7. Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Billy
M y leg is better this morning, despite the blinding pain I felt last night. It happens when I get overtired, I mean. When I overdo things, when I go against the doctor’s orders to stay off it at night, so that it can completely heal, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. There are a million things to do at this ranch, and I’ve got little help, and even less patience for idiots and for people that judge me, show up late, disrespect me, and all because I’m trying to bring something good to this town. It’s a shame, really. But they’ll see. They’ll all see. This place is going to rock, and it’s going to be the highlight of this pissant town.
As the supplies truck hauls all the wood and building materials into the pit where the house is being built, I find myself looking towards the old house, waiting for Piper to come out, wondering if I’ll wake her at such an early hour. I feel bad. The poor kid hasn’t had a proper night’s sleep in weeks from the sounds of it. But there’s no sign of her, and I know that she doesn’t have school or her other job until later, so I resign myself, thinking that she’s getting caught up on some much-needed sleep. The builders show up and we get started on the day’s tasks, and it isn’t until almost noon that I finally get to go inside the house.
When I do, I almost don’t recognize it.
“Jesus Christ, did I move?” I mutter to myself as I walk in, to the smell of fresh food, the sight of a clean table, an almost clean living room, and the dishes all done and put away.
“What did you say?” Piper says under her breath, finishing a thought on the computer. Her hair is all tied up in a messy bun on top of her head, and she’s sitting in a pair of tattered jean shorts, and a tank top, once again, with no bra. I divert my eyes from her pert nipples sitting up, looking like they can’t wait to be licked and sucked. The way that she sits doesn’t help, either. Her legs are spread, Indian style, on the wooden chair.
“Where’s the desk chair?”
“I put it with the desk.” She states.
“Oh.” I look at her chest again, and my cock wakes up. “Fuck.” I whisper to myself. “Is it cold in here, darlin’?”
“A little.” She says as an afterthought, while her eyes remain trained on the screen. “There are eggs on the warmer if you’re hungry. I hope it’s okay that I helped myself to your fridge.”
“No, that's fine. They need to get eaten up and I’m starved.”
“Help yourself.”
I go to the kitchen, trying to picture her covered in boils, not gorgeous as sin, as she is, just sitting there, innocent as a goddamn newborn baby. Her legs look like fucking silk, matching her hair. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’m thinking that sharing a roof with a female for the first time ever, might have something to do with it. I’ve never even come close to that. And I start to think back to how long it’s been since I’ve been with a woman and realize that I’m going to have to take charge of my hormones here, if I’ve got any chance in hell of staying professional with her.
“Come sit.” She says, as I walk towards her, with a plate full of eggs.
“Naw, it’s okay. I’ve got a million things to do. I just came in to make sure that everything’s okay in here.”
“How are Mazy and Sprout?”
“Oh, they’re fine. Still sleeping. I called Dr. Collins. He’ll be by any time.” I feel brave. “You might want to put on something a little more professional. Just to...you know...keep an image.” I say, hoping like hell that she won’t pick up on the fact that I think she’s as hot as a pinup model, sitting there like that, with her nipples still as plain as day.
“Oh. Um...okay. I’ll have to go to a laundromat though. I got a stain on my good shirt.”
“You can use mine, Piper. It’s part of the deal. The laundry room is next to the bathroom.”
Her eyes bulge. “You have a main floor laundry room, and you want another house?”
“The new house has the same thing.” I shrug, trying to look at her eyes and nowhere else. But her nipples are sticking right out, and it’s very distracting, so I lose my cool a little. As I rake a hand through my hair, letting out a puff of air, staring at a spot on the wall, I say. “Listen, Piper, don’t take this wrong, but, darlin’, around these parts, y’all gotta wear a bra.”
I turn my back, making like I’m picking at said mark on the wall.
She clears her throat, and I expect her to hesitate, embarrassed, but instead, she pipes up. “For your information, I am wearing a bra, Billy.”
“Then go get your money back for it, darlin’. Or go see someone qualified to fit one that’s right for you.”
“I didn’t realize I looked so offensive.” She says, somewhat miffed.
