A Cowboy's Courage

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “I might. It could be fun and Nicole is up for anything. I could write some working man’s songs to go with the hard hat. Now that I’m with her, ideas are coming so fast I can’t get them all down.”

  “That’s great to hear. This is what you deserve, a support system for that creative brain of yours.” He opened the screen door and ushered Bryce through it.

  “Fortunately I’m doing the same for her.” Bryce paused. “I’m glad I came today. We’ve both been so busy I haven’t had a chance to fill you in.”

  “On what?”

  “Our future plans. I thought maybe she wanted to write songs, too. She might, someday, but right now she’s into producing a quality show we’ll be proud of whether we perform at the GG or Madison Square Garden.”

  “The Garden?” Trevor stared at him. “You’ve set your sights that high?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  “I thought you didn’t want a career path that would take you out of Eagles Nest.”

  “I don’t. We don’t. We know our priorities. This will always be home, but if we end up going on the road—”

  “Really? What about the GG?”

  “That’s where Mike comes in, but we won’t leave until he feels solid about handling everything. We’d never be gone too long, anyway. We’ll need to come back here to recharge.”

  “And check on the cat.”

  Bryce laughed. “Yeah, Jimi’s still going strong. But April’s made friends with him. When she found out he was crazy about catnip, she ordered the primo organic kind. She created homemade mice and that did the trick. We have the cat-sitting situation covered, too.”

  “Wow. It’s all happening for you.”

  “Looks like it.”

  “That’s exciting.” Trevor gazed at his twin. “You’ve found the perfect match. Your…” Now he hesitated to say it because he got a twinge of jealousy whenever he did. He was working on eliminating that, but he wasn’t there yet.

  “Soulmate? You know what, I’m questioning that concept.”

  “How can you, when Mom and Dad—”

  “Yeah, maybe they were, but since he died so young, where does that leave Mom?”

  Trevor lowered his voice. “Which has been my point all along. If there’s only one person you can be totally bonded with and that person has a fatal accident or gets a dread disease early in your relationship, then are you SOL? That’s messed up.”

  “I agree, bro. Maybe the idea is a load of BS.”

  “Unless you can have more than one.”

  “That’s not how the idea is sold, though.”

  “I know. And if Olivia believes—”

  The front door opened and she poked her head out. “Do you guys want coffee or not? It’s getting cold and your cookies are waiting.” She opened the door and stepped back. “First one in the kitchen gets the cookies I took out of the oven right before you guys drove up.”

  Trevor almost wedged himself permanently in the doorway as he and Bryce charged through it. Shades of their childhood. In the end, he backed off and gave Bryce first dibs on the cookies.

  Olivia had agreed to go out with him tonight. If that worked out well, he might soon have all the warm cookies and hot kisses he could handle. That made him a lucky guy. Maybe he should stop worrying about this soulmate stuff and enjoy the moment.

  Once Trevor and Bryce had their coffee and cookies, they headed back outside and began hauling materials to the roof. Olivia volunteered to bring them any small thing, like the cell phone Bryce had left in his truck.

  She wanted practice climbing the ladder and it got easier every time. They texted her if they needed something from the ground, but she also went up several times just to check on their progress. And to hear them sing.

  Bryce started off but eventually Trevor joined in. He had a great voice, too, and they harmonized as if they’d been doing it forever. When Trevor texted that he’d ripped a glove and needed the new ones in his truck, she was happy to fetch them.

  Tucking the gloves in the back pocket of her jeans, she started up the ladder as Bryce began the Brooks and Dunn classic Neon Moon. She paused just below the roofline and waited until Trevor chimed in. The song was punctuated with the soft buzz of a cordless screwdriver as they fastened the panels in place.

  She’d never paused while going up or down for fear that would make her more nervous. But they were rocking that number and she didn’t want them to quit singing. They might if Trevor noticed her and came over to get the gloves.

