Page 55 of CowSex

“Gracie Elliott.”

“Good to meet you, Gracie. You’re obviously not from around here with that accent.”

“No, I’ve just arrived from England.”

She smiles at me, having no clue what she’s getting into by engaging Barnes in conversation. The guy’s a slippery, slimy, sleazeball and the brother of my ex-wife’s latest husband—my second ex-wife, not the first—and works for the same real estate business.

“So, vacation or just visiting our sometimes resident rock star?”

“Oh, no. We’ve only just met. I’m renting Koa’s aunt’s cabin for the next few months. Sort of a working holiday.”

I actually consider kissing her at that moment, just to stop her from speaking.

And maybe, just because.

Barnes still has hold of her hand and steps away from the door, moving Gracie with him. I consider pulling her back by her scarf, but knowing Gracie, she’ll turn around and beat me with her good hand.

I move with them and slide my hand from her back, to her hip and pull her into my side. She looks at me again. I can just make out her eyebrows beneath her beanie, and I see that they’re drawn down and pulled together in a frown.

“Gracie’s staying with me at Emily’s old place. I’m gonna be working on the renovations, she’s gonna help me with the interiors—together, as a team, working and living…......together,” I add again, just so it’s clear he needs to fuck off right now.

Gracie gives the biggest eye roll, mouthing “What the fuck?” as she does.

“But you’re not dating ortogether.” He emphasises the word together with air quotes. I’ll air quote the fucker right between his shifty eyes. With my fist.

“As a couple, I mean,” he adds.

I open my mouth to speak, but Gracie gets in before me.

“Oh no. Koa doesn’t date, he just makes bad choices and collects ex-wives like trophies to prove it.”

Barnes throws his head back and laughs. His overly white teeth are on full display. I clench my fist, fighting the urge to knock that fake Colgate smile right off his smug face.

“We need to get going, we still need to get groceries, and this weather looks like it’s about to pick up.”

“So I’m guessing you don’t know anyone yet, being so new in town?”

Barnes totally ignores what I’ve just said and addresses Gracie.

“Well, we went to the diner where I met Martha, who seems to love Koa but not me so much, and Rebecca, who apparently has a massive crush on Koa but barely noticed my presence. Oh, and let’s not forget the delightful Misty, Queen of the Regrowth, the town whore, or striper, or bike, or whatever. She seemed to dislike Koa and me equally.”

“Well, I’m sure we can do better than the diner. How about I pick you up and take you to dinner? Somewhere a little more upscale, where you won’t have to worry about bumping into the likes of Misty Walker. Maybe go for some drinks afterwards, and I can introduce you to the people of Addison Creek that you’re gonna want to know, not the ones it’s best to avoid.”

“We’ve actually got—”

“Aww, thank you, Logan. I’d love that. That’s really sweet of you.”

Fuck no!

No way is this happening.

“Ain’t that sweet of Logan?” She smiles at me and asks.

“No.”

“What?”

“No, it’s not fucking sweet of him, and no, you’re not going.”