Page 35 of A Cowboy's Bride
The brothers all nodded instantly, faces grim. This time Petra had to fight to keep her own change of body language under control. This girl—damn the people who’d had Jinx before and let her world be so tainted that basic decency had to be asked for.
Jake lifted his notepad, sharing as he wrote. “Jinx has final authority on our viewing entertainment.” He made an exaggerated checkmark and met her gaze. “Easiest way is if you let us know what you want to watch or listen to, then we’ll take it from there.”
Declan sat straighter in his chair. “Hang on. What do you like to watch?” he asked Jinx with mock horror in his voice “I can't handle those house hunter shows. Bunch of nonsense, with people complaining about how small the closets are.”
Jinx snickered, a hesitant smile lifting her lips. “How about I’ll make a list of things I like, and you guys can check it.”
“Music too,” Aiden suggested. “List your favourite artists and genres, that sort of thing. Because we can take turns listening to each other’s stuff, but I am not sitting through George Strait repeats ever again.”
“We'll make a list, Jinx,” Petra said, resting her hand on Aiden’s and patting it with amusement. “Remember guys, earbuds are a thing. Sometimes we can listen to our own choices and just be in the same room together. That’s a possibility as well.”
Jinx looked around with more curiosity than fear. “So what's tonight? Since we don't have any lists yet?”
Jake glanced at his watch. “It’s a nice night. How about everybody do what they need to do for a bit, and at nine o'clock, we’ll meet by the fire pit to spend an hour listening to nothing but the crackle of the wood. I don't know if you can crochet out there, Petra, but Declan can whittle. Or maybe Aiden can bring his guitar.”
His guitar?
Not that Petra was going to let on that she had no idea that herfiancécould play. “That sound okay with you, Jinx? We have a bag of clothes to go through that my sister-in-law dropped off, but we should be able to get that done in the next while. It’s sort of work, but I think it’s important.”
“Okay.”
Beside her, Aiden leaned close before Petra could stand. As the others got up and went different directions, he put his lips beside her ear and whispered quietly. “You need to tell me if you want me to grab my bunk role so I can sleep on the floor. Or are you okay with me sharing that mattress with you? No expectations.”
Petra’s stomach was back to being a jittering jumbling mess.
At least she knew part of the answer without hesitating. “We're grown-ass adults. It's a queen-size bed. I think we can share, no expectations.”
He nodded firmly as he sat back then pushed to his feet.
Petra walked after him to join Jinx who waited for her at the entrance to the bedroom wing.
Jinx’s observant gaze danced over them, but not even knowing she should be on her best behaviour could keep Petra’s eyes from falling to the smooth, muscular flex of Aiden’s ass as he strolled confidently ahead of her toward their room.
The man was damn fine. Sharing a bed with no expectations?
Hell. She was going to spontaneously combust.
Petra had a shitty poker face.
Aiden tucked away that knowledge and pondered the more interesting tidbit that their final short discussion provided.
She’d looked disappointed. He’d been trying to make the sharing-a-bed thing less awkward, and she’d totally been disappointed. Which was both interesting and super frustrating.
No. It was interesting. He’d go with that option.
He slipped into the primary bedroom and tucked the rest of his things away. It only took a moment before he was back in the hallway, the sound of voices in Jinx’s room carrying clearly toward him.
“These are just a few things to get you through until we can find time to make it to the store. Which won’t take too long,” Petra promised.
“I don’t mind hand-me-downs.”
Petra made a rude noise. “Hand-me-downs are a yes, but you also get some new stuff. Because as the fifth girl in a family, let me tell you that nothingbuthand-me-downs sucks.”
He made sure to make some noise as he moved closer. “Excuse me, ladies.” They glanced up from their task, Jinx’s body language going on alert as he’d expected. “Petra, I’m going to go help with the chores. I’ll meet you at the fire pit, okay?”
She looked confused for a moment before something in her expression softened as she realized he was acting the way a fiancée would. “That sounds good.” She hesitated before an outright mischievous smile crossed her face. “You should bring your guitar.”
Damn Jake to hell. Aiden smiled back. “I can do that.”
