Chapter 2
Two
Wyatt
“Mmm,” the gorgeous blonde next to me hummed, scooting closer, her skin soft and warm against me. “Good morning.”
I mimicked her hum, giving her my signature sexy grin.
Her fingers drummed on my pec before she pushed herself off, climbing from my bed.
I could hear the faint taps of her feet across the hardwood floor as she took the few steps to the living room.
The small apartment above the bunk house wasn’t much, but it kept me out of the main house.
Not that I didn’t love my family—I’d just rather stay here.
Especially with a naked woman walking around.
Shifting, I took in the sight of—wait…what’s her name?
—as she bent over, grabbing my button-up shirt.
“Breakfast?” she cooed, looking over her shoulder.
I inhaled, scooching up on the bed a little, my head resting in my palm. “I’m not really a breakfast guy.”
Whew…this was stereotypical.
Most of the time, I at least made the gal breakfast. I loved breakfast.
She twisted her lips. “Ah, come on, Wyatt. I’ll make you French toast.”
I raised a brow. “Do I have eggs?”
I could see her move in the kitchen; the apartment was that small.
The studio was perfect for one person, two if they didn’t stay long.
The living room and bedroom blended into one, the kitchen having a small peninsula island large enough for one person to eat.
The only two doors in the place led outside and to the bathroom. Home sweet home.
She opened the fridge. “Yep.” She popped back up with a cheesy smile, holding the small basket of eggs that no doubt my sister, Abi, put in there a few days ago. She always made sure I had the basics. “French toast?”
“Sure,” I breathed, pulling the blankets from my body and climbing from my bed. “I’ll just take a quick shower.”
She set the basket of eggs down, the cheesy smile vanishing as a sexy one replaced it. “Oh, in that case.” Giving me a grin, she slowly unbuttoned my shirt, dropping it to the floor.
An hour later, fresh from the shower, I kissed the blonde as she stepped outside, my mouth pushing as she pulled.
I stayed in the apartment, and she was finally out.
We didn’t even eat breakfast, and I still didn’t know her name.
I watched her car leave before I left the apartment, not even locking the door before going straight to the main house.
It was early still. There had to be some breakfast left.
And thank God I smelled coffee the second I opened the door.
“Abi?” I called, making my way into the kitchen, taking off my winter coat, and tossing it on the banister. Knowing my sister, she was there, probably still cooking or making another pot of coffee. She was always moving, always making sure everyone was taken care of.
When I walked under the threshold into the kitchen, I stopped, raising a brow to see my sister hunched over the counter, a rather large book open in front of her.
Since my parents had retired, it was Abi, her son Stetson, and her fiancé Cash taking residence in the main house, and even though ranch hands still came in and out, it had become a quieter space.
Which meant Abi could do something she wanted to do for a while, become a reader.
Normally, I’d see her with AirPods in her ears as she moved, listening to her next audiobook, so seeing a book open in front of her was new.
Her brow was furrowed, her fist covered her lips, and she didn’t even look up when I walked in.
I let her read, obviously engrossed in whatever was happening, as I moved to get a mug.
I filled it, grabbed the creamer, shut the fridge, grabbed a plate and some bacon, all while she read.
She didn’t even move once, and I wasn’t being quiet.
“What’cha reading?” I asked, setting my plate down on the counter in front of her, causing a louder bang than I really intended.
She flinched, her eyes wide as she looked up at me. “How long have you been there?” she asked, taking a deep breath.
I raised my mug and pointed to my plate. “Long enough to get myself breakfast. Even said your name.”
Giving me her annoyed sister glare, she sighed and looked down at her book. “You did not.”
“I did. What’cha reading that has your attention so well?”
“A Discovery of Witches,” she responded as she placed the bookmark in between the pages and closed the book, its deep blue cover standing out against the marble. “It’s getting good, and you just had to come in.”
“Is it witch porn?” I asked, giving her a sly grin as I popped a piece of bacon in my mouth.
“What?” She stopped, dropping her arms as her brows furrowed.
“Isn’t that what people are reading now? Smut?”
“Wyatt.” She sighed, the disappointment apparent in her tone. “There is nothing wrong with smut; we’ve had this conversation.”
“I’m just kidding.” I gestured towards her book. “I’ve actually heard good things about it. They turned it into a show. Have you seen it? It’s pretty good.”
