TWENTY-NINE.
Ever
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Impossible to resist.
I peek through the front window and spot a man wandering between the barn and the house.
His truck has been parked in the drive for about twenty minutes now, and no one has come out to meet him.
He’s dressed right for the ranch—jeans, thick canvas jacket, cowboy boots—so he looks like he belongs here.
I’m starting to wonder if I should just go out and ask what he needs.
I pull my phone from my back pocket. It’s a little after noon. Tobias and Jesse should have finished with the cattle by now.
I walk to the kitchen, grab the walkie-talkie from the counter, and thumb the side button a few times.
My finger hovers over the talk key. I don’t like interrupting when they’re in the middle of something.
I know how jarring it can be to hear your name crackle over the radio right when you’re focused.
So I clip it to my belt instead, shrug on a jacket, and head outside.
The wind hits me the second I step onto the porch and I know I should have grabbed something heavier. The weather has been flipping from high 60s to 40s by the day, making it impossible to know what I’m up against until I step out of the door.
The man is staring at his phone, tapping it against his palm like he’s waiting for a text. I step down from the porch and walk toward him.
“Excuse me,” I call. He startles, turns quickly, and looks me over. Recognition flashes across his face almost immediately.
“Hi,” he says. “You must be Ever.”
I nod. “Can I help you find someone?”
He’s younger than me—maybe around Caden’s age—with short brown hair on the sides, longer on top, and a ducktail in the back that qualifies as a proper young-man mullet.
His skin is a warm brown, covered in black tattoos that run from his wrists all the way up his arms. His eyes are a striking light brown, almost golden in the sunlight.
He looks like the type who could charm his way out of anything, but he keeps his hands clasped politely in front of him.
“I’m looking for Tobias,” he says. “We were supposed to meet at twelve thirty, but he hasn’t shown up yet.”
That doesn’t sound like anything like Tobias. He’s never late for meetings, especially not with someone new. I nod. “Want to head over to the red barn with me? He’s probably still out there.”
“Sure,” he says, and falls into step beside me, keeping a respectful distance.
I glance at him as we walk. “Can I ask what you’re here for?”
“An interview, of sorts,” he answers.
I raise an eyebrow but keep my tone neutral. “I see.”
He hesitates, then glances at me sideways. “Also… I didn’t know Ray and Linda personally, but I’ve heard a lot about them around town. I’m sorry for your loss.”
The words catch me off guard. It’s been a while since anyone has said that to me. “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”
He smiles, small and genuine. When our eyes meet, I notice him really looking—taking me in, not in a pushy way, but with quiet interest.
The red barn comes into view. It’s quiet. No voices, no movement, no sign of Tobias or Jesse. I unclip the radio from my belt, thumb the button once to check it’s on, then press it down and hold it to my mouth.
“Tobias?” I say clearly, giving him a few seconds to finish whatever he’s doing before he answers.
“Yeah?”
I open my mouth to explain about the visitor, but then it hits me. I lower the radio slowly, staring at the quiet barn, then at the stranger next to me.
“What’s your name?”
He leans forward slightly. “Wyatt.”
I nod and lift the radio again, pressing the button. “There’s someone named Wyatt here. He says you were supposed to meet him at twelve thirty.”
“Where are you?” Tobias asks quickly.
I turn my eyes toward the cattle pasture in the distance knowing that’s where he usually is this time of day. “The red barn.”
“I’m on my way,” he says without hesitation.
A familiar flutter starts low in my stomach. I don’t know how he still manages to do that to me after all this time. I lower the radio and clip it back to my belt.
“Mind if I wait with you?” I ask Wyatt.
He shakes his head. “Not at all.”
I give him a quick once-over. He seems polite enough, hands in his pockets now, posture relaxed. Still, something about him puts me on edge.
I pace a few steps to the side, restless. Why would Tobias be bringing on another person? Is Jesse thinking about leaving? Or Caden? Are things tighter than I realized?
The sound of hooves reaches me first. I turn and see Tobias riding up on Tacoma, hat pulled low, expression focused. I’m drawn to him the same way I always am—helplessly, instantly—but I force myself to stay grounded. I need answers before I let him disarm me with that look.
Tobias swings his leg over before Tacoma fully stops and drops to the ground. He leads the stallion to the nearest post, wraps the reins with a quick flick of his wrist, and starts toward us. I meet him halfway.
“Can we talk for a minute?” I ask, trying to keep my tone serious. He nods once and steers me a few steps away from Wyatt, out of easy earshot.
