Page 40 of The Devil in Blue Jeans
The only time he saw any sign of exhaustion was when she dismounted and winced before stretching out her muscles, as if willing strength back into her body.
“If you didn’t know better, you’d never guess she was tired,” Eli said between bites of stew.
Jaxon nodded. “She’s tough.”
Eli hummed in agreement before cocking his head. “You like her, hmm?”
“Yeah, I like her,” Jaxon answered right away before Gunner came closer. “She’s...” He didn’t even know how to put what he felt toward her beyond saying, “special.”
When Gunner took the other seat next to Jaxon, he said with a chuckle, “Looks like a lot of the cowboys think she’s special.”
Jaxon snorted. “I’ve noticed that.”
“And they’ve all seen you glaring,” Eli said with a smirk.
“Good. They can get their eyes off her.” He’d never admit it aloud, but he enjoyed watching her laugh with the cowboys at the ranch. They were all like family to him. Some working at the ranch for years. He got why they liked her. He liked her too.
Strong. Sexy. Smart. He loved this game they’d been playing—the bargains they placed at each other’s feet to outplay the other, but as he scooped up another spoonful of stew, he was beginning to realize he wanted her again. Not only her body. He wanted to know every bit of her mind.
Eli finally finished his bowl and rose. “I’m calling it a night.” He walked over to Gunner, grabbed him by the arm and yanked him up. “And so are you.”
Gunner mumbled something incoherent, his mouth full of stew, as Eli dragged him away back to the fire, where the rest of the cowboys remained. Decker sat on one of the logs, strumming on his guitar. He knew eventually Gunner would sink down next to him and the night air would fill with his smooth voice that had captured the world’s attention.
“I’m on cleanup duty, boss,” Shane suddenly said.
Jaxon handed him his bowl and rose, heading to where his saddle lay on the ground. The rhythmic sound of grass being gently nibbled filled the air, accompanied by the occasional snort or contented sigh from the horses.
He pulled his sweater from the bag and the blanket he’d brought. After returning to Thunder’s saddle, he made a pillow from his sweater, leaving the blanket on the saddle for Charly, before returning to his spot leaning against the tree.
His eyes were heavy, the long day wearing on him, but there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d sleep until Charly was next to him and she settled into a deep slumber.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her while she leaned against the log, the orange hue from the flickering flames glistening over her skin, as she listened to Decker play.
Two songs later, she yawned, caught him looking at her. He gestured her over with a flick of his chin.
When she reached him, she took in the makeshift bed and asked, “Is this for me?”
He nodded. “It’s about as good as it’s going to get.”
She glanced from her saddle to him and then back again. “Where are you going to sleep?” she eventually asked.
“Against my saddle,” he said, which happened to be set right next to hers.
He waited for her uproar but was surprised when she pulled out a sweater from her bag and put it on. Then she just lay down, adjusting his sweater into a tighter pillow against the angled saddle and pulled the blanket over her. “Thanks. I appreciate the bed, even if it’s not much of one.”
He wondered if her lack of refusal to sleep next to him came from being nervous about being outside and feeling safer next to him. Or she wanted him close too. He liked either of those choices. He smiled. “You’re welcome.”
She curled up on her side and stared at him.
He watched her back and wasn’t surprised when he heard Gunner’s voice as he began singing, obviously taking over the guitar. Though the song wasn’t familiar. Maybe something new, Jaxon wondered.
Charly lifted her head, watching Gunner a moment. “He’s got quite the voice, doesn’t he?”
“He’s been talented like that since we were kids,” Jaxon explained. “There was never any doubt he’d go into music.”
She lowered her head back to her makeshift pillow, her hand sliding under her cheek.
He’d never cared much what people thought of him, but it grated on his last nerve that she thought he had a long list of red flags. “Can I ask where you heard that I was a guy you needed to stay away from?”
