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Chapter One

“I’omery called out to the quiet ranch house He hustled inside, only to get smacked in the face by the screen door “God damn it,” he muttered under his breath and adjusted his Stetson

Added to his endless to do list: fix screen door so it doesn’t bounce back in

“Daddy!” Gracie’s little voice echoed from deep in the house, followed by the patter of tiny footsteps running froh the kitchen, and into the open area of the fa dust off his boots in the doorway

It never ceased to aht an instant joy to his heart because he knew she was running his way

A head of bouncing blond curls and open arhter and kissed her cheek “Sorry I’irl,” he said Story of his life as the cow rancher–slash–single dad

“It’s okay Uncle Cash played Twister with rinned and whispered, “Uncle Cash isn’t very good at bending”

“Got that right,” Tripp said with a smile

“I heard that,” Cash said, walking into the room His blond hair was messed up and his jeans rinkled like he really had been losing at Twister

“And I’id, I’m responsible,” he said

“Uh-huh” Cash was one of the two friends who lived with Tripp, helping run the ranch and raising his daughter He was the best friend a guy could have, but the id” than Tripp—and that was saying so But the man had a past and a reckless twin brother that made him the way he was Just like Tripp’s past and the woirl with no word made Tripp the man he was

Neither scenario was discussed

Tripp turned his attention to Gracie in his arms “Sorry, the coere stubborn today Are you ready for your troop ?”

Gracie nodded enthusiastically She was head-to-toe dressed in her Girl Scout uniforirlie sandals she’d insisted he buy her

“Go take your sandals off and get those shiny, strappy shoes on,” Tripp said and put her down

She hustled out toward her room

The sound of the fridge, then the pantry cupboard, opening and shutting came from the kitchen Followed by heavy footsteps

“You’re about out of cookies,” Bo said, coainst the doorfra roorimaced at Tripp “And you smell like the back forty pasture”

“I’m also about to kick your ass,” Tripp said to his other best friend and ranch hand “I s cattle all day Which here you should have been You said you had the west forty covered”

“I did Then I came back to watch Gracie while Cash ran the horses”

“What happened to the sitter?” Tripp asked Because even with the three of the, the nice babysitter he’d found was a lifesaver in suh their busiest season without her

“The sitter had to take off,” Bo said, looking anywhere but at Tripp and running his free hand through his black hair

Fuck

Tripp pinched his nose “Please tellwith them and I swear to God I’ll kick your ass”

Bo gave that sh school The “I may have” smile that the town playboy was notorious for But he was also a good guy, and the three of them had been best friends since birth