Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(15)

It worked, but not in a good way. Colt couldn’t remember exactly when things had spiraled out of control. The year between his younger brother Carter’s wedding, and his cousin Dag’s death, Colt had alienated his family. He worked on the ranch when he felt like it, because he didn’t need the money or the hassle. He drank, started doing drugs, and slept with whoever offered.


What did his loving brothers do when he’d started that downward spiral? Not a damn thing. Part of him wondered if they wanted him to die—because he was worth far more to them dead than alive.


The weight machine clanged in the other room, drawing his attention back to Cam who was saying, “…ain’t been in town.”


“Sorry. I spaced out. What’d you say?”


“Wondered what was keeping you busy at your place because you ain’t been in town all week.” Cam wiped the sweat dotting his neck. “India mentioned you missed the Tuesday night meeting.”


Unreal. He’d been sober three years and missed one meeting in the last two and a half. “And here I thought that was supposed to be confidential information.”


“It is. She told me you’re not returning her phone calls.”


“So? She ain’t my keeper.”


“She’s worried about you.”


“She drop any hints on whether you knew if I’d fallen off the wagon or not?”


“Nope.”


“That’s good. Where’d you see her? At the diner?”


“I haven’t been in the diner since Friday night.”


“Why? They stop givin’ law enforcement officers free coffee or something?”


“Or something,” Cam muttered.


“What’s up?”


Cam braced his elbows on his knees and pointed his face to the floor. “Evidently Domini saw me giving Doc Monroe a ride home Friday night after your unplanned piercing. The arctic princess blasts me with an icy glare if I so much as step foot on the welcome mat in Dewey’s. Then she starts cursing at me in Ukrainian and stomps off.”


“Huh. I didn’t realize you and Domini were datin’.”


“That’s the thing; we’re not. I’m not dating the good doc either.


She and I are just friends.”


“So Domini is jealous?”


“Hell if I know. Meantime, I’ve been forced to drink the black sludge from the Conoco station.”


Colt fiddled with the cap on his water bottle. “You could remedy the jealousy situation and ask Domini out.”



Cam laughed. “Right.”


“I’m serious.”


“So am I.”


“What about her has you runnin’ scared?”


“Everything. She deserves better than half a man.”


Colt widened his eyes in mock shock. “Did part of your dick get shot off at the same time as your leg and your hand?”


The look on Cam’s face was hilarious. “No!”


“Then you ain’t half a man.”


“What do I have to offer her? A soft, sweet, beautiful girl like her don’t wanna get mixed up with a f*cked-up man like me, guaranteed.” The plastic bottle crumpled in his big hand. “I have dark edges she couldn’t handle.”


“Don’t we all?”