Page 48 of Cowboy Seeks Husband

WEEK TWO

Mucking Out the Mess

Chapter 9

Fast asleep, Benhad one arm slung over his head, the other tucked across his chest. He was breathing deeply, and his eyes danced under his lids. His feet stuck out from underneath the covers, and he was clearly far too big for the bed. Snuffling sounds came from the bunk above him, and the room was cast in the faded grays of early dawn.

“You are really not supposed to be in here.”

Walker’s heart skipped a beat as he spun around to be faced with a bleary-eyed John complete with haywire hair.

“I need help fixing a tractor. He’s a mechanic.”

“Sorry, man. It’s the rules. You can’t just come in the house without telling us. But I can have a mechanic here for you in—” He pursed his lips. “Hold on, let me call Andy.” He moved to step out of the room, then turned back to Walker. “I can’t leave you in here with the contestants, sorry. Can you follow me into the hallway, please?”

Walker rolled his eyes. What did they think he was going to do? Jump one of them and have all the off-camera hot sex in the two minutes they were out of the room? Of course, no room was actually off-camera, so even then they wouldn’t miss anything.

John gestured for Walker to follow him.

“Fine.”

He stood leaning against the wall, one foot propped up, not caring if it left a mark, while John held one furious phone conversation after the other. He checked his watch. The morning was getting away from him now, and he had a lot to do before this ridiculous TV show took up the rest of his day.

“Right,” John finally said. “There’s a sound and cam crew on the way. We’re going to wake Ben, wire him up, and then tell him to pretend to go to sleep again. Then you can do your thing.”

“What?” Walker stared at him.

“Andy agrees this will make a great mystery date.”

“You’re joking.”

“Afraid not.”

“I think I’ll take the other mechanic you have on call.”

“Funny. Ah, here are the sound guys.” John turned away and pointed the men toward the bedroom. “Yeah, get Ben wired up, please.”

Walker heard a lot of grumbling and complaints coming from the bedroom, and he cringed inwardly. He was certain Ben would’ve happily helped him with the tractor. But as a date? Before dawn?

John clapped his hands. “Now everyone, quiet please! Pretend to be asleep again, especially you, Ben.” He waited a few seconds until the rustling of sheets and pillows fell silent. “Okay, Walker. You’re up.”

He felt like the biggest idiot on the planet.

“Ben,” Walker whispered very quietly. Ben opened his eyes and sat up immediately, clearly wide awake now.

“No, look more asleep,” John ordered. “Like when we first woke you up.”

“You mean when he asked for his mama,” someone said from another bunk.

“Shut up, Clark,” Ben said, but he grinned and lay back down, giving Walker a little wink. “Sleepy. Got it.”

“Okay Walker, if you could step back outside and come back in,” John said.

This was going to be a long, long morning.

This time, Ben blinked sleepily and mumbled a little bit when Walker said his name. “It’s only me. I’m sorry I’m waking you up but I need your help with something.”

Ben blinked slowly a few more times before he focused on Walker. “Oh. Sure, yeah.” He swung his legs out of bed, ducking his head so he didn’t hit it off the top bunk, and pushed the blankets aside. He grinned a little bashfully as he rearranged his dick in his boxer briefs. “That’s what you get for surprising me so early. Sorry.”