Chapter Eleven
“Stone! Brick!” Haley hugged the bastards who had shit for timing, her delectable curves covered once again.
Disappointment rushed through Cord. Just when he’d finally given in—finally acknowledged Haley was no longer married, no longer beholden to Drew—and given himself permission to act on their passion that was far from quenched, his idiot friends show up.
To help out at the ranch.
Like him.
Damn. He needed to remind himself she hadn’t invited him to the ranch to have sex. She needed help getting the place ready. The sex was an unexpected surprise.
Since the woman insisted on answering the door, and it was her door, Cord remained in the kitchen and let her handle things. Leaning his back against the counter, he folded his arms across his chest and watched his buddies take turns introducing their women.
When it came to his sister’s introduction, Haley stilled before snapping her gaze his way.
“Brannigan? As in Cord Brannigan?” she asked, while her eyes remained fixed on him.
Lizzie smiled at him, as did the others. “Yep, he’s my brother, and the only one who calls me Lizzie. So, please, call me Beth.”
At that, Haley’s mouth curved into a big grin. “Okay, Beth.” She turned back to his sister and Brick. “I have got to hear how you handled that.”
“Not well,” Cord stated, pushing from the counter to head for the door behind them. He wasn’t about to stand by while they talked about him as if he wasn’t there. “It’s time I got back to work.”
The twinkle disappeared from Haley’s eyes and her spine straightened. “Okay.”
Now he felt like an ass. He liked when she smiled with her eyes. “You don’t have to, though,” he said. “Stay and visit.”
“Cord’s right,” Stone said. “Brick and I will help him. We’re here to pitch in.”
Brick nodded. “You have us for two nights, and we’ll be back again next weekend, too.”
Haley blinked. “Oh, wow. I don’t want to take you away from At-Ease. Especially for so long.”
“No worries. Vince has it covered,” Stone replied. “And Leo’s pitching in more now, too. So it’s all good.”
Jovy slid her arm around Stone and smiled at Haley. “You’re not going to get rid of them, so you may as well use the stubborn guys.”
Cord grunted. Stubborn was definitely a Mitchum brothers trait.
Haley exhaled and an invisible weight appeared to lift from her shoulders. “Okay. I can really use the help. There’s a lot on Cord’s plate.”
His? Surprise washed through him. She was the one who’d been toting the load for God knew how long. Between trying to keep her uncle’s ranch going, to converting it into a new business, it was a wonder she was still sane. It proved her mettle. Admiration spread through his chest in a wave of warmth. She really was something else.
“Well, we’ll clear some for him. Don’t worry.” Brick winked. “And if that’s cornbread I smell, I’d be happy to clear that plate for you, too.”
The light was back in Haley’s eyes, sparking in her chocolate brown depths. Christ. A man could get lost in them. Drew had been a lucky son-of-a-bitch. And nearly fucked it up before he’d died.
“Yes.” She grinned. “I baked it fresh this morning.”
And the delicious aroma had tantalized him the minute they’d come in for water. But then his hunger had switched to something much more appetizing.
Brick rubbed his hands together and smiled. “I look forward to enjoying it at supper, after a good day’s work.”
“Thanks.” Haley nodded then glanced at the girls. “I feel bad leaving you in here. Just make yourself at home.”
Stone set his hand on Haley’s shoulder. “Actually, why don’t you stay here, too? Jovy is a killer business woman, and she’s itching to talk to you about the business side of your boarding ranch.”
“Yes.” The pretty entrepreneur nodded, excitement gleaming in her eyes. “I’d love to take a look at your business plan and give you pointers. Help you get your books set up. Whatever you need.”
Relief softened the corners of Haley’s mouth and her body sagged, just a little. “Really? Lord knows I need help in that department.”
“And I’d love to talk to you about your opening day,” Lizzie stated. “I’ve got some inexpensive, fun ideas.”
Haley divided her gaze between the two women and shook her head. “Wow. I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Lizzie encouraged. “I don’t believe you’re as stubborn as my brother has led me to believe.”
Shit.
A brown gaze collided with his. “Has he now?” She slowly smiled and warmth entered her eyes. “He’s right. But, I’m also not stupid. No way am I turning away two people willing to help me tackle my least favorite chore. So, thank you both. Come on. The office is this way.” Haley hooked her arms with his buddies’ girlfriends as if she was indeed afraid they’d bolt.
Watching the three smiling women disappear into a room down the hall loosened something in Cord’s chest. He had no idea what the hell it was, except it felt positive.
“You owe me twenty bucks, bro. Fork it over.” Brick snapped his fingers, capturing Cord’s attention.
He glanced at the brothers exchanging money and raised a brow. What the hell had they bet on now? Haley accepting help? Even he wasn’t sure he would’ve made a wager.
“Never been happier to lose a bet.” Stone glanced at him and grinned.
Shit. “You were betting on me? What the hell for?”
Stone shrugged. “Expected Warlock to hold out longer than a damn week.”
Hold out? Damn. He knew where this was going. Fuck that. He pushed past the idiots and strode from the house.
Their chuckles followed.
