She paced as she put on her earrings, wondering how the heck she was going to act normal at Tully’s with Jax and Jillian. She was sure they would know what was up the minute they saw her and Nick together. She felt like she had a neon sign on her forehead telling the world she wanted to get him naked, and the worst part was, she wanted so much more with him than just getting naked.
A knock sounded on her bedroom door, and before she could answer it, the door flew open and Jillian breezed in, looking gorgeous in a white miniskirt with lace overlay and silk sleeveless top with a plunging neckline, two of her own designs.
“Hi!” Jillian whistled, looking Trixie up and down. “Holy cow, woman. You’re going to blow the guys away tonight.”
There was only one special guy Trixie wanted to blow away with her off-the-shoulder midriff-baring, bell-sleeved black top and fitted peach miniskirt. “Thanks! I have a great designer,” she teased, since she was also wearing Jillian’s designs. “You look amazing, too.”
“Thank you. We’re going to be the hottest girls at that bar tonight, and we’re celebrating. I just met your new babies. They’re so stinking cute, and they don’t mind the dogs. That little one is hardly bigger than Goldie. Nick said they’re housebroken, too.”
“They’re incredible. I’m so happy Nick suggested looking at trained horses.”
“He said you’re still getting two more from Travis?”
“I think I am.” She slipped her feet into her nude heels, trying to calm her nerves. She needed to tell Jillian about her and Nick. Not just because Jillian would notice the sparks flying between them, but also because she might need backup, in case Nick flirted with his groupies at the bar. That thought made her feel a little queasy. Even though they didn’t talk about what was going on between them, and she had no right to be jealous since they weren’t exclusive, she’d be devastated if he flirted with other women, and she’d need Jillian to drag her away before she could do anything stupid.
“Before you know it, you’ll have a herd, like my brother.”
“No, I won’t. Nick has his own ranch, and I won’t be getting my own place anytime soon. Those two beautiful babies out there were hugely expensive. I have to start the business at my parents’ ranch and see how it goes from there.”
“That’s even better.” Jillian waggled her brows. “Then I can see those hot brothers of yours more often when I come visit.”
Speaking of hot brothers…
Before Trixie could chicken out, she said, “Jilly, I need to talk to you about something, but you have to promise you won’t say a word to anyone.”
“Okay,” she said cheerily.
“I mean it. No one. Not Emmaline, not Morgyn, or anyone else.”
“You know I won’t, especially now that you’ve told me not to.” Jillian’s brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”
Trixie took her hand and sat on the bed, bringing Jillian down beside her. “Don’t freak out, but Nick and I are kind of hooking up.”
“What?” Jillian bolted to her feet. “No. No, no, no. Please tell me you’re not. You’re one of my last single friends!”
“Shh. Keep your voice down!”
Jillian waved toward the patio doors. “He’s outside. He can’t hear me.”
“Please don’t be mad, Jilly. I’m sorry, but I’m also not sorry.”
Jillian sighed. “I’m not mad. I’m just a little shocked. But I guess I shouldn’t be. Emmaline and I thought you guys were going to get together years ago.” She gasped, wide eyed, and sat beside Trixie. “You’ll be my sister-in-law! My mom will be so happy!”
“Whoa. Stop! It’s not like that.”
“So, you’re just…” Jillian looked over her shoulder at the bed and cringed. “Do I need to bleach my outfit.”
“No.” Trixie laughed. “We haven’t even done it in a bed.” In the last two days, they’d gotten down and dirty in the barn, on the patio, and in the kitchen again, but not in a bed.
Jillian groaned. “Why does everyone get hot sex except me?” She leveled a serious stare on Trixie. “If you were having sex with anyone else, I’d want all the juicy details. But now I think I need to bleach my brain.”
“Would you stop?” She was glad for Jillian’s levity, but she was still nervous. “I need your help.”
“Why? Is he being a dick? Because I’ll set him straight.”
“No, and you can’t say a word to him about any of this. You can’t let on that I told you. It’s just…I’m the one who started this with an offer of being friends with benefits, and I know he doesn’t want anything serious, but at the same time, I really think he feels the way I do and he just won’t admit it. God, Jilly, I want more with Nick so badly.” She had no idea where all of that honesty had come from, but she felt better having said it.
“Whoa, babe. There are so many parts of this to weed through. You started it?”
Trixie nodded.
“Look at you, taking what you want. You go, girl,” she said supportively. Then her nose wrinkled. “Okay, that’s a little gross since he’s my brother, but you two are perfect together.”
“I think we are.”
“Yes, you’re two stubborn, boot-wearing peas in a pod.”
“But do you think I’m barking up the wrong tree and setting myself up to get hurt?”
Jillian’s brow knitted. “It’s hard to say. On the one hand, you couldn’t have picked a more autonomous guy. But on the other hand, you already have more with him than anyone else ever has.”
“I do?”
“Yes. He’s almost thirty-one, and I don’t think he’s ever had a real girlfriend.”
“I wondered about that,” she said, thinking about what he’d said about having sex once without using a condom and wondered if he’d always been a no-strings-attached guy.
“There were rumors when I was in high school about him seeing a girl who lived someplace else. But if he did, I never met her, and knowing Nick, it wasn’t a girl, but a horse. I swear, when we were younger, if he wasn’t doing something with the family, he was at Walt’s. I don’t think he’s ever brought a girl to meet our parents. I’ll have to ask my mom, but I can’t remember him going to prom or anything.”
“Oh God, don’t ask your mother. It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
“But it sounds like you’re serious about him.”
“This might sound bad, since I’ve stayed at his house for so long. But I’ve crushed on Nick since I was a teenager. I compare every guy to him, Jilly, and it’s not like I try to compare them. It just happens.”
“That’s not bad, Trix. You guys clearly have a connection, or he wouldn’t let you stay here. I know he’s not warm and fuzzy like my other brothers, but he’s a great guy, and he’s got the biggest heart.”
“I know he does. He’s also got a great brain, and don’t get me started on his body.”
“Ew.” Jillian shook her head. “Please don’t go there.”