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“Well, howdy there,” a voice shouted.
Cashea froze in place. She released the doorknob and slowly turned around. She blinked, taking in the newcomer who had parked his truck next to Draven’s. If she hadn’t known she had left her cowboy upstairs sleeping, she would have gone crazy looking at the person ambling up to the house.
And when did he become her cowboy?
The resemblance was uncanny between Draven and this guy. Only this version had a wide grin as he made his way to her. He tipped back his worn Stetson, allowing her to see he had the sameeyes as Draven. He was slightly shorter than him and not as bulky.
This had to be Ridge.
“Um, hello,” she said. Her heart raced at the thought of being caught leaving Draven’s house at the crack of dawn. She would have at least liked to do her walk of shame to the main road alone until she could find someone to come get her. Cashea’s cheeks warmed as he took her in. She already knew she looked a hot mess. She automatically reached up and tucked her thick hair behind her ear.
“I’m Ridge.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and held his hand out to her.
Well, that just confirmed what she was assuming. Not wanting to be rude, she went to him and took his hand in a short shake.
“Cashea,” she replied with a small smile. She hoped she appeared calm because she was having a slight panic attack on the inside. Why couldn’t the ground just open up and swallow her whole? Why did she have to volunteer to bring him home? He had been tipsy, and for all she knew she had taken advantage of him. Her eyes widened at the thought. How drunk had he been? Would he even remember that she had been there? Or what they had done last night? “And I was just leaving.”
“Oh? I don’t see a car here. Is my brother coming to take you, um, home?” He coughed.
She narrowed her eyes on him, sure that he was trying to hold back a laugh.
“I have a friend coming to get me. She’s running a little late, so I told her I would just meet her at the main road,” Cashea lied. She hated to fib, but she didn’t want to make his brother look bad. She could have woken Draven up and asked for a ride, but she was too chicken to see him in the light of day after the night they had shared. She reached inside her bag and dug around to try to find her phone.
“Before you go, want to grab breakfast? I was coming to make sure Draven hadn’t forgot. He didn’t answer his phone last night, so I figured I’d stop by this morning.” Ridge’s grin grew wider. He folded his arms in front of his chest. He definitely had figured out why she was leaving his brother’s house early in the morning.
“Um, thanks, but I can’t, and Draven’s still asleep.”
There went that cough again. He was having too much fun with this.
She still hadn’t located her phone. She pulled her arm out of her bag and figured she would search again once she startedwalking. “I’d better go.”
He moved to the side to allow her to pass. She held her head up high and jogged down the few steps, happy she had made it this far. Now she only had to remember how to get to the main road. Her memory was a little foggy from last night, but she was sure once she started, she would figure it out. The bottom of her stomach gave way at the sound of the front door opening.
“Ah, there’s my ugly-ass brother,” Ridge announced.
Cashea froze in place with her heart practically in her throat. She couldn’t help but turn around and glance at the door. Her mouth instantly went dry at the sight of him stepping out onto the porch. He was shirtless but had at least thrown on a pair of gray sweatpants. His dark hair was pushed back from his face, and those icy-blue eyes were locked in on her.
“Where are you going?” Draven ignored his brother. He walked across the porch and stopped at the top of the stairs. He leaned against the pillar in an attempt to appear casual.
“Home.” Her voice ended on a squeak. She had hoped she would have been able to disappear before he had woken up. She reached inside her bag again and searched for her phone. If there were anyregrets to having a large bag, it was now. Her fingers finally connected with her phone. She brought it out so she could call Sara or Monica to come and get her.
“Walking?” He arched an eyebrow at her.
Ridge’s head swung back and forth between her and Draven as if he were watching a tennis match.
A frown found its way to Draven’s face. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
She bit her lip to keep from saying what she was going to say. It sounded too personal to say that he’d been sleeping so peacefully. Her gut was screaming that he didn’t get much sleep. Even though Ridge was his brother, she just kept it to herself.
“I didn’t want to bother you.” She couldn’t believe those words tumbled from her lips.
A dark expression rolled in on his face. “It wouldn’t be a bother.” He ran a hand along his face before he flicked his gaze to his brother as if seeing him for the first time. “I’m not late.”
“I just wanted to make sure you were alive. You didn’t answer my calls last night or this morning. So I figured I’d come over to make sure you weren’t going to stand the family up for breakfast.” Ridge’s smile disappeared.
Cashea had a feeling there was more that would have been said had she not been standing there.
“I said I was coming. That means I’m coming.” Draven’s infamous scowl returned. He motioned to Cashea. “Let me take her home then I’ll be there.”
