Free Reined In: Lone Star Lovers, Book 7 by Delilah Devlin Page B

would have been enough on its own to set him apart from every other man in the barn, but he was also wearing a bright-blue Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts.
    Her jaw dropped. “Dad?”
    Reese Jordan laughed. “Yeah, gave up my Wranglers. Spend most of my time on a fishin’ boat anyway. Don’t I get a hug from my favorite girl?” He opened his arms.
    Stormy moved against him and hoped he didn’t notice she was shaking. “Good to see you, Daddy,” she said, giving his raspy cheek a kiss. The man needed a shave.
    She leaned away, studying his face. Same silver-blue eyes and bushy white mustache, but his expression was somehow changed. He looked younger, happier. “You look good, Dad.”
    “Retirement agrees with me, darlin’.” His gaze went past her. “How you boys treatin’ my little girl?”
    She jerked against him, growing wary.
    “She’s been a trial,” Joe said in his cheekiest voice. “Have to be honest. She’s spoiled rotten.”
    “Good to hear,” Reese said, chuckling and giving her a bear hug. “Dance with me?” he asked, gazing down.
    There was something in his eyes. Something pointed. A question.
    She gave him a wary nod and they walked onto the dance floor.
    His first steps were light. “I forgot you were a good dancer,” she murmured, trying to recover her composure. She glanced up at him from under her eyelashes.
    He raised one bushy brow. “Enough of the small talk, darlin’. Mind tellin’ me what’s goin’ on with you and those two young men?”
    Heat crept up her neck and across her cheek. “What?”
    “I was here when you arrived. Saw you tusslin’ goin’ onto the floor. Those two fightin’ over you?”
    She shook her head, mortification setting in. “I…”
    “Now I love both those boys. It’s why I deeded over equal shares—”
    Stormy halted in the middle of the dance floor and stared. “Deeded? You mean you aren’t sellin’?”
    “Sellin’? What gave you that idea?”
    But there was a hint of a smile curving the corners of his lips. “You said you were lettin’ the ranch go.”
    “I’m retired. I’m lettin’ those two run it for us. Only thought it would be fair to cut them in.”
    “But Joe never said…” She glanced over her shoulder at Joe, who pursed his lips before he tilted his hat down to hide his expression. Her eyes narrowed when she glanced back at her dad. “Guess I should be askin’ what you two have been hatchin’.”
    Her father raised his hands. “Don’t be angry. I’ve been waitin’ awhile for you to see what’s plain as the nose of your face. Both those boys love you. Always have. They kept clear of you out of respect for me. I may have put a bug in Joe’s ear—”
    “You put him up to this?” she said, her voice squeaking.
    “The choice was yours to make, sweetheart. If you want Cam or Joe, I’ll admit I’ll be a happy man.”
    “Cam or Joe?” Stormy shook her head. “I can’t believe you manipulated me like that. I was scared, Daddy. I thought I was losin’ my home. That I’d run out of time—”
    Reese Jordan nodded. “Exactly. You’ve run out of time keepin’ those two boys danglin’. It’s time to piss or get off the pot.”
    “But…” Her shoulders slumped as all her anger drained away. “I can’t choose.”
    “Why’s that? You don’t love one of ’em?”
    “I love them both,” she whispered.
    Reese sighed and a slow smile spread across his craggy cheeks. He brought her close for a big hug. “It’s all my fault. I’d send you shoppin’ with a credit card to get a pair of shoes and you’d come back with six because you couldn’t make up your mind which color you wanted most. You’re spoiled, Stormy Jordan.”
    Stormy pressed her hot face against his shoulder. “Are you disappointed in me?”
    “Because you’re in love?”
    “Because I refuse to choose?” She lifted her head. “I won’t choose. I couldn’t crush one or the other. I couldn’t hurt either of them.”
    Reese kissed