Best Friend's Ex Box Set

I grimaced at the last part. Whatever it took to keep Cheyenne in Green Point, I would do it. Even if it involved me bringing a woman into my house for a pointless dinner.

The door opened. I caught myself on the door frame as Cheyenne swept a cautious gaze up and down my body.

“We can’t be involved romantically,” she said. “At least, for now. Not until I get the sanctuary back up and running.”

“Cowboy honor.” I mock saluted her which earned a smile in response. “I’m sorry for what happened downstairs. It’s hard when I want to be close to you.”

Her smile wavered a bit. “I know. It’s hard for me too, but it’s for the better that it stays this way. It would hurt me to lose you, or Tiffany if something happened between us that didn’t end well.”

“I don’t treat anyone badly afterward. Just so you know.”

“Bill Coates tells a different story,” Cheyenne said, arching a playful eyebrow at me. “I heard that you two are sworn enemies. Not that I blame you, given what happened to the both of us.”

“I never said that I was a good guy, but I’m decent.”

Cheyenne giggled as she pushed the door open fully. I caught sight of her duffle bag on the floor, her clothes half-packed on the floor next to it.

“You are a good guy,” she said. “Trust me. I have a good sense of good men versus bad ones.”

I leaned into the doorframe with my shoulder as she went to the bag. Relief went through me when she pulled out a stack of clothes. “I imagine a shitty experience taught you that in Portland. That’s what I’m guessing, at least.”

“You guessed right.” She set a stack of shirts on the bed, turning to look at me with a small smile. “Thank you for coming up here to apologize, and I’m really sorry for running out on you.”

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“You get spooked easily. Duly noted.”

She chewed on her bottom lip, and it took all my self-control to not focus on what it would be like to nibble there. Clenching my hands into fists, I straightened up to nod at her stiffly.

“I better get some sleep. We’ll have to have that fire some other time.”

“I’ll hold you to it.”

I shut the door behind me as I retreated down the hallway to my bedroom. Collapsing on the bed, I stared up at the ceiling with a long sigh. I needed either a strong drink or another long hot shower while imagining my hand was Cheyenne’s. Sleep wouldn’t come easily, even if I downed a bottle of whiskey. Every inch of me was taut with desire. It only worsened because she hadn’t run because she felt uncomfortable. She had run because it was tempting for her too.

It was clear that even if Cheyenne shared the same physical yearning I felt, she’d fight it to the end. She’d be fighting until she felt comfortable enough to act on those feelings. The barn was symbolic in her head as a timeline on when she could act on those feelings.

One wrong step, and I’d ruin any sort of chance of winning over Cheyenne’s trust. I just didn’t know how much more I could possibly take trying to be at her side as a friend, rather than what I really wanted to be.

Chapter Eleven

Cheyenne

I heard Colt rise shortly before the sun rose the next morning. Sunlight was spilling in through the blinds, but there wasn’t any warmth to be felt. The chill in the morning air was unmistakable. Summer was officially gone, and now I had a very limited time to get the barn rebuilt with no leads of who started it.

Rubbing a hand across my face, I kicked the warm blankets and sheets back to get dressed for the day. The horses would need to be brushed and rode today, so I didn’t even want to think of showering just yet. I jogged down the stairs to the kitchen where I could smell a pot of coffee brewing and stopped short at the sight that greeted me.

Colt’s head was stuck in the fridge as he rummaged around for something that I couldn’t see. My eyes were glued to his well-muscled ass that those semi-tight jeans hugged. This was another reason why I needed to get the barn rebuilt. I couldn’t afford to stick around with Colt as a temptation to stay. The night before had been a breathing testament to that. It had been so tempting then to give in, to let him kiss me. The heat in my stomach knew exactly where things would’ve gone the night before if I hadn’t turned away.

He straightened to look at me with a frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “I was trying to see what you were doing in there.”

“Finding some fresh eggs that I had got from the chicken coop yesterday,” Colt said, and he held up the container full of eggs. “Care for some breakfast before you start the day?”

“Sure. That would be nice.”

I took a seat on a breakfast bar stool while Colt poured us both a mug of coffee. He set about the kitchen confidently, whisking eggs together in a bowl and pouring the egg batter into a frying pan on the stove.