“Look, I didn’t mean to offend you, Piper. It’s just that I’ve got boys coming through this place night and day, and I don’t want any of them getting an eye full. I want y’all to look professional, so they don’t make you feel uncomfortable.”
I turn around to face her. She’s got her arm over her chest now, and her feet are on the floor. I watch her nod. “Okay. I see your point.” Her eyes are like dinner plates.
With a nod, I say. “Thank you.” I blink twice, and then add something I didn’t expect I’d add. “You’re a beautiful girl, Piper. I’d hate for anyone to get the wrong impression of you, darlin’.” I take my plate to the sink and wash it up. I hear her sniff and walk up to me, still holding her arms over her chest. As I turn around, I swear I can see a tear forming in her eye.
“Thank you, Billy. I appreciate your honesty.”
“You’re welcome. I don’t know much else but honesty.”
She gives me a tight-lipped grin and then, before I can stop her, she wraps her arms around my middle, giving me a friendly hug that I don’t expect. Despite the voice inside my head, screaming, telling me that this is totally inappropriate. And, for the record, it’s Cassidy’s voice that’s inside my head, by the way. Anyway, despite that voice, I wrap my arms around her and kiss her head, adding salt to the wound. “You don’t have to do any of that on my account, love. It doesn’t matter to me, either way.”
When she pulls back, she immediately puts her arm over her chest, and I smile and chuckle. She sees my reaction and snorts a laugh. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“They’re just...staring right at me.” I laugh.
“Well, I’m glad you pointed it out to me.”
“ They pointed it out to me.”
She laughs out loud and then gives me a playful slap. “Okay. I’m going to go put a sweater on now.”
“You do that, darlin’. Before my brother comes over here. He doesn’t know you’re living here, by the way, so consider yourself warned.”
“Uh oh....” She says, half comedic, half worried. “Is he going to freak out?”
I draw in a deep breath. “In a manner of speaking, yes. He’s also promised to tell my folks, which is going to cause problems. The whole town’s going to know in a matter of hours. That’s why I suggested more professional attire.”
“Gotcha.” She clucks her teeth and salutes. “I’ll go to the thrift store today and grab more stuff.”
I pull my wallet out. “Na, don’t do that. My mama goes to a girl named Lilly in town. She runs Lilly’s Shoppe. I’ll give you my credit card and you go buy yourself some nice things.”
Her eyes widen. “I’m not taking your credit card, Billy. That’s so...Pretty Woman.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Do you have a credit card?”
A hand goes on her hip. “Up until about twelve hours ago, I was homeless. Do you honestly think I have a credit card?”
“Well, I know that you don’t have the money, Piper, so how else are you going to manage?”
“I told you I’ll go to the thrift store.”
My hand goes to her hand, as I remove her arm from her chest. “Is that where you got this lovely ensemble? And that paper thin T-shirt you were wearing last night? Just where did all your clothes get to, Piper?”
That hits a nerve. She swallows. “My folks burned all my clothes when I ran away. Crystal, my dormmate, loaned me some while I was in school, but once I came home, I didn’t have much but this.”
“And what’s the harm in taking my credit card and picking yourself up a thing or two, hm? Consider it a clothing budget for your job, Piper. Lots of companies do that.”
She stands there, blinking.
“Oh my God, I’ve done it.” I say, eyes dancing. “I’ve rendered you speechless.” I pull my credit card out of my wallet, pinching it between my index and middle fingers, like I’m holding a cigarette.
She smirks. “And how can you afford to do that? You’re building a ranch, Billy. I’m guessing you can barely afford to pay me, let alone cover a clothing budget.”
I tilt my head and pull her hand to mine, clasping her fingers over the card. “I came into some money after I came home from fighting overseas, Piper. That’s why I bought this ranch. I got it for a bargain basement price and I’m using my money to invest in it. Y’all don’t need to worry about what’s in my wallet.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh yeah, I forgot you were in the military.”
I nod. “I was.”
“Is that how you hurt your leg?” She asks, and then her face turns beet red, and she averts her eyes.
It occurs to me that I wasn’t imagining those little footsteps in the hallway in the wee hours this morning. “How did you know I hurt my leg?” I ask, knowing the truth.
Her gaze is on the floor. I place my finger under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “Were you spying on me last night?”
