Page 35 of Naughty by Nature

“But that night,” Payton continued softly, “you finally said enough. Though you were hurt and in devastating, crippling pain, you made sure your girls were safe, right?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“And you finally pressed charges. Though I know it was humiliating and painful, you had them do a rape kit at the hospital to gather evidence. You, and Sheridan, I might add, slammed him with everything possible to get his sorry ass put away for a long time. Correct?”

“Yes.”

“Now,” Payton said finally. “Does that sound like the actions of a weak woman?”

Cheyenne didn’t know what to think. Her world was spinning, her head was spinning. Everything Payton said sounded so… logical. Had she really been that blind to what she’d done for herself that night by focusing entirely on what had been done to her?

With a start, she realized she was panting with fear or realization or excitement or something. She wasn’t even sure what.

“I know you, Cheyenne. You blame yourself for everything. And you can’t look at it like that. You saved yourself and the girls with what you did that night. How could that possibly be wrong?”

“See,” Cheyenne said softly after a long moment’s thought, “this is why I keep you around, and why my brother finally snatched you up.”

Payton laughed. “Yeah, finally,” she said with a huff. “Let me tell you one other thing, Cheyenne. Remember when I was all torn up about kissing Brock? And the talk you gave me?”

“Yes,” she sighed.

“Well, I’m going to give you the same kind of talk.”

“I don’t know if I can take any more.”

“Well, you’re going to.” She sighed, as if she had to impart bad news. “I know you’re a modest woman, you always have been, it’s your nature. And that night, Wade made sure to shatter that modesty because it was so important to you. He knew when he dragged you out there into the yard that there nothing he could do to you that would be more humiliating. Am I right?”

“Yes.”

“Sheridan arrived and do you know what the first thing he did was?”

“He covered me. I remember that.”

“I want you to remember that you’re a woman. It is completely natural to be affected by what happened to you, but when a good looking man like Sheridan Lane rolls into your life, and looks at you the way I’ve seen him do, you better take notice of that. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” she whispered.

“Cheyenne, people are sexual animals. We’re naughty by nature. I’ve realized over the past couple weeks that there is no such thing as too much sex. And because you’re my best friend in the world I can tell you that.”

Cheyenne laughed in spite of herself. “Yeah, but that’s my brother we’re talking about.”

“Oh, get over it. I’ve known you a long time. You have it in you to be a sexual woman. And if you’re going to be in close proximity with him in his house, I expect you to take him up on anything he offers you.”

The thought of Sheridan Lane doing more than just looking at her sent a thrill through her bones.

“And if he doesn’t offer, then he’s not as smart as I think he is. Hmm. maybe you should do the offering.”

Cheyenne laughed, as Payton had meant her to do. “I don’t know if I can do that, but I’ll try not to be so spooked.”

“Then that’s all I can ask for. I just want what’s best for you, Cheyenne, you know that. There’s a lot of love floating around Honeywell right now. It’s not unreasonable for you to grab a tiny part of it.”

Tears were blurring her vision. “Yes. I know. You’re amazing, Payton.” She cleared her throat. “Speaking of love, we need to get on this wedding shower.”

“Well, sounds like you might have your hands full of Sheriff Lane right now. Why don’t you let me take over planning this week? Make me some notes and I’ll work on them.”

“Oh, that would be such a help. The venue needs a walk through. We only have a couple weeks to get everything ready.”

“I know,” Payton said calmly. “I can do your running around while you’re holed up. We’ll get it done.”

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