Chapter 1

Chapter One

Emmett

I leave the bathroom and jog down the stairs, overhearing my brother Jude talking to Dad in the kitchen. Dad decided to ambush us today, asking all of us to meet at his house.

We all know it's about business because first, he's making his famous burgers, which he only cooks when he's trying to get my two brothers and me to agree on something. Second, it's for sure about business because if our family meeting was about anything other than business, it'd be held up on daisy hill at Mom's burial plot.

None of us want to be here. Ben groaned because he didn't want to be away from his soon-to-be bride for longer than a minute. Jude bitched because we all know what this meeting is about, and he's been delaying it for months.

"You have no choice. I promise you that when the baby comes, you'll want more time at home. Sadie will need you." A kitchen chair screeches against the vinyl floor.

"But, Dad?—"

I walk into the kitchen, interrupting them, but neither one bats an eye because my family doesn't keep many secrets—or can't keep any secrets, more like it.

"Are we still trying to get Jude to give up the reins?" I grab a water from the fridge and smirk at Jude just to piss him off. It's an easy task any day, but especially today. You'd think I was some up-and-comer trying to take over his cushy job the way he protects his responsibilities on the ranch like a growling dog anchoring his jaw in his pull toy.

I don't want his position on the family ranch.

"Hey, did I tell you we're way past a million views on your baby girl's gender reveal video?" I flip the chair around and straddle it.

"Sit right, Emmett," my dad scolds.

What's up his ass?

"Act like you're ready," he adds.

Ding, ding, ding . There's the reason he's suddenly giving me hell about how I sit in a chair.

"Should I go put on the suit I wear to funerals? Want to know my strengths and weaknesses? We can have a formal interview if you like."

Dad inhales deeply through his nose.

Ben walks in the back door like a damn stealth bomber. "How long is this going to take?"

"Shit," Jude says, jolting back in his chair.

"Just sit down. I'm not sure why I have to bribe you all to have a meeting regarding the ranch." Dad puts down a plate of burgers in the middle of the table.

He'll probably never give us the secret to what he puts in the meat, but damn, he makes the best burgers. After Mom died, it was all he made for a long time, but we never grew sick of them, which is a testament to how good they are.

We all reach in, hands smacking hands, hands pushing hands out of the way to score as many as we can.

"Thanks, Dad," Jude mumbles and moans over his first bite.

"You should quit the ranch and open a burger joint," I say.

"You'd have a line around the block," Ben says.

All of us take huge bites as if we haven't eaten in a week.

"Kind words from some boys who are afraid of why I called them here." Dad sits back, his burger on his plate, watching us.

He does this every once in a while—watches us. I've never asked why, but I think he's impressed he raised us on his own, for the most part, and we're not jackasses. Well, most of the time we're not.

"Eat, Dad." Ben nudges his arm.

"I will."

Jude finishes first—which is why he had the nickname garbage disposal when we were younger. He was always the first to the table, no matter the meal, and the first finished. "So, why are we here, other than…"

"Me taking over Jude's position." I smile wide and wink at Jude.

He blows out an annoyed breath, his usual reaction to my razzing. "You're not taking my position."

"Are you sure about that?" Ben joins in on the fun.

The problem with having three boys is that it's always two against one.

"You can all fuck off. Dad?" Jude pulls out his phone and looks at the time. "Sadie is expecting me."

"There's plenty to take home." Dad glances toward the Tupperware containers on the counter.

"Another good thing about not having a woman—I get another burger meal for myself." I smile at the three of them.

"And the use of your hand tonight while Jude and I will be snug inside?—"

"Enough," Dad says. "Don't talk like that in front of me. I'm not your buddy at the bar, and the women in your houses are like daughters to me. I don't want to think or visualize…" He shakes his head. "Just. No." He gives Ben his look. The one he mastered after Mom died, and he had to raise three hellions on his own.

Ben holds up his hands. "All right."

"The reason I called you here is because yes, Sadie is getting closer to bringing the first Noughton grandchild into the world?—"

"You're welcome." Jude holds out his arms, pointing at himself as if there should be a big J on his chest.

"It should've happened years ago," Ben mumbles, snagging one of the last two burgers.

I reach to grab the last one at the same time as Jude.

"You get the first child, I get the last burger." I swipe it off the plate before he can. Satisfaction fills my chest. Nothing better than beating my brothers at… well, anything.

"Had enough? You're the reason this meeting is taking so damn long." Dad eyes each of us, and we sober as we usually do under his scrutiny. "Like I was saying. It's almost planting season, so that's where we start."

My stomach rolls over, and I almost slide off the chair and go back to the bathroom, but I gave myself a mental pep talk upstairs before coming down here. I can do this, even if I'm sure I already know what their reaction will be.

I put my burger down. "Actually, I was thinking?—"

"Realized what that brain is for, huh?" Ben jokes, and Jude laughs along with him.

I raise my middle finger and run it up and down my nose as if I'm scratching it.

"So, Jude, you'll teach Emmett everything that needs to happen to get the corn planted, and then we'll move on to the cattle ranch. You're still responsible for the horses, Emmett."

