Chapter 35
KADE
“Yo, Kade, get your face out of your phone,” Wyatt shouts across the open field.
I reread the text, then press send before I slide my phone into my saddlebag and button it closed.
Inhaling the smell of flowers and fresh air, I nudge Duke into a gallop, picking up speed as we race across the field.
I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been a little distracted all morning.
In my defense, this is my first full day without Chloe since she arrived in town.
She left yesterday afternoon to catch her flight, and despite my insistence that I drive her to the airport in Bozeman, she refused. Something about the rental car she had to return. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to get through three whole days without her, but at least we can text and video call.
My phone buzzes, and my fingers itch to pull Duke to a stop so I can read her message. The only thing that stops me is the fact that Wyatt will give me even more shit than he has since we got to work this morning. He’s been hounding me like it’s his new favorite job.
“Okay, now that loverboy is here”—he glances at me sideways before looking out at the pasture in front of us—“what’s the plan, Gray?”
We’re out on the only piece of land we own that borders the Harts’ ranch.
There’s not much out here besides an old building that’s barely standing.
I think at one point it was a storeroom, but with holes in the tin roof and brick that is crumbling with each season that passes, it doesn’t have much use.
The reason we’re out here today has nothing to do with that building and everything to do with the damage that has been happening to the property line for far too long.
We set some cameras up last year, but nothing showed on them, and the damage stopped.
But ever since we took them down to cover a different area, we’ve noticed some more activity up here on the motion detectors we have dotted around the property.
They don’t record video, so it could be animals, but we suspect not.
“I’ve got some new cameras for us to set up, but I figured it would be quicker if we came out together to get them in place. We can fit them from here down to the end of the final pasture.”
It’s about two miles, and it makes sense for more than one person to do it, but Grayson was weirdly specific about it being me and Wyatt who came out with him.
He moves Colt, his horse, to face mine and Wyatt’s, lifting his Stetson to show us his face. Nervousness and uncertainty dance in his blue eyes before he shifts his focus over to the mountains.
“I have an ulterior motive in getting you guys out here.”
The serious note in his tone sets me on edge, and Duke snorts, stepping to the side as if he senses it. In an attempt to break the tension skating down my spine, I joke, “You gonna kill us?”
Grayson lets out a snort of laughter, setting his hat on the back of his head as he shakes it. “Jesus, Kade, that’s dark, even for you. I wanted to ask you both a question.”
Wyatt and I exchange a look before turning our attention back to Grayson.
“Okay, color me intrigued,” Wy replies.
Gray adjusts his position in his saddle, pulling on his reins before he looks at us. “Will you both be my best men?”
“You brought us all the way out here to ask that?” I tease at the same time that Wyatt asks, “Don’t most people just have one?”
“You couldn’t just say yes, you gotta get smart about it?” Grayson huffs, rolling his eyes before he puts his Stetson back into place to cover his face from the morning sun. “Maybe I should have asked Reed and Tanner instead.”
“Fine,” I huff, in mock annoyance. “We’ll do it.” I pause before the grin I can’t contain splits my face in two. “But for real, Gray, I’d be honored.”
Wyatt being Wyatt says, “Whatever he said. Besides, don’t the single best men get their pick of the bridesmaids?”
“You’re gonna be related to them all,” Grayson teases with a wink, before riding off toward the fenceline.
Wyatt retches, his body moving with the rhythm of his horse as he follows Gray at a slow pace and calls, “Gross. Doesn’t Ave know any hot country singers?”
Why he’s always got to think with his dick is beyond me.
The day that Wyatt Wilde settles down will be the day cows start herding themselves.
He likes to keep his options open when it comes to matters of the heart, or so he says.
The truth is, I think he’s got a thing for someone he refuses to let himself have.
With Wyatt and Grayson distracted with talk about who Wy can hit on at the wedding, I pull my phone out to read the message I got earlier.
Chloe
I’m going to look at storage lockers today. So much fun *eye roll emoji*. If all goes well, I’ll hire a van to start moving things out. Are we still calling tonight?
Kade
I can feel your sarcasm through the phone, buttercup. But it’ll be worth it. I promise.
And yes to the call tonight.
Would take a grizzly bear to keep me away from you.
Chloe
Don’t joke about that, Kade. Not when you literally live in a state where that is even a remote possibility!!
Kade
Oh no! There’s a bear. It’s going to get me.
Chloe
*middle finger emoji*
Kade
Talk tonight, buttercup.
My thumb hovers over the screen longer than it should. It’s only been a matter of hours, but I miss her like crazy. Exhaling heavily, I press send. Only a little over seventy-two hours to go until she’ll be back here, and I can finally breathe.