Heartless (Chestnut Springs, #2)

by Elsie Silver

“Beg.” “Pardon me?” “You heard me.” Her lips don’t even twitch. She’s not joking at all. “Beg.”

“Please stay.” She doesn’t react other than to arch an eyebrow. “Don’t leave.” Her lips roll together in the most distracting way. I sigh, propping

“Luke is everything to me, and I want him to have a fun summer. Proper fun. Sometimes he’s stuck out on this ranch with a bunch of adults, and I worry he doesn’t get enough attention from me because I work such long hours. And I need help because it’s all just way too much. I’m fucking exhausted.” My chin drops, and I look her in the eye. “I really need your help. Please stay.”

Willa: I just got up. Cade: Okay? Willa: I’m making coffee. Cade: Alright. Willa: I’m getting dressed for the day. Panties? CHECK. Cade: Too much information. Willa: Luke is now awake. Cade: Oh good. Willa: He peed. Cade: The bed? Willa: No. In the toilet. Sounded like a big one. Like when Austin Powers comes out of being frozen or whatever. Cade: Why are you telling me this? Willa: Just keeping you apprised of *everything we do!!!* Cade: I already regret telling you that. Willa: Oh, I’m just getting started.

Cade: Willa. Willa: Remember that time you BEGGED me to stay?

“Yeah, and my daddy said he’d rather roll around in the manure pile than hire you.”

“When you called my dad a woman hater, was that a bubble thought?” Shiiiiittttttt. Called out by a five-year-old.

“My dad will accept your apology. He likes you.” “How do you know he likes me?” He’s mentioned this twice now, and honestly, I’m downright confused. “Because he hasn’t said a thing about rolling around in the manure pile.”

Willa: I’m sorry I called you a woman hater. Cade: It’s fine. Willa: Do you know what the first thing I did this morning was? Cade: Willa, I’m working. If everything is okay, we don’t need to chat. Willa: I put my panties on. Willa: Are you ignoring me? Willa: I figured you’d be proud. Day one and I’m knocking all the rules right out of the park. Cade: If I pay you more, will you stop texting me about this? Willa: Probably not. I don’t need the money. I’m just easily bored, and poking the bear is fun.

And then he brightens as he glances up at me. “Next time you cover the Jansen’s tractor in toilet paper, can I do it too?”

“Anyone ever told you that you’re rude?” is all he comes back with. I grin at him before turning back to the TV and cranking the volume. “Says the guy who still hasn’t given my panties back.”

Then I feel it. The scowl.

“ . . . Today I got to tidying up around the property a bit. There were leaves everywhere, so I gave the yard a good blow job.”

I said the yard was a mess. Next time you can make yourself useful and blow it yourself, Beau.”

My god. Is Harvey Eaton a sheltered simpleton or a comedic genius? He’s got the entire table stunned speechless, struggling to hold in their laughter, and he’s just munching away at the food on his plate, looking oblivious.

“Do you have a special technique he should know about before...

Willa doesn’t even glance at me when she murmurs, “You don’t come often?” “Not here,” I bite out. She peeks at me from behind a silky curtain of her copper locks. “Yeah, no. That would be rude.”

“The joke’s on you though. I wouldn’t last ten minutes and just because you’d be quiet doesn’t mean I would be.”

Beau: Dude. You look like you’re trying to kill someone with the power of your stare. Beau: Do you have a special superpower I don’t know about? Cade: Why are you texting me from the same table? Beau: Because you’re too terrifying to talk to.

“Dare.” His expression doesn’t say crawl onto my lap and ride me. It says help me. And so that’s what I do. But probably not in the way he saw coming.

“I dare you to do those rodeos and let me take care of Luke while you do.”

“Do my nipples bother you, Cade?”

“It’s funny. I thought about you telling me panty lines aren’t something we should worry about people seeing, and I’m feeling the same way about my nipples.”

“For example . . .” Her bright green feline eyes drop to my chest. “I can see yours right now.” My chin snaps toward my chest, and sure enough, my nipples are giving me away. “And they don’t bother me at all.” She licks her bottom lip slowly, with intention, before one cheek hitches up in a lopsided smirk. Then she turns and walks back toward her bedroom, holds one fist up above her head, and says, “Fuck the patriarchy.”

You’re beautiful. How was your night out? I’m sorry I haven’t been leaving enough coffee for you in the morning.

