Read Online Jesse by C H Admirand - Free Book Online Page B

couldn’t it have been Emily or Ronnie bringing me coffee?”
    Tyler frowned down at him. “Because the ladies know two very important facts about the men in this family.”
    Jesse ran a hand through his hair and then over his face. Sitting up he asked, “What’s that?”
    Tyler grinned. “We sleep in the raw, and we do not share our women.”
    â€œHell, Ty,” Jesse ground out reaching for one of the mugs. “You see one man naked, you’ve pretty much seen all there is to see.”
    His brother chuckled. “Some of us are more gifted than others, Bro. ’Bout time you realized that.”
    Ignoring the taunt, Jesse sipped and sighed. All he needed to get through the morning’s list of chores was a hearty breakfast, then he’d be good to go till noon. As the caffeine worked its magic, he focused on his goal for the day—finish up so he could drive into town and pick up Danielle and Lacy.
    â€œBreakfast in five. We’ve got hay being delivered this morning; you want to wait for it?”
    â€œNo problem. The truck’s running a bit rough; I can look at it while I’m waiting, but I’ll be heading into town this afternoon… I’ve got a promise to keep.”
    His brother waited for him to explain, but instead Jesse asked, “Hey, are you and Dylan moving the herd today?”
    Tyler shook his head. “Think we’re good for a little while longer, maybe next week or so.”
    â€œGood to know. Are we going to put the word out, or are you going to call Timmy and his buds?”
    â€œAlready took care of it. Timmy and a few of his friends will be here when we need them. They’ll be helping out this morning checking for strays and riding over to the pastureland we’ll be moving the herd to in order to check it out.”
    â€œI guess it was a good thing you were the one who caught them trying to break into the Lucky Star that night. Anyone else might have tried to convince the ladies to press charges and you wouldn’t be able to call on those kids to help… to return the favor.”
    Tyler’s smile was slow, thoughtful. “Luckiest day of my life was the day Jolene hired me and I saw Emily for the first time.”
    Stepping into his jeans, he opened his top drawer and sighed. “Hey, Ty, I’m borrowing a pair of socks.”
    â€œNo prob.” Tyler headed for the stairs.
    Wearing boots without socks was a mistake Jesse only had to make once, when he was thirteen and thought he knew it all. The blisters had popped right away, but the infection had lasted a whole lot longer. His grandfather had been serious as a heart attack about him not putting his boots back on until everything healed.
    â€œSmart man,” he admitted out loud, grabbing a pair of clean socks from his brother’s drawer and walking back to his room. He scooped up half the pile of dirty clothes and headed toward the laundry room. After sorting the dark colors from the whites—as he’d been asked—he ran back upstairs for the rest of the dirty clothes.
    â€œMornin’, Em,” he called out to the redhead standing in front of the stove, cooking. Contentment filled him and he couldn’t hold back the sigh. “You sure are a pretty sight first thing in the morning, darlin’.”
    She turned and smiled at him, and he was struck again by how lucky his older brother was. As far as he was concerned, Emily Langley was the pick of the litter. “Better not let Tyler hear you trying to sweet-talk me.”
    â€œI haven’t even gotten started yet,” he said. “I dropped off some laundry—” he began only to be interrupted by her.
    She looked at the armful and frowned up at him. “I don’t mind doing laundry, but you’re making more work for me by not remembering to bring it down at least once a week.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Em. It’s just that I’m dead on