Page 19 of Cowboy Triplets Next Door

I cleared my throat and forced out an awkward laugh. “I live in the carriage house, not with them.”

“Same thing.” Gray pulled me away from Brad and when I looked up at him to tell him off, he shocked me by slowly running his thumb over my bottom lip. My body lit up like a firework as his eyes tracked the movement. “You had a bit of chocolate.”

The laugh I let out that time was shrill and it was probably clear I was in panic mode as I clutched my bag of muffins tighter and rushed to the side of my truck, away from both of them. “I have to go. Welcome back to town, Brad.”

He watched me with a smirk on his face. “I’ll come by and see you, okay? We can recreate some of those fun times we used to have.”

I laughed another painfully awkward laugh. “Yeah! Of course! Sounds great!”

Why was I shouting? I practically threw myself in my truck and struggled to start the old beast for a full thirty seconds while both men watched. Just as Gray started to step forward the truck started and I backed out like the devil was chasing me. I didn’t look back at them as I put it in Drive and pulled away as fast as I dared in the middle of town. I just needed to get the hell out of there.

CHAPTER 17

Billie

I didn’t know what to expect after that interaction but it wasn’t Brad showing up at my house that night with a bottle of whiskey and a smirk. I welcomed him in, hoping the guys wouldn’t see and come running to make me look stupid. Turtle bounced up and down at our feet, demanding attention and Brad dropped to his knees to give it to him.

“Who’s this little guy?” Brad looked up at me and smiled. “You finally got a dog, huh?”

Unexpected tears filled my eyes that I turned away to hide but Brad had already seen them. He stood up and wrapped me in a hug while I groaned. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I’ve been around someone who knew Mom and Dad well enough to know I couldn’t have a dog because Mom was allergic.”

He turned me around so he could fully embrace me and rested his chin on top of my head. “Are you okay? I was shocked when that big fucker opened the front door this morning. I’d heard about your parents but I just expected to find you here, still plugging away.”

I sucked in a shaky breath. “There was so much debt…I couldn’t pay it all off and the bank took the ranch from me and practically gave it to them. It was mine one day and theirs the next.”

“Shit.” Brad had lived in the carriage house when he worked the ranch so he had no problem leading me to the living room. He pulled me down next to him on the couch and wiped my cheeks as more tears streaked down them. “I’m so sorry, Billie. I know how much this place meant to you.”

I blew out a frustrated breath and shrugged. A sense of shame hit me as I said my next words. “I hate them. They took everything.”

Brad nodded. “I kind of got the impression the guy in the parking lot today felt a sense of ownership over you, too.”

My body heated with more shame. I hated that it suddenly felt wrong to talk about them with Brad. I didn’t owe them anything, yet I didn’t want to insult them in front of him. “I don’t know what that was. I think he was just being protective, maybe.”

“Is there something going on there?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Is there something going with anyone else?”

I looked up at him and shook my head. “No.”

“Good to know.” His smile was slow as his eyes searched my face. “How about we drink to old times?”

I forced a smile and nodded. “If we’re going to truly drink to old times we need to get Eve here. She was always here with us.”

“Is she still around? I thought she moved off for school?”

I stood up to find my phone, grateful I wasn’t nearly in his lap anymore. “Sheriff Michaels got sick and she moved back here about a year ago to help him.”

“Let’s get her over here, then. It sounds like both of you could use a drink.” Brad went to the kitchen and I heard him opening and closing cabinets while I dialed Eve. “You rearranged everything! I can’t find the glasses!”

Eve answered after a few rings, sounding out of breath and strange. When I asked her if she wanted to come over to have a few drinks with me and Brad, she was oddly eager. “I’ll be there in ten minutes!”

I stared at the phone after she hung up and shrugged. Maybe she was sick of her grandpa and just needed to get out. I joined Brad in the kitchen and pointed him to the correct cabinet while I got out a few candles and lit them.

“Setting the mood?” He winked at me and I honestly tried to feel something in response to it but there was nothing.

“We’re old enough to drink together now so I figure we should do it right. I’m going to turn some music on, too.” After doing just that I took Turtle out for a walk and while we were outside waiting on him to do his business, Eve pulled up.

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