“Heard your truck pull up,” Rafe called from the kitchen when Nick came through the front door of the bunkhouse. “Did Eva kick you out already?”
“Nope. Going back over in a bit.” He sat on his bunk and pulled off his boots.
“Are you, now?” Rafe appeared in the kitchen doorway, a bottle of hard cider in one hand. He grinned. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks. What are you doing back so soon? I thought you and Kate were supposed to be gone all day.”
“We had a fight.”
“Sorry to hear that.” He stood, pulled off his shirt and tossed it on his bunk. He could wash it and throw it in the bunkhouse rag bag or keep it as a souvenir. Might keep it.
“Let me guess. Eva ripped your shirt in a fit of passion.”
Nick smiled and looked him in the eye. “As a matter of fact, she did.”
Rafe blinked. “No shit.” His expression was priceless. Total shock and disbelief.
“She’s wild about my sweat.”
Rafe busted out laughing. “Sure she is. Gotta hand it to you, Nicholas. You had me going. For a minute, there, I thought you—”
“I’m not making this up. My body odor turns her on.”
Rafe laughed harder. “You’re killing me, bro. No woman alive is turned on by—”
“That’s what I used to think. Evidently it’s a selective thing. Fiona came by the house and she had zero reaction to my smelly self.”
“But Eva likes the way you smell?”
“Loves it.”
Rafe shook his head. “If that don’t beat all. Go take your shower while I look this up on my phone.”
After showering in record time, Nick quickly shaved. He grabbed the bottle of shaving lotion, ready to slap some on as usual until he caught himself and put it back on the shelf.
Moving fast, he tugged on freshly washed jeans, a clean pair of socks and his good boots. T-shirts seemed to work for Eva, so he pulled on a white one and tucked it into the waistband of his jeans. As he was buckling his belt, Rafe came out of the kitchen, his phone in one hand and a just-opened bottle of cider in the other. The fight with Kate must really be bothering him.
“I read a couple of interesting articles. You could be onto something.”
“What’d they say?”
“It’s not just plain old sweat that works on ladies—some ladies, anyway. If the guy is sexually aroused when he’s sweating, that’s the magic combination.”
“And I absolutely had both kinds of sweat going on in the attic, so it makes perfect sense that she’d—”
“The attic? Please tell me you didn’t seduce that woman in a dusty old attic.”
“It’s more like she seduced me.”
Rafe’s eyes widened. “What about condoms? You’re not in the habit of carrying—”
“Kept my pants zipped. Just concentrated on making her happy.”
“In the attic? I’ll bet it was over a hundred degrees up there today. Not smooth, bro.”
“I don’t think she was looking for smooth. But thanks for reminding me about condoms. I was ready to leave without them.” He crouched in front of his bunk and pulled out the storage drawer underneath.
“Make sure they haven’t expired.”
“They’re fine.” But he checked the date before shoving four into his pocket.
“Is that enough?”
He glanced up. “Rafe, for God’s sake.”
“Just looking out for you, bro. And living vicariously.”
“Hey, I’m sorry about Kate.” He stood. “What’d you fight about?”
Rafe took a sip of his cider and gazed out the window. “She can’t get past her bad experience with her ex. She refuses to start anything with me because…” He paused and took another drag on his cider.
“Because?”
“Because she knows I want it all. Marriage, kids, the whole nine yards. She swears she’s never getting married again. She advised me to look elsewhere. I… well, I said a few things I shouldn’t have.”
“Like what?”
Rafe looked at him, his gaze bleak. “Doesn’t matter. Bottom line, I ruined our friendship.”
“Maybe not.” He hated seeing Rafe so down. Clearly the guy could use some company and maybe a game of gin rummy to take his mind off his troubles. Nick was torn.
The Brotherhood had established protocol for times like this—what would Charley do? Would he have chosen to keep the date with his lady love or hang out with a brother who needed moral support?
“I can see the wheels going around, bro. Get out of here. Go back to Eva’s.”
“But—”
“I mean it. I’ll throw your ass out the door if I have to.”
Nick grinned. “You could try.”
“And I’d succeed. I’m more dedicated to throwing you out than you’re set on sticking around. Vamoose.”
“Is there a problem?” Garrett opened the screen door and walked in.
Rafe glanced at Nick. “Nicholas is under the mistaken impression I need company. I don’t.”
“You want to be alone?” Garrett shoved back his hat. “I can head over to the barn if you—”
“Not necessary.” Rafe faced him. “How was the trip to Glacier?”
“Very nice. How was your ride with Kate?”
Would Rafe tell him? Nick wouldn’t bet on it. Garrett had been working at the Buckskin since February, but he was still referred to as the new hire. He wasn’t a part of the Brotherhood, at least not yet.
Rafe shrugged. “Not so good.”
“Ah. I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. You up for a game of cards?”
“Sure.” Garrett’s expression gave nothing away. “I’ll get myself a cold one.” He walked into the kitchen.
Nick kept his voice down. “Wasn’t sure you’d say—”
“I wasn’t, either. But maybe it’s time to bring him in.”
“Maybe. He pulls his weight.”
“He does. And now you don’t have to worry I’ll sit around feeling sorry for myself. Take off, bro.”
“Okay.” He reached across his bunk and grabbed his keys and his good hat from the row of pegs on the wall. “I might be late.” He picked up his phone.
“You and I are riding fence tomorrow.”
“I know. I’ll be here.”
“I could tell you to get some sleep but I’d be wasting my breath.”
Garrett walked in, cider in one hand and an open bag of chips in the other. “Should I pretend I didn’t hear that?”
“I’m going back over to Eva’s.” Nick put on his hat, pocketed his keys and picked up his phone. “We… we’re getting along well.”
“I’m glad it’s working out.”
“I’ll be here to help you with breakfast, though.”
“I can handle that,” Rafe said. “I’m capable of chopping things. That’ll give you a little more time.”
“Thanks.” He touched two fingers to the brim of his hat and headed out the door. It was decent of Rafe to make that offer. He was thoughtful that way. Damned shame it wasn’t working out with Kate.
Sadness about Rafe and Kate stuck with him until he started his truck and Tim McGraw’s I Like It I Love It blasted from the speakers. Tough to stay sad when that song came on, especially when he was on his way to Eva’s house.
Maybe he should text her and let her know he was leaving the bunkhouse. Yeah, excellent idea, if he had her number.
How had he managed to spend all this time with her and not get her digits? She didn’t have his, either. He’d fix that situation the minute he got there.
The drive didn’t take long, possibly because he was pushing the speed limit the whole way. His body hummed with excitement as he switched off the ignition, hopped out of the truck and rounded the hood.
Oh, wait. His phone. He needed to get her number. He turned to go back for it when she called his name.
She stood on the porch wearing silky-looking shorts and a white stretchy tank top. Her feet were bare. Judging from the outline of her nipples under the tank top, she wasn’t wearing a bra.
Desire sucker-punched him in the gut. He’d get the phone later. Heart pounding, he lengthened his stride on his way to the porch and took the steps in two bounds. “Need to make sure I get your phone number while I’m here.”
“I’ll be happy to give it to you.” She grabbed him by the belt and tugged him inside. “Right after we take care of some urgent business.”