Joel watched until Vicki was back on the highway before returning to the barn. He had a feeling a few questions would be coming his way, and he wanted this done without his mama overhearing.

He wasn’t sure what his dad’s reaction would be. He hoped it wasn’t going to be an issue.

Stepping back into the barn was stepping into familiar territory, though. The peaceful atmosphere settled the concern in his belly. It wasn’t as if his parents ran his life, but their family was close-knit enough that if they disapproved he wanted to hear it.

Didn’t mean he would change his mind about being involved with Vicki. Just meant he’d know off the bat exactly how difficult this deal would be.

Mike Coleman was easy to find, tapping away on a small display shelf his mama usually had hanging in the living room.

“Need any help?” Joel offered.

His father glanced up. “You done with your earlier project already?”

Joel stifled his laughter. “And Mom wonders where us boys got our sense of humour from.”

Mike laid down his tools and turned to face him full on. “You’re a grown-up. You make the choices who you spend time with. But you’re still my son, and if you want to talk about anything, I’m here.”

“Is that dad-speak for ‘what the hell are you doing with Vicki Hansol’?”

“Well I’m not blind, so I pretty much already know what you were doing with the girl.”

“Dad.” Joel was thirteen again, caught necking behind the barn. Only that time his father hadn’t walked away. He’d stayed and watched until Joel and the girl he’d been kissing had separated and returned to the school picnic being hosted on the ranch.

His father grinned. “Look, I’m not some saint. I see why she caught your eye. Just…”

Joel waited. Leaned back on the nearest wall and let his hands hang by his sides. Kept his body language open. “Whatever you’ve got to say, I want to hear it. I respect you.”

Mike sighed, his lips tightening into a thin line. “You’re too old for me to be warning you about safe sex. If you haven’t got the message by now, you ain’t never gonna learn it. And I don’t know Vicki other than hearsay. Never liked the type of man who assumed, because a lot of the time, they’re wrong.”

“Her family isn’t the best in town,” Joel admitted.

“I’m not talking about her family. I’m worried about you in the long run. All I’m gonna say is be careful.”

Joel could hear the wheels spinning. The things his father was trying to say without saying them. “You are the fairest man I know.”

“I’m still human. I want what’s best for my own first and foremost, and right now I’ll admit I don’t know what to say to you.” Mike shook his head. “Dammit. Raising you boys was easier when you were all trying to kill yourselves building tree forts on rotten limbs instead of getting involved with people I have no control over.”

“She helped me clean stalls today.” Joel had no idea why that bit of information popped out. “Just talked, mostly. She’s fun to be around. Easy to talk to.”

“Easy to kiss as well.”

Joel nodded. “Hell, yeah.”

Mike shrugged. “You make your decisions. I’m not about to turn into some fool of a tyrant, since laying down the law and ordering you to stay away from her would probably be the stupidest thing I could do, right?”

“You’ve never interfered before.”

“Exactly. I don’t know what brought you two together more than she’s a pretty little thing, and I doubt she minds looking at you either. It’s not my business. Only I hope you trust me enough to say there are warning signs here. Be careful. Don’t let your dick lead you into trouble.”

Joel bit down on his lip and swallowed his laughter. “Yes, sir.”

Mike flipped the shelf over and pounded in another nail. “You bringing her to Thanksgiving dinner next week?”

Oh hell. He’d forgotten. Suddenly the entire Vicki as girlfriend was rolling along way faster than he’d expected. “Not sure. She welcome?”

Mike tossed him a glare. “Don’t be an ass. If you’re going out with the girl, bring her home to our table. If you don’t want to bring her home, then you’re not dating her, you’re fucking her. And if that’s all you’re doing, I don’t want to know the details, but I’d be hell of disappointed in you.”

The fact he was doing Vicki a secret favour eased the flash of guilt at his father’s words. “I’m not fucking around. For once.”

“Smart ass.”

Joel chuckled. “Well, I’m not.”

The pause that followed was long enough to get Joel wondering. Mike crossed his arms in front of him and refused to break eye contact as he asked, “Jesse fooling around with her as well—?”

“No.” The word burst out like a shotgun blast. “And whoa on this conversation continuing.”

“Why?” Mike asked. “Because you think I don’t know about some of the games you and your brother play? I’m not stupid. Don’t treat me like I am.”

