Lost and Found by Nicole Williams

chance.” Neil’s gaze shifted to me, and he smiled. “We’re big fans of second chances around here.”
    “Second chances, sure,” Jesse said, staring down Garth. “Seventh chances, not so much.”
    Neil gave his son an odd look before extending his hand toward me. “Rowen Sterling, it’s nice to finally meet you. Sorry it didn’t happen sooner. A couple thousand head of cattle have a way of eating up a person’s day and night.”
    I matched his smile and shook his hand. As with Rose, I liked Neil immediately. “I can imagine.”
    “We’re glad to have you here, Rowen,” he said. “How’s your first day going in the kitchen?”
    Jesse shot me a wry smile which I pretended to ignore.
    “I crispified a batch of pancakes and spilled some coffee,” I answered, lifting the empty pot in my hand. “Could have been worse.”
    Neil chuckled. “I have a feeling you’ll keep things exciting around here,” he said, before heading to the last empty seat at the head of the table.
    “Me, too,” Garth added, giving me an expectant look.
    “Take a seat, Garth,” Jesse said, more of an order than a request.
    “That’s all right,” Garth replied, refusing to look at Jesse. He looked at me so intently, I stepped back. “I want to get to know Rowen better.”
    “Give it a rest, Garth,” Jesse said. “Rowen’s smart. Smart enough to know to stay away from guys like you.”
    Garth clucked his tongue. “You know who wasn’t smart enough to stay away from me?”
    Jesse’s face went from tan to red in about two seconds flat.
    Time for an intervention.
    “You two know each other, eh?” I said, asking what was quite possibly the stupidest question of the year. There was no doubt those two knew each other.
    “We were best friends,” Garth answered.
    I don’t think I would have been more surprised if I’d just been crowned Miss America.
    “ Were ,” Jesse said under his breath.
    “We used to share everything.” Garth was pushing Jesse’s buttons. That was obvious from the way his smile slid a little higher when Jesse’s face went another shade redder.
    “ Used to.”
    “I don’t know, Jesse,” Garth said, polishing his belt buckle with his thumb. “I seem to recall us sharing something recently.”
    When I was certain Jesse would lunge at Garth, Hyacinth slid up beside the three of us, looking oblivious. She tapped Jesse on the shoulder. “Josie’s on the phone.”
    “Take a message.” Jesse’s voice was ice, but his face was still on fire.
    “Again?” Hyacinth replied before Jesse leveled her with a look. “Fine.” She sighed as she left. “I’ll take a message. Another message.”
    “Say hello to Josie for me, will ya?” Garth called after Hyacinth. “It’s been a while.”
    Hyacinth waved her response and continued on.
    “Just how long’s it been, Jesse? I forget.” Garth stroked his chin.
    “Who’s Josie?” I asked Jesse.
    But Garth answered. “Jesse’s girlfriend.” Garth’s eyes darkened and he flexed his hips.
    Moving so fast he was a blur, Jesse shoved Garth so hard in the chest Garth stumbled across half of the room.
    “Jesse!” Neil bolted out of his seat and squared himself in front of his son before Garth got there. “What the hell is going on here?”
    Jesse’s chest rose and fell hard. His eyes were as dark and narrowed as I’d ever seen them. They never left Garth, who had recovered from the shove and was scowling at Jesse. I half expected him to curl his finger in welcome so they could finish what they’d started.
    When Jesse stayed silent and seething, Neil looked over his shoulder at Garth. “Well? Someone better speak up, or I’ll have you both on laundry duty the rest of the month.”
    Garth adjusted his shirt where Jesse’s shove had rumpled it. “Just a miscommunication, Mr. Walker.”
    Neil studied Garth for a minute before turning back to his son. “Jesse?”
    After another minute of Jesse looking as if he was attempting to kill Garth with