Page 7 of Barn Burner
I guess not much has changed now, either, seven years later, just that the sex pool has expanded to include men as well. Something I really shouldn’t be thinking about while I watch Jesse step up next to his brother in front of my car, the denim of his jeans stretching tight over his ass as he bends forward.
Damn. That’s one fine ass.
The crunch of stones beneath my shoes lets them know of my presence as I close the distance, just in time to hear Cooper say, “Ah, yeah, this is fucked.”
I wince. “Really?”
Cooper lifts his head, an apologetic smile on his lips. “Yeah. I mean, I can fix it, no problem, but it’s gonna take me a few days at least. I’ll have to order the parts in, then it’ll take me some time to fit them around, y’know—” He motions around him. “—workin’.”
“Shit.” I run a hand through my hair and let out an unsteady breath. This is going to fuck up my plans on finally sorting myself out. I’m not ready to go back to Calgary. I need the separation. I need some time to clear out the mess that’s in my head. “I really appreciate this. I’ll pay you for your time.”
Cooper shrugs nonchalantly, a lopsided grin on his face. “I won’t say no to that. Thanks.”
I turn my focus on Jesse. “Is there a hotel around here? Or somewhere I can set up my tent? I’d rather not have to go back into the city if I can help it.”
Jesse opens his mouth, arm raised like he’s about to point me in the direction of somewhere, when Cooper butts in, “One ofour lodges is free. It won’t take us long to get it ready, but you’re welcome to stay here ’til I sort out your car.”
Jesse’s head whips to face his brother, and the scowl that morphs onto his face is enough to make a grown man’s balls retreat up into his body, but his brother simply grins at him, completely unfazed by the other man’s glower.
My tongue darts out over my dry lips. It would be awesome to stay here, and it would be a hell of a lot easier to be nearby when Cooper’s finished with my car so I can continue with my plans. And maybe it’s that reckless part of me that wants to stay because I want to figure out whether this grumpy cowboy is open to a literal roll in the hay.
“If you don’t mind,” I finally answer. “I’ll pay, obviously. I don’t expect a free ride.”
But I really wouldn’t say no to a ride on Jesse.
Jesse grunts again, mumbling something about Cooper being a little shit. Cooper simply laughs and punches Jesse’s bicep before looking over at me. “I’ll sort it all out for you…” He trails off, and I realize he doesn’t know my name.
“Brayden,” I tell him.
“Brayden. Sweet. I’ll come find you when I need some cash for the parts, but ’til then, welcome to the Huxley Creek Ranch!” He holds his arms out wide as he walks backward, then turns on his heel and jogs back toward the barn he came from earlier.
I flick my gaze back to Jesse to find him assessing me with those piercing eyes. I want to ask him what he sees when he looks at me. Does he know I’m a fuck-up? That I lost his team a shot at the Cup? Does he even watch hockey at all?
I inwardly snort.
He’s Canadian, for fuck’s sake. Of course he watches hockey.
Is that why those icy blues are piercing right through me? He’s mad that I failed spectacularly at the one thing I’m paid a lot of money to do?
“Take what you need from your car, and I’ll show you to the lodge,” he husks, already turning his back on me.
“Yeah,” I say lamely. “Yeah, okay.”
I grab my bag, then follow him like a puppy to where the lodges are located, still lost in my thoughts.
I was supposed to be the golden meal ticket for the Calgary Bobcats to bring the championship back to the city for the first time in thirty-six years.
But I didn’t.
The only thing I brought to the city was disappointment, and based on the deep furrow of Jesse’s dark brows beneath his brown leather hat as he barely meets my eyes, I’m wondering if he knows I’m not just a guy who was lost on the side of the road.
Maybe he knows I’m a little lost in my heart, too.
4
Jesse
I’m gonna kick Cooper’s ass. The fucking little shit knew what he was doing when he offered the lodge to Brayden. He’s always pulling these kinds of stunts whenever there’s someone who is remotely my type around. He’s eleven years younger than me, and I swear he gets off on winding me up.
