Skirt Steak (Grade-A Beefcakes 5)

She took a sip of her beer, set the pint glass down on a coaster. “Fine. I’m just glad it’s Friday and I can sleep in tomorrow.”

I hoped she’d want to sleep in because we’d keep her up learning how soft her skin was, what made her whimper and beg, what she

sounded like when she came. Then we’d do it all over again.

“You work too hard,” Porter said.

Her dark eyes met his and I saw a mixture of agreement and defiance. She shrugged. “I don’t plan on working two jobs forever. Trust me.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “A year left on my mother’s medical bills, then I’ll hit my student loans hard. But that’s not important. What about you, did you close that case?”

She looked to me with her usual open and interested gaze, clearly wanting to change the subject. She didn’t like to bring up that she was in debt, that she was struggling to stay above water financially, even working close to sixty hours a week. To offer her money would be bad. Really bad. It wasn’t like I was rich—being sheriff wouldn’t make me a millionaire—but the family ranch was partially mine and I didn’t need much. Jill wouldn’t take charity, wanting to work for her keep. I respected the hell out of that, but she’d work herself into an early grave if she kept it up. Being with her meant her burdens were our burdens, that she wouldn’t have to work so hard. Hell, she wouldn’t have to work at all if that was what she desired. It wasn’t, I knew, but she could let Porter and I support her.

One thing at a time.

I offered her a nod. “I did. It’s in Porter’s hands now.” As the District Attorney, he would work with the guy’s lawyer to either make a deal or take it to court.

His dark brow went up. “The Monroe case?”

Low-level drug dealer caught with a stash of meth in the trunk of his car. Possession. Intent to distribute. “Yup.”

“With the evidence against him, it’s open and shut,” Porter added. “Something to celebrate. Is that why you called to have dinner with both of us? Are we celebrating, sweetness?”

Jed Cassidy came by then with our meals instead of the waitress who had taken our orders. At well over six feet and a retired pro rodeo rider, it was an adjustment seeing him running a bar instead of on the back of a bucking bronc. But, he loved his second career—and there was no chance of breaking his neck—and I couldn’t fault him that.

“Good to see you finally claimed these two for yourself, Jill.” He winked at her and her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink.

Her gaze flicked to me, then Porter. She licked her lips, clearly a little nervous.

“You finally got your heads out of your asses and got her between you,” Jed continued, glancing our way. He didn’t have it right, but I wasn’t going to correct him. “Kaitlyn will be thrilled to know you’ll all be joining us at some Duke get-togethers.”

Jed had claimed Kaitlyn, the town librarian, with Porter’s cousin, Duke. Jed, like me, was tangentially connected to the Duke family.

Parker Drew, my old boss and the previous sheriff, had told me all about the Duke dinners. Since she was happily linked to Gus Duke, another one of Porter’s cousins—he had four—as well as the other two vets in town, Kemp and Poe, I’d gotten plenty of info on that family.

After the election and I’d taken over her job, Parker had coincidentally taken a position as a lawyer in Porter’s office, so I had no doubt she’d probably been pestering him about getting together with Jill. On a daily basis.

As for the Duke weekly get-togethers, I hadn’t joined Porter at any of them—he didn’t get to every one himself—but I had a feeling we would soon, just as Jed suggested.

Jed set a plate loaded with a cheeseburger and fries in front of Jill. “You’re going to make some ladies around here pretty mad taking these two off the market.” He angled his head toward us.

“I…” Jill began, continuing to glance between me and Porter. I couldn’t help but smile, enjoying how she was flustered. Jed was helping us along without even realizing he was doing so.

He set down Porter’s plate next, then mine. “I have to thank you, by the way,” he continued, pointing at Jill.

“Oh?” she asked, clearly a little flustered.

“Because of you, I won twenty bucks. Duke figured it would take them another month to claim you.”

I should have been insulted, but definitely wasn’t.

Jill’s mouth hung open and she looked at him wide-eyed. “You bet on me?”

Jed shook his head. “Not you. Them.” He hooked his thumb at us.

“Well, Jill?” Porter’s words had her turning his way. “Has Jed won twenty bucks?”

I reached out, took her hand. “Have we claimed you?”

I held my breath, waiting for her answer. Porter was a catch. A solid job, owned a house with land, had no real debt, came from a strong, supportive family, had all his hair, and by what the women in town said, was hot as hell. There had always been a little bit of me that wondered, why me, too? What did Jill see in me? I could see her happy with Porter. Just Porter. If she wanted us both now, would she change her mind later?