22. RHETT
22
RHETT
I whistle as I shovel out the stall, and Beau gives me a look. “Someone’s in a good mood.”
“It’s a lovely day.” I’ve been replaying last night in my mind all morning. Paige is… well, she’s spectacular. Waking up with that woman is about the best thing I’ve experienced in years.
He chuckles. “If I had to bet, I’d say you got laid.”
My smile evaporates. “If you say one word about my wife, we’re gonna have a problem, brother.”
He laughs harder and holds up his hand. “I would never say anything about sweet, beautiful Paige Lewis.”
“That’s right. Let’s keep it that way. And it’s Paige Walker now, in case you didn’t get the memo.”
I exit the stall with the wheelbarrow, and he closes it behind me. “Does this mean she’ll be sticking around after those six months?”
I shrug. “Not sure.”
“Why’s that? Y’all obviously get along well, and anyone with two eyes can see how well she fits in with the family. Even the boys are warming up to her.”
I pause to take off my work gloves and get a drink of water. “I told her I want her to be fully rehabbed before she makes any decisions. That girl’s been doing gymnastics and cheer since she was little. Where’s she gonna use those skills in Wild Heart? She’s an elite athlete, Beau. I can’t ask her to stay so she can be a rancher’s wife.”
His expression goes flat. “Are you serious?”
“I just want what’s best for her. Danny would want me to push her to go after what she really wants and not… not settle.”
He frowns. “Why is the best option not you? She’d have a good life here. We’ll get our financial situation all figured out this year, and then y’all could have a few rugrats, and we’d?—”
“I’m not having more kids. That’s off the table. I already told her.”
His brows lift. “You just told her? And she was okay with that?”
I shrug. “She didn’t argue. Then she agreed to hold off making any decisions about us for now.”
Beau shakes his head. “I love you, brother, but sometimes you’re a dumbass.”
He doesn’t understand. That’s fine. But I need to do right by Paige. I scrub a hand over my face. “Are you coming fishing with me and the boys tomorrow?”
“My shift starts in the morning, so I need a raincheck.”
“I hate that you have to take on so much.” Beau works his ass off as a fireman and then puts in a shitload of time here at the ranch.
“It’s no more than you do.”
What was I supposed to do when my father was too drunk to get out of bed? Let this place fall apart? Thank God I have my brothers. I’d never be able to handle this place by myself.
I put my gloves back on, and he follows me out of the barn. I dump the manure several yards away. “Did you test the pH balance of that field we discussed?”
“It’s ready to be fertilized.”
“Can you get the guys on that? Make sure the manure is laid down in a thin layer?”
He nods. “I’m on it.”
“Also…” I wipe my forehead with the back of my arm. “Would you mind making a run to the lumber yard later this week? I have a list of things I need for a project.”
“Sure. What are we making?”
“A coop.” I squint into the bright sun. “How do you feel about chickens?”
I get through my to-do list in record time before I book it back to the house. As I’m stomping my feet on the welcome mat, I open the back door. “Paige. Baby, you ready?”
I promised I’d take her to her first physical therapy appointment. It’s just an assessment, but she seemed nervous, so I offered to drive her.
“Um. Rhett? I have a visitor. Can you give me a sec?”
Why does she sound funny? I stomp into the house and find her talking to some dude in a suit. I’m momentarily distracted by the sweet little sundress Paige is wearing. It’s yellow and shows off a fetching amount of leg.
I turn to the guy. “You from the bank?” I ask as I wipe my hands on my jeans. “Did Harlan send you?”
His brow puckers as he looks at Paige, then back to me. “You know my uncle?”
I frown. “You’re related to Harlan?”
“Harlan Calhoun?” he says slowly. “I’m his nephew.”
Paige’s eyes widen, but before I can say anything, she puts her hand on my chest and coughs. Then waves at the suit. “This is my ex, Marcus. Marcus, this is…”
She pauses like she isn’t sure what to say.
“Her husband,” I add as I put my arm around her petite shoulders.
It’s dipshit’s turn to eyeball us. He stares at us for at least thirty seconds. Then the idiot bursts out laughing. He laughs so hard, he has to wipe his eyes. Then he smiles at Paige like she’s a tasty treat. “You almost had me there.” He chuckles. “I brought your mail. Your stepmother said you were here.” He glances at me, then turns to Paige. “Listen, I feel bad about how we ended things. Let me take you to lunch and make it up to you. I miss you, gorgeous. I’m getting a bigger apartment, so you can move back in with me if you want.”
