I moaned, leaning into him, and he pressed back. I could feel the ridge in his jeans against my belly, but he didn't grind. He just leaned back, lifting his eyes behind me to where I knew Luke was standing.
"You win," Luke said softly. "Seems I have a voyeur streak, because I don't want to punch you in the face yet." Then he reached down and adjusted himself, proving the point.
"You're welcome for the good night," Cy said. "And I really need a fucking shower."
"A cold one," Luke called after him before tilting his bottle and draining at least half his beer.
"That..." I tried, but couldn't figure out what came next.
"Yeah," Luke said. "It kinda came after an entire day of me trying real hard to pull my head out of my ass. I mean, you've probably kissed him a million times, right? Same with Ashton?"
"Ash, yes," I said. "Cy?" I just shook my head.
Luke's eyes narrowed. "He said the three of you were inseparable as kids."
"Yeah."
His eyes dropped to the ground. "Him and Ash?"
"I'd really rather not answer that."
Luke just paused to take another drink. "I wasn't trying to treat you like an object. You know that, right? I just..."
"Are trying real hard to figure it out," I finished for him. "It's ok. I'm just glad you're trying, because they're not going away."
"Neither am I," he promised. "Not unless you chase me off."
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dinner was not as awkward as I expected. Cy was an easy man to be around, even when he kept smiling at Violet. The difference was that she didn't encourage him. When I'd caught them all cuddled up, my jealousy had damned near taken over, but like this? They were old friends. They had these little inside jokes that they were willing to let me in on, they had history that couldn't be faked, and they just clicked, but it didn't feel like Cy was trying to steal her from me.
It was more like he just wanted to share a little piece. To not have his best friend taken away, and I could understand that. Sure, I wasn't used to men and women being nothing more than friends, but I had a feeling Violet was. She'd grown up in a juvenile rehabilitation facility. Most offenders would be boys, and my girl was as tough as nails. Pretty as could be, but still tough. It made sense that she'd also be the prettiest "one of the guys" around.
Unfortunately, I had to go home again that night. Paul Simmons had been blowing up my phone, asking if I still wanted my job. I kept telling him that I was just trying to make sure I didn't have to sell my horses because board was cutting into my check. I figured that either he'd give me a raise to keep me from spending so much time at Southwind, or he'd lay off. Sadly, neither seemed to be happening.
Then there was the talk I'd overheard at the grill when I stopped in for a drink. Mike, Charlie, and Dusty had asked me if it was true that Simmons was starting a housing development out there. I didn't know a damned thing about it, but for two point two million? Yeah, he'd still double that if he bought Southwind and chopped it up. Considering there was water under Vera's land - Violet's now - it was even possible. City utilities were tapped out, so the town couldn't grow unless the new homes came with their own wells.
I pulled up in front of my trailer around ten, thinking about finally getting a full night of sleep. Unfortunately, I was barely out of the truck before I saw a miniature set of headlights heading my way. Unlocking the door, I tossed my shit inside, then turned around and sat on the steps to wait. I had a funny feeling I knew who that was.
Sure enough, Mr. Simmons pulled up, angling the golf cart so he didn't have to get out. "Problems with the cows?" he asked.
"No sir," I assured him. "Got more minerals ordered at the feed store because we only got a couple of bags left, but they'll be ready for slaughter in the fall. Got one that's not eating so good, so I've been putting out a pile of cubes for him on the ground."
"Just one's not bad," Mr. Simmons agreed. "So why the late hours?"
I ducked my head and huffed in amusement. "Sir, I still like to date."
"You aren't thinking about messing around with that Dawson bitch, are you?"
"Might be working a couple of odd jobs for her," I admitted. "She has no clue about the going rates, so yeah. Two hundred to spray out her barn? Yeah, I'm all over that. No offense, sir, but my daughter's outgrowing her clothes."
"Ah." He nodded. "Yeah, I can see that. You know what they're doing over there?"
"Sounds like they're trying to fix the place up," I admitted. "Violet doesn't seem like the country type, but the new guy? He's working there for her. Maybe they're gonna try to flip it themselves? She seems to think the place is worth a lot."
I knew that was a lie, but I didn't need my boss getting any ideas. So far as he needed to know, I was just there for cash and cheap board for my horses. If he thought anything else, he'd start trying to pressure me for information, and I had a feeling that I knew a little too much.
"Shit," Mr. Simmons grumbled. "Prolly shoulda started lower with my offer."
