Our Chance (Los Rancheros #4) Read Online Free

"Guess what? Now you do." I turn into the white picket fence style gate and slide through before it shuts behind the GTO. It goes from cobblestones in the driveway before the gate to gravel after it. Just like I remember it being. We pass rows of trees on either side with a white house to the front of us. The driveway pulls to the side of the house, where the two-car garage is. There's another two-car garage set at a right angle to the house with an apartment on top of it, or a mother-in-law suite.
    There's an old Bronco sitting in the detached garage that causes me to slam on the breaks. The dog goes flying. It's a good thing I wasn't going too fast. “ Mom ,” in different voices yell out in surprise from the back and I tell them, "Sorry, a... squirrel just ran—craziest thing."
    As I pull into the garage, I try not to freak out. Why is Brody's truck in grandma's garage? AH!
    I get out and hit the buttons for the back doors and trunk to open. Angus is out and sniffing before the kids unbuckle. I look over the hood of the sports car next to me and ask, "Dad?"
    He looks at me and shrugs, walking over to the kids. "This used to be my mom's house. Now it's yours. Isn't that so cool?"
    "Cool," Trigg replies flatly. I look at him in warning and he turns his back on me. Angus starts barking frantically and I'm worried he found the chickens, so I take off around the van and slide on the gravel, coming to a stop. Belatedly lunging for Angus, before he can guard us against the huge, tanned, muscular man and his short salt and pepper haired dog. Shit. And thank God I put makeup on this morning.
    We both look each other over before locking eyes for the first time in eleven years. Brody's head is shaved, and looks prickly, black against his scalp. His hazel eyes are a mix of deep green and light brown. His cheeks are more hollow; he's lost his boyishness and grown into a man. Obviously I knew this would happen, but I didn't allow myself to think about it. His arms are huge with veins popping out. The white t-shirt he's wearing accentuates the muscles underneath. He's got jeans on that are frayed with holes and a silver chain on his front belt loop going back. He's got his hip cocked out and with his black work boots, he looks as badass as I always knew he would be. Damn.
    I cross my arms over my white tank top as I feel my nipples get hard. Angus sits, so I don't have to hang on to him, as we stare at each other. He looks down at my arms and I watch his lips twitch, like he's trying not to smile. My reaction is instant. I roll my eyes. "Some things never change."
    He looks behind me, his eyes growing serious. "Some things do."
    I turn to see my kids watching us with rapt interest. I curl my lips in, nervously biting on them, then hold out a hand. "Brody, this is Trigg, man of the house and jack of all trades. He's ten."
    Trigg does a chin lift I've never seen him do before and Brody does it back.
    "Harper, my manager. She's seven." Harper tosses her long dark hair over her shoulder and smiles. I feel my eyes bug out as I realize she thinks he's cute. Brody slowly smiles back and I sigh at the same time my daughter does, which jars me enough to keep going.
    "And this is Jet, my bodyguard. He's five."
    Jet moves one step forward and reaches his arm out to shake Brody's hand saying, "'Sup dude?"
    Brody licks his lips—trying not laugh, I think—and leans forward to give a firm shake and says, "'Sup."
    I clear my throat. "Kids, why don't you go with Grandpa. I'm sure your Grandma is in there somewhere and you can pick your rooms." They take off and I yell behind them, “Remember I get the one with the bathroom!"
    I turn around, realizing I just left myself alone with this man. Shit. I look around and cross my arms again as he does the same, except he watches me. Finally, when I can't breathe, he says quietly, "Those were our names. Did you have to do that?" There's pain in his voice and in his eyes, when I can finally look at them. His