Love All Out - Part 1 (A Stepbrother Romance) Read Online Free

advertise it. When are the Fosters supposed to be here?”
    “Around four, they’re going to wait until the kids get out of school. You know how much Lilly and Martin like visiting the ranch.”
    Fantastic… there’s no point in cleaning or organizing anything until after the rugrats have left.
    “Okay, let’s get the paddock ready first. I’ll make sure the water trough is clean if you’ll jump on the tractor and bring in a bale of hay. If we have the stallions out on the walker when the kids get here, we may be able to keep them outside. The barn looked like it had been hit by a tornado the last time they came out.”
    “Sounds like a plan,” Matt agreed as we pulled up next to the hitching pole. Mayhem was still saddled and waiting patiently, but I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to ride again that day.
    “What are you doing tonight?” Matt asked.
    “Dinner with Daddy, I guess. Why?”
    “Want to rent a movie and hang out? Something tells me that you’re going to need a drink or two when this day is over.”
    I grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”

CHAPTER 2
    As promised, Renee showed up at the house bright and early the next morning. I heard the doorbell ring from my bedroom, took a deep breath, and vowed to keep my attitude in check. I knew Daddy was right about Matt and I needing help, but I wasn’t about to admit it to anyone but myself. I checked my reflection in my vanity mirror. My blue eyes stood out against my porcelain complexion and I was relieved that I didn’t look as tired as I felt. I tucked a few stray hairs behind my ear, and set off down the hallway. By the time I got to the front door, no one was there. I followed the sound of voices to the kitchen and found Daddy and Renee drinking coffee at the table. Daddy smiled when I entered the room.
    “Good morning, pumpkin. You remember Mrs. Parker?”
    Good God… do they expect me to call her Mrs. Parker? She’s an employee for Christ’s sake. And she better not even think about calling me pumpkin.
    “Yes, of course,” I replied with a tight smile. “How are you… Mrs. Parker?”
    “Please, Willow, call me Renee,” she said. Renee gave me a kind, broad smile and seemed perfectly at ease. The fact that she was so comfortable in our house irritated me, but I wasn’t sure why. “I’m doing well,” Renee continued. “I’m excited to get started today. I was just telling Cole how much I’ve missed working with horses. Believe it or not, I was quite the cowgirl in my day.”
    “That must be where James gets it,” I replied. I walked to the countertop and poured myself a cup of coffee. “I hear he’s making a name for himself on the rodeo circuit.”
    “That he is,” Renee confirmed. “But he didn’t get that from me. Horses are one thing, but when he climbs onto the backs of those bulls, my heart stops. Fortunately, he hasn’t been injured too badly yet… not that he’s told me about, anyway.”
    “James is young,” Daddy chimed in. “I’m sure he hits the ground and bounces right back up.”
    “It must be hard for you, having him away from home so much,” I observed. I leaned against the kitchen counter and drank my coffee.
    Renee nodded. “It has… I’m ashamed to admit it, but I leaned on James a bit too much after Gus died. Now that it’s just me at the house, I’ve had a hard time figuring out what to do with myself. That’s why I’m so happy to be here.”
    I remembered when James’s father died. Gus Parker had been a kind man, and very involved in his son’s life. He was a teacher and coached the Durango High football team. When I was in middle school, Gus was hit by a drunk driver and died on the scene. James was a sophomore in high school when it happened. That’s when he quit the football team and discovered bull riding.
    Daddy reached across the table and squeezed Renee’s hand. “We’re happy to have you here.” There was a hint of affection in his voice that grated on my already frayed nerves.