Page 61 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
“Shut it, Brian.” I shove my phone back in my pocket and grab the pole. “Let’s do this.”
I ignore Holt’s look. I’m not sure if its due to the fact that I very obviously hid my phone from him, or because I told one of his kids to shut it, but either way, I’m ignoring him and focusing on the task at hand. Much better than focusing on the escalating threats saved on my phone.
Straightening my shoulders, I give them all my best PR smile. “Let me show you boys how this fishing thing is done.”
Seventeen
Modulation
HOLT
She caught the biggest fish.
I still can’t believe it. I stocked that pond with a decent assortment of fish, though none of them large, and Jules goes ahead and reels in the largest trout I’ve ever seen.
On her first try.
The boys went wild, of course, promising to bring their sisters and tell the other girls in the program to sign up. Which is great, but now I’m running schedules in my head and trying to figure out when I’ll have the time to run the ranch and the growing program. My mind also stalls on that phone incident, and why Jules looked guilty and secretive.
“Bye, Ms. Starr!”
“Let us know when we can come to NASA!”
“I’ll tell my friend Sara to come next time!”
Jules waves until the dirt cloud from the road finally overtakes the bus and the kids pop their heads back inside the windows.
Once out of sight, I shake off bad thoughts and drape my arm around Jules, loving that I don’t have to stoop down to do it. “Thanks for spending the day with them.”
“It was fun.” She leans in closer to me. “Besides, you needed me there. I have notes.”
“Notes?” I lean down and nuzzle her neck. She smells like smoke from the fire we cooked our catches on.
Goosebumps spread down her neck and she shivers. “Well, more like a list.”
“A list?” I wonder if I could follow those goosebumps down—
Jules sidesteps, cocking an eyebrow at me. “Why do you keep repeating what I say?”
Giving up on goosebump exploring, which is probably good as we are in the middle of the driveway, in front of the house, I sigh. “Because I’m hoping if I do, it will start making sense.”
Rolling her eyes, she grins at me and starts heading toward the house. “Got any cookies?”
“Cookies?” Her ass looks great in those jeans.
She shoots me a look over her shoulder. “Quit it, cowboy. That one wasn’t hard to understand.”
Chuckling, I follow after her, trying to will my rising dick situation down. “I think we might. But I can’t believe you’re still hungry after eating that monstrous trout you caught.”
“Eh. Fish isn’t my favorite, especially one cooked over a bonfire.” Her nose scrunches. “But the boys were excited about it, and I couldn’t let them down.” She waits for me to climb the steps before opening the screen door. “Besides, I gave half of it to TJ.”
It hadn’t escaped my notice that she and the younger kid had hit it off. And with how skinny TJ is, he probably needed the extra protein. “Well, if we don’t have cookies, I’m pretty sure we have the ingredients to make them. Every once in a while, I treat Rose to our grandmother’s chocolate chip recipe. Once the kitchen is fixed up, I’ll make you some.”
Jules stops halfway through the door. “Whoa there, cowboy. You’re telling me you canbake?”
I shrug. “Just cookies.” Feeling slightly self-conscious now, my face can’t help but heat.
“There is nothingjustabout it.” She hooks her arm with mine and we make our way to the kitchen. “You have no idea the things I’d do for fresh baked cookies.” Her grin gets devious. “For watchingyoumake me fresh baked cookies.” She leans in close, lowering her voice as we pass some construction workers. “Sexual things.”