  Closing her eyes so she wouldn’t be so aware of the distance to the ground, she listened. That sexy cowboy harmonizing so beautifully with Bryce was taking her out tonight. Excitement made her tingle.

  Any woman who’d managed to snag Trevor’s attention should have the mojo to stand poised on a ladder ten feet in the air and enjoy the view. Serenaded by the McGavin brothers, she took a breath, opened her eyes and looked around.

  Her stomach didn’t pitch, so maybe she’d mostly conquered this. She’d also adjusted to the changed vista so the gaps in the trees didn’t bother her the way they used to, either. Something would grow there, something new.

  When the song ended, she climbed the last little bit and called out to them. “Great job on Neon Moon!”

  Bryce swept her a bow and Trevor tipped his hat. Then he put down his screwdriver and started toward her.

  “I’m guessing you used to perform together.”

  “Years ago. We were just fooling around, though. We—”

  “Hey! It was more than fooling around. We were a smash hit in elementary school and junior high. Then bozo, here, went out for baseball and broke up the act.”

  Trevor sighed. “You need to tell her what happened after that.”

  “Your pitching arm won Eagles Nest the state—”

  “With your musical career.”

  “I landed a bunch of gigs.”

  “More than we ever did as a team, right?”

  “Right, but—”

  “Admit it. I did you a huge favor.”

  “Olivia, he accidentally did me a huge favor. It wasn’t like he did me a favor on purpose. So how’s the cookie supply holding up?”

  “I still have more.” She handed Trevor his gloves. “Want me to bring you both some?”

  “That’s okay.” He gave her the ripped pair. “I can come down for them.”

  “Except I like climbing the ladder now. And I like hearing you sing. How about Boot Scootin’ Boogie?”

  He grinned. “It so happens we know that one.”

  “Don’t start until I call out. See you in a minute.”

  After that she spent more time on the ladder than she did on the ground. Even if she had no reason to climb up, she did anyway.

  When Faith and Cody arrived, she had the bright idea to grab her cell phone and take pictures of the four of them before Bryce had to leave. But when she climbed to the top of the ladder with her phone in hand, the guys had all stripped off their shirts. She hesitated.

  Faith spotted her and walked over to the edge of the roof. “What’s up?”

  She leaned closer to Faith and kept her voice down. “I wanted to take pictures of everybody working, but would that be creepy?”

  “Why would it be creepy?” Faith tossed her braid over her shoulder and crouched down. “Pictures would be great.”

  “But all three of them have their shirts off.”

  “And that’s a problem because?”

  “I don’t want them to think that’s why I’m doing it.”

  Faith’s smiled. “Are you saying it isn’t?”

  “No. I mean, yes, they look really good, but—”

  “And that should be recorded for posterity. It’s not often you get three McGavins shirtless. I’m glad you thought of it.” Faith turned. “Hey guys! Olivia wants to take pictures. Strike a pose.”

  Trevor paused, his screwdriver in one hand. “What kind of pose?”

  “That’s good right there.” Faith turned to Ol
ivia. “Start shooting, girlfriend.”

  Cody lowered a metal panel. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Pick that up again and turn this way. Excellent. Bryce, grab that roll of roofing felt and look over here. Perfect. You getting all this, Olivia?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Her cheeks were warm but she snapped away. “Now you get in the picture, Faith.”

  “Okay.” She walked carefully around the panels that had been laid. “Where should I stand?”

  “Let’s pick her up,” Cody said. “I’ll take her waist and you each grab a leg.”

  “Hey!” She propped her hands on her hips. “Did I say you could do that?”

  Cody paused. “You don’t want us to?”

  “Of course I do. It’ll be fun. But you’re supposed to ask.”

  “Okay. Do you want us to pick you up so it’ll be a way cooler picture?”

  “Yes, please!” She started laughing as they hoisted her in the air and she spread her arms wide. “Wheee! I’m a cheerleader!”

