Page 94 of Knot Your Problem, Cowboy
“I also have regular movies,” he says smoothly, though the tips of his ears are definitely pink. “Y’know. With plots. Dialogues. Occasionallyeven a budget.”
“Sure you do,” Cash drawls, the picture of innocence as he leans back in his chair. “Filed alphabetically, right betweenCowgirls Gone WildandRodeo After Dark.”
Ridge chuckles low. “You mean the two you borrowed last month and never gave back?”
That gets Cash. His mouth opens. Shuts. Opens again. He stares at Ridge like a cat caught mid-pounce, and the silence lasts a full two seconds longer than usual.
Walker snorts into his glass. “Well, now the silence is suspicious.”
“Was research,” Cash mutters, then perks up. “Character development.”
We all lose it. Even Ridge’s low laugh rumbles from his chest, and I bite my lip because I’m sitting way too close to him to not feeleverything. The heat, the vibration, like I belong here.
“You got a collection too, sugar?” Cash turns to me, eyes twinkling with mock curiosity. “For science, of course.”
“A lady never tells,” I say primly, lifting my chin after setting my glass down on the coffee table.
Ridge raises an eyebrow. “That sounds like a yes.”
“And the good kind,” Walker adds. “Bet hers are alphabetizedandhave a color-coded rating system.”
“Hotness scale from one to burn the sheets.” Cash grins.
I shake my head, trying not to laugh. “You three areridiculous.”
“Ridiculously curious,” Cash fires back. “Just sayin’, we’d be open to suggestions if you got any personal favorites.”
Ridge turns to me, eyes glinting in the firelight. “So… what’s your take? Story-driven? Or straight to the good stuff?”
My face flames. “I’m not answering that.”
“Youareblushing,” Walker notes smugly. “Like, bright red. Kinda cute, actually. But hey, we support self-care in this house.”
I roll my eyes, trying for unaffected, but my cheeks are on fire. “You three really are the worst.”
Ridge just chuckles, low and amused. “Didn’t hear a denial, though.”
I shoot him a glare, but his smile only deepens, like he’s reading something I’m not saying out loud. My stomach does a little flip I pretend not to feel.
I reach for my glass of sweet tea on the coffee table, suddenly desperate for a distraction. But even with the space between us, Ridge’s attention clings to my skin like a touch I can’t shake.
And maybe, just maybe… I don’t mind it.
“Let’s play a game,” Ridge suggests quickly. “Found this online. Cowboy phrases.”
He explains the rules where we each say a phrase and everyone gets one guess at the meaning. If you’reright, you can demand something from the person who said it. If everyone’s wrong, the phrase-sayer gets to dare someone.
“I’ll go first,” Cash volunteers, that troublemaker grin in full force. “Hotter than a goat’s butt in a pepper patch.”
“That cannot be real,” I protest.
“Is too! Anyone want to guess what it means?”
“Something about spicy food?” Walker tries.
“Temperature in hell?” Ridge suggests.
“A really unfortunate farming accident?” I offer.