His dad wanted blunt, Joel could give him blunt. Even though his cheeks were burning. “No, Jesse’s not invited to play any games with me and Vicki. Not anymore. They were fun at the time, but they’re done.”

At that, his father looked him over carefully before nodding. “Maybe you are growing up then. Damn good job I’m doing with you boys, if I do say so myself.”

Joel snorted. “Nothing to do with Ma, right?”

“Hell, no, it’s all my work setting a shining example that’s coming to the foreground.” Mike glanced around the barn. “Although if you repeat that to your mother, I’ll deny I ever said it.”

They stood quietly for a minute, Joel thinking everything through. He wanted to reassure his father, but without breaking confidences he was caught. Which pretty much meant his father was right. He was growing up. Thinking of more than himself and his pleasure for the first time in his life.

Still, his family deserved something for all they’d given over the years. “It’s going to be a good thing, me and Vicki. Really.”

Mike nodded. “Thanks for that. You know where to find me if you need a butt kicking. Or a shoulder. Or whatever. You’re my son, and that’ll always be true, no matter what.”

Mike patted him on the back, which was about as close as his father got to saying I love you to his sons. Joel grinned and went in for a hug.

Masculine back pounding ensued before they broke apart, Mike to return to his repairs and Joel to head home.

He was pulling into his driveway before his twin’s truck reminded him he had another set of explanations coming. He wasn’t looking forward to lying to Jesse at all.


Vicki was still buzzing when she pulled up to her apartment complex, lips tingling from the memory of his kisses. The oh-my-God-goodness of touching him. Being touched. The fact she’d spent a couple hours doing chores with the guy was totally forgiven because there’d been no actual horses involved—poop didn’t count.

She might have been a little light-headed from the sheer hormone overload. When her key twisted in the stubborn door lock far easier than usual, it took a second for her to realize why.

She’d already swung the door open as it registered. The door had been unlocked already. Fuck.

Vicki froze on the spot. Released the handle and prepared to back away and call the RCMP. She wasn’t about to be one of those too-stupid-for-words women who wandered in on a thief and got killed for her troubles.

Only the room was small enough she’d already spotted her intruder, squatted down and rummaging through the bottom drawer of her dresser. The recently bleached silver-white hair was a dead giveaway, and Vicki stormed in, fury rising to replace all the happy thoughts she’d been swimming in for most of the morning.

“Sarah? What the fuck are you doing?”

Her sister blinked in surprise, snatching her hand away as she shot to her feet. Just as quickly, Sarah relaxed, hip sliding out to the side, head tossed back. “Hey, sis. Good to see you.”

Bullshit. “Why are you here?”

Sarah clicked her tongue. “That’s so sweet. You’re always so nice to your family, aren’t you, baby? Too bad Mom never taught you any manners.”

Goddamn hypocrite. Vicki bent to see what Sarah had been going through, but it was only T-shirts and shorts. All too plain and simple to be interesting to Sarah for the most part. “Going through other people’s things is manners? God, don’t even start with me.”

Sarah shrugged and headed to the lone chair by the table, pulling it out and sitting like she planned to stay a while. “I thought you might still have that sweater you borrowed. I want it for a party next weekend.”

Vicki looked her sister over closer. Sarah’s hair was perfect, held in place by more hairspray than Vicki had used in her life. Her sister’s flashy new hair colour was a welcome change—there was always hope that now that they didn’t look so much alike the gossipmongers would stop treating them alike. The rest of the package was typical Sarah. Her low-cut V-neck T-shirt emphasized her chest, tight faded jeans clung to her ass. Boots that rose up high and hugged her narrow calves. Vicki admitted it; her sister was attractive. If only she’d stop selling her wares so cheap.

“Next weekend is Thanksgiving. Mom’s not doing something for us?”

Sarah snorted. “Mom’s got a new boyfriend. They’re going to Jasper for the weekend. Just you and me, sis, and since the last time I invited you over for a meal you said you’d prefer to starve, I’ve made other plans.”

Okay, Vicki wasn’t proud of that loss of temper, but damn it. “You weren’t cooking. You were opening cans and heating them in the microwave. Which, fine, if that’s what you want to eat, but when you fed the lasagna I brought to the damn dog, I got pissed.”