Free For the Love of a Lush (Lush No. 2) by Selena Laurence Page B

show him you’ll do whatever you have to for him. Including serve a bunch of part-time cowboys their lunches."
    I take a deep breath and push it out of my chest as I push the doubts out of my head. "Okay. I’m ready."
    "Good girl," she says before she gently sends me through the door to the dining room.

Walsh
    I’ VE JUST come in from a morning in the holding pens branding calves. Poor little things—it hurts them, and they make those moaning cow noises when the brand hits their skin. I make the other guys do that part. I can’t bring myself to press that hot metal into their soft skin. Instead, I help hold them still, soothing them however I can, and herd them back out to the bigger pen once the deed is done.
    The good thing is that the job requires your complete attention, and you’re out there with a bunch of other guys, so you can’t get all reflective or caught up in your own shit. I’ve managed to avoid thinking about one of my two vices, because today is all Tammy. I don’t know if she’s still in town, and I’m trying really damn hard not to care. I’ve told myself over and over since last night that I did what I needed to, and it was for her sake as much as mine. She needs to let go of this—of us—and start a new life for herself. Just like I’m doing.
    Unfortunately, it’s difficult to convince myself of all that when she’s standing right fucking in front of me holding a big tray of food. Wait—Tammy is standing in front of me holding a tray of food? I freeze as I’m hanging my baseball cap on the hooks Leanne provided in the dining room.
    "Excuse me," she says sweetly. "I need to set this down so you all can start lunch."
    I realize that I’m standing there staring at her. She’s so matter-of-fact in her request that, before I can even process it, I’ve stepped out of the way and she’s sashayed on by, placing the food on the sideboard while the rest of the guys in the room all follow her with their eyes, clearing their throats and falling silent as she moves around.
    After she sets the tray down, she turns to find everyone looking expectantly at her. Mike has his eyes on the floor, shaking his head and chuckling quietly. I step closer to him and jab him in the side with my elbow. He yelps and then breaks down into peals of laughter. All the guys look at the two of us like we’re insane, and Tammy scowls. Then, with timing to rival the best performers, Leanne comes bustling in with another big platter of food. She talks as she sets it down and fusses over the placement of all the items on the sideboard.
    "So you boys met our new kitchen help, Tammy. Tammy, these are the guys." She proceeds to point to each guy individually and tell Tammy his name. When she gets to me and Mike, she just skates over us with, "And Mike and Walsh of course."
    Then she adds, "Now, Tammy’s going to be working every lunch and dinner Mondays through Saturdays. I expect y’all to treat her with every bit of respect you do me, and if you don’t, you’ll be answering to me." She stares down every guy in the room, including me.
    What the fuck? I’m Tammy’s damn boyfriend. I don’t need Leanne to tell me how to treat her.
    The falseness of the thought hits me hard almost before it’s complete. I’m neither Tammy’s boyfriend nor someone who’s treated her right. I need to get that through my thick skull.
    Everyone mutters things like, "Welcome aboard," and Tammy gives them all a bright smile, purposely not looking at me or Mike, who’s still clearing his throat a lot and rubbing his hand over his face in an effort to conceal his barely contained mirth.
    "All right then," Leanne continues. "Y’all give thanks and get started. Ronny said he’s catching lunch in town while he picks up some new supplies that came in, but he’ll be back in time to help y’all out with the branding this afternoon."
    With that, she heads back to the kitchen and Tammy starts plating food while the guys line up to get their