Page 6 of Brothers Best Friend Cowboy

“I have clothes on! Trust me! You should see the other girl up there.”

He shakes his head. “Nah, I’m only seeing you.”

The world stops turning and I die. Right there, by the edge of the Pine Bough River.

Here lies the husk of what used to be Maggie Conley

Chapter Four

Emery

Fucking hell.I dip into the cool river just to sink the erection that’s pressing at my shorts. Thankfully, a good dose of cold water usually does the trick. Then again, I’ve never had Maggie sitting in front of me on a rock, wrapped in my flannel with her thick thighs bouncing back and forth while she laughs and talks to me about life.

I can’t take it. I really can’t.

After a few minutes, Dodge and Ash make their way down to the shoreline. Ash has a few bags of food, while Dodge carries the cooler. As much as I want to be alone with Maggie, I’m thankful for the distraction. A few more seconds and I’d have tossed her over my shoulder like a caveman and taken her upstairs.

“What are you two down here laughing about?” Dodge sets the cooler on a boulder by the stream and throws down a picnic blanket.

Maggie gets up to help Ash spread out the food while I dry off.

“You’ve already gotten started on another one?” Maggie says to Dodge as he pops another bottle open.

“Something like that. Someone has to party.”

Maggie and I glance toward each other. I know she doesn’t drink, and truthfully, I’m nothing more than a social drinker. I’ll have a beer occasionally, but it’s been ages since I’ve been properly drunk. That said, we both crack a long neck and join the crowd, even if it’s for show.

“We should play truth or dare!” Ash suggests, tipping back another long sip of whatever she’s drinking.

Panic crowds my mind. On the one hand, this is a good opportunity to do something without any regard for what’s right. On the other, I’ve never seen this game ever go anywhere other than poorly. That and Ash is a wild card. A few minutes with her and you know she isn’t going to be going easy on folks.

“I think I’m good,” I say, leaning back against the boulder.

“Oh, come on!” Dodge presses. “Have a little fun for once! You always have such a stick up your ass.”

I know that Dodge has always had so much responsibility in his life that he needs to cut loose on these weekends we planned together, but I should keep an eye on him. We haven’t been out like this in years, and we’re no longer spring chickens. He better pace himself or he’s going to be a mess before noon.

I glance toward Maggie. “Are you playing?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. If you do, I guess you can count me in.”

“Good. Then it’s settled!” Dodge spins a bottle in the center of the blanket and grabs a cracker off the platter. “Whoever it lands on goes first.”

My chest tightens. I really don’t want to go first. I’d rather someone drunk make a fool of themselves before I have to.

Taunting us all, the bottle spins and spins, waiting for the grass to grow before it stops on Dodge.

“Truth or dare?” Ashley looks toward him, her gaze that of someone who’s at least slightly interested in the man she’s talking to. Maybe she’s not here for me after all, which would be a relief.

“Dare!” Dodge shouts, fueled on beer and temporary freedom.

Ashely grins like she already has something in mind. “Okay. Take off your clothes and run into the river.”

Apparently, he’s not drunk enough for that yet as he hollers, “No way! My little sister’s right there.”

Ash giggles. “She’ll look away. You took dare, so you have to do it.” She bites her bottom lip as thoughthisis the reason she’s chosen to play the game.

Maggie covers her face. “I’m looking away.”

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