Lightning Strikes Twice by Elizabeth Hrib

Author:Elizabeth Hrib
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-01-31T16:12:21+00:00

* * *

After the rainbow chase, they all headed to the ranch. Tara and Nathan spent time photographing the horses before calling them in for the night.

Rusty regarded it all with a hand over his nose.

“It’s not that bad,” Tara complained, tugging his hand away. “Where did you disappear to?”

“Kate’s mom is a baking goddess. We made brownies, then watched Reno Disasters.”

Kate laughed. “She probably adores you now.”

“Who doesn’t?”

When they finished in the stables, they congregated on the porch of the guest house.

The sun hadn’t quite sunk into sunset mode yet, but it still painted everything in pale tangerine, casting a long shadow along the side of the house.

“There’s this one trail you have to see. Kate and I rode up there the other day—” Nathan’s voice trailed off as he and Tara headed inside to get drinks. Then it was just Kate and Rusty on the porch.

She sank down onto the step as her phone began to buzz. Pulling it out, she saw Sarah’s face grinning back at her.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Hey, just calling to check up on you. Your dad. You know, the usual welfare check on my favorite people other than my son.”

“You know, before Parker was born, I was your only favorite person.”

“And before you met Rancher Hotstuff, I was yours.”

Kate rolled her eyes, but Rusty looked over, immediately intrigued, and she realized he could hear the conversation. “You know, now’s not a great time for that kind of talk.”

“You’re with him right now!” Sarah gasped. “I’ll see myself out but you owe me one very long conversation. With detail, Kate Cardiff. I want explicit details. Do you understand me? Rated M for mature.”

“I’m hanging up on you now,” Kate said, sighing inwardly. All Sarah did in return was cackle until the call cut out.

“Oh, I like her,” Rusty said, moving closer. “I think your friend and I could stir up some trouble together.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

Rusty sank down on the step next to her, and his smile faded. “How’s your dad really doing? Nathan said it got a bit scary there for a second.”

“He’s on the mend. Hopefully for good this time.”

“Poor man probably just wants out of that hospital. I was a sick kid for a while,” Rusty explained. “In and out of Emerge all the time. The smell of the hospital used to physically make me ill. Still can’t stand them.”

“He’d much rather be at home,” Kate agreed. “Fingers crossed that in another week or so he’ll be discharged.”

“And then you can update him on your life with Rancher Hotstuff.”

Kate’s eyes grew wide as Rusty grinned conspiratorially. “Don’t you dare,” she said.

“Oh, your secret is safe with me.”

“You’re just as bad as Sarah. You two really would be perfect for each other.”

“I’ll have to meet her one day.”

Kate shook her head. “I used to cringe at the idea of her wanting to meet Nathan and now I think if she got ahold of you it would be ten times worse. The chaos you two would cause.

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