Chapter Two
Mike
“Hey, soldier,” I heard at the same time as, “Yo, Country Boy.”
I dropped the bale of hay and turned around to see Maddison and her friend Raven walking toward me, both looking every bit any man’s wet dream. Both wore short jean skirts, hitting mid-thigh, and skimpy complimenting tops with worn cowboy boots. From the way their hair was styled, I could only guess they had some big plans for the night.
“Ladies.” I grabbed the rag I had tucked in my back pocket and used it to wipe the sweat and dirt from my face. I’d been working all day in the heat and could have quit long ago, but sometimes sitting around with nothing to do was not good for me. Too many memories of the years, thoughts I’d rather not have running through my mind. At least not the bad ones.
“You planning on working all night long? Or you up for some fun?” Maddison scanned over me and seeing the way she took in my bared chest, my dirty jeans from a day’s work, and my muddy cowboy boots did something strange to me. My heart raced, and I’d confess, blood might have rushed to one area, but only for a few seconds. Then she opened her mouth, and all dirty thoughts were gone.
“You smell like ass, and you look like shit.” She crossed her arms over her chest, stepping in a little closer. “I told Rhett I’d drag you along for a night out at Lucky’s, but now I’m not so sure.”
Nothing’s changed, well, unless I counted the fact that Mad had only managed to get even more sassy. The fun bullying between us had always been a thing we’d done, a natural thing whenever we were together.
“We can wait.” Maddison looked over her shoulder at her friend, but she was only looking at me. “My sister isn’t exactly ready yet, either. She’s waiting on us to pick her up.”
“AJ’s your sister, right?”
I didn’t miss the skeptical look on Maddison’s face while she watched her friend and me carry on. Quietly, she observed Raven and me, wearing an expression I wasn’t quite sure how to read.
“Yeah.” Raven placed her hands into the back pockets of her skirt, rocking on the heels of her boots. “She takes extra long to get going now, since Rhett, that is.”
I’d been home for close to a month now, and I’d picked up on the budding relationship between Rhett and AJ. There was a little talk about Aunt Kori finding them doing a little bit of dirty in the area above the barn that’s on its way to being converted to an apartment for Rhett.
AJ was good for Rhett. I’d seen a change in him over the weeks, a good change. He was back to himself again, leaving behind the cranky as hell version I’d heard so much about from the others. The guy was fun again.
“How about you ladies go on without me?” Raven looked disappointed at my words.
“You scared? You can’t hang with us?” Maddison taunted me, regaining my full attention.
“I never said I wasn’t going, Mad.” She tried to hide her smile. “I just need some time to head home and get a shower. I’ll meet y’all there a little later.”
“I’m not opposed to you coming along just like that,” Raven added with a laugh, looking me over once more. “I’m okay with a little dirty.”
“Raven.” Maddison gave her a little warning about her forwardness, matched with a displeased look.
“What? He makes dirty look damn good,” Raven added, and again Maddison just stared at her best friend.
Chuckling, I nudged Mad’s hip by lifting my leg and bumping against her with my knee. “What do you think, Mad?” She wrinkled her brows. “You okay with a little dirty too?” She still seemed confused until I held out my arms like I was going to hug her.
Suddenly, she was holding her hands out before her as she began to slowly back away.
“Mike,” it was my turn to hear her warning tone, “I swear if you touch me—”
“You’ll what?” I grabbed her wrist, and her eyes widened in surprise. “You don’t scare me, Maddison.”
“Don’t you dare.” I had to laugh at the attempted glare. She was trying for fierce, but she looked terrified instead. “I’ll tell my daddy,” she threatened.
“And he’ll laugh.”
“Not if I tell him you hurt me in the process.” I could imagine Colt’s face when Maddison shed tears while looking up at him with those big brown eyes of hers. The irritation that filled him as she faked it all out perfectly.
“You don’t play fairly,” she shrugged, “threatening me with your dad.”
“A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”
I continued to hold her wrist, staring back at her, showing no signs of if I would or wouldn’t carry things all out. Then, I released my hold on her, and she seemed satisfied.
“I’ll give in this time, but you should know that it’s only a one-time deal. Next time, there is no way I’m letting you walk away without getting you a little dirty.” Her gaze remained locked on mine, and though I realized that what I’d said to her sounded extremely sexual, I didn’t falter.
“I’m not the kind of girl who doesn’t like getting dirty, Mike,” she countered. “You should know that about me by now.”
I forgot about her friend standing only a few feet away until the sound of her phone broke through the tension I was feeling with Mad.
“AJ says she’s ready,” she announced, and I backed away, taking in a deep breath and mentally shaking off the shit that had
