Rough, Raw, and Ready (Rough Riders #5)(43)

Edgard waited for Trevor to realize they were still touching and jerk his hand back.

But he didn’t, he kept holding on. And yeah, maybe it did make Edgard prissy, but the urge to weep overwhelmed him. He cleared his throat. “What happened is my mother died.”


“Oh, shit, buddy, I’m sorry.” Trevor squeezed Edgard’s hand. “When?”


“About a year and a half ago. Car accident. A shitload of bad stuff happened afterward.”


“Family stuff?”


“Yeah. It sucked. Big time. I still can’t talk about it.”


A moment of silence. Of acceptance. “Lemme know if you change your mind.”


Edgard nodded and Trevor didn’t pester him further.

But Trevor continued holding Edgard’s hand in silence until they returned to the house, proving the smallest gestures did have the biggest impact.

Chapter Eighteen


Trevor spent the hours after lunch in the office catching up on paperwork. Maybe he’d find a way to come up with the money to pay Gus.

Right. Might as well wish for a pot of gold.

Country music played in the background while Chassie did laundry and scurried around the house cleaning. A peppery aroma wafted in and he sniffed with appreciation.

Swiss steak. One of his favorites.

Edgard had borrowed his truck, but hadn’t been forthcoming about his destination.

Truthfully, Trevor needed the break from both his wife and his former roping partner.

His life was one f*cked up, confusing mess. Being with Edgard last night hadn’t cleared up his inner turmoil, just added more fuel to the fire. Trevor loved his wife with an all-consuming passion. But if it was all consuming, what the hell was he doing thinking about…doing Edgard again?

He shoved his office chair to the wall and propped his feet up on the small desk. It was more than sex. He and Edgard had been good friends before becoming lovers, sharing everything, from their love of playing practical jokes, to ways to stave off boredom on the range. Although their life stories were vastly different, they’d clicked.

After spending eight years on the circuit surrounded my men, Trevor admitted to himself that he needed male companionship. Chassie was great, but he missed that macho bullshit and competitiveness he’d gotten from his rodeo buddies.

After he’d moved on, from both his family and the circuit, he’d been so busy scrambling to make a living he hadn’t thought much about friendship. Colby had been his best friend for years, both on and off the circuit. Naturally things’d changed after Colby’s injury and Colby settled down with Channing.

But before that, their friendship changed when Colby discovered Trevor and Edgard were together, because Trevor confided in Colby less and Edgard more. They’d still participated in threesomes, foursomes with whatever chicks tripped their triggers, but when the romp ended, more often than not, Trevor crawled in bed with Edgard. Which left Colby alone most nights.

The last year on the circuit tempers were short, even after Colby started winning consistently. Being a selfish bastard, Trevor hadn’t noticed Colby’s loneliness until Channing joined them on the road.


Edgard’s voice dropped to a sexy bass rumble. “Then we could compare ideas to see whose is the best.”


“You’re so bad, Edgard, usin’ that sexy Portuguese drawl against me,” she taunted.

“No wonder Trevor can’t resist you. You tryin’ to put us both under your spell?”


Good Lord. They were flirting. Right in front of him. Trevor couldn’t look away.

Especially not after his cock had taken notice of their sexy, playful banter.

“Is it workin’?”


“Mmm. Depends.”


“On?”


“On whether I’ll be watchin’ again or participating in your magic act tonight.”


“Definitely participating. Would that sweeten the offer?”


“How about if we find out just how sweet it can be after supper?”


“Deal.” Edgard jumped to his feet. “Let’s eat. Right now.”


“I’m starved,” Trevor added.

Chassie laughed. “You guys are insatiable.”


As the implications of this next step and the possibilities stretched before them, Trevor figured this’d be the shortest meal ever.

But he hoped it’d be the longest night of his life.

Chapter Nineteen


They’d made an effort to keep the conversation low-key while they ate, discussing normal, everyday ranch issues. Upcoming calving, Greta. The sad situation with Meridian. The weather report.

An electric hum crackled in the air and Chassie was going to jump out of her skin.

She cleared the plates and stored the leftovers in Tupperware. Wiped down the counters and ran water in the sink with a hefty squirt of soap.

A warm body moved in behind her. Hot breath tickled her ear. “Leave ’em, Chass.

Come upstairs. I want you.”


“But—”


“No buts, baby. This was your idea.” Trevor spun her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head, then tilted her chin up to look into her eyes. “You were flirtin’ with Edgard. I don’t know whether I oughta punish you or reward you.”