Page 32 of Playing Cowboy
Chapter Fourteen
Chet
“Seatbelt on, Mister.”
Parker idles at the entrance to Juniper Junction, nodding at my unbuckled lap as I struggle not to wince every time blood courses through my sore little ass cheeks.
“Seriously?”I huff.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”His attitude is far from stern, despite his thick, furrowed brows, sweat-stained cowboy hat, and the fact that he could break me in half with a snap of his thick, hairy fingers.
“I mean, we’re in Kentucky, right?”I grumble, reaching for the seatbelt in question as the slightest movement causes my trousers to rasp against my battered cheeks.Yes, I went commando!No way was I shoving these bright red ass cheeks into tighty-whities this morning!
He clucks a tongue.“What, like Kentucky don’t have no laws?”
I smile at his thick southern accent and countrified dialect.It’s like Grady, just slowed down to forty-five rpm.“I’m not saying that,” I hem, although?That’s exactly what I was saying.Obviously.“I just figured you all were ...you know, law adjacent?”
His sudden chuckle thunders through the cab as a weak voice from behind the window that divides us from the truck bed asks, “What’s so funny?What are you two laughing about in there?”
Parker hears it, too, rumbling the engine to shut Grady up.I grin as it works, admiring their quick, easy, lowkey but obviously tender country boy friendship.It’s the kind I’ve always wanted in my life but never quite had the opportunity to acquire.
“I know you think we’re all just a bunch of hicks down here.”He sighs, easing out of the development with its lush greenery, eerie stillness, and back in Cabin #3 anyway, cum-soaked bedsheets.“But at least I’m city enough to be able to tell time, young man.”
My cheeks blush at the slight admonition.I’d been so caught up in Grady’s charms, so flattered by his tender affection and obvious interest, I’d forgotten that the only reason I’m in town is to do a stupid job before heading back to LA for a life full of similarly stupid jobs.
And pointedly?Not a single Grady in sight.
“Sorry about that,” I grumble, nodding at a towering strand of trees bordering the spanking new development and grasping at straws for some kind of excuse that doesn’t involve cock chugging, rope spitting, ass spanking, dick jerking revelations.“I guess I’m just not used to all this fresh country air.”
“Stow it,” he grumbles, nodding at the cardboard coffee container.“And drink up.Y’all need to get your game faces on by the time we reach the Galleria back in town.”
“I will, obviously,” I reply coolly.After all, this isn’t my first day on the job.
Parker doesn’t miss a beat.“Only thing obvious around here—” he harumphs, jerking a thumb back at poor Grady, face pressed up against the glass like a puppy begging to be adopted at the pound.“—is what you two fellas been up to all night.”
I glance over at him, blank-faced and levelheaded.Nod at the hickey on his own blushing throat.“Looks like we weren’t the only ones,” I remind him, gaining traction with every sip of the life-giving coffee.
“Yeah, well, that’s my own business,” he huffs.
“Why?”I stiffen.“Because it was a girl who gave you that instead of...”
“A fella?”He nods over at me, eyes gently hooded beneath the brim of his cowboy hat.“Don’t go twisting my words and turning this into something it’s not, City Boy.”
I chuckle and wag my coffee cup back at him.“You started it,Cowboy.”
We share a stiff, uneasy laugh.“Look, all I’m saying is, maybe I did have a romantic night.And morning, ahem.Only difference is my phone wasn’t buried under a pile of boxer briefs in some corner so that I could get up on time and do my job.”
I nod.“Flowers.”
“Come again?”