Bastards.
“Can’t outrun it, Cord,” Stone said as he fell into step beside him.
Brick appeared at his other side. “Yeah. The jig is up. Cop to it.”
“I’m not trying to outrun a damn thing,” he muttered, coming to a halt near the unfinished fence. “Just needed to put some distance between you two idiots and Haley.”
Brick backhanded his brother’s chest. “Ah, that’s sweet. He’s worried about Haley.”
“That’s how it starts,” Stone said.
He narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck are you to talking about?”
A twitch tugged at Stone’s lips. “You and Haley.”
Ah hell. He muttered a curse. “There is no me and Haley.”
“Don’t even try to deny the two of you had sex. It’s damn evident in the possessive way you look at her.”
Possessive way? “That’s bullshit,” he grumbled.
“No. No, it’s not,” Brick said, and had the good sense not to smile. “You’re in that confused stage. I get it. You want her but don’t fucking want to want her.”
“Yeah,” Stone agreed. “Even though your mind screams at you to stay the hell away. You can’t.”
Damn. They were right. Still… “You’re making too much out of this. We’re just blowing off steam.”
Stone’s brow rose to disappear under his hair. “Does Haley know that?”
“Hell yeah,” Cord said. “She’s the one who initiated it.”
Brick rubbed his jaw. “Hate to break it to you, pal, but given the history of your connection, it’s a hell of a lot more than steam.” He lifted the posthole digger from the ground and nodded at him. “Ever since Drew’s death, the two of you have been dripping with sexual tension and tiptoeing around each other like an elephant in a damn minefield.”
Anger heated Cord’s veins in a fierce, swift wave. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” He faced Brick, his fists clenching and unclenching. “She was married to Drew. I never would’ve done anything.”
Brick held up his free hand and shook his head. “Hey, I never said you would.”
Stone glared at his brother. “What my idiot brother is trying to say is that she’s no longer married, and you two can do whatever the hell you like.”
“Exactly,” Brick said. “Life is too fucking short, and sometimes our stupid brotherhood code is just that. Stupid. You and I nearly fucked up the best damn thing to happen to me because of it. Don’t make the same damn mistake, or be dumb enough to think it’s just sex. It’ll bite you on the ass.”
He picked up his hammer. “I hear what you’re saying, but back off. It was one night. We blew off some steam. I’m happy with my life the way it is.”
For the most part that was true. Except if he’d arrived with more than three condoms in his pocket, then he would’ve had more than one night with the woman. It was the lack of protection that helped him fight his desire the rest of the week. Until an hour ago. With her watching him with that dark, hungry gaze—again—he was willing to go to plan B. The one where a condom wasn’t required for what he’d had in mind.
“Bullshit.” Brick leaned on the posthole digger and smirked. “You’re not happy with having one night.”
“Bullshit,” he threw the words back at his friend. “I get it. You two are in committed relationships for the first time in your damn lives, but quit trying to fix me the fuck up.”
“Look, Stone.” Brick elbowed his brother while nodding toward him. “He’s using his words.”
Stone nodded, also regarding him closely. “I know, asshole. I was trying not to bring it to his attention.”
Christ. “What the hell are you talking about now?”
Stone shrugged. “The fact this is the most you’ve talked to us in two years.”
“Yeah,” Brick said. “Your sentences have more than two words. Or a grunt.”
Cord grunted, then flipped them the bird.
Stone smacked his brother’s arm. “See what the hell you did?”
“I know.” His buddy grinned. “But don’t worry. Two weeks from now he’ll be smiling all the time. And whistling, too. Remember how he used to whistle?”
“Yeah, that Skynyrd song about a bird,” Stone replied with his own grin.
“I’ve got a bird for you.” He flipped them both off again. “If you came here just to piss me off then go the hell home. I’ll get Haley back out here. She’s a hell of a lot more useful than you two asshats.”
And a damn sight prettier.
“He’s toast,” Brick told Stone. “Maybe we should call her out here.”
“Son-of-bitch.” Cord clenched his fists and got right into Brick’s face. “You going to flap your damn gums all day or put that energy into work? The fence isn’t going to build itself.”
The big idiot raised a brow. “You’re nicer when she’s around.”
Christ. He was losing his touch. Used to be he had enemies and Rangers alike pissing themselves when he’d used that tone.
“Yep,” Stone agreed, helping his brother start another section of fence. “I can hardly wait to see him next week.”
Was it too late for a beer? Cord turned his back on them and returned to finish pounding nails in the post he’d left earlier.
“Me, too. Think he’ll thank us for our present?”
“Hell yeah.”
He refused to rise to their bait anymore. Fuck ’em. They could think whatever the hell they wanted. Conclude whatever the hell they wanted. He knew the truth. Haley was a friend, a naked friend, one he’d love to get naked with again. But that was it. Nothing more. She was looking for a corral fence, not a picket fence.
Two weeks from now he’d be heading back to At-Ease and his uncomplicated life in Joyful. He’d look back on his time here fondly, but that was it. He wouldn’t miss it, or her. And he refused to dissect the reason his chest tightened at that thought.