Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Damian
I climbed the stairs after a long day, my boots heavy on the wood, and the house was quiet except for the faint hum of crickets outside.
The sun had set an hour ago, and I’d spent it checking fences out back to make sure the ranch was locked down for the night.
My shoulders ached, and all I wanted was a shower and bed, but as I passed Geraldine’s room, I stopped.
Her door was cracked open, just a sliver, and a soft glow spilled into the hall from the lamp inside.
I should’ve kept walking, but my feet didn’t move.
I nudged the door a little wider with my knuckles, slow and quiet, and stepped inside before I could talk myself out of it.
She was asleep and sprawled across the bed, and the quilt was kicked half off.
She had on a loose tank top and shorts, one leg bent, and her hair fanned out on the pillow.
The light caught her skin, smooth and golden, and I stood there with my hands in my pockets and stared.
Her curves were unreal with full hips and a waist dipping just right, and her face was soft with parted lips and dark lashes against her cheeks.
I couldn’t look away. She was gorgeous, no denying it, and something about seeing her like this, unguarded and still, hit me hard.
I clenched my jaw and took a step back. This was stupid.
I shouldn’t be here. I turned to go and eased the door back to where it was and slipped out, my pulse thudding louder than I liked.
Downstairs, I heard voices with Cosmo’s laugh and Christian’s low drawl and the clinking of bottles.
I headed that way and needed a distraction and found them in the kitchen, sprawled at the table with a couple of beers each.
Cosmo had his feet up on a chair and grinned like always, and Christian leaned back and rolled a bottle between his hands.
They looked up when I walked in, and Cosmo waved me over.
“Hey, Damian,” he said, and kicked a chair out for me. “Grab a beer. You look like you need it.”
“Yeah,” I sai,d and grabbed one from the fridge and twisted the cap off. I sat across from them and took a long swig, the cold hitting my throat. “It’s been a long day.”
“Tell me about it,” Christian said and stretched his arms over his head. “Horses were a pain today. Dusty damn near kicked me.”
“That serves you right,” Cosmo said and smirked. “You’re too soft on her.”
“Whatever,” Christian said and took a sip. “You’re just mad she likes me better.”
I let them bicker and leaned back in my chair, the beer loosening the tension in my shoulders.
But my head was still upstairs and stuck on Geraldine’s room, and her body under that thin tank top.
I shook it off and set the bottle down. “Have you two heard anything about her car?” I asked and kept my voice steady.
Cosmo shrugged and spun his bottle on the table. “Not yet. I called the shop in town this morning, and they said they’re waiting on a part. It could be a couple more days.”
“Great,” I said and rubbed my jaw. “She’s stuck here longer than.”
“That works for me,” Cosmo said and grinned wider. “She’s fun. I took her to meet Carter today, and you should’ve seen her laugh when I talked him into a discount.”
“Yeah,” Christian said and nodded. “She’s cool. She rode with me this morning and helped clean the horses. She got soaked but didn’t care.”
“I noticed,” Cosmo said and laughed. “She came back looking like she’d been hosed down. She was hot as hell, though.”
“Real hot,” Christian said and smirked, and took another swig. “That dress was something else.”
I gripped my beer a little tighter and pictured her wet and messy from the bar,n and then asleep in her room just now. They were both into her, clear as day, and it was starting to grate on me. “You two need to cool it,” I sai,d and set the bottle down hard. “She’s not here for you to drool over.”
“Chill, man,” Cosmo said and held up his hands. “We’re just having fun. She’s into it.”
“Yeah,” Christian said and leaned forward. “She’s not complaining. What’s your deal?”
“My deal’s keeping this place running,” I said and stared them down. “You’re both acting like idiots over her. It’s a distraction.”
“She’s not hurting anything,” Cosmo said and rolled his eyes. “The ranch is fine. You’re just pissed she’s got us smiling.”
“I’m pissed you’re not thinking straight,” I said. “She’s leaving soon. Don’t make it messy.”
“Messy how?” Christian asked and raised an eyebrow. “We’re not fighting over her. Are we?”
“Yet,” Cosmo said and laughed again. “Relax, Damian. She’s a guest, not a war zone.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said and took another sip. “You’re both too caught up. Keep your heads on the ranch.”
“Jesus, Damian,” Christian said and shook his head. “You’re acting like she’s gonna burn the place down. She’s just a girl.”
“A hot one,” Cosmo added and grinned. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”
I didn’t answer and just drank more beer and let the cold settle me.
Of course, I’d noticed and couldn’t unsee her now, sprawled out like that with all soft skin and perfect lines.
But I wasn’t about to admit it. “Just keep it under control,” I said, and stood up and pushed my chair back. “I’m not cleaning up after you two.”
“Whatever, boss,” Cosmo said and saluted me with his bottle. “We’ve got it handled.”
“Yeah,” Christian said and leaned back again. “Go sleep it off. You’re wound tight.”
I didn’t argue and just finished my beer and set the empty bottle on the table.
“Night,” I said and headed for the stairs, their laughter fading behind me.
They were right about one thing because she was hot, and it was getting to me more than I wanted to let on.
But I wasn’t like them and wouldn’t chase her around with goofy grins.
I’d keep my distance and keep my head clear.
She’d be gone soon, and things would go back to normal. That’s what I needed.
I climbed the stairs again and passed her door without stopping this time, and shut myself in my room. The quiet hit me hard, and I kicked off my boots and flopped onto the bed. Her car couldn’t get fixed fast enough.