Hell, it was just wrong to notice that his best friend’s little sister was hot as hell. But it was more than hot. It was a chemistry thing.
Which he also had experience enough to know.
It seemed to be one-sided, which was a gift in and of itself. Because Rose was like a determined little terrier, and when she got her teeth sunk into an idea she went full bore with it. And the last thing he needed in the whole world was for Rose to decide to sink her teeth into him.
He gritted his teeth against the kick of arousal he experienced at the thought.
In front of her damn brother.
“What is she up to?” Ryder asked.
“She thinks that she’s going to set Iris up.”
Ryder frowned. “What, with a man?”
“Yep.”
Ryder let out a howl. “No shit.”
“Seriously,” he said.
“Well. I have a feeling that’s not going to go very well for her.”
“Nope.”
“Are you going to go?”
“Yes,” Logan said without hesitation.
“Why? I think you should let her make her mistake.”
And he realized that no matter how silly he thought it was, he couldn’t let her go off and do this on her own. Because the fact of the matter was, Elliott was going to believe that Rose was interested in him. She was officially biting off more than she could chew, and he actually wasn’t willing to leave her to that.
It wasn’t because he couldn’t stand the idea of another man touching her.
No way in hell.
He was protective.
“Hey, I’m just not willing to miss the show,” he lied.
“Better you than me. Sammy’s energy is at a premium, and I think I would rather be at home with her than out watching Rose be a heap of trouble.”
“Hell,” Logan said. “If Iris decides not to go out we’ll all be better off.”
“You could warn her,” Ryder said.
“I could,” Logan responded. “Of course, then Rose would kill me. Anyway, you’re right. Rose needs to learn her lesson.”
He was going to be there, granted. But the fact of the matter was Rose did need to learn. She was up in people’s business far too often. And he could see that this was headed for absolute disaster.
It might be necessary for her to take a fall. But he was damn well going to be there when she did.
Because that was what he did. He protected her. He’d done it all her life. But then his feelings had begun to shift, begun to change.
And after that shift there had been moments. Late nights on the porch drinking beer. Times when they’d be out working and their bodies would brush against each other, and he was close enough to press his lips to her neck if he just angled his head.
It had forced him to make a choice. Between changing what they were, and staying her protector as he’d always been. When working with her had started to become a strain. When he had begun to notice the softness of her body when he would press up against her while they wrangled a calf, or noticed the scent of her when the breeze kicked up when they were out in the field together.
He’d recommitted himself. To keeping her safe.
Even if it meant keeping her safe from him.
Because this place was his home.
Because Ryder Daniels had supported him through the worst thing in his life, while grieving his own losses.
He remembered the night they’d found out their parents had died. Clear as if it were yesterday and not nearly eighteen years ago. They’d all been staying in the main house on Hope Springs, caring for each other while their parents went on that trip. They hadn’t known they’d end up like that always.
Ryder had been stoic. Ryder had been the only one over eighteen. The one who’d had to sign paperwork and deal with Child Services. The one who’d had to wrangle insurance and plan funerals.
The only thing Logan had been able to do for him was let him break.
He could remember that night well. It had been six months after they’d died. He’d found Ryder out in the barn, by a big old box of beer bottles. He was halfway through his fourth beer and tipsy and angry.
Ryder’s dad and uncle had kept a whole supply of beer outside in the colder months, and Ryder had stumbled upon it and figured...why the hell not drink it.
“No one’s here to stop me,” he’d said, kicking one bottle over. “Have a beer, Logan. I’m your guardian. I say you can.”
And Logan had. Then he’d had two. Then three.
And by the end they were both drunk and broken. It was the only emotion he’d ever seen Ryder show. The only time he’d faltered. And he’d cracked apart.
“I’m not supposed to be here,” he’d mumbled, sitting on the ground with his knees pulled up to his chest. “I was supposed to be a thousand miles from here. In college. Playing football. I wasn’t supposed to be everyone’s dad.”
“Sorry,” Logan had slurred. “But I don’t know where I’d be if you weren’t here. I wouldn’t have anyone. My mom was all I had.”
“You have us,” Ryder had said. And it was like he’d found that strength again, that he’d been leaning on all those months, that had cracked just for a little while. “What-if doesn’t matter. You have us.”
He knew what this had cost Ryder. And he...he could never take for granted what Ryder had sacrificed for them.
He wasn’t a part of the Daniels family. He was the outlier in a way that not even Sammy was.
Because no matter what, no matter how much time passed, he would always bear some of the weight of guilt for what had happened.
And touching Rose would be the greatest sin he could ever commit.
Ryder’s youngest sister. The sister he had always trusted him with.
Even worse, Rose trusted him.
Plus, Rose didn’t look at him like that at all.
If Rose even realized he was
