Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

JUNE

If they think I'm breaking bread with that stick in the ass, Luka, they have another thing coming. Since I met that man, he's been driving me insane. Okay, I only met him once, but mentally he's been wreaking havoc on me. Now he's going to be a part of my family. Just great.

Way to go and ruin our weekly Sunday family brunch by inviting him. I look forward to it every week. Especially now that my brother is home and my best friend Paisley always comes to help Mom cook. God knows, I sure as hell can't. Still, I love eating it.

I pull an apple out and hand it to one of my horses. Marko is a rescue who is progressing nicely. I run my hand down his neck. I'm still the only one he lets near him, but in time we'll get that to change.

"No being ornery today," I tell him before giving him a kiss on the nose and moving on to the next stall. I'm killing time trying to appear busy. "Goldie, can you do me a solid and go into labor?" I give her an extra apple. After all, she's eating for two.

"I think it's time to head in," my mom calls. I slowly turn to see her standing at the open barn doors. She hardly ever comes out here. I'm guessing she came out to collect me because I can normally work my dad over. Dad has a weakness for Graysen women. It might be his only one.

"I'm busy." I pat Goldie's side. "She might go into labor. I need to stay around. Actually, I think I might bunk out here tonight." It wouldn't be the first time I crashed in the barn with the horses. I've been doing it since I was little. My parents used to worry that I spent more time with them than other people. Even in high school, I wasn't one of the girls at the Friday night games or excited about prom. I've always felt at peace around animals.

"June bug." My mom's tone changes, making me stand up straighter. A few of the horses dance on their hooves inside their stalls. We all know who is really in charge when push comes to shove. Mom lays down the law.

"Yes, Momma?" I try to feign innocence. Her hands go to her hips. I know I'm not going to win this one.

"Your brother and Paisley are already here. We need to plan a wedding," she reminds me as if I don't already know this. It's all she's talked about. My mom has been waiting for the day one of us would get married. I thought she would end up waiting forever. I'd never even seen my brother date before Paisley. I think he kind of skipped over the whole dating part when it came to her. He moved her right in and had a ring on her finger weeks later. If it even took that long.

God, and everyone in this town knows I sure in hell don't date. All of these people have hooked up one way or another around here. It's slim pickings. There is no way in hell I'd ever be able to handle bumping into someone my husband banged. No, thanks. Besides, Mom and Dad make it hard to find love. When I see the two of them together, I know I would never want to settle till I found what they have. I don't see that happening since I barely leave Cottonwood, and I know everyone in this town. Probably too well, in fact.

"And how am I going to help plan a wedding?" I'm already heading toward her. I know she's as excited about this wedding as Paisley is. I wouldn't say my brother is excited. I'd describe him more as impatient. If it were up to him, he would have married Paisley the second he put his ring on her finger.

"Stop being stubborn." She pulls my baseball cap off, causing my hair to fall down my back. "Go wash up."

"Hey," I say, holding my hand out to get my baseball cap back. It's my favorite. Even if it's a little worse for wear, I got it when my brother took me to my first baseball game in New York, when we all went to the city to visit him. I've been a Yankees fan ever since.

Everyone in my family lured me to New York to see my brother, promising lots of different foods. They knew my stomach was the way to get to me. While we were there, they also tried to get me to visit a few colleges. They'd all done lost their minds if they thought that if I even went to college, it would be in a giant freaking city. It didn't matter if my brother lived there or not. Big city life is not my scene. Sometimes I wish it was, but I know my soul would die within a few months.

I know many people say the city is full of life, but I see the opposite. To me it seems like everyone is in a rush and that they don't take the time to stop and enjoy the little things in life. I'm not condemning the way anyone chooses to live, it's just not for me.

"Shower, and I'll give it back to you."

"I don't even smell!" I groan.

"There is hay in your hair." She pulls a piece out, dropping it on the ground.

"When I had the hat, no one knew," I point out. I know I'm really starting to push it.

"We have a guest coming, June bug." I roll my eyes. Yes, I know we have a guest coming. Unfortunately.

"He's not a guest. He's an asshole." My mom smirks. "Why are you smirking? He is!"

"Do as I tell you." She gives my ass a small smack, making me jump.

"Fine," I huff, heading toward the house. Mom catches up with me.

"Is there something you need to talk to me about?"

"Nope." I may have given myself away by allowing the P to pop a little too hard, but who am I kidding? My mom is already on to me. I know I'm out of sorts.

"June bug." Her whole tone softens. "This is a lot, I know."

