Free Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller

though he was thinking it over. “Especially if they live in the same house. Nope, not good at all.”
    â€œI’m not ‘after’ her,” Drake snapped. He knew they were ribbing him, but he was afraid his current level of annoyance wasn’t solely because Mace had deliberately brought her to Billy’s to irritate him. They were best friends, yet they had fought like two male bighorn sheep their entire lives, arguing so much that even Slater had given up trying to tone them down. Unless it got physical, which it had once or twice when they were teens.
    â€œWhy aren’t you?” Tripp asked that as if it were a legitimate question. “Attractive and obviously smart. Gorgeous eyes. Does she snore or something?”
    â€œYou’ve known Hadleigh since she was six. I just met Luce. She’s only been around for about a week. Our arrangement, if you can call it that, is strictly business.” He paused. “So I couldn’t tell you if she snores. I haven’t slept with her.”
    â€œHe’s always been the bashful type.” Spence was doing a lousy job of hiding his glee. “Tripp has a point, though. A woman like that, following you around, living in the same house—seems like an opportunity not to be missed.”
    Tate had to throw in his opinion, too, of course. “Bex told me she’s going to be here all summer. That’s plenty of time to win her over. Unless Mace beats you to it.”
    â€œYou three are worse than my mother. All I want to win at the moment is our poker game. Can we change the subject?” The chicken-fried steak was delicious, he was hungry and he rarely took a night off except for their poker game, so he wanted to enjoy it. If Luce felt like having dinner with his brother, that was her choice.
    It didn’t upset him.
    Not at all.
    Well...not much.
    A reasonable voice inside him said he resented the intrusion she’d brought into his life, but another nagged that maybe he wasn’t as indifferent as he wanted to be.
    Thelma used the same tray to deliver their second round and stack up their empty plates. She cocked a brow in challenge. “Food’s good?”
    â€œGreat,” they answered in unison.
    â€œI’ll tell Billy. Deal the cards. Hard to believe, but the four of you are the only customers I’ve seen tonight who didn’t make me say to myself, Damn, it’s them . Hey, Carson, what’s your girlfriend doing here with your brother, anyway?”
    He would’ve explained that Luce wasn’t his girlfriend, but Thelma sashayed away before he could comment, moving toward another table, muttering, “Keep your panties on, dammit. I’ve only got two hands.”
    They probably all looked shell-shocked. “Did we just get a compliment? From Thelma ?” Spence whispered when she was far enough away to be out of earshot.
    Tate said, “Can’t be.”
    Tripp sat immobile. “I think we did.”
    Drake said, “Maybe she likes us. Let’s not ruin it. You heard the lady. Hurry up and deal the cards.”
    * * *
    M ACE C ARSON WAS entirely too pleased with himself. “Told you so,” he said smugly.
    Luce was torn between tossing her glass of wine at him—Mountain Vineyards, of course—and just laughing. She decided the waitress was too scary and she didn’t dare make a mess, so he won the lottery. “I don’t know what you think you’re going to accomplish,” she said. “Drake and his buddies are playing cards, and you and I are only here because Harry’s cousin came to town unexpectedly and she took the night off.”
    â€œMy mom is friends with Cindy, too, so coming here seemed like a good plan. The three of them will sit and gossip on the veranda all evening. Did you notice that Slater and Grace went off with Raine and Daisy? And Ryder’s hanging out with Red.”
    She wasn’t fooled. “But you