Page 24 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

They really are his babies. He’s adorable. “Okay. I missed them, too.”

He gives me a little wink that gives me both a shiver and a warm feeling, as I pet the animals. Sprout reminds me of the movie Bambi, as he walks, unbalanced, on his frail little legs. His determination is evident, though, and Mazy seems to be a proud mama, constantly touching him with her snout. I see Billy bring my stuff out in one trip, making me almost want to chide him, as he carries no less than six bags in one go, but I don’t. I watch him take the bags inside, using some cool technique to open the door himself, and he reappears in a minute, looking pleased.

“How’d you do that?” I ask him, impressed.

“Do what?”

“You opened the door with your foot.”

He smiles and winks. “Trade secret.”

“Uh huh. Is the door busted.” I guess.

He snuffles a laugh as he pets Mazy. “Yeah. The hydraulics don’t work, so if you tap your foot just so, it’ll open on its own.”

“Gotcha. I’ll remember to use that trick when my friends arrive. Keep them guessing.”

He lifts a finger, but his eyes are dancing. “Now, don’t you go stealing my little tricks, see. It’s part of the reason why people are afraid of me. They think my mama was a witch or something.”

“Please. You’re as harmless as a newborn baby.” I wave.

He smiles at me, and our eyes lock for a moment. His gaze goes to my lips for a second, but then he catches himself, scratches his nose, sniffs, and bobs his head over to the builders to our right. “I should get back there. The stable is going up in a couple of days. Mazy and Scout will have a new place to rest their heads.”

“And when I’m in the doghouse, me, too.” I joke.

He gives me a lopsided smile and a wink, and rubs my back, giving me a delicious shiver. God, he’s so sexy. And now that I know what he looks like in his underwear, it’s harder not to blush when he looks at me like that. As he walks away, my eyes follow his fine rear end, and I have to train my eyes to look away. Billy Barnes is a gorgeous man. Why the ladies in town aren’t all over him is beyond me. I’ve never met a more distinguished, polite, beautiful man before in my life. And as I watch my friend’s car pull up, I wonder how in the hell I’m going to hold it inside the huge crush I have on my boss slash landlord.

Crystal and Jade pull up, smiling, looking happy to see me, as I am happy to see them. They’re my best friends. In the time that I’ve known them, I’ve learned so much, and they’ve both shown me so much love, I can’t even tell you. “Piper! Oh my God! You live here?!” Jade gushes, knowing that this is the place that she has agreed to clean part time.

“I do.” I chuckle, as I walk to them, and then give them each a hug.

“This is beautiful. And he’s building another house?” Crystal asks.

“I know. I told Billy that the older house has so much promise, but he has his heart set on building the bigger one. I think it’ll be more of a bed and breakfast or something, anyway.”

“Well, I’ll happily clean either one.” Jade snorts a laugh.

“And it’s really not that bad inside, either. I’ve already started cleaning it.” I tell her. “Come on inside.”

I see Billy look over, and then he starts walking towards us.

“Wait. You should probably meet him first.” I say with a soft chuckle, hoping that I can hide the fact that I have a total, all-round, high school crush on him, even though I’m not in high school anymore. It’s all I know.

“Hello, ladies.” Billy says, tipping his Stetson gallantly, smiling warmly.

“Hi, Mister Barnes. I’m Jade and this is my sister, Crystal.” Jade states, shaking his hand, and then Crystal shakes his proffered hand.

“Jade and Crystal, huh. Well, I suppose they couldn’t have come up with a nicer grouping for two beautiful ladies like yourselves.”

“Yes, our folks don’t get any points for originality.” Jade admits.

“Those are fine names.” He smiles. And then he addresses Jade. “I understand that you’ve agreed to clean this place up some?”

She nods politely. “Yes, sir. I can come twice a week if that suits you.”

“Whatever works for you, Jade, is fine by me. I need all the help I can get. As you can see, I’m too busy working on building to look after the place myself.”

“I’d be happy to help out, sir.”

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