She swallows and closes her eyes briefly, and when she opens them, it’s a slight eye roll. “No.” She says with a pinch of snark in her tone, telling an obvious lie. “It was this morning.”
I smile. “Alright. You’ve got me there. Why were you watching me? Did you need to go?”
She chuckles, looking down, as I remove my finger. “No. I heard you in pain. I wanted to make sure you didn’t need help.”
“Well, how come you didn’t say anything?” I ask, a ‘v’ forming between my brows.
“Because I was in that...t-shirt...that you don’t like. And you were in your underwear. It was awkward.”
Oh, make no mistake, I like the shirt, baby. It’s just that I don’t trust myself with you in it. Is what I want to say, but I keep that comment locked way in the back of my head. “I see. Well, I’m sorry I woke you.”
“I wasn’t asleep.”
“Did y’all have trouble?”
She shakes her head no. “This place is wonderful, Billy. It’s the best I've ever known. I slept like a dream. I just...I heard you in distress and I wanted to help. I really did, but I was afraid.”
“No need to be afraid, darlin’. It’s just a battle wound, is all. It strikes when I’m dead tired, but not so much otherwise.” I leave out the part about my other wound, that I’m sure she didn’t see, otherwise she would have been horrified. “I’m a big boy and I’ve been looking after myself for a long time, darlin’. A little salve and a cold compress and it’s as good as new. Nothing I can’t handle. Next time I’ll be sure to close the door so that I don’t disturb you.”
She lifts a hand. “No, that’s not necessary. I don’t want you to alter your ways of living in any way just for me.”
I smirk. “Well, it’s too late for that, doll. I usually sleep naked.” I frown, nodding, letting her know that some things are a tad awkward for me, too.
“Oh.” Is all she says.
“Now, I didn’t tell you that to make you feel uncomfortable, either. Just that it’s not a big deal. Same as it’s not a big deal for you to take my credit card and go get yourself some decent clothes.” I slide a hand through my hair. “Come to think of it, if you’re going to work here, we need to get you a hat and some riding boots, and a good pair of jeans. You head into Crawford’s if you’ve got the time. Tell him you’re working here with me, and he’ll set you up with what you need.”
“Are you sure you want me to be publicizing that?”
I scoff. “Like I told you before, darlin’, word’s going to get around, anyway. There’s no way to avoid it, so y’all might as well look the part. Now, I see you’ve made a ton of progress here already. What’s say you go on and get yourself cleaned up and ready to go, throw in your laundry, and get into town, hm?”
“Okay. I’ll be back before lunch. That’s when Jade and Crystal are coming.”
“Jade and Crystal?”
She nods. “Jade is the girl I was telling you about that’s going to clean the place up, and Crystal is her sister, my former dormmate.” She stares at the floor sheepishly. “She’s the nosey one.”
“Ah, I get it. Your friend found out that you were living with your boss and she just had to check it out.”
She presses her palms together. “You don’t mind, do you? God, when my Aunt Kay finds out about this, she’s going to want to meet you, too.”
I cluck my teeth together. “I don’t mind at all, darlin’. So long as they’re decent people, which I’m guessing they are, otherwise y’all wouldn’t be in their company.”
Her smile is warm. “Thanks. You know, a lot of people seem to have the wrong impression of you, Billy. So far all I’ve seen is a really nice guy.” She leans up and presses her lips on my cheek, giving me a kiss. “Thanks.” It takes everything in me not to pull her towards me and sink my tongue inside that sassy mouth of hers. Slide my hands up her shirt, pull it up, so I can suck those hungry tits of hers. My cock is wide awake as I feel her lips on my skin, and my mind races, thinking of her sitting on that wooden chair, legs spread wide, as I kneel and tickle her clit with my tongue.
“You’re welcome, darlin’.” I manage, while clearing my throat, not trusting my voice. “I’ll be outside with the builders. Y’all let me know when your friends arrive.”
“Sure. They won’t stay long. I’ve got studying to do and my other job after dinner.”
“Sounds good.” I nod, walking away from her, wanting so badly to taste her lips. When she’s out of earshot, I murmur to myself. “Fuck, am I in trouble.”