Page 57 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

“You’re the one walking around naked, making my hard-on stay.”

“I like you hard.”

He rakes a hand through his hair. “Baby,” A draft comes from the hallway and makes my nipples harden and perk up, very obviously. He snorts, defeated, and rakes another hand through his hair. “Fuck...me.” He curses at himself. “Goddamn...you’re killing me, darlin’.”

I take the t-shirt and slide it over my head. My nipples are very defined under the shirt. “Shit.” He says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You have no idea how much fucking trouble we’re in, do you.” His tone is still playful.

I laugh again. “Okay, putting pajamas on now.” I say, throwing him a bone. I don’t want to annoy him, even though I’m pretty sure that I’m not.

“No, you go take a shower and get ready, baby. I’ll go get breakfast going.”

I put a hand on my waist. “How are you going to do your pants up?”

“I’ll leave them for now.” He shrugs, pants still half open.

We both keep doing double takes as we separate, chuckling, having fun being playful together. I take a shower and meet him in the kitchen ten minutes later. He’s got a shirt on, and his pants are done up. He’s been checking emails and getting caught up on some of the tasks that I left him to get done when he has a chance. He’s deep in thought when I come downstairs, so I don’t disturb him. I’m sitting at the kitchen table when he finally pokes his head up from the office. “Hey, baby. I made some eggs. They’re just in the pan.”

“Thanks. I...seem to have worked up an appetite.”

That gets a warning smirk and a finger lift. But he’s not relenting. “Now, you behave yourself.” He winks.

That’s when there’s a knock at the front door. “That must be the Paxton boys.” Billy says with a grunt, rising off the desk chair.

But when I follow him to the door, and he opens it, it’s not the Paxton boys.

...and Billy’s face turns as pale as a sheet.

Chapter 18

Piper

I’mreadytocallfor the sheriff, from the look on Billy’s face. At first, it looks like he’s going to take a round out of him, but then the man lifts his arms, seemingly for a hug, and Billy reluctantly leans in. “Wade.” He says, as if in disbelief.

“Billy, my man. I thought you were dead.”

“I thought you were, too.”

“I figured as much, since you just looked like you’d seen a ghost.” He chuckles.

“I did.” Billy stands at the door, in shock, like he’s numb. His friend looks at me and then at Billy, and he seems to snap out of it. “Oh, shoot, my apologies. Piper, this is Wade. Wade, Piper.”

Wade sticks his hand out for me to shake, but Billy’s still not letting him in the house. “I’m an old friend of Billy’s. He saved my life once or twice when we were in combat.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” If I know Billy well enough, he would have had a much different, much more aggressive welcome, had Wade been a threat, so I take the reins here, hoping that Billy’s just in shock, seeing an old friend that he thought was dead. “Why don’t you come inside? Would you like some tea?”

“Ah, sure. I can’t stay long, though. I’ve got a meeting with a potential business partner in town.” Wade says, as we both make room, so that he can come inside.

“Business?” Billy asks, still very pale.

“Um, yeah. I’m trying to open a tanning shop here. Hoping to sell leather and hides and some ammo and things. A hunter’s haven. In fact, I’m thinking of using that as the name.” He explains. “I came into some money after the military, and I’d like to do something with it, you know?”

“That’s like Billy, too.” I volunteer, but then I bite my tongue, as I’m not sure if it’s my place to divulge, even though it’s as plain as the nose on my face that that’s what Billy is doing.

“I see that.” He looks around. “You’re doing a great job here, man.”

After a moment, Billy responds, albeit reluctantly. “Thanks.”

I can’t figure it out. Why is Billy so shaken by this? As I make the tea, I hope that Billy will relax, and maybe provide some insight as to why he’s so beside himself. I take my time, pulling muffins out of the container on the counter, keeping my distance. And then it happens. “So, Marsha got discharged, huh.” Wade states.

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