Cowboy Up(44)

A small worry wrinkle forms on the skin between her brows, but with a deep breath she nods and lets me lead us to my bed. She climbs in first, sitting on her knees and watching me as I drop the towel I had knotted at my hips. Not once does she hide her naked body, and I know that means she’s more worried than she lets on.

“Come here, Linney,” I request softly once my back hits the headboard. Her eyes go from my face, down my body, and up again before that worry between her brow grows. She sucks in a wobbly breath, but scoots forward. I take her face gently between both hands.

“What’s goin’ through your mind?” I question her.

“You’ve got me worried.”

My thumbs rub against her soft cheeks before I lean in and press a soft kiss to her lips. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I don’t want you worried, I just didn’t want to put off talkin’.”

Her tiny hands shake as they move from my shoulders to my neck, one on each side as she studies me. “Is this about John?”

Fucking John. I should’ve assumed he’d be her first thought, seeing as she hasn’t brought him up since I asked her to trust me when it comes to that douchebag.

“No, I haven’t seen him since that afternoon in Wire Creek.”

“Oh.”

“You been worried about him?”

She shakes her head. “Not really. He hasn’t called in a while and I think he got the picture that we’re together, so I don’t expect him to now.”

“What do you mean he hasn’t called in a while?” Jesus Christ, I didn’t even think to ask if he’s been in contact with her since they split up.

She shrugs. “He called a few times after we were done, but stopped for a few years. He called me more recently, but the last time was the night I met you.”

“You’d tell me if he did, right?”

Her head moves in my grasp as she nods. “I would, but he won’t, since I changed my number the next day.”

Somewhat pacified, I drop the subject.

“What’s goin’ on, honey?” she asks with concern when I don’t say anything.

“You know my ex?”

“The one who tried to trick you into more?”

“Yeah. That one.” I shift my hands, wrapping my arms around her body to pull her closer, needing to feel more of her skin against mine. Her hold on my neck slips for a second before she adjusts her arms and her fingers press into my hair. “I’ve run into her a few times since we started this thing, but other than runnin’ her mouth, she hasn’t done more, until two days ago. When I saw her, she cornered me, and before I could get her to move, she grabbed me in a way only you should be grabbin’ me.”

“Where?” Caroline asks, her eyes no longer worried now that they’re burning with rage.

“It didn’t last long, but I know people saw before I could stop it and I didn’t want you to hear it from someone else.”

“Where did she touch you, Clayton?” she asks again.

“Fuck,” I breathe, dropping my head against the wooden frame.

“She touched this part of you, in the middle of town?”

I nod, clenching my jaw when she stops moving and I lose the sensation of her wetness caressing my body.

“And what did you do when she touched what isn’t hers anymore? When she touched what’s mine?”

I look back at her, shocked by the brazen words, still expecting to see her anger but there isn’t any to be found. Her eyes are dancing but no longer spitting fire. Curiosity, maybe, but her trust in me is clear as she waits for me to explain.

“I grabbed her wrist and told her never to do that shit again, but whether she actually heeds that is another story.”

Caroline nods, lifting one hand to run through my hair as she studies me. She repeats the process again as the silence ticks on before leaning forward and pressing her lips to mine in a quick kiss.

“Does she know you’re seein’ someone?”

I nod, my grip tightening just a hair, her body pressing more firmly against mine. “I told her, and seein’ as I said I was buildin’ the future I hadn’t wanted with her with you, I’m thinkin’ she got the point. I made sure she knew that not only do I dislike her disrespectin’ the woman I’m buildin’ a life with, she doesn’t have a chance of makin’ that life with me.”

Her eyes, which were locked on my lips while I spoke, jumped to mine. “What?”

“What part, darlin’?”

“I’m not sure,” she gasps.

“Caroline,” I murmur with a smile.

“Well,” she starts, scooting her bottom closer and rubbing against me, smiling when I groan. “I’m not happy that happened, but I think I like knowin’ that you said all that to her. She doesn’t deserve your kindness after what happened, even if it makes me a bitch to say so. I mean, I understand if you told her that to get her off your back and all. We haven’t really put titles on us or anything, I mean. Is that what was botherin’ you? That I might think you wanted for us what she hoped to get from you before y’all broke up?”