“Cash and I are going to watch it when I’m done.
” Abi turned away from me, opening the microwave to pull out her own coffee mug.
I raised a brow and wondered how long it had been in there, or how many times she had to warm it up.
“He’s interested just from me telling him about it, but you know he doesn’t read much. ”
“Where is Callahan?” I sat at the stool on the island, lifting my mug of liquid gold to my lips.
“Prepping the arena. He has clients today.” Abi looked at her coffee mug, furrowed her brow, and went to the sink to empty the contents, pulling the carafe to refill her mug with a fresh drink.
“A few barrel racers and a saddle bronc. He may ask you to keep time, that is, if you don’t have any plans. ”
I nodded. “I have zero plans for today.”
Abi took a long drink, her eyes not once leaving me. “Zero?” she parroted, her voice heavy from the hot coffee she just downed like it was orange juice.
Frowning, I shook my head, “None.”
As much as I hated it, I had no plans for the foreseeable future, not since my last rodeo. And that was back in October of last year. My email and voicemail sat empty, proof I had seriously screwed up.
Abi narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded. “Okay, that’s fine. I’m sure Lach can find something for you to do as well.”
“Winter kinda lags on the ranch, sis.”
“There’s always something to do, Wyatt. I know you’re not keen on ranch work—but when you say you have zero plans—”
“I’ll help if they really need me.” I looked up at her.
She was right, I didn’t want to work on the ranch.
I didn’t want to own a huge percentage of it.
I had five percent, and that was enough to eventually build a house on.
I had no plans to ask for more, no plans to turn this into my entire life.
This wasn’t supposed to be my life. I’d been home for weeks, and I had managed to stay away from ranch chores, but my family had begun to get more ruthless, especially since I had only proven to them that I wasn’t going back to work anytime soon—not by choice.
“I could put you on payroll at the stables? I could always use an extra hand, and you can get a check. I could get that set up now if you wanted?” She suggested scratching her hairline before running her fingers through her braid.
Her engagement ring flashed in the light, reminding me my baby sis—even if it was just by three minutes—was getting married.
My older brother, Rhett, was married with a kid.
I was the only Hartwell with no future plans to settle down.
And I was okay with that. When I didn’t answer, she filled the void, “Maybe you should call Hawkins?”
Hawkins, a fellow rodeo announcer and friend, had been my only contact with the rodeo world since I managed to mess up my career.
He’d been the one who kept me in the loop and tried to get me into jobs again, even putting my name in a few committees—but no such luck.
Our texts and calls had fizzled once the prospect of my getting a job became low.
“What’s Hawkins gonna do?” I asked, pushing myself up straight.
She shrugged her shoulder. “Get you a job, maybe?”
“He’s trying,” I grumbled, knowing he wasn’t.
“Think he can try a little harder?” she urged, her eyes scrunching as she clenched her teeth.
My gaze met hers as I slouched. She was trying to be serious and get my ass in gear to get another job. Me? Serious? Nah. Plus, I really wanted the conversation to end. I raised a brow and grinned.
“What? You don’t like me here? Sick of me already.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Oh, come on, Abi. I’m playing.” I stood, grabbing my plate and empty mug. “I’ll call him, but I doubt he’ll have anything new. Most committees won’t even consider my name.”
Abi scoffed in annoyance. “I don’t get it. The guy is fine.”
“Well, when you knock out the head of one of the largest rodeo committees and everyone hears about it, no one wants you to announce at their rodeos. My name is no longer gonna help me.”
We’d been over this. Again and again. I was so tired of talking about it. Hunching my shoulder, I raked my hand down my face.
“You’re a good announcer. You have a finesse to you that no one really—”
“You think I don’t know that?” I dropped my arm, frustration seeping out of me. Abi raised her eyebrows, biting her bottom lip.
Well fuck.
When I came home, basically a puppy with my tail between my legs, Abi was the only one I wanted to talk to. And I just struck a nerve.
“Sorry,” I said softly, taking a step towards her to wrap my arm around her. She rested her head on my shoulder and let out a long exhale. “I’ll be productive today.”
Raising her chin, she met my gaze. “And what about Melanie?”
Melanie, was that her name?
Letting go of my sister, I returned to my seat. “I’ll call her.” I lied. I wasn’t going to call her. I didn’t even get her number.
She raised a single brow and dipped her chin. “Really?”