Heartless (Chestnut Springs, #2)(88)

Sloane lips tip up but her cheeks wobble. It’s not the way I’d be smiling if I were set to marry Willa in a few short months. She holds her hand out demurely, and sure enough, the stone is massive. Her family wouldn’t have it any other way.

A chorus of congratulations ring out around us. Everyone oohs and ahhs over the ring, and Jasper hops off his horse, giving the girls a soft smile. He ruffles Violet’s hair before congratulating Sloane.

She reaches for him, and he wraps her in a bear hug, resting the palm of his hand against the back of her head as she presses her forehead to his chest.

It reminds me of running my fingers through Willa’s hair, and I instantly search for her in the group of people. I find her easily, standing there smiling, wearing skin-tight jeans and holding our boy’s hand.

And fuck, it looks good.

“Vi, come meet Willa.” I don’t specify her role. I don’t call her my nanny because that’s not true. And I don’t call her my friend because that’s sure as shit not true either.

“Ooh! Yes! Willa.” Violet turns, and a genuine smile breaks out across her face when her eyes land on Willa and Luke. “I have heard so much about you,” is what she says as she strides toward them.

“Likewise.” Willa grins back at her, and I just know these two will get along famously.

I don’t miss the little wink Violet gives me over Willa’s shoulder as they hug.

Harvey and his big fucking mouth. Telling everyone and their dog about Willa and me ever since that day I carried Willa off over my shoulder. Like if he tells enough people he’ll make it happen or something.

“Okay, we good?” I shout, wanting to get this show on the road so I can kick back with a cold brew. Probably lay my girl out and have a midnight snack too, find out if she followed my instructions.

She probably didn’t. And I love that about her.

Shit, I love her, period.

You should tell her. Summer’s words pop up in my head often. I should tell her but I’m fucking terrified, so I push it aside and get my ass in gear. It’s a problem for another day.

Within the hour, everyone is saddled up and we get to work. Vaccinating. Tagging. Shit-talking.

And wouldn’t you know it, my baby sister still throws a better rope than me.





I feel the snap when I get slammed into the metal panel. “Fuck!”

“Cade?” Jasper jumps off his mount at the same time as Rhett, and they race toward me.

“Fucking, fuck!” I clutch my hand to my chest and searing pain shoots through it.

Both guys are climbing the fence to get to me.

“Jasper, don’t you dare come in this fucking shoot, you crazy motherfucker. If you get hurt, this entire country will hate me.” It’s an Olympic year. I can’t injure our nation’s number one goalie.

“Too late, asshole,” he murmurs before hopping down while Rhett adjusts the gates to keep the cows away from me.

I hold my hand protectively, hoping if I just breathe through my nose for a minute the pain will pass.

I’ve been at this long enough to know better.

“Is it broken?” Rhett hollers while Jasper gives me an unimpressed glare that says I need to show him my hand.

“You’re a fucking hockey player. Not a doctor.”

“I’m smart enough to make an educated guess.” Jasper gives me his best bitchy look. And honestly, it’s pretty good.

I hold my right hand out with an irritated sigh, pinky and ring finger already looking totally swollen.

“Oh, yeah. It’s broken,” Rhett announces.

“And you’re a retired bull rider. What the fuck do you know?”

He shrugs. “Well, I know what broken bones look like. And you’ve got them.”

“I agree,” Jasper tosses in, folding the brim of his cap over his forehead.

“This is like a stupid joke. A hockey player and a bull rider walk into a doctor’s office . . .”

“Cade. You need to get X-rays.”

I slump against the metal fencing behind me and groan. “It was the last batch. I just wanted a beer and a hot tub.”

“No problem, bro.” Rhett slaps me on the shoulder hard enough that my fingers ache. “I’ll grab you one for the road. Also, Summer told me to never go in that hot tub again. The fuck you been doing in there?”

“Get fucked, Rhett. I use chlorine tabs in there and test the water regularly.”

“Is the water pregnant yet?” he tosses over his shoulder while jogging away.

“Dick,” I mutter, gingerly holding my hand and feeling my arms shake.

“What can I do?” Jasper asks gently.

“Get Willa,” is what I say. Because she’s the only person I want right now.

He stares at me with his soulful eyes and nods. He’s walking back with her within minutes.

She looks pale, her eyes pinched, but she doesn’t fuss over me. That’s not her personality, and I think I love her even more for it.

“Fancy meeting you here, Eaton. You try to be a hero and break some fingers?” She’s doing the thing where she defuses her anxiety with humor, but I let her. Her sarcasm is a good distraction right now.

Rhett is back and hands me an already cracked beer. “No. He was trying to be a hero and get that calf’s leg out by himself.”