Stay with Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte 4)

“Okay…well, uh…”

“We are, as in you and me. Billy and Renie too.”

“Why would I go?”

Jace pulled her into him and cupped her bottom with his big hands. “So you can spend more time with me, darlin’, that’s why.”

She rested her hands on his shoulders. “It isn’t as though I bring much to the table…so to speak. I think I’ll take a pass, Jace.”

He let go of her and turned to look out the window. The rock that just landed in the pit of his stomach was quickly growing into a boulder.

“We’re back to I’m me, and you’re you,” he shrugged. “That what you’re tryin’ to say?”

“Essentially.”

He remembered her using that word before too. “Time for me to mosey on down the road, then, I guess.” If she was going to treat him like a cowpoke who wasn’t good enough for her, he might as well act the part.

“Jace—”

“What, Bree?”

“We’re so—”

He held up his hand. “I hear ya, sister. No further explanation necessary.” He reached around her waist, pulled her up against him, and looked into her eyes. Her lips were so close, so tempting. “Good enough to share your bed, but not quite good enough to share a meal with. Got it.”

Her eyes were open wide, her pupils dilated. That’s right—he turned her on; she wanted him. He could carry her back into the bedroom and spend the rest of the day there with her. But when it came time to leave for dinner, she’d push him out the door.

He let her go and made his way past her, into the bedroom. He pulled on his boots and picked his shirt up off the floor.

“Don’t leave like this,” she said from the doorway. He didn’t answer. He walked past her again, not allowing himself to even look at her, and out the front door.

Bree heard the truck start. She wanted to follow him out the door, ask him not to leave, but she couldn’t bring herself to move. The truck was idling. Was he going to change his mind and come back inside? She held her breath until she heard the sound of tires on the gravel. He wasn’t coming back.

It took her a few minutes to realize she couldn’t have followed him if she wanted to. Her car was still at Tucker and Blythe’s place.

“Can you come pick me up so I can get my car?” she asked Blythe later.

“Of course, I could even bring it over, but why didn’t Jace bring you back with him? He was just here a few minutes ago.”

“It’s a long story.”

“Uh oh.”

“I don’t feel like talking about it right now.”

“I’ll see if Tucker will follow me over, that way you won’t have to drive me back.”

A half hour later, Bree heard a car in the driveway. When she looked out, it was her car, but her sister wasn’t in it: Liv was.

She opened the front door just as Liv walked up the porch steps.

“Hi. Uh, thanks for bringing my car back.” Bree looked past Liv to see if anyone had followed her over.

“I told Ben I’d text him when I wanted him to pick me up. I want to talk to you, Bree.”

Bree stood back and held the door open for Liv. “Please, come in. Can I get you anything?”

“A cup of coffee would be nice, if you have some made.”