Page 25 of The Cowboy's Off Limits Option

Is he really taking it this well?

There's no way he hasn't put it together yet. He's usually so quick to jump to conclusions when it comes to me with any guy in the same room.

Is it possible that he's not phased? Even a little bit?

My eyes lift to Archer's, testing our new couple telepathy in a silent question. Are they really that good of friends? Thatmaybe my brother figured out who Archer's secret love really is? Especially after he got the story about Archer driving out to Keller's Ferry to rescue me?

"Your things are still in my room." Archer tells me, plainly testing the waters.

Rowan leans on the counter in front of the kitchen sink and glances between the two of us, then he motions at me to hurry up, so I head back to the master bedroom to put on more clothes.

Archer

"Thanks for taking care of Cal,"Rowan pushes off the counter and helps himself to one of the energy drinks in my fridge just like he did to Callie's breakfast.

Things between us seem cool.

"Of course, man. Cal's everything."

My buddy glances down the hallway where his sister went down to my room to get dressed, then sighs heavily and runs a hand through his hair.

"Yeah. I'm glad she's got you, buddy. I was starting to worry about her, you know?"

Damn, am I confused.

"Worried how?" Now it's my turn to stare in the direction Cal went.

"You know, she doesn't date. Ever since her friend met that guy up in Moonshine Ridge, Cal's been acting--off. And Jesus! Tollhouse? On her own? I can't thank you enough for going out there after her, man. Can't imagine what could have happened to her."

Seeing Rowan's face redden with anger at the thought, I decide it'll be a long time before I tell him the situation Cal was facing when I walked into the bar last night.

I'm going to count my blessings that he's handling the fact that he just walked in on me and Callie barely dressed in my kitchen like it's no big deal.

"I'll always keep Callie safe." I assure him. "Don't give her too much shit for it, okay? She and I already had a good talk about it."

Rowan looks at the clock on his phone and back down my hallway.

"What the hell's taking her so long? I've got shit to do today and we gotta go get her car."

"Go do your shit, then. I'll take her to get the car."

"You don't mind?"

Row clutches his phone and his keys in one hand and gives me his standard handshake hug with a clap on my shoulder as he starts for the door.

"Of course not," I tell him. "We were planning on getting it after breakfast, on the way back to your folks to get her things. It's no big deal."

Rowan pauses on the porch as I walk him out, turning to shoot me a confused look, but doesn't say anything.

"I'm ready."

Callie comes up behind me, her hand brushing my ass as she pushes past me where I'm blocking the door.

"Arch says he'll take ya," Rowan tells her, already stepping off the porch, headed for his truck.

"So, you're really okay with it?" Callie goes after her brother, sounding about as skeptical of his behavior as I'm feeling.

Row turns around and gives her a look like he's the one who's confused here.

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