Cowboy All Night by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Author:Vicki Lewis Thompson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-06-01T07:00:00+00:00

11

THANKS TO A lively poker game suggested by Cade, Brant managed to get through the time between dinner and Aria’s arrival. He’d texted her directions for reaching the cabin by a back road so she wouldn’t have to drive past the house. She’d said not to expect her before ten.

But he didn’t want to take the chance she’d beat him there, so he cashed in his chips at nine thirty. Everybody except Herb gave him a hard time about getting too old to stay up late.

“Hey, ease up,” Brant said. “Ringo left an hour ago and I didn’t notice anybody razzing him about it.”

“Ringo went to hunt mice in the barn, not catch extra shut-eye,” Cade said.

“Yeah, but Ringo’s been snoozing all day whereas I’ve put in long hours of manual labor, right, Dad?”

“Right, son.” Herb concentrated on shuffling the cards and didn’t look his way, for which he was grateful.

Ty pushed back his chair. “Deal me out for the next hand. I’ll walk the tired old man out the door.”

That produced more laughter and teasing, but Brant was grateful for Ty’s help in moving out. “Great. Glad to have the company at my age.” He figured Ty had something on his mind.

Sure enough, once they’d ambled down the porch steps, Ty came out with it. “What’s going on with you, bro? You’ve been watching the clock all night and that’s not typical of the laid-back guy I know.”

“Aria’s coming out to the cabin sometime after ten.”

That brought Ty to a complete stop. “She is?”

Brant met his gaze. “Yeah.”

“So that’s how the wind blows. I wondered after seeing you two together. Did you know her before this?”

“Nope. She was just some kid I passed in the halls at school. She was three years behind me. Do you remember her?”

Ty shrugged. “Not really. The name’s familiar, and I sort of remember her brother Josh.” He paused and rubbed his chin. “Are you saying this all developed since yesterday?”

“I know how it sounds but—”

“It sounds like you’ve been blindsided.” He smiled. “I wondered if that would ever happen.”

“It’s not what you’re thinking. The chemistry’s off the charts but she has her life and I have mine. Once Linus’s training is over, I’m gone.”

“Yeah, right.” Ty gave him an irritatingly know-it-all smile.

“You always were a smartass and I see that having Whitney around hasn’t changed that particular aspect of your personality.”

“Good thing you love that about me, huh?”

“Sure is.”

“Whitney has changed me, bro. I’m a better man because of her.” He was quiet for a minute. “Can I give you some advice?”

“Are you asking my permission? Because if you are, I’m gonna pass.”

“Judging from your behavior, you think a lot of this woman. If I were you, I’d make sure she understands that you’re not planning to stick around.” He peered at him. “Unless you are.”

“Nope. Not hanging around. Not my style.”

“Then she deserves to know that. She might misunderstand your eagerness.”

“She won’t. It’s not that kind of relationship.”

“Tell that to somebody who hasn’t known you for fifteen years.

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