Riley narrowed his eyes. That man knew something. Riley hadn’t told anyone that Sterling was his mate. But Riley knew his pa knew. His pa had to know Riley and Sterling were mates or he wouldn’t be torturing Riley like this.
Turning Warrior toward the house, Riley groaned, knowing that Sterling was not only going to be his downfall, but his undoing as well. He could see it coming, and Riley was at a loss on how to avoid that train wreck from happening. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to avoid it or if he wanted it to happen.
Riley dismounted his horse and handed the reins off to his younger brother, Bryce, when he got close enough to the barn. He was not looking forward to the ride into town. Riley had been a prick to Sterling, and now he was going to have to sit next to the man and deal with his actions. “Can you take care of Warrior for me? I have to go into town for Pa.”
“Sure,” Bryce said as he grabbed the reins. “I ordered a new saddle last week. Can you see if it’s there while you’re at the feedstore?”
Riley tilted his head in a nod, wondering how he could get out of this in the next five seconds and knew he was wasting his time trying to ditch Sterling.
“Oh, and Riley,” Bryce called out as Riley began to walk to his truck. Riley turned and wished he hadn’t when he saw the wicked grin on his brother’s face. “Have fun on the drive into town.”
Riley growled as Bryce busted up laughing, shaking his head as he walked Warrior to the back of the barn. Riley wasn’t sure who figured out his relationship with Sterling, but it was a sure bet that if Bryce knew, everyone knew.
Damn it.
“I’m told I have to ride into town with you, sir.”
Riley’s steps slowed, and then he paused in his walking, glancing back at his mate. Sir? Where in the hell did that come from? Riley fully turned to see Sterling standing there, his big light-grey eyes filled with something Riley didn’t want to decipher. “Why are you calling me sir?”
“Because,” Sterling said as he grinned, making Riley’s cock harden and his heart melt, “Chauncey told me you liked to be called sir.”
Riley inwardly growled. One of these days he was going to teach his brothers a lesson. They played around a little too damn much. Just wait until he got his hands on the troublemaking twin. Riley balled his fists at his sides, ready to go find Chauncey and knock some sense into the man.
“Don’t call you sir?” Sterling asked, his mouth dipping down into a deep frown.
“Call me Riley.” He headed toward his truck, not waiting on the young man. Halfway to his truck, Riley spun around so fast, he nearly fell over his own feet.
“What’s wrong?” Sterling asked, blinking innocently up at him.
“You just touched my ass!”
“I did?” Sterling lifted his hands, looking at them as if they were their own entity. “Dang things must have a mind of their own.”
Riley sighed in exasperation, waving a hand toward the truck. “Get in.”
Sterling jumped into the truck so quickly, all Riley could do was shake his head. He couldn’t believe that his mate had patted his ass. What the hell was the guy thinking? Riley didn’t even want to begin to think about how much he had liked the light ass pat. That would make his head explode.
When Riley opened the driver’s door and jumped in, he nearly sat on Sterling. “Why are you sitting in the middle of the seat?”
Sterling pointed to his waist. “Because it has a seat belt.”
Riley leaned forward, pointing around his mate. “And so does the seat by the door.”
“I’m fine where I’m at.” Sterling tucked his hands between his knees. A smile remained on his extremely handsome face as he stared out of the windshield like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“You’re not going to move?”
“Nope.”
Brat.
Riley ground his teeth together as he started the truck, jamming the gear into drive. Not only were his pa and brothers out to torture him, so was his mate. Were they all conspiring against him? Riley pressed his left side into the door, trying to put as much room as he could between him and the exuberant young man. But for every inch he moved away, Sterling seemed to follow.
“Can you move over?” Riley asked as he turned onto the main road. Riley felt so out of his depth that he was drowning. Not only was Sterling excitable, he was one stunning man. If Riley had to describe his mate, it would be one word.
Pretty.
Riley swallowed hard as he caught a glimpse of Sterling’s face out of the corner of his eye. Gods, his mate was so fucking pretty.
“Am I in your way?”
“Yes,” Riley growled.