Page 20 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

Additionally, I don’t even know if that would be well received. Having no idea if he finds me attractive at all, it could cost me a lifetime of humiliation if I were to get up the guts to interrupt him, whether or not I’m offering to help. Watching him apply the salve, I feel like an intruder, so I carefully tiptoe away, hoping to God that he doesn’t overhear, or that I don’t trip on something or accidentally sneeze or do something embarrassing like that, and reveal myself. Gosh, he’d think I was the nosiest, most selfish, conniving little harlot on the planet. Once I return to bed, I’m ashamed of myself, and all hormones are shut off immediately. Finally, I hear him trot back down the hallway, into his room, and he gets into bed again.

I wonder what he was doing? I suppose owning a ranch, doing all the construction work he’s doing, he’s bound to get hurt sometimes. Then I remember him saying that he was in the military, and I frown at myself. I just feel bad that he was in so much pain, and all I did was stand there and spy on him, lust after him, even. After I make up my mind to keep my thoughts on my work and schooling, I forgive myself for letting my hormones rule the roost just now, and roll over in bed, reveling in the soft, plush bedding, the safe, quiet atmosphere, and the fresh smell of wood and food. I’m home. At least for now. I’ll enjoy this for as long as I can, and I won’t be a bother to Billy at all, in fact, I’ll do my very best to make him proud, and thankful that he hired me.

As far as living under his roof, I’ll make sure to do everything around here, so he doesn’t feel like I’m taking advantage. Regardless of the fact that he asked me to live here. It doesn’t matter. It was very kind and thoughtful of him, and he was so convincing, he actually twisted my arm. Aunt Kay would adore him. Jade will love him, too. I can’t wait to introduce them. My mind won’t turn off, but my body finally does, and I melt into a deep sleep. I wake up to the sound of a truck driving over gravel, seemingly next to me, and as I look out the window in my room, I see Billy guiding a flatbed truck full of supplies, into the enclosure by the new house.

I lay there, watching them work, as the sun comes up, and marvel in how beautiful this place is. Billy worries that the house is small and unkept, but I bet I could turn it into something wonderful. I’ve never had the opportunity to before, but you should see what I did with my dorm room. Crystal, my dormmate, was astonished. She told me I was in the wrong field. That I should have gone into interior design, but it’s okay to have two loves, right? I hop out of bed and get dressed, knowing that I’ll shower later, and I get started working, first on his books, and then I tidy up around the house. Billy has some eggs and orange juice in the fridge, so I make breakfast for both of us, and sit down to eat, while I make up my mind to call Jade.

And when Billy returns, hours later, I’m shocked to hear what he has to say. But what’s more, I’m shocked at my own reaction.

Chapter 7

Billy

Mylegisbetterthis morning, despite the blinding pain I felt last night. It happens when I get overtired, I mean. When I overdo things, when I go against the doctor’s orders to stay off it at night, so that it can completely heal, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. There are a million things to do at this ranch, and I’ve got little help, and even less patience for idiots and for people that judge me, show up late, disrespect me, and all because I’m trying to bring something good to this town. It’s a shame, really. But they’ll see. They’ll all see. This place is going to rock, and it’s going to be the highlight of this pissant town.

As the supplies truck hauls all the wood and building materials into the pit where the house is being built, I find myself looking towards the old house, waiting for Piper to come out, wondering if I’ll wake her at such an early hour. I feel bad. The poor kid hasn’t had a proper night’s sleep in weeks from the sounds of it. But there’s no sign of her, and I know that she doesn’t have school or her other job until later, so I resign myself, thinking that she’s getting caught up on some much-needed sleep. The builders show up and we get started on the day’s tasks, and it isn’t until almost noon that I finally get to go inside the house.

When I do, I almost don’t recognize it.

“Jesus Christ, did I move?” I mutter to myself as I walk in, to the smell of fresh food, the sight of a clean table, an almost clean living room, and the dishes all done and put away.

“What did you say?” Piper says under her breath, finishing a thought on the computer. Her hair is all tied up in a messy bun on top of her head, and she’s sitting in a pair of tattered jean shorts, and a tank top, once again, with no bra. I divert my eyes from her pert nipples sitting up, looking like they can’t wait to be licked and sucked. The way that she sits doesn’t help, either. Her legs are spread, Indian style, on the wooden chair.

“Where’s the desk chair?”

“I put it with the desk.” She states.

“Oh.” I look at her chest again, and my cock wakes up. “Fuck.” I whisper to myself. “Is it cold in here, darlin’?”

“A little.” She says as an afterthought, while her eyes remain trained on the screen. “There are eggs on the warmer if you’re hungry. I hope it’s okay that I helped myself to your fridge.”

“No, that's fine. They need to get eaten up and I’m starved.”

“Help yourself.”

I go to the kitchen, trying to picture her covered in boils, not gorgeous as sin, as she is, just sitting there, innocent as a goddamn newborn baby. Her legs look like fucking silk, matching her hair. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’m thinking that sharing a roof with a female for the first time ever, might have something to do with it. I’ve never even come close to that. And I start to think back to how long it’s been since I’ve been with a woman and realize that I’m going to have to take charge of my hormones here, if I’ve got any chance in hell of staying professional with her.

“Come sit.” She says, as I walk towards her, with a plate full of eggs.

“Naw, it’s okay. I’ve got a million things to do. I just came in to make sure that everything’s okay in here.”

“How are Mazy and Sprout?”

“Oh, they’re fine. Still sleeping. I called Dr. Collins. He’ll be by any time.” I feel brave. “You might want to put on something a little more professional. Just to...you know...keep an image.” I say, hoping like hell that she won’t pick up on the fact that I think she’s as hot as a pinup model, sitting there like that, with her nipples still as plain as day.

“Oh. Um...okay. I’ll have to go to a laundromat though. I got a stain on my good shirt.”

“You can use mine, Piper. It’s part of the deal. The laundry room is next to the bathroom.”

Her eyes bulge. “You have a main floor laundry room, and you want another house?”

“The new house has the same thing.” I shrug, trying to look at her eyes and nowhere else. But her nipples are sticking right out, and it’s very distracting, so I lose my cool a little. As I rake a hand through my hair, letting out a puff of air, staring at a spot on the wall, I say. “Listen, Piper, don’t take this wrong, but, darlin’, around these parts, y’all gotta wear a bra.”

I turn my back, making like I’m picking at said mark on the wall.

She clears her throat, and I expect her to hesitate, embarrassed, but instead, she pipes up. “For your information, Iamwearing a bra, Billy.”

“Then go get your money back for it, darlin’. Or go see someone qualified to fit one that’s right for you.”

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