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“Whatever you can arrange would be great. Reba, can I bunk with you tonight?”

Reba really wanted some alone time with Shane and opened her mouth to say that to her sister, but Shane squeezed her hand.

“I’m not going to be great company tonight. I think I’m going to curl up with a bottle of whiskey and drink myself to sleep. I’m exhausted, so it shouldn’t take too long.”

“Oh, okay.” A little pang of hurt lodged in her chest. She had wanted to be there for him, and if she was honest she wanted to sleep in his arms tonight and be comforted because of the feelings Diane’s bullshit had brought up. But she shouldn’t be so selfish.

“Just drop me off at the front office,” Dolly said. “I’ve got to grab a few things. I’ll meet you back at the Winnebago.”

She swung the golf cart around and drove to the main area. After Dolly hopped off, Shane came around and sat next to her.

“This has been a real shitty day.” He slung his arm around her. “Thanks for being here for me. Do you want to grab a beer while we wait for the test results?”

“About that,” Reba sighed. “My boss kicked me off the drug testing because I’m sleeping with you.”

“Shit.” Shane hugged her to him. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

It felt great to be hugged. “It’s not your fault. I’d like to know how they found out we were together.”

“Fucking cowboys gossip like it’s their job,” he grumbled.

“You’ll probably find out the test results before I do,” she said. “But if I hear anything I’ll let you know. I wish I wasn’t on call tonight. I’d join you in that bottle of whiskey.”

“It’s not going to be a pretty sight.”

“I’m not just in this for the parties and the great sex.” She tipped her head back and kissed him. The tingles she felt when their lips touched washed away some of the blues. She realized she was tired as hell, too. “I’m here for you.”

“I appreciate that,” he said, touching his forehead against hers. “I’m not used to someone like you. Abigail bolted at the first sign of trouble.”

“I’m not Abigail.”

“And thank God for that,” he said. “I’ll make it up to you in Odessa, I promise.”

“I’ll make sure Dolly gets a hotel room.”

They shared a grin.

“I’m sorry again about your job.”

“It’ll blow over. Things will get back to normal.”

“Not for Vanessa,” Shane said sadly.

Reba hadn’t liked her, but she wouldn’t have wished this on anyone. “No, I guess not. Ronnie was a great guy.”

Reba drove him back to where his truck was parked. “Don’t drink and drive. Call me if you need me.”

“I do need you.” He gave her another toe-curling kiss and then reluctantly got into his truck. As she watched him drive away, hurting for him and for Vanessa, Reba realized that she needed him, too.

Chapter Thirteen

Amarillo, TX—UPRC Headquarters

Monday before the Odessa Weekend Rodeo

Jackson Blevins was being inundated with meetings, but at least they were video calls, so he didn’t have to stop his extracurricular activities. He just made sure Debbi had on her sound-canceling headset on while she blew him. As long as the camera on his computer showed him from the neck up and Debbi didn’t use her teeth, everything would be all good.

He poured himself a glass of whiskey and rested his hand on Debbi’s head, making sure she took him all the way down her throat. First up was Dolly Keller. Too damned bad, it wasn’t her on her knees in front of him. It would have been a dream come true, especially if she wore her cheerleader outfit. Rah, rah sis-boom-bah, indeed.