He lifts his hat, pushes his hair back with one hand, then settles it back on. He’s breathing a little harder than usual, sleeves rolled up, veins standing out along his forearms from whatever work he just finished. His eyes move over my face slowly, like he’s checking for something wrong.
“Wyatt said he’s here for an interview,” I say.
Tobias rubs a hand over his face and scratches through his beard. “Mhm.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Are we in need of another body on the ranch?”
He sighs and shifts his weight. “It’s more of a favor. He’s Caden’s friend. Caden asked if I’d let him volunteer now and then so he can get some experience.”
“So, like a part-time thing,” I clarify.
“Yeah. A few days here and there. He’d only ever be around if Jesse or I are here too.”
I nod slowly and glance back at Wyatt. He’s still standing where we left him, hands in his pockets, looking patient. Friendly enough on the surface, but there’s an edge to him I can’t quite place.
“He looks like trouble,” I say quietly.
Tobias follows my gaze. “He is.”
“What kind of trouble?”
Tobias shifts again, eyes still on Wyatt. “I don’t know if you want the details. He’s trying to get on track now. That’s why he needs this.”
I cross my arms against the wind. “So what’s the plan?”
“I was going to have him round up the sheep. I don’t expect him to do it perfectly—it’s more to see if he can handle pressure when he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
I chew my lip, thinking it over. An extra hand could give everyone a break now and then. But I don’t know this guy.
“I really don’t want anyone messing up what we have,” I tell him. “I can’t afford to have someone new come in and throw things off.”
He nods, serious. “I know. And I’ll take responsibility for anything he does.” I let out a long breath. “What are you thinking? You don’t want to add anyone on?”
“If you think he’s a good fit and you trust him, then go ahead. But I don’t want you hiring someone just because he’s a friend who needs help.”
Tobias turns his shoulders to face me fully. “How about you watch the trial run? See what you think and we can decide together.”
My eyes flick between his. I hear what he’s saying. I really do. It’s just hard to focus when he’s standing this close, looking at me like that.
“What do you think?” he asks again.
I nod quickly. “Alright.” I chew my bottom lip for a second. “I’ll get June set up and meet you at the sheep pasture?”
“Sure,” Tobias says. “Do you need help?”
“No, I got it.”
He grins as I step back. His eyes move down my body and back up in one quick sweep. I roll my eyes, but I can’t help appreciating that he kept things professional when it counted.
“You look nice today,” he says.
“Thanks.” A shiver runs through me. “Probably should have brought a bigger jacket out.”
“I have one in the barn if you want it.”
“You don’t think it’ll be too big?” I ask with a grin. But being wrapped in his jacket sounds perfect right now.
“It will be.” His eyes darken, and a smirk tugs at his mouth. “But you’ll be mine.” My cheeks heat despite the wind. Yes. I will be. “Don’t be long.”
“Yes, sir,” I say without thinking.
His mouth opens, then his whole body goes still. I laugh under my breath, turn, and hurry toward the barn before he can recover. I glance over my shoulder just before I disappear inside. He’s still staring after me, rooted in place.
I find his jacket hanging on a hook near the tack room.
It’s heavy canvas, worn soft at the elbows, and when I slip it on, the sleeves hang past my fingertips and the hem falls to mid-thigh.
I roll the cuffs three times so I can use my hands.
The fabric smells like him and the warmth seeps into my skin immediately.
I wouldn’t trade it for anything right now.
When I reach the sheep pasture, I’m surprised to see neither Tobias nor Jesse mounted.
Their horses are tied to the fence, and the two men stand side by side, watching Wyatt ride Django.
The young stallion is full of restless energy, prancing and tossing his head—an interesting choice for someone who might not be completely comfortable on horseback yet.
I tie June next to the others and walk over. “Hello, boys.”
They both turn. Tobias does a double take. His gaze travels over me slowly, taking in the oversized jacket, the way it swallows my frame. My skin warms under the attention.
“Come here,” he says, flexing his fingers to beckon me closer.
Jesse walks off without a word, leaving us alone.
Tobias’s eyes stay hot on me. When I stop in front of him, he reaches out and straightens the collar of his coat, fingers brushing my neck.
“This was a bad idea,” he mutters.
I chuckle and shrug, making the jacket shift heavily on my shoulders. “I kind of like it.” I wink at him. “How’s he doing so far?”
I turn toward the arena and step to the side, but Tobias’s hands find my hip and brings me back.
“Fine,” he says, voice low.