“I think our ex’s both read the same page from the ‘how to be a shitty human’ handbook.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Shit, sorry.”
“The short version is she cheated on me all over the damn place before divorcing me and trying to take everything I have.”
I wince. “Ouch. I’m sorry. Is she single?”
He frowns. “Why?”
“Because we could set her up with Jeff and sit back with the popcorn to watch the fireworks.”
Colt roars with laughter as he grins at me. “That was good.”
“I have my moments.”
Mike comes back with our two fresh drinks. I finish my first and thank him as I take the second.
“So,” Colt grunts. “Where’d you end up deciding to stay since you bailed on my guest cottage?”
I frown into my drink, chewing on my lip. When my silence drags on, Colt turns to frown.
“You at Cassidy’s place? I mean I know she’s out of town and all.”
I shake my head.
His brow furrows. “Doc Watts?”
I shake my head. Colt turns to face me fully.
“Where’d you stay last night, Tansy?”
I shrug. “It was fine.”
He stares at me. “Don’t tell me you slept in that fucking truck.”
The whiskey on an almost empty stomach is starting to hit me. So I giggle a little as I shrug. “Okay, I won’t then.”
He groans. “Shit. Well, look, the position is still open.”
I start to open my mouth, but he holds a hand up. “It’s not charity. I really could use your help with Chance and his problem.”
I blush and look into my drink. “I… no.” I shake my head. “No thank you.”
“Why?”
“Because!”
“Because?”
“Because… I don’t know. I’m not sure.”
“Because you’ve seen my dick?”
I blush furiously. “Mr. Patton!” I choke.
He laughs to himself and takes a drink. “It’s just Colt, darlin’.” He frowns. “Okay, what if I promised that the room would be dick free?”
I groan as my face burns.
“I’ll even sweeten the deal. After the month, you can keep staying there. Rent free.”
My head whips around to stare at him. “What?”
“You heard me.”
My brow wrinkles. “I already told you, you don’t owe me an apology. It’s your house.”
“And I already told you this isn’t charity.”
“What else would you call free lodging?”
“A nice thing to do.”
I frown. “It’s charity.”
Colt rolls his eyes. “Christ, are you always this stubborn?”
“Most of the time.”
He chuckles. “Look, it’s clean, the property is beautiful, if I do say so myself. And me and Harley keep to ourselves.”
“Harley?”
“My dog.”
My mind flashes back to the cute little floppy mutt in the stable who wagged his tail at me before going back to bed.
“It’s an easy drive back to the clinic, for when that job starts. And I’m not sure if I mentioned this enough times yet, because you seem to be glossing over this little tidbit. But it’s free.”
I mull that over, sucking my teeth.
Colt laughs at my silence. “Fuck, you weren’t kidding about that stubbornness. C’mon. honestly, where else are you going stay?”
“The truck really wasn’t that bad.”
He frowns. “No. No damn way. You’re coming with me.”
I giggle. “How demanding.”
“Yep,” he shrugs.
“And if I say no?”
“In favor of sleeping in your pickup truck?” He shrugs. “A man could get a little offended.”
I grin, eying him.
“Don’t make me throw you over my shoulder and march you back out to that cottage, Tansy.
I feel the blush tease though me. My core tightens with a fluttery feeling. And I can’t help but think “yes please” in my head.
“I’ll even throw in a free dinner and some beers tonight.”
“Just tonight?”
He roars another big, lion-like laugh. When the turns to level those piercing dark eyes at me, I tremble with heat.
“Deal or not, Tansy. Last time I’m asking.”
This is a very, very bad idea. I mean the job is good. The free place to live, even after I move to the vet clinic, is amazing. And he’s right; the ranch itself is gorgeous in terms of a view out the window.
But it’s the man that might be inhabiting that view, living fifty feet away, that throws a monkey wrench into this idea. The man who’s disarmingly charming, fantasy-inspiring, and pretty much gorgeous on every level. Also, I’ve seen him naked. All of him.
Living across the back yard from him is an absolutely terrible idea.
Luckily, terrible ideas are kind of my bag these days. I stick my hand out.
“Deal.”
Colt takes mine and shakes it, and I tremble inside down to my core.
What the hell have I just gotten myself into?
4 Colt
The steaks are already sizzling on the grill when it occurs to me that I have no idea if she even eats meat. We’re both in the back garden area between the main house and her guest cottage. I look up from the grill, and I chuckle when I see Harley in absolute heaven, getting his tummy rubbed.
“Suckered you in already, huh?”
“He’s the sweetest!” She laughs. She grins as she leans down to use both her hands to rub his fuzzy belly. “You are just the sweetest little thing, aren’t you?”
Harvey’s tongue lolls out, and he happily wags his tail. I roll my eyes. “He’s a whore is what he is.”
“Wow.” She looks up at me with a raised brow. “Harsh.”
“What? He is. His loyalties are to the next tummy rub or snack. Watch.” I grab a piece of the gristle I trimmed from one of the steaks and raise it up. “Harvey! Hey bud, look what I got for you!”
Harvey raises his head slightly. He licks his chops, but then flops back down and rolls back onto his back. I glare at him as Tansy erupts into laughter.
“Wow, you just got roasted.”
“Fuzzy little prick,” I mutter at my dog. He gives me a little whimper, but he stays right where he is for Tansy’s tummy rubs.
My eyes slide from Harley to her, though. She’s still playing with the dog and doesn’t notice me staring, which is a good thing. Because I’m seriously staring. A surge of lust burns inside of me
