Rough, Raw, and Ready (Rough Riders #5)(37)

If it was just an apologetic kiss, why did her skin tingle? Why did her pulse beat like a trapped bird’s? Why did she consider angling her throat, urging him to explore every ridge and hollow with those beautifully full lips?

Why in the hell didn’t he stop?

And then he did. Edgard practically jumped backward.

They stared at each other in absolute uncertainty without speaking.

That’s when Trevor walked in.

Chapter Fourteen


“What the hell is goin’ on?”


Chassie snatched the empty beer bottle from the table and took it to the garbage can.

“Nothin’s goin’ on.”


Trevor turned to Edgard…who blinked at him innocently.

It’d looked like the two of them had been about to come to blows. Over what? Him?

Maybe you’re imagining it.

No. There was tension crackling between Chassie and Edgard. But if neither one would come clean, then he wasn’t about to push the issue. Enough issues lingered between them.

“What’s for supper?”


“Edgard cooked.” She paused. “Chili, I think.”


Chassie and Edgard exchanged a look, then burst out laughing.

Weird.

Edgard said, “It’s Brazilian stew.”


Trevor frowned at Ed. “What the hell is in that?”


“Whatever is leftover in the fridge and a can of stewed tomatoes.”


“Sounds good. You guys ready to eat?”


Chassie pointed at the sink. “Soon as you wash up. You want a beer?”


“No. Water’s fine.”


“Ed?”


“Water is fine for me too.”


Once the food had been dished up, they gathered around the table and ate in silence.

Trevor peeked at Chassie out of the corner of his eye. She was on her third beer, which was damn strange since she rarely drank more than one.

Edgard shoved his empty bowl to the middle of the table. “I talked to the mechanic this afternoon.”


Trevor paused mid-bite. “And?”


“And I’ll be good to go day after tomorrow,” Edgard said, fiddling with his napkin.

Trevor almost demanded, “Already?” but he cautioned himself to stay cool. “They say how much the repairs’ll run ya?”


“Five hundred.”


“That ain’t bad.”


They talked specifics on the repairs, delving into the minute details neither of them gave a shit about, just to keep the conversation going. Just to avoid discussing what Edgard’s leaving really meant.

After five or so minutes of senseless car chatter, Chassie slapped her hands on the table, startling both men. “Enough. There’s been enough goddamn secrets, lies, and skirting the goddamn truth. No more. We’re gonna talk this through, startin’ right now.”


“Chass, I don’t think—”


“Do you want Edgard to go?” she demanded.

Trevor’s gut clenched at the thought of Ed leaving again. But how could he admit that? Out loud? To his wife? He studied the checkered tablecloth.

“Fine. If you can’t be honest, maybe he can.” Chassie focused on Edgard. “Do you want to leave here? And I’m not talkin’ about Wyoming. I’m talkin’ about our home.”


Edgard’s gaze zipped from Chassie to Trevor and back to Chassie before he shook his head.

The tightness in Trevor’s body faded.

“I’m pretty sure Trevor doesn’t want you to go. But this conversation is over if he doesn’t have the balls to admit it to you or to me.”


Their gazes burned through him, incinerating his damn pride. He looked up, right into Edgard’s eyes. “I don’t want you to go.”


If Trevor thought his admission would loosen the tension in the room, he was sorely mistaken. The sticky silence went on.

The furnace kicked on, breaking the still, heated air.

“Bizarre as it might sound, it was what I wanted to hear.” Chassie finished her beer in one greedy gulp and reached for another. “Let’s get to it.”


“Get to what?”


“You know . It.”


“Baby, you’ve been hittin’ the Bud a little hard—”


“So? I needed the liquid courage.”


Trevor frowned. “Liquid courage for what?”


A determined glint shone in Chassie’s eyes. “To tell you that I want to see you and Edgard together.”


“See us together…how?”


“See you together sexually.”


His eyes threatened to pop out of his fool head. “Jesus, Chassie, you can’t just—”


“Yes, I can and you’ll damn well let me finish. I wanna watch you two touchin’ each other. Bein’ together like you used to be. As lovers.”


“Why?” burst from Trevor’s mouth before he curbed it.

“Channing told me how beautiful it was watchin’ you guys. I need to see it for myself. Maybe then I’ll understand.”