  What a shot. Olivia couldn’t stop smiling. “That’s a keeper! Thanks!” She was also a tiny bit jealous of Faith, who had such a great relationship with those guys. With the entire McGavin family, in fact.

  Later that day, when Faith came down to use the bathroom, she asked to see the pictures on Olivia’s phone. “I love them!” She scrolled through them once and then went back through a second time.

  “You’re all so photogenic.”

  “Those McGavins sure are. Not an ugly one in the bunch.”

  “But you look great, too. Happy.”

  “I am happy, happier than I’ve ever been. I’m so glad you took pictures. The guys wouldn’t think of it and I left my cell in the truck. I was afraid I’d drop it off the edge of the roof or something.” She handed over the phone. “Oh, wait. Can I send them to mine?”

  “Absolutely.” She gave it back. “You sure are relaxed with those guys.”

  “I’ve been around men all my life so that’s easy. It’s women I had to learn how to deal with. But I’m getting better at it. Anyway, I should get back up there. We’re almost done, which is fortunate because those clouds are moving in.”

  “I’m coming to watch the final stage.” She followed Faith outside.

  “It looks nice, if I do say so. Trev knows his stuff.”

  “Yes.” She gazed up at the beautiful man on her new forest green roof. “Yes, he does.”

  “He said you’re coming to the GG to party with us tonight.”

  “I sure am. Wouldn’t miss it.”

  Faith gave her a warm glance. “Good.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Trevor’s energy level was off the charts. After spending a day installing a new roof he should be exhausted, but his body hummed with anticipation. He rolled right over the front walkway so he could park as close to Olivia’s front steps as possible.

  He’d cleaned the truck’s interior and the rain coming down had taken care of the exterior except for whatever mud he’d splashed up on his way here. The area at the bottom of her steps was a mud hole, but he’d anticipated that.

  Pulling a wide board from behind the seat, he took it with him as he eased out of the cab and onto the walk. His boots got muddy on the way around the truck but the board would keep hers relatively clean. After laying the board across the muddy patch, he climbed the steps.

  She opened the door before he could knock. “I’m ready.”

  His breath caught. “You sure are. Wow.” Her hair flowed in ebony waves down her back and over her shoulders. Her lemon-yellow blouse was unbuttoned far enough to show some cleavage and her denim skirt only reached to mid-thigh. Her boots were short and the heel was high. Party boots.

  But something was missing. “Where are your glasses?”

  “I’m wearing contacts. Usually I don’t bother with them but I felt like dressing up tonight.” She looked him over. “Seems like you did, too. That’s some fancy silver embroidery on your shirt. Did you skip the hat?”

  “Left it in the truck. One less thing to get wet.” He couldn’t stop staring at her. “You look…delicious.”

  Her cheeks turned pink. “Thank you.”

  “Do you have a raincoat? It’s coming down pretty hard.”

  “Right here.” She’d draped it over her arm. “Just let me lock up.”

  He’d been too busy admiring her hair and, okay, the fit of her blouse and her sexy legs, to notice she was carrying a raincoat. And a purse.

  After locking the door, she tucked her keys back inside of it and faced him. “Should we go, then?”

  “Um, yes.” He snapped out of an erotic daze in which he’d leaped forward in time to the moment he’d bring her back here and she’d unlock that door. “Let me help you with your coat.”

  She gave it to him and turned around so he could slide it up over her arms and shoulders. “Thanks.” She turned back to him, tied the belt and put up the hood. “All set.”

  “I’ll go first and get the door open. I put a board down so you’d have something to step on.”

  “What a nice guy!”

  “Glad you think so.” He ached to hold her. Did she dance? He’d never asked. But this was Nicole’s night to perform, so the music would be geared to sing-alongs instead of dancing.

  He opened the passenger door and went back for her, leading her quickly across the board and into the cab. He closed the door and hurried around to the driver’s side. By the time he made it inside, closed the door and started the engine, his hair dripped and his shirt stuck to the upholstery.

