Page 10 of Cowboy's Way

“Deal, just don’t go sending me a cleaning bill.” I let out a bitter laugh as I look down at Bruno. Lucky beast gets to spend the night where I want to be. “I’ll bring him back in an hour or so.”

Chapter 4

Faith

As the night wears on, I’m more conscious of every noise outside than I was the previous night. While Logan had left Bruno’s bed in the living room, the second time I thought I heard something outside, I dragged the big thing into my room and lured him in with treats before closing the door.

I’m sure I’m being silly, but the idea of wild hogs and armed men running around outside is not comforting, and it’s well past midnight when I finally fall asleep. A long, wet lick across my face wakes me up and I nearly scream when I open my eyes to see Bruno’s muzzle a few inches from my face.

His front paws are perched on my mattress as his soulful brown eyes silently plead with me to get moving.

“Sorry, boy,” I mumble, sitting up and rolling off the other side of the bed.

Ignoring my bladder, I hurry to the kitchen door and snap the leash on him before heading outside. I’m relieved to see that my garden is untouched as I slowly walk him around the house, stopping with a start when I get to the front porch.

Bruno lets out an excited woof and pulls the leash away out of my grasp, quickly letting me know he was merely allowing me to pretend to be in control for his own amusement.

There, half of his long body on a padded bench, I see Logan sleeping in the most uncomfortable position I’ve ever seen.

“Hey,” he groans, softly at first, until he tries to move, and I can almost feel the pain he’s in from the look on his face. “Damn, everything hurts.”

“What are you doing out here?”

“You slept through the hogs the other night. I didn’t think it’d do much good to knock.” He smiles up at me as he pets Bruno.

“Come inside, I’ll make breakfast,” I offer, even though I only have eggs and leftover pizza.

“God, yes,” he moans as he stretches and, not having the key with me, I continue my circle around the house, trying to ignore the sight of the tats on his stomach as his shirt climbs up his body.

“How was the hunting?” I ask him when he catches up with me.

“Good. Demo said to bring you to thezombiepig roast tonight.”

“I think I’m going to take a pass on that,” I say with a laugh as I enter my kitchen, shaking my head at the thought of going to a party at a motorcycle club.

My life has changed so much in the past couple of months that I can barely catch my breath some days.

“Don’t be like that,” he replies. “You might even have fun.”

“Sorry, not to be rude, but I’m not really in the mood to party,” I quickly respond, worried that I might have offended him before I see the look on his face.

This man is too incorrigible to be offended. I feel the blood rush to my cheeks when I remember his kiss. Even more so when he winks at me, and I realize he really can read me like a book.

Apparently, the sheriff and Demo can also, if what Logan said yesterday was accurate.

“Look, city girl, if you plan on sticking around—and this house gives the impression that you do,” Logan says, looking around at the new appliances. “It’s as good a way as any to meet people around here.”

“Do you think the sheriff would agree with that?” I smart back, proud of myself for thinking of that.

“You can ask her tonight.” My jaw drops at his response, and I can’t help but look surprised. Then he drops his next bombshell. “Paverson is Demo’s half-sister. Your contractor’s wife is also, come to think of it, so they’ll probably be there.”

“Half?” I don’t know how to finish my question without sounding nosy as hell, so I yank open the fridge to grab the eggs and pizza.

“I haven’t met him, but Demo’s father had a slew of kids. I think Demo knows of five of them, but figures there are more out there.”

I let out a whistle as I start cracking eggs into a bowl, looking over to see Logan tossing a slice of pizza to Bruno. The dog looks guiltily at me before walking toward my bedroom with it clenched in his jaw.

“Did you let him sleep in your bed?” Logan asks me, frowning when I slap his hand away from the pizza.

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