Page 48 of Naughty by Nature

Chapter 15

Sheridan shook Brock’s hand,then Sean’s. “I thank you for coming in when I asked, and I especially thank you for helping me keep my shit together and not pound the asshole into the dirt.”

“When I heard him say that about Cheyenne, I almost helped you,” Brock admitted. He lifted his hat, ran his hand through his dark hair, then resettled the hat. “How do we get rid of the fucker once and for all?”

“We have to wait,” Patterson said, slapping Sheridan on the back. “He’s a hothead. It’s only a matter of time before he screws up and we can get him on violation of his parole.

Sheridan leaned against the truck. “Yeah. He won’t get the kids, though. There’s no judge in the state that would give a convicted rapist access to them.”

“No,” Patterson agreed. “But he’s probably going to do everything he can to harass her. Make her second guess everything. Don’t let her get too wrapped up in herself.”

Sheridan nodded and heaved a deep breath. “I won’t. I appreciate you guys helping out.”

Brock grinned at him. “You know, it was hotter than Hades out here, but we tolerated it. Looked like things were warming up inside, too. I’m glad to see you and my sister getting along so well, Sheridan.”

Laughing, he took the ribbing, knowing it was meant with affection. “Me too, Brock.”

With a final wave he headed around to his side of the truck and climbed in. Cheyenne had her head tipped back against the seat and she barely moved as he shifted the truck into gear. She’d already stretched the seat belt across her chest, so he didn’t have to worry about that. It wasn’t until he pulled into his driveway that her lashes finally fluttered open.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” she whispered, lifting her head. “Sorry I sacked out on you. I was a little wrung out. Delayed reaction, I guess.”

“I could tell. That’s completely fine.”

He parked the truck in the garage and turned off the ignition. Circling the hood, he opened her door and helped her down. Cheyenne didn’t say anything as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and guided her into the house.

The girls were outside, obviously. They could hear squeals of laughter and splashing. Sheridan’s boots stuck on the floor a little as they walked through the kitchen and he had to chuckle.

“She’s going to have to clean it again,” Cheyenne murmured.

“I’m not worried about it.”

Sheridan guided her to the bedroom she’d taken for herself and walked her inside. Then, nodding his chin to the bed he motioned for her to sit down. He knelt on the floor in front of her and removed her sandals, one at a time, setting them precisely beneath the edge of the bed. Then, tugging the light quilt back, he motioned for her to climb inside.

Cheyenne stared at him for a long moment. “I’m okay. I probably need to…”

“You don’t need to do anything for a bit,” Sheridan corrected her gently. “Take a nap. I’ll keep the girls occupied.”

Cheyenne didn’t really have the energy to fight him. She laid back against the pillows and closed her eyes.

* * *

Cheyenne woke disoriented.The room was dark as were the windows outside. It took her a moment to remember where she was. And what had happened that day.

Wade had showed up, and proven himself an ass yet again in front of most of the town. He had a special knack for doing that. But Cheyenne had actually stood up to him.

Maybe it was because she knew she was surrounded by back-up, or maybe she was just tired of all his drama. For whatever reason, she stood up to him.

And it had backfired.

Not completely. Hopefully wherever he was, Wade was stewing about coming up with child support. It wasn’t the strongest argument Cheyenne had, but maybe it would work on him like sandpaper.

In the rodeo days, money had flowed like water. In one hand and out the other. Wade had always thought they had an endless supply. After he’d been hurt, he’d learned the hard way that it did have an end.

Cheyenne reached for her phone on the bedside table. Oh, jeez! It was after ten. Standing from the bed she padded out into the hallway. Everything was quiet. Something moved out by the pool and she almost squealed, then she had to stare.

Sheridan had just lifted himself from the pool, water glistening in droplets as it ran down the long line of his back. Cheyenne tried to draw her gaze away, but she really couldn’t. Her eyes traced his body from the slicked back hair, down his not-too-furry chest. He wore a pair of dark trunks that reached his thighs, but Cheyenne couldn’t see much more than that.

---