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“No. Oh, no. Not like that. He was worried about me being out here with, you know, the weirdos who are infatuated with the Midwest Butcher.”
She visibly deflated, a solemn expression coming over her face. Luna was yelling again, but Lo didn’t look. Her eyes remained on me.
“What?” I almost squirmed, she was staring so hard.
“He likes you.” Her tone filled with wonder. “Guys get upset about that if they care. He already cares about you.”
Oh. Now I did squirm a little. I also shrugged.
“Or that’s bad, and he’s going to be a controlling asshole and we have to make sure he doesn’t brainwash you away from us.”
I rolled my eyes. That too. “Don’t take this personally, but I think it’s best if I don’t talk to you about Brett for a bit.”
She frowned. “Why? What’d I say?”
17
BILLIE
Brett rolled in two hours later, the dust coming up in a cloud behind his truck. I’d been waiting at my place for him to show, knowing everyone would be at the window in the other house to watch him drive up. The guys would probably be the worst, so my nerves were very real when I went outside to meet him.
He pulled over to park in front of my place, taking a second before stepping out of his truck. He stuffed his phone in his pocket at the same time his other hand ran over his beard. His eyes trained on me and warming as I approached. God. He seemed bigger than he had Friday, and he smelled even better. Freshly showered. He held his arms open, sweeping me up before I could even get to him, and lifting me all the way in the air. His head buried in my neck, inhaling me as I got another good whiff of his scent. Pine, soap, and leather. I loved it.
His hand swept down my back, and he lifted his head, still holding me in the air. “Your whole fam is watching us?”
My grin stretched, a lazy feeling coming over me, and not one I’d experienced before. I felt safe. I felt secure. I knew he wanted me, knew the reason he was asking, and that filled me with supreme confidence. “Yeah,” I whispered.
His eyes darkened. “Right.” The regret was clear. His hand flexed on my hip as he lowered me down. “A man could get addicted to a greeting like that.”
My cheeks got warm.
He chuckled, the sound smooth. “Just saying.” He grinned down at me, not stepping away. “I liked how you say hello.”
Man, oh man. I reached forward and fisted my hands in his shirt, tugging him closer until I could rest my forehead to his chest.
His hand cupped the back of my head, and he lifted me up again. “Damn,” he whispered, carrying me around the guesthouse so we had some privacy.
I already knew where he was going because it was becoming his signature move. My arms went around his neck, and my legs went around his hips as my back went to the wall. He held me in place. “Is this your tradition with the women before me?” I traced my fingers through his hair.
“Fuck, no. I only act like this with you.” He closed his eyes, as if savoring my touch. “You have magic in your fingers, Little Billie.” He looked a bit drugged as he gazed at me.
I went still, seeing how I affected him, hearing that name come from him. An addictive power swept through me, making me want to move my lips over his, which were turned up to me.
No one could see us.
They’d wait and let us come inside.
But… Why was I waiting?
I’d just started to lower my head, sighing his name when…
“Is she really showing him the chickens—OHMYGOD! I’m so sorry!” Lo reeled back, hands over her eyes, and her face flaming red. “I’m so sorry. How—just…forget I was here. Please, er, resume?”
She stumbled back around the corner, her elbow hitting the wall before she was out of sight, cursing.
I was too floored to move.
Embarrassment flooded me until I registered that Brett’s chest was shaking. He was laughing.
