entire weekend. Once I get my hands on Grace, I’m never letting go.
Seventeen
Brody
By some miracle, I make it to La Rouge Vineyards by noon. My hope that my nosey brother won’t be home is dashed the moment I walk inside the newly constructed barn. Asher looks up from inside the tack room where he’s working on a saddle.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too, ass-wipe.” I don’t answer him, choosing instead to head down to where my horse is stabled. Asher watches as I say hi to Spirit. “Hey, boy, want to stretch your legs?”
“A ride?” Asher’s brows pinch together. “You do know it’s Thursday?”
“So?”
“So, the last time you came home in the middle of the week was—well, never. So, what’s up?”
“Nothing. Just letting Spirit out to stretch his legs.” I move over to Cage’s mare.
“Then why are you nuzzling Chesty?”
“Because.” I grit my teeth. No way am I getting out of here before settling Asher’s curiosity. “I’m taking both horses.”
“Again, where are you taking them, and who will be joining you?” Asher abandons whatever he is working on and comes to stand beside me. While I say hello to Chesty, Asher nuzzles Spirit. “Need any help saddling up?”
We grew up with horses. I can saddle them in my sleep, but I give a nod. It’s the best way I can think of to keep Asher’s questions to a minimum.
We lead the horses to the front of the barn and tie their leads while we grab their saddles. Asher works beside me in silence, saddling Chesty, while I tighten and snug the saddle down on Spirit.
“You can spill now or talk later. One way or another, you’re going to tell me. Might as well get it over with.”
“Don’t want to talk about it.”
“That’s okay because you’re an open book. Besides…” He taps his temple. “My triplet sense is pinging like a motherfucker.” He pauses and his lips press together. “Not that you’re going to listen, but do you really think this is the right thing to do?”
“Depends what the ‘right thing’ is.” Chances of Asher knowing what I’m up to by our inexplicable triplet connection are about ninety-nine percent in his favor. We’ve always had an uncanny ability to intuit what the other’s up to.
“Well, let me throw this out there and you tell me if I’m warm, cold, or lava hot.”
“That’s stupid.” It’s a dumb kid’s game we used to play growing up.
“First off, it’s Thursday, and you’re here instead of in the city. That means something drew you here. Since the only new thing in your life that has anything to do with Napa is your new client, Atwood Estates, and Grace just happens to…”
“That’s enough.” As I suspected, he’s lava hot. Hit that one right on the head, but then I could never keep secrets from my brothers.
“I haven’t even begun to peel back these layers.” He grins like a goddamn fool.
“Stop it.” I want to punch that smug expression off his face.
“So, Grace…” Asher rocks back on his heels. “You’re really going after her? Think that’s wise?”
“I’m warning you…”
“I’m just curious as to why you’re chasing one of the few, if not only, women in the world with a valid reason to hate you. I should get you my gun so you can defend yourself when she takes a shot at you.”
“Shut your mouth.” My growl intensifies.
“Right, Grace Atwood it is. You’re here, saddling up, not one but two horses, to presumably take Grace on a ride. There’s only one place you’d take her.”
“You’re really getting on my nerves.”
“Trail ride it is.” Asher flashes a snarky grin. His intuition is scary accurate. “I have only one question.”
“Fine. I’ll bite.”
“What the fuck are you thinking?” Asher steps back and stares at me. “The two of you were close in high school. Freakishly close, but after you so spectacularly fucked things up, I have to wonder what you’re thinking.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“And you think time heals all wounds?” He laughs. “Brother, you know shit about women. They hold grudges for a lifetime.”
“And you’re some expert?”
“I’m the only one who’s engaged. I’d say that makes me an expert, considering I’m the only one capable of keeping a chick around for longer than one night.”
“We’re done talking about Grace.”
“At least you admit we’re ‘talking’ about her.” He makes finger quotes like he’s all badass.
“Ass…”
“Hole.” Asher finishes the expletive. “You’ve got balls. I’ll give you that. Something pretty fucking amazing must’ve happened when you saw