Colt snorts beer through his nose. Boone's grinning. Even Rhett looks amused.
"He's right," Lily says softly. "If you're okay with it, Tucker? I'd really appreciate it. Just for an hour or two while I shower and meet Sarah."
Tucker's already scooping up a yawning Rosie, who doesn't even protest, just curls into his shoulder like she's known him her whole life. Emma takes his hand, chattering about which stuffed animals Rosie should sleep with.
"Take your time," Tucker says, his eyes on me. "As much time as you need."
I nod, something tight in my chest loosening. "Thanks, brother."
"Don't mention it." He's already heading toward the stairs with both girls. "Just don't waste it."
Lily and I walk back to my cottage. The afternoon sun is brutal now, beating down on us without mercy. Sweat trickles down my spine, soaking into my already-damp henley. Lily's flushed, her cardigan clinging to her curves in ways that make my cock throb.
"Your brothers are funnier and way more laid-back than I expected," she says as we approach my cottage.
I chuckle. "What did you expect? A bunch of grunting cavemen who communicate only through nods and beer?"
"Maybe." She grins. "I mean, you're cowboys. I thought there'd be more rugged silence and brooding masculinity."
"You've been watching too many westerns."
"Maybe," she admits. "But I always loved western movies. Cowboys seemed very gentlemanly most of the time. Opening doors, protecting women, that whole code of honor thing." She pauses. "They were also incredibly violent, which was less appealing."
I unlock my cottage door and hold it open for her. "Sounds like I got the best traits out of those movies then. Gentlemanly without the excessive violence."
"Agreed." Her smile is warm as she steps inside. "Though I wouldn't mind seeing you get a little rough sometimes."
My cock, already half-hard from proximity and imagination, goes fully erect. I force myself to focus on leading her through my cottage to the bathroom instead of bending her over the nearest surface and finding out exactly how rough she wants me to get.
My cottage is smaller than Wade's. One bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen that's more functional than pretty. But it's clean, cleaner than most bachelor pads, and the bathroom has good lighting and that fantastic water pressure I promised.
We stop at the bathroom door, both of us sweaty and flushed. I can see sweat trickling down her neck, disappearing into the collar of her cardigan. I want to tilt her head back and lick that path. Want to kiss her neck until she's moaning. Want to make her beg for my cock.
"Good bath," I manage to say, my voice rougher than I intend. "Towels are in the cabinet. Take your time."
I'm about to turn around and leave—give her privacy, be a gentleman, not pressure her—when she stutters.
"Do you—" She stops, bites her lip. "Would you want to take the shower with me?"
I blink. Did I hear that right? Did she just—
"What?" The word comes out dumb.
"Do you want to shower with me?" She repeats it clearly this time, opening the bathroom door fully. An invitation. An offer. "Together."
My brain short-circuits. Every thought that isn't her naked body pressed against mine in the shower evaporates.
I walk up to her slowly, giving her time to change her mind. To realize what she's offering. To back out if this is just momentary insanity brought on by heat and gratitude.
"Are you sure?" I ask when I'm close enough to touch her. Close enough to smell her, sweat and something floral underneath. "Lily, are you sure about this?"
"I am." Her voice is steady despite the flush creeping up her neck. "I want this. I can't believe I'm saying this out loud because it's nothing like me, but I want you to touch me. To feel how much I'm thankful to have met you."
Everything in me wants to say yes. Wants to strip her naked and fuck her in the shower until she's screaming. But I force myself to ask the question that needs asking.
"You don't owe me anything." My hands clench into fists to keep from reaching for her. "The cottage, the food, the help with Sarah, none of that comes with conditions. I’ve told you this before, you don't need to do this."
"I know." She steps closer, closing the distance between us. "I'm not doing this because I think I have to. I'm doing this because I want to. Because I have no idea when we'll have another chance like this… Tucker watching Rosie, everyone else busy, just us alone with no interruptions."
