty minutes, and I’m already crawling out of my skin.

“Thank you both for being nice,” my dad says as he rounds his massive hand-built desk.

Maverick huffs from beside me. “Damn, Dad, we aren’t Neanderthals; you raised us better than that.”

“I know, but I also understand this is a lot of change, especially after…everything.” I don’t miss the way his eyes flit to the picture on his desk. The only one he still keeps on display inside the house.

Unwarranted anger simmers inside my veins. “It would have been nice to know about this a little sooner.”

He nods, releasing a heavy breath. “You’re right. I should have given you both more of a heads-up, but I was a coward and wanted you each to have time to let it settle in while you were away at your mom’s.”

It’s quiet for a second before my brother uses his typical humor to move as quickly away from the hard stuff as possible.

“Andrea’s pretty. No wonder you’re already moving her in.” Mav suggestively raises his eyebrows.

Cal Leblanc does something I’ve never seen him do.

He blushes, and the anger I was feeling dissipates at the sight.

“Yeah, she’s beautiful. Plus, you should see her with a horse.

” The last part, he directs more toward me, wanting my approval, but I’m not ready to give it to him yet.

He had already told us he met her at a trade show about six months ago.

She was there working with another ranch as a farrier.

She may be good to the horses, but that doesn’t mean she’s the right woman for him.

My dad shifts slightly, and somehow, I know he really brought us in here for more than just an apology.

“But speaking of beautiful…” Clearing his throat, he looks between me and Mav. “That’s another reason I wanted to talk to y’all.”

Fuck, here we go.

“I know neither of you are blind. And I remember what teenage hormones are like, but I think you both know me well enough to know, I didn’t move them here without the intention of this thing between me and Andrea becoming permanent.”

Aka, don’t fuck your soon-to-be stepsister.

Electricity zips through my body at the thought as Maverick chuckles beside me.

I need fresh air and my saddle. Now.

“Okay, Dad, we get it. I’m heading to the barn.” And thankfully, he doesn’t try to stop me when I turn to walk out.

The second I enter the stable and hear my horse, the smile on my face is automatic. It’s the first genuine one I’ve given all day.

“Hey, boy, you miss me?” I ask him, opening the door to his stall.

He answers by nudging his nose into my chest like he always does.

“I missed you too.”

He sniffs my hand, wondering where his favorite treat is.

“Next time, buddy.” I don’t tell him there were strangers in my kitchen who I didn’t want to chance running into again on my search for an apple.

“Wanna go for a ride?” I ask, rubbing his spotted appaloosa coat.

Letting out a neigh, he twists his head in my direction with excitement.

It doesn’t take me long to get him ready to ride. The moment my boot slides into the stirrup and my legs straddle the saddle, I feel the tension in my body finally dissipate.

My heart beats a little slower, my breathing eases, and my muscles loosen.

I’m free.

Until I head out of the barn, and there she is… Swaying gently on the swing my dad built that sits just up the hill from the barn, her red hair blowing in the wind.

I can’t see them, but I feel those green eyes on me. Boring into me, curiously, like she knows I’m running from something. Almost like she is, too.

“Okay, Dom, I need a ten-second ride.” I lean into him, and he knows exactly what that means.

Fast and furious.