Page 32 of Cowboy Triplets Next Door

Sighing, I curled my feet under me and pulled my arms inside the body of my tank top. “Why are you here?”

Jabbing buttons, Keaton turned on the heat and pointed it at me. “A friend called and mentioned that sweet Billie Myers was getting drunk as a skunk in a bar surrounded by men watching her like hawks.”

I waved him off. “That’s a lie.”

He tossed a blank stare at me over the console and grunted.

“Okay. It’s half a lie.” I laughed. “I might be drunk but nobody was watching me. They were probably looking at Eve. She could’ve been a model. Don’t tell me if you agree with me because I think it would make me want to punch her a little bit and I don’t want that. I like her. She’s a good friend.”

“You’re a terrible drunk.”

Scoffing, I tried to sit up straighter. “Am not! I’m a great time.”

He turned off on the road that led to Deerbend and sighed. “You say a lot when you’re drunk that I don’t think you mean to. How are you going to feel about this in the morning?”

I stared at his profile as the heat warmed me and reached my finger out to trace the lines of his face. “What is it about the women you bring home that makes them enough?”

Coughing, Keaton gently pulled my hand away from his face and cleared his throat. “Maybe we should listen to something.”

“I know some of them are my age.” I closed my eyes and sighed. “What is it about them that you want? What don’t I have?”

“B…it’s not like that.”

“Never mind. Forget I said anything.” I laughed awkwardly and turned to face the window. “Did you see that guy with Eve? He was big. I hope she gets laid but if she’s taking him to bed, I hope she has medical insurance.”

“He wasn’t any bigger than us, Bumble B, and you—” He cut himself off and groaned. “This is fucking torture.”

I saw the lights of the ranch in the distance and let out a breath of relief. “It’s almost over.”

“I’m going to come in with you to make sure you’re okay before I leave.”

I waved him off. “I’m fine. I don’t need help. You just go upstairs and call whatever woman you have on speed dial this week.”

“Billie.” He growled my name like a curse and drove through the gate going too fast. His frustration was clear, but I felt like it was his fault.

When he slid to a stop, I fumbled to undo my seatbelt and nearly stumbled out of the truck as I opened the door. I didn’t, though. I caught myself and straightened my tank top before slamming the truck door and marching towards my house. Technically, I reminded myself, it was their house.

Keaton surprised me when he was still next to me when I got to the carriage house. He pushed the door open for me after I unlocked it and waited for me to finish greeting Turtle before he motioned me towards my bedroom. “I’ll take Turtle out while you get ready for bed.”

Thankful to not have to stand while waiting for him to do his business, I stripped out of my clothes and stood at my bathroom sink, washing my face, and brushing my hair. I was in the middle of flossing when Keaton walked in and groaned.

“B!”

I met his gaze in the mirror and shrugged. “What? I’m ready for bed.”

“I don’t know if you’re just drunk or pure evil?”

I finished by brushing my teeth while he watched and then I crawled into bed with my back to him. I sighed heavily as I settled with the blanket pulled up to my chin. “You’re being dramatic.”

“Move over.”

I rolled over and saw him kicking out of his boots. His face was a mask of frustration as he motioned me aside. I scooted backwards in the bed and watched him. “What are you doing?

“Making sure you don’t choke on your own vomit tonight.” He settled next to me, fully dressed, and folded his arms behind his head.

I curled into him and wrapped my arm over his chest. “You’re bigger than Brutus and Turtle. I like that.”

“You don’t actually cuddle with the raccoon, do you?”

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