"Mom, I'm fine," I reassure her, not wanting to have this talk. Even as I say the words, I know they aren't right. I haven't been fine since Luka Woods invaded my life. The problem is, I'm not sure why. The only thing I do know for sure is that he gets under my skin, and I can't stop thinking about him and his arrogant ways.

"I'll drop it for now," she whispers under her breath as we make our way up the porch stairs, where my brother and dad are standing. They are both holding beers. I give them a kiss on the cheek. Before I can ask where Paisley is, a loud, crashing sound comes from the kitchen.

"Fuck," my brother barks, rushing into the house. I bite back a laugh. I'm sure Paisley is fine, but I've never seen someone as clumsy as her. It's part of her charm.

My dad and mom follow my brother Jackson inside. I start to do the same thing until I hear a car coming down the gravel road. I watch as the fancy Mercedes SUV pulls down the long driveway. The thing looks like it should be in a James Bond movie. It's fitting because when it comes to a stop, out steps a man in a suit. Though he doesn't get out of the driver's seat; he gets out of the back. The driver does not open the door for him. This time.

Who needs a freaking driver? This isn't a bustling city. I let my annoyance with Luka Woods show on my face, enjoying that the gravel dust is dirtying up his fancy shoes. I'm sure he hates that. He was raised on concrete. This might as well be the wilderness for him.

In the short time I've gotten to know Luka, I put together that the man is uptight. I'm not sure why he's stuck around Cottonwood. He doesn't belong. He sticks out like a sore thumb around here. In truth, I think he just wants to get on my damn nerves for some reason. He's been doing it since the second I met him. It's probably some sort of game to him at this point.

"Afternoon, kitten."

I glare at him. He keeps calling me that. I hate it but also kinda like it. I'll deny ever thinking that.

"Afternoon, Patrick Bateman." I toss back.

"Who?" His brows pull together, and I can tell I've irritated him. Good, that was the point. A little taste of his own damn medicine.

"Do you watch TV at all?"

"No." Of course not. Probably thinks he's too important to do something as silly as watching TV.

Paisley said he's a tech-computer guy. Jackson mentioned that he is well-known. I knew he had to do something big. When I first met him, he was dragging Paisley and me off to his private plane, which had landed at an Army base not far from Cottonwood. We never managed to board it. My brother shut that shit down. He wasn't letting anyone take Paisley anywhere.

Still, I'd never heard of Luka Woods or his company, Luka Technology. Then again, I haven't opened my laptop, which is about five years old, in months. At the moment, I'm not even sure where it is. Probably shoved under my bed with a lot of other things.

"Movie is American Psycho . You should check it out."

"Are you going to watch it with me?" His expression doesn't change. I can't tell if he's putting me on or if he's serious. I would guess he's being serious, except he keeps calling me kitten. That doesn't seem to fit his personality or normal stick up the ass behavior.

"Where are you even staying?" There is no way he is staying at the one and only motel in this town. He'd probably rather sleep in that fancy car of his than step foot in there.

Paisley might have stayed there when she came to Cottonwood, but I can't see pretty boy here doing the same. If not for the way Paisley dresses, you'd never guess she was New York royalty. Their family name isn't rich; it's freaking wealthy.

"Are you worried about me?" He makes his way up the stairs to the porch. I want to step back, but I don't. It's a bad idea for him to be too close. My body feels all sorts of things when he gets in my space. Things that I don't want it to.

"No." My breath hitches when Luka raises his hand toward me. I should smack it, but I don't move an inch. He removes a piece of hay from my hair. Heat rushes to my cheeks. I don't know why. I shouldn't care if I look like hell. I've spent all morning tending to the horses.

"June bug, go wash up. You're burning daylight." Mom pushes open the screen door. "Oh, you're here." She gives Luka a bright smile. "I'm Abigail Graysen. Jackson's mom."

"Luka Woods." Luka holds his hand out to her. Mom ignores it, going in for a hug. Luka goes stiff and kind of pats my mom on the back.

"It's nice to meet you." Mom steps back.

I'm sure she didn't miss him tensing up when she hugged him. Based on what Paisley has shared with me about her family, I believe she didn't receive too many hugs. In fact, the first time I told Paisley I loved her, she almost cried. It made me grateful that my own family was always quick to tell each other that we loved one another. I didn't go a day without hearing it from someone.

"June here has told us so much about you."

"Mom!" I shout. "I did not."

"That so?" Luka smirks. His face is actually showing some kind of emotion other than a stern glare.

"I'm going to change," I say before I escape inside and up to my bedroom. When I catch sight of myself in the mirror, I inwardly groan. I really am a hot mess. My jeans are covered in dirt. There is even a smudge of something on my cheek.

Again, why the hell do I care? There can be only one explanation. Luka Woods.

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