  “Why didn’t you wear a raincoat?”

  “Don’t own one.” He put the truck in gear and pulled out.

  “That’s hard to believe.”

  “I have a slicker I wear if I have to be on a horse in the rain. It’s not nice enough to take on a date.”

  “A date. I don’t think I’ve ever been on one before.”

  “Didn’t you date Edward?”

  “Not really. At first we were just friends hanging out. By the time it became more, we were past the dating stage.”

  “So we’re friends, right?”

  “I hope so.”

  “I’d definitely say we are, so maybe this doesn’t count as a date.”

  She glanced at him. “But it’s not like we’re just hanging out with each other.”

  “True. If we were, we wouldn’t be so dressed up. I’ll bet if it wasn’t a date you’d be wearing your glasses instead of contacts.”

  “Yep.”

  “And you would have fastened more buttons on your blouse and worn a longer skirt.”

  She groaned. “Is it too much?”

  “God, no. I love how you look. When you came to the door I was so tempted to—” He swallowed what he’d started to say. Her outfit might mean that she’d thought about their situation and had arrived at a conclusion he’d be very happy about. But he’d be wise not make that assumption.

  “Tempted to do what?”

  “Never mind. I’m coming on too strong. I’ll tone it down.” He sure as hell didn’t want to lose what ground he’d gained.

  “The thing is, I like it.”

  “You do?”

  “Your eagerness is…exciting.”

  “Ah.” He smiled. All was not lost. “I’m still not going to finish that sentence, though.”

  “Maybe that’s just as well.” She took a breath. “Let’s talk about something else.”

  “Like what?” He hoped she had some conversational topics because his brain was fried.

  “Like my beautiful roof. It’s amazing. The clouds were moving in by the time you all finished and I didn’t have nearly enough time to compliment the job you did.”

  “I could tell you liked it, though.” The image of her happy smile had warmed him during the drive back to the ranch.

  “I absolutely do. The color’s gorgeous and it gives the house a crisp look that’s so pretty. The shingles made it shabby. I didn’t realize how much they det
racted from the appearance until you ripped them off and replaced them with tin.”

  “I have to admit it’s a hundred percent better.”

  “A thousand percent better. Then the rain started and I got to hear it on the roof. Turns out I really like that sound.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “It’s a fabulous roof, Trevor. Thank you.”

  He gave her a smile. “My pleasure.”

  “By the way, Kendra called after you left. We set up the Whine and Cheese planting party for Wednesday afternoon. She and I are going to buy everything tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, she mentioned something about that. Have you ever seen the Whine and Cheese ladies in action?”

  “I caught their belly dancing act during the Labor Day Parade, but other than that, no, I haven’t.”

  “You’ll have a blast.”

  “I’m honored they want to help. I could do it myself, but—”

  “Why should you? They can manage in one afternoon what would take you days working alone.”

  “That’s what Kendra said.”

  “And they get such a charge out of it.” He turned into the parking lot at the GG. It was packed, as usual. “Looks like the rain’s let up.” He found a spot and turned off the motor.

  “Your shirt’s still wet.”

  “It’ll dry.” He reached behind his seat. “I brought a towel to clean off my boots before we go inside.”

  “Is the towel clean?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let me have it before you wipe off your boots.”

  “Sorry. I should have offered it to you, first. That board didn’t completely do the trick, did it?” He handed it to her.

  “It’s not for my boots. Lean over. I’m going to dry your hair.”

  Sounded like fun. He unsnapped his seat belt and turned so she could reach him. “How’s that?”

  “Come closer.”

  Now he was inches from her face. And her mouth. Her lipstick was the color of ripe peaches and she’d applied it with great care. He wasn’t going to smudge it. But how he wanted to.

  She rubbed the towel briskly over his head. It didn’t qualify as a caress, but it was sensual. He liked it.

  “Okay, that’s better.” She put the towel in her lap and began to finger-comb his hair into place.