Page 21 of That Moment
Even if my body is already betraying me. Even if every damn night ends with me hard as hell, imagining her riding my cock, begging for me to finally let loose with her. I drag a rag across my face, curse under my breath, and reach for the next tool.
Focus on your job. Don’t touch the Mustang without her. Don’t touch her.
Not unless I want to burn everything down.
The hiss of the air compressor dies down just as the rumble of a diesel rolls up out front. I wipe my hands on a rag, already knowing the sound. Ranger’s flatbed has a throatier growl than anything else in the county. Sure enough, he noses the truck right up to the bay, tailgate down, chains rattling like spurs.
“Morning, boss man. Heard you’ve been running your men ragged with all these rush jobs I keep sending you.”
“Yeah, well, maybe if my men liked to work more than they like to flirt with your wife.” I nod toward the corner where Pete and Caleb are talking to Dolly. “You here for the drill?”
“Yeah. Dolly’s been riding my ass about getting it out of your way. Figured I’d better before she decides I need a chore listinstead of dinner, but it looks like she might be owing me an apology tonight.”
“Don’t ride her too hard for it; she makes those boys feel like men.”
We both laugh, Pete and Caleb scurrying away from Dolly the second they see Ranger.
We walk back to where the refurbished no-till drill sits in the corner, cleaned, greased, ready to go.
“She’s solid now,” I tell him. “New bearings, hoses, whole system reset. She’ll plant straight now.”
“Music to Dolly’s ears. She has really fallen in love with gardening.” Ranger pats the side of the machine, like he’s thanking it personally, then glances around the shop. His eyes land where I knew they would. The Mustang.
His brows go up. “Well, hell. That's hers?”
I don’t have to ask who he means. “Adrienne’s. She wants to learn it herself.”
That grin spreads across his face like wildfire. “Of course she does.”
I scowl, but it doesn’t faze him. Nothing does. “Don’t start.”
“Not starting anything.” He circles the car once, appreciative but amused.
“Just saying—been a long damn time since I’ve seen this beauty.” He runs his hand over the fender, then looks back up at me with another shit eating grin. “It's been a long time since Adrienne has ever done anything that would get grease and grime under those perfectly manicured nails. About time she remembered she grew up a Slade.”
“She hasn’t forgotten.”
Ranger hears more in my tone than I mean to give away. His smirk says so. “You sound invested.”
“I’m invested in making sure she doesn’t strip a bolt and slice her hand open.”
“Right. All about safety. Nothing to do with the way you’ve been looking at her since we were fifteen.”
“Shut up, Ranger.”
“One of these days,” he says, grabbing my shoulder, “she’s gonna find the right guy and it’ll be too late for you to get your head out of your ass.”
I grab the forklift keys and thrust them into his palm. “Load your drill and get the hell out before I charge you double.”
He’s still grinning when he starts chaining the drill down. The bastard loves it when I bristle. Once it’s secure, he hops back into the truck, elbow hanging out the window.
“Anyway, Tyler said there’s a bonfire this weekend at the ranch. Big one. Half the family, half the town, good music, bad dancing. You'd better bring your sorry ass. As much free Slade beer and bourbon as you want, you know the deal.”
I lean against the bay door, wiping sweat from my forehead. “I’ll probably swing by.”
“Good.” His grin sharpens. “That way, when she shows up, I don’t have to watch you pretend not to notice.”
My pulse kicks, but I don’t flinch. “Didn’t ask if she was coming.”
