Page 54 of Cowboys Next Door

The stun begins to wear off as I grow distinctly aware of Connor opening the fridge to search for the water jug inside. He’s not really paying attention to my call, but he shoots me a curious smile as he closes the fridge again. He holds up the jug in offering, and I give him a tense smile, shaking my head.

“I literally have not heard from you in two months, Tony,” I say, turning away. “What is this?”

“I don’t know,” he drawls. “I was thinking about you, and I was in our old neighborhood yesterday, so I thought I’d pop by, but you don’t live there anymore.”

“And it took you a day to build up the balls to call me?” I retort with more sharpness than I intended.

I can’t help myself. I’m hurt to hear his voice after all this time. Not once had he checked on me or bothered to see if I was okay after my lay-off and his abandonment.

“I heard you got canned from Galor.” Way to pour salt on a freshly closed wound, asshole.

“Laid off,” I snap. “And who did you hear that from?”

“I ran into Sera, too.”

Sera!Suddenly, the pain of hearing from Tony lessens as quickly as it surfaced.

“Is she still working at Galor?” I ask slowly, my initial irritation diminishing slightly as I glance at Connor. He lingers in the doorway, his dark eyes shadowing. He’s listening now. Maybe it was the mention of a man’s name.

“I think so. She said that you moved to Montana? Is that true?”

I roll my eyes. “Why are you asking me where I am if you know so much about me, Tony? You walked out two months ago and couldn’t be bothered to check in on me once.”

“I was mad, Rosie?—”

“Don’t call me that,” I interject furiously. “I’m not with you, and honestly, I’d more or less forgotten about you.”

He sucks in air through the speaker. “You don’t have to be an asshole about it.”

“I don’t know what inspired you to call today, but the next time you get the urge, please suppress it,” I tell him. “Have the day you deserve.”

I don’t give him the opportunity to respond, and I disconnect the call, excitement filling me as I toss the phone aside.

“Who was that?” Connor demands, his eyes darker than I’ve ever seen them.

“That’s not important,” I reassure him. “Butthatgave me an idea. I should have thought of it before.”

He remains leaning against the wall between the kitchen and hallway, his glass of water clenched in his hand.

“What idea is that?” His tone is wary.

“Let me sit down with all of you when Eli and Hudson get back.” I stop to kiss his cheek briefly before brushing past him with Gran’s medication in my hand.

On the table, the phone begins to ring again, but I ignore it, noting that Connor is peering at the screen.

“It’s Tony,” he growls. “Nice pic of the two of you.”

I hand my grandmother her medicine, and she takes it, her eyes half-closed as she slips into a nap, and I retreat to the kitchen, signaling for Connor to follow me outside.

Reluctantly, he does, and we take to the rotted front steps, staring out toward the half-built barn.

“I take it Tony’s your ex in Seattle?” Connor asks coldly. “Or maybe he’s not an ex.”

“Do you really think I’d have slept with you if I had a boyfriend?” I stare at him pointedly. “Yes, he’s my ex. I’m surprised that bothers you.”

He scowls. “It doesn’t.”

I realize that itdoesbother him. He’s jealous!

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