Best Friend's Ex Box Set

“Look, Cheyenne, you’re my friend. I wouldn’t offer this to a person I didn’t trust.” She hesitated for a moment as we pulled up my driveway. “I’m worried too that someone might come back for you. You don’t even own a gun or know how to use one for protection.”

“I can learn,” I argued, shutting the engine off. “I don’t think Colt would appreciate it either. I can’t just invade his personal space.”

“He doesn’t care. Besides, I think he’d enjoy it.”

“How so?”

“Really? Do I have to say it again?” Tiffany opened the passenger door with an arched eyebrow. “I mean, he’s obviously into you. He won’t mind you being around, trust me.”

“You should ask him first though,” I said, ignoring the exasperated look Tiffany shot me as we walked back to the corral. “I mean it. I don’t want to stay if I don’t hear him say okay.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, shrugging. “Ask him when you see him. Just go get a bag packed for the night. If you don’t get the answer you want, you can come back. No questions asked.”

She walked towards the area where the remaining horses were grazing. I stopped at the gate before turning to look back at the empty space where the barn used to be. A pile of black ash and a few wooden beams. That was all that was left of my dream—my sanctuary for these horses. A pile of ash where I used to pour myself into this operation. The area felt empty, lacking life. I felt it in my heart as well when I turned away from remnants of the barn.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to take the offer. I shoved my hands into the front pockets of my jeans, only to jerk them back out and swear as I got yet another harsh reminder that they were burned. I walked slowly in the direction of my house, feeling Tiffany’s smug stare on my back the entire way. I wouldn’t stay if Colt gave any indication of discomfort. I had a feeling that while Tiffany ran the ranch, Colt wouldn’t be necessarily pleased with some of his sister’s decisions. I also had a feeling that he had no idea that Tiffany had offered me a place to stay.

Unless Tiffany was telling the truth when it came to the notion of him wanting me around. Damn. That thought was even more unnerving than the idea of sleeping under the same roof as Mr. Colt Smith.

Chapter Eight

Colt

It had taken all of my patience to not say a word to Tiffany when I arrived back at the house to find Cheyenne’s truck parked in front of the barn at 11:30pm. Not because I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of Cheyenne staying in the guest room until her insurance paid for a new barn. It was just as well she stay until the unease over the whole situation settled out as well.

I was tempted. Too tempted when I saw Cheyenne curled up on the couch next to Tiffany with a book in hand as they talked idly.

“I won’t stay if it’s too much,” Cheyenne had said, the second she caught me glaring at Tiffany. “I

can go on home. Tiffany said I could stay, but if—”

“It’s no problem that you stay here,” I had told her, ignoring the lust that shot through me at the thought of her sleeping just down the hall. “I’d rather you stay here. It’s safer for now.”

That was the end the end of the conversation. I had gone straight upstairs to take a long hot shower to release the tension steadily growing in my groin. It wasn’t just physical attraction that brought me close to Cheyenne. It was her compassion, her warmth. It was everything about her that I’d gathered so far since the day she arrived in Green Point.

Even the shower did nothing to help me. I still tossed and turned all night trying to keep myself in bed. I gave up after three hours of just dozing, instead venturing down to breakfast to find a pot of coffee already brewed at 6:30am. Pouring myself a cup, I walked through the dim living room to the windows that overlooked the barn and fields beyond. Sunlight barely peeked through the evergreen pines on the horizon. I immediately noticed that the barn lights were on, and I could see Cheyenne walking about with buckets of oats and flakes of hay.

I had to give it to her. Even though her barn had been intentionally burned down, even though she was distraught, she never said a word. She never broke from her routine and her passion to make sure that the horses under her care were seen to. No matter what.

The whole group of them, even the ones Tiffany and I owned, strained against the fence eagerly as Cheyenne walked out to greet them. She greeted them with a smile as she slipped through the fence with two full buckets in hand.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask her out on a date I guess. I took a long sip of coffee. Except, she’d perceive it as me taking advantage of her being here. There was just no escaping it now that Tiffany had invited Cheyenne to stay with us.

“Morning,” Tiffany called out, startling me. “You’re up early this morning.”

I tore my gaze away from the windows to glare at Tiffany as she came down the stairs.

“No thanks to you,” I quipped and continued on before she could question what I meant. “What are you doing up so early?”

“I’m helping out at Mattie’s bookstore today,” Tiffany said, heading to the kitchen. “Don’t you remember anything I tell you?”

“Apparently not.” I followed her into the kitchen to fill my coffee mug again. “What are you doing at Mattie’s store?”

She filled up both of our mugs with the last bit of coffee. “I volunteered to run the store today while she left town with her husband. I have some stocking to do.”

“Instead of helping around here?”

“You don’t help around here some days,” Tiffany pointed out, sipping at her coffee with a smile. “Besides, I thought maybe you’d like some time alone with Cheyenne. You know, to get to know her better.”