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

Renee gave Daddy a tender look that made me feel even more uncomfortable.
    “Thank you, Cole,” she replied. They stared at each other for a moment and then suddenly dropped hands and broke eye contact. It was if they’d just remembered I was there.
    “When will James be home?” I asked.
    So you’ll have a reason not to be here all the time…
    “Actually, he’ll be home this weekend. He’s riding in a rodeo in Pagosa Springs. After that, he’s going on the road for another two weeks and then he’ll be home for at least a month.”
    My stomach fluttered at the thought of James being close by again. “You’ll have to bring him out sometime,” I suggested, trying to hide the eagerness in my voice.
    Daddy and Renee exchanged a satisfied look. “I’m so glad to hear you say that,” Daddy told me. “I wasn’t going to mention this until all the details were worked out, but I’ve decided to add to our trail riding tours this year. Extreme survival tours are all the rage right now. Instead of taking people out on day trips, we’ll set up rustic camping areas and do overnight and weekend rides. I’m going to offer James a job as one of our guides. He’s great with animals and he knows the badlands like the back of his hand.”
    My heart raced and for a moment, I thought that my legs might collapse underneath me. I’d spent most of my teen years admiring James from a distance. Since he graduated, I’d fantasized about running in to him again. But I wasn’t prepared to see him every day.
    “Expanding the rides is a great idea, Daddy,” I said. I hoped that my face wasn’t as flushed as it felt. Daddy’s done trail rides and hunting tours for as long as I can remember. We’d even had guests pay to stay in one of the empty staff cabins and do actual ranch work. The weekend cowboys always seemed like a nuisance to me, but Daddy loved them. They gave him the perfect excuse to avoid his real work and play on the mountain.
    “I’m glad you think so,” Daddy replied. “I think it will be especially popular during hunting season. I thought we’d go to Pagosa Springs and watch James ride this weekend. I’ll offer him the job after the rodeo. Do you think you could map out some new trails before then?”
    Sure… it’s not like I don’t have plenty of work to do already.
    “Whatever you need, Daddy.”
    “Fantastic. I thought we’d invite Dale and Bradley to join us, make a real night of it.”
    I let out an audible groan. Dale was one of our neighbors. He and Daddy had been friends since I was a little girl and they were constantly trying to push me and Bradley, Dale’s son, into a relationship.
    “Daddy, I love you… but you’ve got to quit playing matchmaker,” I insisted.
    Daddy shrugged. “I don’t know why you’re so resistant to the idea. You and Bradley have so much in common. And it would do you good to spend time with someone other than me or Matt.”
    “Oh Cole, back off of the poor girl,” Renee said with a good natured grin. She put her hand on his forearm and I stared down at my coffee. “I’m sure Willow will date when she finds the right man. No young woman wants her dad setting her up. And once James is here, she’ll have someone to hang out with besides you and Matt. Honestly, Willow, I’m hoping some of your dedication and work ethic will rub off on my wayward son.”
    “I thought you said he’s doing well?” I asked, unable to stop the question from forming.
    “He’s doing well enough… but he has no direction. I always emphasized the importance of education, but after two semesters at the community college, he dropped out. Said he needed time to ‘find himself’. He’s winning just enough money at the rodeos to stay on the road. Bull riding isn’t a long term career choice, and I’m terrified that he’s going to knock up a buckle bunny and ruin his life,” Renee finished with a sigh.
    I blushed again at the thought of James hooking up with random rodeo