I raise my hand, earning groans from both Ben and Jude.

"It's not kindergarten," Dad says. "Speak."

"I had this idea that maybe we could open a dude ranch." I spit out my idea before I'm interrupted. I want to make my own mark on this ranch, not be Jude's gofer my entire life.

"Dude ranch? Like people would come here to work?" Ben laughs and knocks his elbow against Jude's arm.

"I know it's not your dream vacation, but we have so much to offer here." I slide my phone out of my pocket. "On the gender reveal video?—"

"If I hear the words gender reveal video one more time, I'm gonna lose the three burgers I just ate." Jude swipes his drink off the table and downs half the glass.

I ignore him because he's always a negative Nancy. "All these people commented asking where the ranch is and if they could come visit."

"But none of them are saying they want to work?" Ben asks.

"Some are. They want to come and see me on a horse and stuff."

Ben slaps his hands together. "And there it is. Emmett wants to show off."

"Excuse me, Mr. Running Back," I say, annoyed that none of them are taking me seriously.

"I wasn't showing off, I was playing to win." Ben rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, okay."

My brother liked the attention, and at one point in his career, he liked it so much my dad had to fly out and straighten him out.

"Anyway, it sounds like it could be a good idea, Emmett, but right now, we have to get you up to speed on the ranch before we can entertain something new. Tell them where we are, and they can stay at The Getaway Lodge, go on a winery tour, or something." Dad grabs our plates. "You can go about your nights now." He stands.

"That's it?" I ask.

Ben slides out of his chair, smacks Dad on the back, and grabs the doggie bag Dad made up for Gillian and his stepson, Clayton. "Gillian probably won't see any of these. Thanks."

"I put an extra one in there for Clayton. He's growing." Dad heads over to the sink to wash the dishes.

"And bonus, I get sex and another burger because Sadie is having an adverse reaction to beef these days." Jude holds up his bag, trying to coax me into battle, but I'm not going to bite.

"Yeah, I can get sex if I want it and the burger. The best thing is that I don't have to wake up next to them in the morning." I pick up my bag. "Can we talk about the dude ranch some more?"

"That's the difference between us—we want them there in the morning." Ben smiles. "One day you'll grow up."

Ben pats me on the back and smiles at Jude as if he's inviting him to join in on the fun. I hate that they throw their relationships in my face as though I'm jealous. I'm totally not. What I am is aggravated that everyone, including my dad, disregarded my idea about the dude ranch so easily.

When Jude doesn't say anything, Ben says, "Don't forget everyone, we'll be inviting an extra person to Sunday dinner at my house."

Everyone's eyes shift to me because Ben's been telling us for days that Gillian's half sister, Briar, is coming back to Willowbrook.

"What?" I ask, as though they're warning me off her for no reason.

Ben points at me. "Hands off. Seriously, she's your sister."

My dad ignores us, cleaning the dishes.

"Not sure you understand how it works, bro. Briar is definitely not my sister."

"She's living at Gillian's until the house sells, and she's here to teach yoga, so keep your focus on the ranch and away from the studio." Ben eyes me as if I'm scared of him.

"From what I got at the softball games last fall, Briar doesn't much care for our little brother. Isn't that right, Little Noughton?" Jude clasps my shoulder.

He's right. Briar has come back to Willowbrook a couple of times since then, and each time, she's meaner than the last. I'm not sure what I did to piss her off.

"She'll like me soon enough." I wink at Ben, and he growls.

"Don't lay one finger on her. It's not only me but also Gillian you have to worry about."

"Gilly Bean is as scary as a goldfish, and sorry to tell you this, but unless you plan on locking Briar in a basement, the men in Willowbrook will notice her. She's all grown up."

It's the truth. Briar Adams is fucking hot, but I'm only saying this to piss Ben off and make him think I'm going to flirt with and maybe sleep with her. Which I would never do because who needs that kind of drama in their life? I can get laid elsewhere.

"Enough, boys. Go. I have things to do." Dad shoos us out, soap suds dripping from his hand.

We each thank Dad for dinner.

"Guys, I'm serious about this dude ranch thing," I say as we walk down the dirt road toward our houses that line up along the lake.

"At the moment you're serious about it," Ben says.

My hands clench at my sides.

"Dad's right. After we get you running more of the ranch, you can make a business plan." Jude turns to the right to head toward his house. He waves his goodbye. "See you."

"Ben?" I arch an eyebrow, hopeful he'll reconsider and take me seriously.

He looks over his shoulder. This is where he turns off from me. "You know I don't have much to do with the ranch. I'm a football coach, Emmett."

"But—"

He's gone, though, starting toward his house. I stop walking, rock my head back, and stare at the dark, star-filled sky.

A car pulls down the road that goes past our houses, but Ben stops it before it reaches me. Inside I can just make out the blonde who has been sneaking her way into my beat-off sessions lately. So she's back in Willowbrook for a longer visit this time? Must be if she's going to be teaching yoga on the ranch.

My dick twitches, so I look down and shake my head. "Sorry, big guy, she's off-limits."

Sucks that there's nothing I love better than a challenge. Which is why I walk toward the headlights when I should run away from them.