Page 72 of Filthy Twisted Devil

Rose meets my gaze, a calculating look on her face. “Did Eden tell you to say that?”

I shake my head. “No. I’m sorry if I’m overstepping.”

She takes my arm. “You’re not, Luke. That’s very kind of you. I think I can see what my daughter sees in you. Now, why don’t you help me inside?”

She lets me support her weight as she walks inside. It’s slow progress and she has a slight limp in her left leg, but I can tell that she’s stronger than she looks.

When Eden meets us with the chair, Rose sinks into it without argument. She wheels off to the kitchen, where a low table has clearly been set up for her to cook at.

“Luke, can you come in and grab that pot for me?” she calls, pointing at a rack of pots over the stove. I eagerly follow her in, feeling like I’ve passed a test I didn’t know I was taking.

30

LUKE

Wade’s “office” is a small room off the industrial barn. It’s surprisingly pleasant-smelling, despite the close proximity to cattle, but noisy. The whir of machinery and the distant chatter of workers drifts in as I review the papers for our whiskey deal.

“You should be able to provide all the wheat, rye, and barley we might need,” I say thoughtfully. “We might need to contract out for corn, though.”

Wade grunts. “We’ve tried corn as a crop, but it hasn’t thrived the same way.”

“Twisted Devil has never made a whiskey without corn in the mash. We wouldn't be able to label you as our exclusive providers without it. Is that a problem?”

“Not for me. As long as our grain goes into your whiskey, I’m happy. You might be able to get a tax discount if you find another small corn farm in Alberta, though. I could introduce you to a few people.”

“That would be great, thanks.” I flip through the contracts Wade drew up one last time. “I’d need to have my lawyer review before we make it official, but I’d be happy to sign a preliminary contract today so you don’t sell to someone else.”

Wade hands me a pen and I scrawl my signature on the contracts. He does the same, then extends his hand. His hand is as large as mine, but calloused and tan. He wears his work on his body, from his broad shoulders to the falcon tattoo on his forearm, faded slightly from the sun. The man couldn’t be more different from me, but as he shakes my hand, I know it’s more than a contract he’s shaking on.

He’s giving me his approval.

Without mentioning Eden’s name, he’s granting me permission to date her. I know it's not a decision he made lightly. He spent the last months texting me, sussing out my character. Meeting me again in person wasn’t a final test but a confirmation that he was making the right choice.

By signing the contract, I tie myself to Eden's family in a way that won't easily be undone, which makes anxiety and relief mingle in my chest. I don’t want to fuck any of this up—not with Eden, and not with her brothers.

At the same time, this means that our breakup won’t be the end. I’ll have a reason to keep in contact with Wade, maybe even to come down and visit the ranch a few times. It probably makes me an asshole, but I’ll take every entanglement I can get to tie myself closer to Eden. The harder it is for her to get rid of me, the better.

“Come on, now,” Wade says when he lets go of my hand. “Let’s get some coffee and I’ll show you the place.”

With Eden and my help, Rose cooks up two pans of meatloaf, a gigantic bowl of mashed potatoes, and a pile of green beans. It’s enough food to feed at least a dozen people, and I wonder aloud if they’re planning on having leftovers. Rose and Eden laugh.

“Oh, no, darlin’,” Rose says. “We’ll get through this. Trust me.”

I’m still disbelieving until Wade and Jasper show up for dinner. They pile their plates so high with food, even Ryan would be intimidated. They promptly start scarfing down gigantic bites of food. I lean over to Rose.

“No offense, but I have to ask. How are all your sons not 500 pounds?”

Wade snorts. Jasper swallows long enough to say, “Ranching is hard work. We get hungry.”

“Did you eat like this when you worked on the ranch?” I ask Eden.

“I ate more, but I can’t compete with the boys. They’re machines.”

“She’s always had more of a sweet tooth, anyway,” Rose says. “I forgot to mention, I got a cherry pie from the Sugar Plum Bakery for dessert.”

Eden’s face lights up. “You’re the best, Mom. I’ve been craving those pies ever since I moved.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t live so far away from them, then,” Jasper mutters. It’s quiet, and I’m not sure he meant to say it out loud. Still, Eden’s smile droops.