Page 55 of Slow Hands Cowboy

“Marlowe, I am always up to something. At least this time it doesn’t involve peacocks.”

“You really don’t like them.”

“It’s more what they represent.” Though, if he were honest, he didn’t like them that much.

They were kind of an annoying bird. Very loud, and always interrupting things.

Something like his desire for Addison.

The peacock of sensations.

Everything was fine, and then suddenly there was a random burst of sound and sensation that went barreling through his body.

“The hotel is full. Really full. And it’s only going to be more so for the next couple of months.”

“Are you saying there’s not a spot for her?”

“She could stay in my place. I don’t go there very often, but it is full of all of my things.”

“No, that’s fine. We’ll figure something out.”

He already knew what he was thinking, foolish though it was. He had a big house, and plenty enough space. He could put Addison up in his place, and the two of them would never even see each other. It would work out just fine. Yeah. That would work out just fine, except for the sensual torture that would be involved in such an arrangement. Truthfully, she hadn’t been irritating since he had rescued her from the wedding. Maybe it had taken her down enough notches, knocked her off her high horse, and now she wasn’t going to be such a...

He’d been about to characterize her as a diva. And maybe that was even fair.

But there was something about her...

He didn’t really know her. That was the thing. He knew a version of her. A facade that she chose to present to the world. It was an annoying facade, and he couldn’t say that he liked it.

But many people would say the same thing about him.

“If you’re sure.”

“I am. Particularly with... everything that’s to come.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m saving the ranch.” He spread his arms wide and affected a small bow.

That was when Cody came in, giant spatula in hand, grease streaked up his forearms. “Do we have cheese?”

“I don’t know, Cody,” Marlowe said. “You’re the one that grocery shops.”

“I know,” he said. “But you remember things better than I do.”

The little scene of domesticity sat strangely in Walker’s stomach. He was glad that his brother was happy. Really glad, in fact. But it was also just... strange. Cody had never been the domestic sort, and yet in many ways he always had been. Cody had taken care of Walker and their younger sister Lila, along with his friend Nolan from the time they were small.

He had gotten food for them when it had been scarce. He had made sure that they were fed and safe and in clothes that weren’t full of holes.

He deserved this. His own family, not just to care for their mom’s responsibilities.

Bitterness lodged itself in his gut. He didn’t like that. Didn’t like being so resentful of their mom, not when their fathers were the ones that deserved to have judgment heaped on them.

He studied his brother. His dark hair, dark eyes. They were both tall, similar build, but Walker was blonde. Blue-eyed. He had always suspected that his dad was somebody else, but his mom had never admitted to it.

He and Cody had skirted around the issue a few times, but never outright discussed it.

One thing that Walker knew for sure was that he didn’t really want to discuss it with anybody.