Cowgirl Up and Ride (Rough Riders #3)(77)

“Where would you live? Someplace on the ranch?”


Macie squirmed.


Then AJ knew. “You’ll be living in my house, won’t you?”


“Yeah. Are you upset?”


During the moments she’d allowed herself to think about it, she’d wondered what’d happen to their home. Colby and Channing owned a gorgeous place a couple of miles from Carson and Carolyn’s homeplace. Cord didn’t need a house. Cam was in Iraq, Keely in Denver, Colt shared the old Andrews place with his McKay cousins. Her biggest fear had been the house she’d loved and grown up in would be turned into a den of iniquity like the infamous Boars Nest.


“AJ? Say something.”


“I don’t know what to say. When was this decided?”


“Colby and Carter had been kicking around an idea of putting a trailer up the road from your place, when Carson told us about them buying the Foster ranch. Cord suggested it’d be perfect for us with the extra large barn Carter can use as a permanent studio. And it’s close enough to Cord’s place that he could check on it when we were at the Bar 9.


“In fact, when Cord called us to tell us about Colt, he asked me to talk to you about it first, since we’re friends.” Macie’s hazel eyes were filled with concern. “We’ll still be friends, right, AJ? I can’t stand the thought that this would hurt you.”


“Hurting me is inevitable, you heard my mixed feelings about moving.”


AJ stared out the window and Macie let her.


“Nothing would make Mama happier than knowing the house was filled with a happy family. Why didn’t Cord tell me?”


“I honestly don’t know.”


Her cynical side thought Cord worried the news would lessen his chances of getting laid. But Cord probably believed hearing the news from Macie would be easier. She might’ve been resentful to the whole McKay family if it’d come from any of them—even Keely. Cord’s intuitive side surprised her. Lots of things about him surprised her.


“We’re here.”


“So tell me the truth, Macie McKay, were you mentally redecorating my house while we were eating lunch?”


“No.” Macie reached over and whapped her on the knee. “Being around my sis-in-law has made you a real smartypants, Amy Jo Foster.”


AJ laughed and it didn’t feel as forced as she’d imagined.


The lunch rush at Dewey’s was over. AJ trailed behind Macie as Dewey gave her the nickel tour. As many times as she’d been in, she hadn’t noticed the details that made the interior unique until Dewey pointed them out to Macie.


When they started discussing ventilation systems in the kitchen, AJ excused herself and loitered outside the empty storefront next to the diner.


A woman riding a motorcycle parked next to Macie’s Escape. A tattooed and pierced woman with short, jet black hair, the ends of which were dyed bright pink. She bounded up the steps, the jangling of the keys in her hand rivaled the jangling of the rings in her nose, ears, lip and eyebrow. She stopped when she caught sight of AJ lurking by the door and looked up.



Double whoa. The woman was absolutely stunning. Her face was sharp angles—


razor blade cheekbones, a square jawline. Her features were softened by pouty lips the envy of Angelina Jolie.


The woman didn’t smile. “Can I get you to move please? That door opens out, which is the first thing I’m going to change.”