Page 48 of Cowboy Triplets Next Door

His eyes darkened and I got the sense I’d just issued him a dare. “And? If I want to spread you out right here and now, I can. You want to know why? Because you’re ours.”

“And what happens when you’re done and decide to move on to the next woman?” I couldn’t look at him as I said it because the idea hurt. I still hadn’t thought about whether I wanted to leave or not. I doubted the longevity of their feelings and didn’t want to lock myself into a heartache.

“You don’t get it.” He let me slide down his body until my feet were back on the ground. “We’re never going to be done.”

I gasped as he slapped my ass before turning back to their project. I stood there for a few more seconds, shocked and unsure.

“Come here, B.” Keaton motioned me closer and then pulled me down on a sheet of plywood. “Sit here and motivate me.”

Turtle curled into my lap immediately and yawned. It triggered a yawn of my own. Stretching out on the wood, I shielded my eyes against the bright sun and dozed to the sound of the three of them working in perfect sync with each other.

“What did you do to her? She looks like a bear mauled her neck, y’all. You didn’t even have the decency to leave marks all over her where no one would see? Seriously, if she had big brothers like me, y’all would be getting your asses kicked.”

I blinked awake at the soft southern accent I didn’t recognize. Standing over me, staring down at my face, was the same stunning woman I’d seen on the balcony with the guys. She was even prettier up close but opening my eyes to find her hovering over me was startling.

“Sorry! Sorry, I scared you, didn’t I? You were just so cute taking a nap like that and these jerks haven’t let me near you so I was stealing my chance to see you up close. You’re so pretty.” Settling next to me on the board, she tucked her legs under her and leaned closer. “I want to know everything about you. You did what a lot of other women couldn’t. You tamed the wildest of the Hellstone brothers.”

“Jesus, Vera. Leave her alone.” Gray sounded more exasperated than I’d ever heard him.

“I’m not bothering her. Am I bothering you? I’m not bothering you, right?” Vera stuck out her tongue at her brother and lowered her voice. “They’re so terrified I’m going to say something that makes you hate them. I’ve never seen these three so lovesick. You must have all the sex secrets. Tell me. I need to know, oh, Wise One.”

“Vera!” Owen pulled his sister up and gently pushed her toward the main house. “I’m not listening to you talk about sex. You’re practically still a kid!”

I sat up and wiped my eyes. “You’d be sorely let down, anyway. I was a virgin until not too long ago.”

“No way! My brothers really corrupted you, huh?” She swatted at Owen’s hands and looked around him to see me. “Do you want to have dinner?”

“She’s having dinner with us.” Gray pulled me to my feet and took his time dusting off my ass.

“I am?”

“You are.” He lightly pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tipped my head up to face him. “We’ve got some things to talk about.”

My stomach clenched. “Done with me that fast?”

CHAPTER 38

Billie

Gray’s face darkened. “What?”

I shook my head and tried to play it off like I hadn’t just laid all of my pessimistic cards out on the table for everyone to see, including Vera. “Nothing. Bad joke.”

Vera scoffed. “You three had better learn to communicate and fix this.”

“Go away, Vera.” Owen sighed. “Please.”

She groaned. “Fine. Only because you said please, though. Find me later, Billie.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Gray’s. The different colors of his eyes had each darkened as his eyes narrowed. I licked my lips and tried to contain the panic I’d been feeling just under the surface all day. What I felt for them was big and they’d been so against the idea of being with me. How could I trust they wouldn’t go back to that?

“Grab Turtle and let’s go inside for this.” Gray picked me up again and carried me into the carriage house. Instead of going to the bedroom, he turned towards the living room and sat down with me in his lap.

I wiggled to get away from him but his arms locked around my waist. Realizing I wasn’t getting away, I settled into him with a sigh. “I can walk and sit on my own, you know?”

Keaton and Owen sat on the couch opposite us and Owen absently rubbed his beard as he watched me. “We’ve earned all of your doubt. What can we do to convince you that this is real for us, B?”

I swallowed down my nerves and forced the words to come out of my unwilling mouth. “You changed your minds so quickly…I still have plans to leave…I just—”

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