Page 20 of Cowboy Triplets Next Door

Her long black hair hung in a straight wave down her back and her normally pale skin was bright red as she rushed across the yard to greet me and Turtle. Her eyes were so pale they were almost alarming but right then, they were red-rimmed and a little wild. She went to her knees in front of Turtle and immediately hugged him to her chest while looking up at me. “You got a dog!”

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “Have you used the watermelon lube yet?”

I shook my head. I hadn’t thought twice about it. “I’m assuming you did. Was it not good? Margaret’s lubes normally taste so good.”

“Throw it out, Billie. For the love of god, don’t use it.” She shuddered. “I just met the newest members of the fire department, who also happen to be my neighbors. Want to know how I met them? I had to call the emergency line because Margaret’s lube wasn’t lube at all. It’s glue. It’s glue, Billie.”

My mouth dropped open. “No.”

She nodded and wiped a stray tear. “My neighbors just saw more of me than anyone in the world ever has. I can never face them again. I think I have to kidnap Grandpa and leave town.”

I sank to my knees in front of her. “What…What did you use the lube on, Eve?”

“A new toy. I couldn’t get it out, Billie.” She ducked her head and let out what I worried was a sob until I saw her shoulders shaking. “I am mortified! I’m going to kill Margaret!”

I snorted and grabbed her shoulders as we both burst into a laughing fit. “I’m so glad you’re laughing right now.”

“What are you two giggling about?” Brad walked out on the porch with three glasses in his hands.

“Nothing!” Eve shot me a look. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Still keeping secrets, I see. I never was allowed in on all the good stuff.” Brad sank into the rocker and held out our drinks for us as we sat with him. “Maybe tonight’s the night I can get a few of them.”

To get the pressure off Eve I took my glass of whiskey, threw it back, and coughed once before I was able to speak again. “Well. One of my secrets was that I mowed the mailbox over that time Dad blamed Jim.”

Eve gasped. “Are you serious? You never told me that!”

“I never told anyone. Dad ripped Jim up one side and down the other. I wasn’t going to tell him I was a liar and he had to go apologize to Jim.” I shuddered. “He would’ve murdered me for making him look stupid.”

Brad grinned at the memory and nodded. “Yeah. He would’ve.”

“One of my secrets was that I had a huge thing for Billie’s dad.” Eve threw back her drink and grimaced. “God, that burns.”

I let out a horrified scream. “No, you didn’t! Oh, my god! No! Eve!”

She laughed and nodded. “Yeah. I’ve always had a thing for older men, I guess. I used to journal about being your stepmom one day.”

Brad let out a bark of laughter as I screamed again. “I’m getting the bottle.”

“Eve! I’m never going to be able to look at you the same way again.” I shook my head and held Turtle as he climbed into my lap. “You nut.”

She waggled her eyebrows at me, back to her usual self. “Respect your almost stepmother.”

Brad came back with the bottle, still laughing. “That is not something I expected to hear tonight.”

Eve nodded at me. “Well, Billie? Who was your crush back then?”

Brad cast a long look at me and smiled. “This I’m dying to hear.”

I took a swig straight from the bottle and groaned. “You already know!”

“Say it anyway.” With a light shrug, Brad sent me a knowing look. “Maybe a guy needs an ego boost every so often.”

Rolling my eyes, I covered Turtle’s ears. “I, Billie Myers, had a massive crush on Brad Flowers. There. Happy now?”

Brad stood up and bowed. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

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