Page 26 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

“If you’re hungry, I made some sandwiches. There isn’t much food left. Do you want me to swing by the grocery store in the morning?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll get that later.” He scratches his head in thought. “What do you think about hiring someone to run errands, too? Like an assistant.”

“I suppose Jade can cover that as well, if you like. She wouldn’t mind. It would give her a chance to check the town out. They’re from Dallas, not here.”

“I don’t want to impose too much on her, Piper. She’s got her studies to worry about, too, right?”

I look around. “Billy, it really isn’t an imposition. This house will not take much to keep up.”

“Yeah, but I was thinking of someone that could come in and cook, run errands, do laundry, things like that. Once we start getting ranch hands in here, we’re going to need someone full time to do stuff like that.”

“Good point. But are you going to be able to afford someone like that? On top of everything else?”

He gives me a look. “Darlin’, y’all let me worry about paying people, okay? I told you money’s not the issue for me, it’s labor, manpower. And I need all that ASAP, so just get me what I need, and you’ll see for yourself. This place will run like a well-oiled machine in no time.”

I smile. “Okay. Will do.”

“And how long do you think Jade will be able to help? Will that be just until school is finished? Because I’m thinking once you hire me an assistant, once this place is cleaned up, there might not be much more need for her, unless she wants to do all that.”

“Unfortunately, it will only be temporary. Both Jade and Crystal, like me, are finishing school in a few months. And Jade’s program is a year shorter than Crystal’s, so they’re both finished at the same time.”

“Perfect. So, we have a plan.” He nods, satisfied.

“You go eat. I’ve got to leave soon.”

“Okay. Have a good one.”

“You, too.”

I get up and go grab a change of clothes for work, while he eats quickly, and I hear him leave the house before I do. As I walk out the door, he calls to me. “Piper!”

I stop, shielding my eyes from the sun. “Hey.”

He trots to me, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. “Here. Take this. Grab yourself some dinner and make it two. I ate all that you made, and I’ll be out here for hours still. Just bring it home with you and I’ll eat it then.”

“That’s going to be like ten o’clock, Billy. Are you sure?”

He smiles. “No need to worry about me, darlin’. I haven’t eaten this decent in weeks.”

Before I can stop myself, I slide a finger down his cheek, as a gesture of empathy. “You and I really are such similar creatures, Billy.”

He takes my hand and quickly kisses the palm. “You go on. Don’t work too hard.”

“Same to you.”

His eyes slide down to my lips, but he winks at me and diverts his gaze. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah. I’ll see you.”

And he ends up seeing much more of me than he plans on...

Chapter 9

Billy

Meandthebuildersare right in the middle of finishing one of the outer walls, when I see Cassidy’s truck pull up. “Hey, I thought you were showing up earlier, man. What gives?” I tease him.

“I had a job to do that took way longer, man. One of my clients is claiming bankruptcy.”

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