too well how Declan felt. “The ranch is quieter nowadays.” Mom and Dad bought an RV and spent their time driving cross-country, making the house feel empty without them and Drake and Trinity living at home anymore. Tate wiped down the counter. “I’m looking forward to moving out to the cabin when Drake and Adria move their stuff out.” Their new house was being renovated, but they’d recently moved in anyway. They just hadn’t taken all their stuff yet, what with the rushed wedding and their honeymoon.
“I need a change.” Not just of where he lived but in his life.
“I do, too. This place feels too much like the family house instead of mine.” Declan ran the ranch now. He deserved the big house.
Tate could make do with the cabin. He didn’t need much room. “Well, Mom and Dad took care of the kitchen renovation before they left on their cross-country excursion. But the whole place still needs a new coat of paint. You should buy some new furniture, I don’t know . . . redecorate.”
“Yeah, because I have time to do that.”
“If you want me to hire on the new guys we need, I’ll do it and free up some of your time.”
“I’m talking to a few people. I just haven’t made up my mind yet.”
Tate didn’t push. The whole family simply accepted that Declan ran the business after Drake ditched this place and joined the army. Declan liked to do things his way. Tate didn’t resent Declan for taking the lead and not giving up any of the management responsibilities. Back in the day, Tate ran a little wild. But he’d grown up and tried to step up as much as Declan would allow him because he loved working the ranch. When Declan asked him to do something, he did it. He offered to take on more all the time. Declan took him up on it when he absolutely needed to. Otherwise, Declan did the work himself.
One of these days, Declan would resign himself to the fact that he couldn’t do everything—and no one asked him to. When that day came, Tate would be there to partner with Declan in a more even way. Until then, to keep from stressing Declan out, he took his cues from Declan and did his job. Declan counted on him to do it well.
Tate didn’t ever want to disappoint Declan.
But he’d disappointed Liz. And it ate away at him. He needed to make it right.
He checked his watch. “Liz should be here any minute.”
“Are you going to finally admit you have feelings for her?”
He hoped getting her alone so they could talk would help him figure out exactly how he felt. “Do I? Or am I just holding on to her because I don’t want anyone else to have her?”
“That’s what I asked you.”
Tate held his hands out and let them fall and slap his thighs. “Fuck if I know.”
“Kiss her.”
Tate’s brain slammed to a halt. “What?”
“Have you ever kissed her?”
“No.” He’d never crossed that line, because they were friends.
“Maybe you should. It might tell you everything you need to know.” With that, Declan walked out of the kitchen into the living room where a football game Declan recorded on the DVR blasted out of the TV.
Tate tossed the dishcloth into the sink and headed for the front door. Just as he hit the bottom step, Liz drove toward him and parked.
His heart sped up at the sight of her. He’d barely slept last night or gotten anything done today thinking about this conversation, what he’d say, what she’d say. How this would go. How it might end.
He didn’t exactly blame her for choosing lunch with her boyfriend instead of him, but he didn’t like it either.
“Hey,” she said without looking at him when she got out of the car and closed the door. Instead, she put her hand up to her forehead and stared out at the pasture and hills. “Look at that gorgeous sunset.”
He had eyes only for her. The sweep of her cheek, the set of her jaw, freckles sprinkled over her nose, the copper in her hair shining in the waning light. He looked at her as a man looks at a desirable woman. Every line and plane from her beautiful face, down her softly rounded body, tight ass, and trim legs. Something stirred. She drew him in, and for the first time he fantasized about kissing her.