Callie snorted in response.
“He’s lonely Callie. Even though he’s always done what his parents wanted him to do, even, if I’m not mistaken, marry this woman; they still treat him like shit. The fact that he’s good looking, doesn’t help my attraction to him.”
“You are in trouble. Perhaps, I should visit. To check him out.”
“No, you won’t.”
Shit. She started to laugh – rather loudly. “You’re in way over your head. What does Liam have to say about all this?”
I sighed. “I can’t figure him out. He said he wants me to ‘pretend’ to be his girlfriend and that he knows we aren’t going anywhere. He just wants to be friends, which is more than fine with me. He also said that Jack will get married, no matter what. Basically, he warned me away from his brother.”
“How does he know you have the hot’s for Jack and how old is he?”
“Apparently, Jack has never acted with anyone the way he does with me. The episode on the lake was to prove to me that Jack would come to my rescue, and he did... Oh, and he’s twenty-five.”
“What are you going to do? It sounds like he has the hots for you as well.”
“Oh Callie, he pulls at me. When I see him all I want to do is hold him. Wrap him up in my arms and never let go.” I laughed, embarrassed. “I only met him less than twenty-four hours ago and can’t get him out of my head.”
“Thalia, he’ll break your heart. Promise me, you’ll stay away from him, no matter how hard it is. Make sure Liam is always with you around the house so you don’t get caught on your own with him.”
I didn’t think it wise telling her I was sharing a bathroom with him.
“Anyway, enough about me. How’s Texas?” She giggled. I moved the phone away from my ear and looked at it, thinking I’d heard wrong. She never giggled. “Did you just giggle at me?”
“Maybe.”
“Callie.”
“We have a new ranch hand – he’s hot. He’s a sexy cowboy, Thalia....”
Shit. “That is so not fair – I bet Jack would look hot in denim, boots, and open shirt.” I could dream and probably would.
“Oh my God. I’ve got to go so you behave and NO Jack. Love you, Thalia.” She hung up.
I rolled over and lay on my back, resting my hand with my cell on my chest. I needed to do what Callie said, and stay away from Jack, but something told me, that wouldn’t be all that easy.
Chapter 19
Jack
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“What’s this about you having a boner for your brother’s girl?” Donovan asked walking towards us, which stopped me dead. I looked towards Reece who looked just as stunned, then back to Donovan.
“What the fuck!”
He grinned. “Reece sent me a text, saying you wanted to fuck your brother’s girl.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. I never said that. I’ll show you the text if you want. What I said was ‘you were screwed up over your brother’s girl’.”
“You’re like a bunch of fucking women. Fuck.” I ran my hands through my hair, and then shoved them into my back pockets. “Look, can we leave this alone. I’m going to avoid her from now on. Let’s just go and eat.” I walked off towards the café and pushed through the door with Donovan and Reece following while I tried not to laugh at them.
We took a seat in our usual place, ordering our food from Mary who’d worked there since we were young boys running circles around her.
“Ryder rang me earlier.” We both looked at Donovan.
“And,” we said at the same time.
He didn’t give anything away then all of a sudden he started to smile. “We still have a standing Saturday night date and maybe Wednesday as well. He wants us to do next Wednesday and see how it goes.”
Both Reece and I just stared at him. That was what we’d hoped, but I was stunned that he’d given it to us. I loved music. All types of music. I didn’t think I could stop for anyone, and didn’t see the reason why I should. God, help me when I had to tell Mia. She’d be pissed as hell.
“Hey, isn’t that Liam. Oh, and a babe,” Donovan announced.
My head whipped up. I took a breath and looked out of the window and there they were, walking across the road heading in our direction. Fuck.
“So much for staying away.” Donovan chuckled.
They walked into the café with Thalia having a good look around. I waited until her eyes met mine. She froze. I couldn’t take my eyes from her.
“Well, we know it isn’t just you. When you both finally get naked, you better make sure it’s in water, otherwise you’re likely to set the place on fire,” Donovan blurted while I held Thalia’s gaze.
She started walking towards us, leaving Liam talking to Mary. Standing to the side of our table, I noticed she’d started to blush.
Reece elbowed me in the side. “As Jack’s lost his manners, I’m Reece.” He held his hand out to her. Instead of shaking it, he kissed her palm.
“I’m Thalia. It’s nice to meet you, Reece.”
“I’m Donovan, take a seat.” She did, beside him.