Page 108 of Filthy Fae

Cody grinned from under his hat. “Fair enough.”

I turned from where I was making myself an omelet for brunch, leaned back against the counter, and crossed my arms. I hoped I looked as tough as a real cowgirl. “Why’d you do it, anyway?” I asked.

“Do what?” Cody asked, his eyes wary.

“You know what,” I said. “Why’d you run off with his fiancé? And don’t look so surprised. I know all about it. We don’t keep secrets in this house.”

Cody studied me a long minute, until I was squirming and dying to drop my eyes. But I kept my chin up and my gaze steady.

“Foolishness, I reckon,” he said at last, shifting in his chair and pulling at the knees of his jeans. Why did that movement make me automatically size up a guy’s package? I mean, I totally wasn’t interested in his package, but I couldn’t deny that I wondered if he was as blessed as his brothers in the dick department. Judging by the bulge, he was.

“I’m going to need a little more than that,” I said, tearing my eyes away from his crotch.

“I was young, thought I was in love,” he said. “All the usual bullshit excuses. Look, Amber, I don’t have a good reason. Ain’t no big scandals or schemes behind it. Things were good between the four of us before that. I wasn’t jealous or nothing like that. I just chased after a piece of tail, thinking with my dick. That a good enough reason?”

“Not a good one, but it’s an honest reason,” I said. “And I accept your apology.”

“I didn’t know I had to apologize to you,” he said.

“Are you kidding? You made Waylon into a jaded, mean old bastard. Trust me, you got a lot of apologizing to do to any woman who wants to be with him for more than a night. But we’ve all done stupid shit—God knows I have. So I’m willing to forgive you for the insufferable ass you made your brother into.”

Cody smiled, shaking his head. “I apologize, Miss Amber. You’re right. I keep thinking you’re Sawyer’s gal. I’m more than a little surprised Waylon’s not just living with a woman again, but from the looks of the cabins, you’re all four living here in the lodge together.”

I gulped, realizing Cody might be catching on to what we had going. They’d all lived out back in the cabins when Waylon had brought Maria to live with him. Cheating had been easy enough for her when they all lived just next door to each other. Here we were living in the same house, and after what Maria had done, Cody would know that Waylon would have to be crazy to bring another woman into the same situation. Not to mention Cody seemed pretty shrewd. I’d bet anything he at least suspected that I was both Sawyer and Waylon’s gal.

“So, how do you plan on getting back in their good graces?” I asked, moving to a safer topic. “I might have accepted your apology, but that doesn’t mean they have.”

Cody shrugged. “I reckon I could show them what I could bring to the ranch. I’m sure they could use a hand. Sawyer told me they fired old Grimes.”

“And if they don’t want your help?”

“I don’t guess they’ve got much choice. If they won’t listen to reason, I can get a lawyer and get a quarter of the ranch sectioned off for my use.”

“You can’t gain their trust by threatening them,” I said. “Like, trust me or I’ll take your home away. That’s not going to make them trust you. You have to earn it.”

“How’d you gain their trust?” Cody asked, narrowing his eyes.

I didn’t like the way he was always studying me, like he was trying to figure out my place here. But I didn’t want to let it show, so I laughed instead. “Trust me, you can’t gain their trust that way. Not to mention it would be illegal in too many ways to count.”

“They sure forgave Maria fast,” he said darkly. “But they’ll never forgive me.”

“I don’t know if I’d say they forgave Maria.”

“They moved on, though,” he said, looking me over. “They got you.”

“You’re their brother,” I said. “They expected more from you.”

“I reckon,” he said grudgingly.

“But your first plan is more solid,” I said. “I like the horses, but I’m not so good at the detailed business stuff. Taxes and salaries and all that.”

He nodded. “You’ll help me get back on their good side?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I said. “My loyalty is and will always be with them. But you’re their brother, and I wouldn’t mind seeing you all together and happy again. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, but I always wanted them. It’s lonely being an only child. I wouldn’t mind being part of a big family, even if it’s not mine by blood.”

“That’s nice of you,” he said. “Thanks, Amber. Even if it sounds a little more selfish than just wanting the guys to get their brother back.”

I scoffed and turned back to the counter. “And to think I was going to make you an omelet.”