“The fuck she’s moving back in with you,” I growl.
Still sporting that stupid smile, he has the balls to pull her to the side. “Whatever, man.” He turns to her and lowers his voice as though I can’t hear him from three feet away. “Paige, I know I wasn’t very attentive these last few months, but I was busy at work. You know how demanding my job is. I just don’t have the energy to hang out like you want sometimes. When I get home, I just want to chill. Watch TV. Kill a few zombies on my PlayStation. Have dinner. Maybe fuck.”
I’m gonna kill him.
I’m not sure how it happens, but next thing I know, I have his pretty white shirt balled up in my fist and his neck pressed to the door. “Listen, motherfucker, Paige ain’t interested in your half-assed attempts at being a good boyfriend.”
“Rhett, let him go.” She tugs on my arm and gives me a pointed look. “He’s Harlan’s nephew,” she hisses.
Shit. She’s right. It takes everything in me to unclench my fist, but not before I grit out, “She’s not gonna fuck you anymore, Marcus, because she’s my wife .”
When I let go, he staggers. “What, you’re serious?” His gaze shifts between me and Paige.
“Do I look like I’m fucking joking?” I could kill this little weasel and bury him in the backyard. Doubtful anyone would miss him.
His shit-eating smile finally disappears, and now he genuinely looks upset. “Paige? We broke up a week ago.”
I pin him back to the wall. “She broke up with you two weeks ago. Now get the fuck out of my house.”
When I shove him loose, Paige’s eyes are saucers. Shit. I hope I’m not scaring her. I’m not usually a violent guy. But when a stranger waltzes into my house and talks to my wife like she’s his personal sex toy, I feel at liberty to let him know he crossed a goddamn line.
He wobbles to one side, then the other. When he regains his equilibrium, he reaches into his man bag and tosses a bunch of envelopes on the floor. “Fuck y’all. She’s not worth this shit.” Then he scurries off like a rat back to the sewer.
When the door slams behind him, I expect Paige to read me the riot act. Instead, she grabs my hand. “Are you okay? I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t know he was coming here. I would’ve warned you.”
The concern in her eyes makes me frown. “Sweetheart, you don’t owe me any apologies. You can have anyone over at any time. This is your house now. But I would definitely appreciate a heads-up about any ex-boyfriends so I don’t blow my top when they look like they want to slurp you up like a tasty treat.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t believe you almost beat up Harlan’s nephew.”
“Who almost beat up Harlan’s nephew?” Beau appears in the back door.
Paige points at me. “The Hulk here.”
I smirk. “Let the record show that I held back.”
She rolls her eyes as she crosses the room. I follow her and lean against the kitchen counter and tug her to my chest. “Sorry, wildflower. Didn’t mean to rough up your ex.”
She sighs. “I didn’t know Harlan was his uncle. They have different last names. And I thought Marcus’s family lived in Dallas.”
“Harlan spends a lot of time up there.”
“It makes me realize how little effort Marcus put into our relationship. I remember telling him where I grew up, but he was playing a video game at the time, so I guess it went in one ear and out the other. Because wouldn’t he have said, hey, I have family there too?”
I tuck her hair behind her ear. “He’s a dumbass.”
Beau reaches into the fridge. “What if he says something to Harlan? Do we need to be worried?”
I should be more concerned about that, but the moment I saw Marcus get up in Paige’s business, I wanted to rip his head off his scrawny shoulders. Fuck. I don’t know why I get so wound up about this woman.
My wife considers his question. “He didn’t want to introduce me to his parents because I wasn’t the right caliber of girl, so hopefully he’s too embarrassed about the whole thing to mention this to anyone.”
Tugging her closer, I growl. “I should’ve kicked his ass. What a moron.” My brother has the good sense to make himself scarce.
Paige tilts her head up, her lips tugged up in amusement. “I appreciate you trying to stand up for my honor, but maybe we don’t put our hands on anyone next time.”
Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. “Yes, ma’am.”
Maybe this should concern me, but I’m finding it’s easier and easier to promise Paige whatever she wants.