Page 14 of Wrangled and Tangled (Raven Peak Ranch #1)
I think you’re worth jumpin’ through hoops for.
Watching him walk to his truck after saying those words has me torn between wanting to pull him into the garage and have my way with him again or letting him walk away without another word.
His explanation makes sense. I didn’t bother to ask if he was seeing anyone at the bar before I brought him home—not that he would’ve said anything if he truly didn’t know what his publicist had planned.
Still, I feel like the devil's advocate here.
Two sides at war with the other, excuses and solutions tunnel through my head.
The sound of his engine rumbling to life has those thoughts stilling and my head hurting. Reversing out of the spot he parked in, he leaves. The windows are too dark to see through, but I can feel his eyes on me.
I’ve got to get myself together before Briar gets home. Checking my phone for the time, there’s a text from my girl telling me Mawmaw’s dropping her off in an hour. Perfect, enough time for me to get home and shower.
I plan on taking her to Maxine’s, the diner my mawmaw owns. One day, Lucy will own it, and I have no doubts she’ll make it just as incredible as it is now.
Locking up the shop, I double-check the front door to make sure it’s locked before heading out the back to my own truck.
Driving home, I focus on Briar. Her last week of school was two weeks ago, and now that she’s older, she’s got friends that drive.
Uncle Scott and I were talking the other day about who we’d allow her to get into a car with.
She’s fifteen going on sixteen this summer, and by God, the teen years aren’t for the weak. She’s a good kid, keeps up good grades, seems to make friends easily, and she’s always ready to help when asked.
Aunt LuAnna and I decided that she needs a job this summer. Something that will keep her accountable and line her pockets with a little running money.
My house feels empty when Briar’s not here, though I can never get away from her fucking raccoon. That little nuisance gets into everything, and for what? A crumb of fucking dinner. We’ve learned to keep our bedroom doors shut to curb her bad habits.
Taking a shower reminds me of last night, and I hate that it stirs my cock. Choosing to ignore my misbehaving dick, I go through my normal routine, and by the time I’m dressed, I hear my girl burst through the front door.
“Dad! We’re here!” She shouts, looking around the small space. Spotting me in my doorway, she squeals and runs into my arms. No matter how old or how tall she gets, she always leaps and attaches to me like a fly on a horse.
“Hiya, Flower,” I chuckle, stroking my hand behind her head. Using the nickname her mother used to call her.
She lets go and rubs Thelma under her chin. The black and white furball darts out, zooming around the living room, bouncing off couches, hopping against the walls, and I have to remind myself the zoomies only happen rarely.
Briar laughs and takes her shopping bags to her room, allowing Mawmaw and me to talk.
“She’s excited about the diner,” she says, looking at me with a sneaky smile.
Briar comes out of her room, freshly changed into one of her new dresses, I’m sure.
“Bye, Mawmaw, we’ll see you soon!” Her shoulder shimmy has my eyebrows raising, and Mawmaw gives me a wink.
Throwing her arms around her great-grandmother, she squeezes tight before kissing her cheek and telling her she loves her.
“I love you too. Be good for your Dad!” She says with a stern look before turning and heading down the stairs.
Briar stays until Mawmaw’s in her truck and comes back inside, scooping Thelma up in her arms and smiles wide at me. “How was your night? Care to tell me over dinner at Loo’s?”
A chuckle escapes me. This girl’s nosey as all hell. “No, but we’ll go for dinner. It’ll be early though cuz your aunt’s goin’ to the rodeo again tonight.”
Briar’s eyes go wide, and I internally kick myself.
“Let’s go with her!” She shouts, starting toward her bedroom. “Just let me change and put on my boots!”
“Now, Flower, hold on,” I sigh.
“Please, Dad? I’ve only been once this season!” Her bottom lip threatens to pop out, and I swear God gave her a superpower just to keep me from telling her no, even as a teen.
“Aunt Loo’s not happy with me at the moment,” I admit, hoping that will deter her from wanting to go.
“What did you do?” Her head tilts to the side, and Thelma jumps down from her arms, scurrying off to do God knows what.
“We had an argument,” shaking my head, I let out a breath. “If Aunt Loo wants to take you, I won’t say no, but if she can’t, I don’t wanna hear any whinin’, you hear me?”
Whipping her hair around, she’s heading for her room with a little skip in her step. She’s gone all of twenty seconds before she’s back again, this time in jeans, boots, and a t-shirt she must have taken from her aunt’s closet. It’s got a metal band on it that I don’t think she’s ever heard of.
“I’m ready,” she declares with her hat in her hand and a ponytail holder on her wrist. Her brown boots are worn, the ones she wears to work on the ranch.
“You aren’t gonna wear your new boots?” I question.
“They’re too pretty for the rodeo, plus I ain’t tryin’ to replace ‘em. Mawmaw said if I ruin those, she’ll never buy me a new workin’ pair.”
The fact that she thinks her Mawmaw would deprive her of anything is ridiculous. I don’t think Mawmaw knows how that word works when it comes to Briar.
“Okay, load up then.”
Briar yells a goodbye to Thelma and kicks her feet up all the way to the truck, singing a song under her breath. I don’t drive the old red Ford when Briar’s with me since it doesn’t have airbags, so instead, we take the silver Chevy I use when ol’ red doesn’t wanna crank.
The drive’s like muscle memory, downtown where there are a few businesses, a grocery store, and a place for the teens to hang out without being disruptive or getting into trouble.
“How was your last week of school?” I question, reaching across the center console and tapping her hat.
She laughs and turns her head my way, “It was borin’, I coulda skipped and been fine.”
“We’re not arguin’ about that again,” I warn.
Pulling into the diner, Briar kicks her feet, knocking her boots into the dash. She mumbles an apology, and the second the truck’s in park, she’s bolting out, heading toward the door. After I park, I follow her in, she’s already wrapped in Lucy’s arms, and Mawmaw’s waiting beside her.
Lucy won’t even look at me, and Mawmaw’s fawning all over Briar. Taking a seat at the booth behind the window, I wait for them to come to me. Other than Lucy, she’ll most likely avoid me until she has no choice but to talk to me.
The bell above the diner door chimes, and on instinct, I look up.
Heath strolls in, wearing well-worn denim that clings to his thighs like it was tailor-made, pulling his hat from his head. His eyes find mine like a tick finds a dog’s neck, and he smiles.
Fucking hell.