A Cowboy for the CEO

Chapter 13: Hey Brother

As if on cue, Hank rounded the hood and opened the passenger door. Two small heads bobbed anxiously in the backseat; it looked like they were waiting for her.

"Your brother?" Ali repeated, letting the words sink in. The revelation was completely out of left field, yet it now made complete sense. So that's why the two were so close. And it also explained why Hank cut himself off when he almost said my sister. But this also gave Ali another reason why she needed to get out of the obligation.

"Um, is he okay with that?" she asked, recalling how they last parted ways: soaked, irritated, and not least of all, uncomfortable.

Hooking an arm into hers, Liz led Ali down the steps. "Are you kidding? Hank should be thankful he has you as backup," she said with a laugh. "I love those munchkins to death, but they can be a handful."

"Awesome," Ali mumbled. More awkwardness with Hank, and with the added bonus of kids, was all she needed. She skidded to a stop. "Shoot. I forgot to sign out."

"Don't worry. I've got you." Liz pushed her forward. "Have fun!"

Ali lowered her gaze as she walked down the driveway and climbed into the truck. She could feel Hank watching her the entire way, and she balled her fists to ease her nerves. It didn't help that he remained silent even as she passed by, and she wondered if he really was as okay with her coming along as his sister had implied. Even so, he remained as chivalrous as before, waiting for her to get settled before closing her door.

"Who are you?" asked a child from the backseat.

She turned to get a better look at Liz's kids. The boy—glancing at her before resuming disinterestedly staring out the window—was the spitting image of his mother: lanky with large brown eyes and thick, dark hair that almost grazed his shoulders. He looked a few years older than his sister, who had asked the question. With golden curls framing her round face, she was small enough to still need a booster seat.

"My name is Alejandra, but you can call me Ali. What's your name?" she asked back.

"Sarah." The girl looked up through her long lashes, hugging an iPad to her chest.

"What a beautiful name." Ali drew forth everything in her "how to talk to kids" repertoire, starting with a compliment. It was always a safe bet, along with asking about age. "How old are you, Sarah?"

"Seven?" She sounded a bit unsure.

"Wow. You're quite big." Ali nodded in emphasis. Recalling the ages of her cousins' children, she took a guess. "Are you in first grade, then?"

The little girl pouted. "No. Second."

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Sarah." Ali smiled and turned toward the boy, who shifted in his seat. Before she could address him, Hank slipped into the driver's seat and started the truck. As he pulled away from the lodge, they all waved to Liz, who was standing at the top of the porch.

"You owe me a shirt," he said out of the blue, interrupting the introductions.

Facing forward again, Ali was baffled by his choice of greeting and she had to take a moment to consider her response. But Hank's icy expression quickly softened, and although she only had a profile view, when the corner of his mouth turned up and creases formed by his eye, she laughed in relief.

"My wardrobe has been seriously lacking in flannel, but if you insist—"

"Let go, Colin!" Sarah's shriek interrupted the moment. With the tablet raised above her head, she attempted to forcefully keep it out of her brother's reach.

"No," he yelled back as he struggled in vain against his seat belt, waving his arms toward the girl. "I want to watch YouTube."

"But I want to play games," Sarah whined as she turned away from him, unlocked the screen, and tapped open an icon.