Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Dylan had known it was a bad idea the moment he agreed to Noah’s proposal.
He knew it now as he tried to focus on Thunder rather than watch Willow mucking out Thunder’s stall, pushing the wheelbarrow, hunting down a broom, sweeping, washing it down, wearing leggings the color of tanned skin and a tiny cropped top, sweatshirt long-since discarded from the heat of the work.
So why had he said yes?
Because when Noah had stood watching, mouth agape at what Thunder could do under Dylan’s instruction, it was the first time one of those Carter men had looked at him with anything other than mistrust. He had felt like an equal. Not just felt like one, felt worthy of being one.
It was easy to sneer at them, to mock them.
It had been easy at high school to grab a fistful of Brodie’s football jersey and slam him up against the locker when he’d made some sly jibe as he’d walked past. But underneath, he’d always felt it.
The Carters were the golden family in town.
Everyone wanted a part of them. Their ranch was the most successful, the kids the prettiest, the funniest, the strongest. From Logan down to Ethan, they pretty much ruled the school growing up.
It was a relief when they left—Dylan could finally breathe.
But of course, they left behind Willow, which at the time felt like a teasing temptation.
Those brothers had walked away and left the chicken coop open.
First time he’d kissed Willow had mainly been because he could.
It wasn’t a hardship—she was beautiful. But he couldn’t lie, there had been an element of taking what belonged to the Carters.
Afterward, though, she was all he could think about.
His eyes roamed the hallways for her and hers seemed to do the same for him.
They never talked about it, but they both knew they’d never go public.
Their lives were too different—who they were was too different.
She was a princess, and he was what everyone called trouble.
Her brothers would say he wasn’t good enough to kiss her feet.
Now, though, as he glanced across at her sliding the strap of her vest onto her shoulder and wiping the sweat off her neck, she was a different kind of tempting.
Beautiful, strong, funny. He swallowed and looked away at Thunder.
Being with Willow now wasn’t about getting back at her brothers, but more because he’d realized in the short time they’d spent together, he liked having her around.
She made being back in Autumn Falls more bearable. Fun, even.
He knew however, she was still far too good for him. She was all grace. Perfect teeth, skin, expensive clothes, delicate features. Which was fine, because he wasn’t the kind of guy to stick around.
But there had been something in Noah asking to work together that had made Dylan feel like an equal. And if he was seen as good enough for Noah, then maybe he was good enough for…
He laughed to himself. “Come on, Thunder, let’s get to work.”