Page 41 of September’s Cowboy Travis

“Somebody has to.”

I grabbed the other end of the panel and helped him carry it toward the trailer. We stacked it with the others, then headed back for another.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

Beau looked at me.

I ignored it.

We lifted the next panel.

“Are you going to check that?” he asked.

“No.”

He gave me an easy, knowing grin, then kept working with making further comment.

I waited until we'd loaded the panel before pulling out my phone.

Kaycee: Leaving in an hour. Need anything from Bozeman?

I started typing.

Beau leaned one hip against the trailer. “You texting with Kaycee?”

I looked up. “Do you make a habit of prying into other peoples’ lives?”

“No, but most people aren't as obvious.”

I sent the text and tucked my phone back in my pocket. “She's coming for dinner.”

“Sounds nice.”

“That's it?”

Beau frowned. “What else do you want me to say?”

“Nothing.”

I picked up the next panel, so he'd quit looking so pleased with himself.

We carried it halfway to the trailer before I glanced over at him. “You look like you’ve got something to say.”

He adjusted his end of the panel. “You’re the one making it sound like dinner doesn’t count.”

“She’s got a life in Bozeman.”

“So?”

“So I’m not asking her to give it up.”

“Good.” Beau kept walking. “That’d be stupid.”

I looked over at him.

He shrugged. “Wanting her here more isn’t the same as asking her to give something up.”

We reached the trailer and slid the panel onto the stack.