Rough, Raw and Ready(2)

But as soon as Trevor Glanzer hired on for shit wages, things’d begun to change.

He’d cajoled Harland into springing for new paint and spruced up the crappy siding. He’d harassed the old man into buying shingles so Trevor could put on a new roof. Trevor resealed windows, fixed the furnace and installed a new water heater. Chassie helped him restore the house and often wondered if that’s why she’d fallen for him.

Right. His work ethic coupled with his smokin’ hot physique…she hadn’t stood a chance. Her immediate lust upon seeing golden-haired, golden-skinned Trevor whip off his shirt and climb on the roof half-naked had been an epiphany of sorts. Watching his tanned muscles straining, his buff body dripping with sweat as he hammered shingles, Chassie fantasized about having Trevor hammering into her.



 7



Rough, Raw, and Ready

Because of Trevor’s reputation with the ladies and purported outrageous sexual appetites, she’d figured he wouldn’t look at her twice—a petite, flat-chested, poor ethnic cowgirl was not the type of woman bad boy rodeo stud Trevor Glanzer pursued. Even if he’d overlooked those details, she was his friend’s little sister and sort of his boss.

But Trevor had noticed her. Even…wooed her, country style with every ounce of his cowboy charm. Accompanying her on horseback as they’d checked cattle. Picking wildflowers and winding the colorful blossoms through her braided hair. Taking her dancing at local honky-tonks. Stealing kisses while washing dishes after supper.

Eventually sneaking into her room and loving her in the creaky, antique iron-framed bed. Rolling around with her in the warm sunshine in the hayloft for a steamy bout of fun sex. Staking his claim by fucking her mindless over a sawhorse in the machine shed. His secret sweetness was as much a part of him as his unmistakable sexual fire. Lust bloomed into love for both of them pretty damn fast.

Trevor stayed rock solid through the unexpected deaths of her brother and father.

Their mutual love of the land, the Western lifestyle and determination to rebuild the ranch, despite the odds, strengthened their bond. The day Trevor climbed up on the roof, shouted his love for her and asked her to marry him, she’d never been so sure of anything in her life.

So a year after they’d repeated those solemn vows in front of a judge, Chassie’s heart still skipped a beat when she saw her hunky husband. Trevor was crouched over a makeshift plywood table in front of the porch, wrenching on the motor for the backup generator. He muttered to himself and swore, so he hadn’t heard their approach.

“Trev, there’s—”

“Hang on.” Metal grinding on metal screeched in the cold air. Then, “Motherfuckin’

piece of shit.”

Chassie glanced at Edgard who’d gone completely still.

“That’s not the way to talk in front of company, hon.”

“Who’s here?” Trevor spun around and froze.

A beat passed. Then Edgard said softly, “Hello, Trevor.”

8







Lorelei James

No one spoke; no one moved.

Trevor roared, “You motherfuckin’ piece of shit.” He threw the wrench and bulled toward Edgard.

Crap. Maybe they weren’t friends after all.

Instead of tackling the man and pounding him into the ground, Trevor slapped Edgard on the back. Clasping him in a bear hug, lifting him in the air, practically swinging him in a circle.

Whoa. She’d never seen her husband so…exuberant. From seeing an old friend she’d never even heard of? Chassie’s eyes met Trevor’s in confusion and he hastily set Edgard down.

“Ah. Sorry, man. It’s just…” Trevor turned away.

As he composed himself, Chassie fired a sardonic look at Edgard. “Well, I reckon he’s happy to see you after all.”



For Christsake, Edgard was here. Standing in his goddamn front yard.

Next to his wife.

How was he supposed to deal with this situation? At least he’d stopped himself from laying a big, wet kiss on him.

Kissing another man. In front of his wife.

Fuck.

Chassie wasn’t aware of his relationship with Edgard. Hell, he’d barely mentioned the years they’d team roped and traveled together because he didn’t know if he could keep the truth about that intimate relationship hidden from her—the woman had an uncanny emotional sense. So Chassie must be wondering about the male stranger her husband hugged like a long lost love.

Not a long lost love. Just a former rodeo pal. Keep it light. Friendly.

Trevor spun back around and grinned. “Shocked the shit out of me, Ed, to see you on American soil again. What’re you doin’ here?”

The tensed lines around Edgard’s mouth diminished. “Just passing through.”