The Maisey Yates Collection : Cowboy Heroes: Take Me, Cowboy / Hold Me, Cowboy / Seduce Me, Cowboy / Claim Me, Cowboy / The Rancher's Baby. Maisey Yates

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СКАЧАТЬ she said, sounding cheerful. “Also, I bought condoms.”

      He choked. “Did you?”

      “They aren’t ribbed. I wasn’t sure if the one you used last night was.”

      “No,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck and casting a side eye at his brother. “It wasn’t.”

      “Good. I was looking for a repeat performance. I didn’t want to get the wrong thing. Though maybe sometime we should try ribbed.”

      Sometime. Because there would be more than once. More than last night. More than tonight. “We can try it if you want.”

      “I feel like we might as well try everything. I have a lot of catching up to do.”

      “Dancing,” he said, trying to wage a battle with the heat that was threatening to take over his skull. “Do you want to go dancing tonight?”

      “Not really. But I can see the benefit. Seeing as there will be dancing at the fund-raiser. And I bet I’m terrible at dancing.”

      “Great. I’m going to pick you up at seven. We’re going to Ace’s.”

      “Then I’ll be ready.”

      He hung up the phone and suddenly realized he was at the center of Sam’s keen focus. That bastard had been listening in the entire time. “Hot date tonight?” he asked.

      “Dancing. With Anna,” he said meaningfully. The meaning being with Anna and not with you.

      “Well, then, you wouldn’t mind if I tagged along.” Jerkface was ignoring his meaning.

      “I would mind.”

      “I thought this was just about some bet.”

      “It is,” he lied.

      “Uh-huh.”

      “You don’t want to go out. You want to stay home and eat a TV dinner. You’re just harassing me.”

      Sam shrugged. “I have to get my kicks somewhere.”

      “Get your own. Get laid.”

      “Nope.”

      “You’re a weirdo.”

      “I’m selective.”

      Maybe Sam was, maybe he wasn’t. Chase could honestly say that his brother’s sex life was a mystery to him. Which was fine. Really, more than fine. Chase had a reputation, Sam...did not. Well, unless that reputation centered around being grumpy and antisocial.

      “Right. Well, you enjoy that. I’m going to go out.”

      “Chase,” Sam said, his tone taking on a note of steel. “Don’t hurt her.”

      Those words poked him right in the temper. “Really?”

      “She’s the best thing you have,” Sam said, his voice serious. “You find a woman like that, you keep her. In whatever capacity you can.”

      “She’s my best friend. I’m not going to hurt her.”

      “Not on purpose.”

      “I don’t think you’re in any position to stand there and lecture me on interpersonal relationships, since you pretty much don’t have any.”

      “I have you,” Sam said.

      “Right. I’m not sure that counts.”

      “I have Anna. But if you messed things up with her, I won’t have her, either.”

      Chase frowned. “You don’t have feelings for her, do you?” He would really hate to have to punch his brother in the face. But he would.

      “No. Not like you mean. But I know her, and I care about her. And I know you.”

      “What does that mean?”

      Sam pondered that for a second. “You’re not her speed.”

      “I’m not trying to be.” He was getting ready to punch his brother in the face anyway.

      “I’m just saying.”

      “You’re just saying,” he muttered. “Go just say somewhere else. A guy whose only friends are his younger brother and that brother’s friend maybe shouldn’t stand there and make commentary on relationships.”

      “I’m quiet. I’m perceptive. As you mentioned, I am an artist.”

      “You can’t pull that out when it suits you and put it away when it doesn’t.”

      “Sure I can. Artists are temperamental.”

      “Stop beating around the bush. Say what you want to say.”

      Sam sighed. “If she offers you more than friendship, take it, dumbass.”

      “Why would you think that she would ever offer that? Why would you think that I want it?”

      He felt defensive. And more than a little bit annoyed. “She will. I’m not blind. Actually, being antisocial has its benefits. It means that I get to sit back and watch other people interact. She likes you. She always has. And she’s the kind of good... Chase, we don’t get good like that. We don’t deserve it.”

      “Gee. Thanks, Sam.”

      “I’m not trying to insult you. I’m just saying that she’s better than either of us. Figure out how to make it work if she wants to.”

      Everything in Chase recoiled. “She doesn’t want to. And neither do I.” He turned away from Sam, heading toward the door.

      “Are you sleeping with her yet?”

      Chase froze. “That isn’t any of your business.”

      “Right. You are.”

      “Still not your business.”

      “Chase, we both have a lot of crap to wade through. Which is pretty obvious. But if she’s standing there willing to pull you out, I’m just saying you need to take her up on her offer.”

      “She has enough crap of her own that she’s hip deep in, Sam. I don’t need her taking on mine.”

      Sam rubbed his hand over his forehead. “Yeah, that’s always the thing.”

      “Anyway, she doesn’t want me. Not like that. I mean, not forever. This is just a...physical thing.” Which was way more information than his brother deserved.

      “Keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep at night.”

      “I sleep like a baby, Sam.” He continued out the door, heading toward his truck. He had to get back to the house and СКАЧАТЬ