Page 53 of Cowboy Heat

Micah is already sold on the idea. He bounces in his seat just a bit. “Come on, Kissy! Let’s stay here tonight! It’ll be like a sleepover like when I was little!”

I look between them, unsure. “I don’t know…”

“Please, please, please,” Micah starts singing.

I laugh at his over-dramatics.

Beau does his watching thing again. “It’s really no problem with me. Promise.”

This isn’t how I thought my day or night would go.

I’m too tired to fight the urge to politely decline.

Or the trill of excitement that moves through me at the thought of sleeping near Beau.

“Fine,” I relent. Micah cheers. “ButI have to call Mimi first to make sure she won’t have a conniption if I don’t show tonight. And then I have to call Damien.”

Micah’s already on cloud nine and floating away.

It cheers me to see him like this, if only for a minute.

Beau stands tall and puffs out his chest for show. “Well, looks like it’s up to the men to clean up. Micah, what do you say about a glass of chocolate milk while we do this job?”

Micah is on his feet in a flash. “Do you have any whipped cream too? You know it’s Kissy’s favorite to put it on chocolate milk? One time…” Micah prattles on while my thoughts drift to my phone and the two conversations I’m not looking forward to.

I excuse myself to the front porch and settle onto one of the steps. My body hurts but not as bad as I thought it would.

Then again, tomorrow will probably be rough.

I call Wyatt first, figuring he’s my best option to sell me staying at the ranch to Mimi. It’s a smart move. He’s good about it, even without me adding in that I’m staying for Micah.

“I bet you’re tired of moving around,” he says smartly. “Get a good rest, Kissimmee. Call us in the morning.”

I tell him I love him because I do, but also because he used my full name.

He’s worried about me. Truly so.

It warms me.

I go to my second call less enthused.

Damien answers on the fourth ring. However, he’s eager. “Hey, Kissy. Did you hear from Everett?” His words are fast.

“No. I’m actually calling about Micah.”

Damien lets out a frustrated breath. “You can just go see him, you know? You’re the one who stopped your visits. Everyone inLa Lumiereknows to leave you alone.”

I didn’t stop my visits, but I’m not going to get into that. Taking space from Guidry and trying to see Micah when no one else is around is just easier. But Damien knows as much about me and Micah’s arrangement as he does about where his brother is now. He’s spent his years on the outside of Everett’s circle, not the inside. “Well, that’s the thing. Micha’s not inLa Lumiere. He’s at—” I stop myself from saying Blue Lolita, “—my house right now.”

If he was his brother, this would already be a big stink. Luckily, when it comes to Micah, Damien has always been neutral.

“Why is he there?”

“He heard about the attack, got someone to drive him out to see me,” I lie. “You know how he worries.”

“That’s nice of him.” I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or not, so I roll with not.

“Yeah, well, it’s already pretty late and since you don’t know where Guidry is, I was wondering if I could just let him spend the night and take him back in the morning?” I hold my breath for a beat, but Damien is quick.