Willa starts off with a terrible moonwalk, before moving into a horrendous sprinkler.

Willa: Hi, Lawyer friend. Can I ask for some legal advice? Summer: Do you need me to come bail you out? Just send the address. I’m there. Willa: Is it illegal to bang your hot boss? Summer: Are we talking about your brother or Cade? Willa: Fucking gross. Summer: Dude. I’ve had to listen to you make hot dad jokes for years. Shooters gotta shoot. Willa: I’m never coming to you for advice again. Summer: My legal advice is to be very specific when you ask a question. Willa: OK, FINE. Is it illegal to bang Cade?

Summer: You’d have to ask him. Haven’t seen him with a woman the entire time I’ve known him. Maybe he thinks it’s illegal? Willa: He *is* a stickler for the rules. Maybe I’ll break them and see if he spanks me. Summer: Fucking gross.

Oh, I feel like getting my back broken alright. By him. Not a horse.

I wink at him. “Thank you for the coffee. I’m ready for you to break my back.”

His face pales, like he realizes how I could have interpreted his note. “I meant you could ride if you wanted to.” “Oh, I want to.” Heat flares on his cheeks. I shouldn’t prod the bear like this, but it’s just who I am. I like to watch him squirm.

“Nah, I think I’ll take one of the young ones.” “No chance.” His jaw hardens. “Why not?” I quirk a brow. “I don’t want you to get hurt.” He says it so simply, like it should be obvious to me. “But I thought that’s what the note meant? Unless the note really meant . . .” I trail off and waggle my eyebrows at him. “You’re insane.”

He looks pissed, and the flutter in my stomach at how imposing he is has me wishing he’d take some of that frustration out on me.

“I’m gonna ride like Willa when I grow up!” Luke has climbed up to the top panel of the fence and leans over, eyes glowing with excitement. “She made that filly her bitch!”

His hand shoots between the metal panels, fingers hooking through my belt loop to hold me still. To keep me there, as he breathes down on to me. The whoosh of each exhale caresses my cheek. “You have no fuckin’ idea, Red.”

I just turn away and smile to myself, because Cade is seething. It’s almost like he’s jealous. And I think I like that.

Willa: Panties? Check. Bra? No check. Cade: You’re going to a children’s birthday party. Try again. Willa: Right. Let me try again. Willa: Panties? No check. Bra? Also no check. Cade: The town is talking about you enough as it is. Willa: Oooh. What are they saying? Cade: That your panty lines are very defined. Willa: My god. Did you just make a joke? Cade: I’ll be there at 6 tonight. Please don’t embarrass me. Willa: Oh boy. Is that a challenge? Cade: Bye, Red.

“Fine.” Willa smiles but it’s a scary smile. And then, with one well-placed hip check, the birthday boy goes flying into the water.

Willa might be a bit of a psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.

“Are you gonna make a move, Eaton? Or just stand here petting me?”

It’s with a smile on my lips that I lean in and press my mouth to hers. She’s soft and willing. She parts for me with such ease. Welcomes the kiss.

Summer: Trouble in paradise? Did you bang him? Willa: I wish. He barely even looks at me. Summer: Flash him. Willa: I’ve tried. He’s too mature. He just rolls his eyes and walks away. Summer: Wait. Did you really flash him?

“Have you tried talking to him?” I blink at her. “Talking?” “Yes. You know . . . where you use your mouth to create words that describe what’s going through your head.” “Sounds weird. Sounds awkward. Don’t like it. Not approved by me.”

“What if I mess this up? Luke isn’t a martini I can just toss out and try again with.” The deep rumble of Cade’s laugh filters through the receiver. “You are not laughing at me right now!” “Willa. You will not mess it up. You need to believe in yourself. You’re smart. You’re capable. You’re determined. I know you are because you made me like you when I swore I never would.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” “You got this. I’ll be late, but I have total faith in you.” “Well then, you’re stupider than you look,” I mutter. “That supposed to be a compliment, Red?” is all he says before I sigh and hang up.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep in your bed.” I like you in my bed.

“I think I watched a porno like this once.”

“What are you doing?” I grumble as I wipe at my watery eyes, no doubt smudged with mascara. “Taking care of you,” he replies without even looking my way. His tone says that I just asked him a stupid question.

“It’s okay, Red. I got you.”

“That’s my girl.”