He couldn’t take his eyes off the man dressed in denim and plaid wearing a Stetson looking all kinds of fucking sexy. It wasn’t unfair, nor was it funny. Especially as Silas glanced up and offered a look that confused the heck of Ziggy.
What was his game?
“Jupiter, you’re next door with Wilder.”
“Say fucking what?” came a growl, and Ziggy at least had something else to focus on. Because thinking about being alone with Silas for a week in the same cabin? Nope, he wasn’tthinking about that right then with how long it had been since he’d had Silas on his knees—begging.
Ethan, a sexy cowboy with rugged good looks, didn’t so much as blink at the challenge in Jupiter’s gaze when the two faced off. Ethan nodded in a measured way.
“You heard, darlin’. You and Wilder are in there.” Ethan pointed to the cabin next to Ziggy’s.
“He’s not my PA anymore, Ziggy is!” Jupiter spat out. His usual flirty nature was nowhere to be found, gaining everyone’s attention. Only Ziggy was watching Wilder, who visibly paled at how adamant Jupiter was being about not wanting to share with him.
“No one told me you guys had swapped.” Ethan shrugged. His baseball cap shielded his eyes so Ziggy couldn’t determine why he got a feeling the man wasn’t being truthful. “You worked with Wilder, so what’s the issue?”
Had Silas set it up, so they’d share a cabin together?
Silas remained inside the cabin, acting like this had nothing to do with him, yet Ziggy couldn’t shake the feeling that was bullshit. If that was the case, then what did it mean? Was Silas just after getting his end away? Or was he after something else?
He wants us.
Don’t get your hopes up, not that I’m saying anything is gonna happen just because we’re alone.
They aren’t only my hopes, stop kidding yourself!
“I’ve no issue with who I’m sharing with,” Taylin’s glee butted into Ziggy’s thoughts.
“You’re mated, why would you care?” Rue asked, eyeing Monty like an unknown species. He lounged against a railing of a cabin on the other side of the one Jupiter had been allocated.
“Are we all sharing with our PAs?” Kodi asked, sounding way cooler than he normally did.
“Yep,” Ethan replied with a wide grin, his gaze sweeping over the group of men. “I emailed y’all with how this works. How many of y’all actually read what I sent?”
Isley was the first to put his hand up, then Lennon, Hollis, Frey, Bowie, and Monty followed. Thankfully, Ziggy wasn’t the only one who hadn’t gone through all the information. Wilder’s head shake came with a sniff and a puppy dog expression.
Ethan chuckled and shook his head, a gleam of interest appearing as he stared at Wilder. He had dressed for the part in skinny jeans and a T-shirt that stated ‘he likes to ride a cowboy’.
“Never mind, although it looks like this is your first lesson. Read shit you’re sent when it pertains to you.”
“Silas, get your fucking ass out here,” Laken snarled, not taking his eyes off Ethan.
Silas appeared in the doorway looking unconcerned, arms crossed as he leaned against the door frame. “You bellowed, Laken?”
“Why didn’t you say something about this plan?”
“You think I’ve got time to fucking spoon feed you?” He brushed past Ziggy, their knuckles bumping before he strode down the steps, his cowboy boots clacking on the wood. Ziggy had to resist rubbing at the tingling skin.
“I’m not. I don’t have time for that shit, and neither does Ethan. This is a working ranch.” His stormy gaze traveled over all of them. “You’re here to work. To learn what the true meaning of being a team is. Here, everyone pulls their weight because it’s the only way to get everything done. Sunup to sundown, there is shit to do, animals to be taken care of. Y’all will learn how to do that, together. That was what was in the emails you failed to read. Sharing a cabin will be the last thing on your minds when your body is aching and all you want is some food, a hot shower, and a bed to sleep on.”
“Now if we’re done with the hissy fit part of the day, drop off your gear and I’ll show you around the ranch.” Ethan sent an arched look at Jupiter, before his gaze swept the group of men.
There were grumbles and mumbles, but no one said anything more about their sleeping arrangements.
Ziggy dropped his own backpack onto the bed, not once looking at how close the other bed was to his, or allowing himself to look at how small the cabin was. He wasn’t concerned about how rustic the place was. He had no problem roughing it. His problem was the six foot six hunk in denim and how the hell he was going to resist him.
Outside, standing in a huddle with the other PAs, he noted Wilder was the last to join them, his expression revealing nothing but misery. Downturned lips and droopy shoulders left Ziggy feeling worried for his friend. He slung an arm around Wilder’s shoulder as he stood next to him.
“Don’t let him get to you,” he murmured quietly.