The Cowboy Next Door (The Cash Brothers) by Marin Thomas Page A

promise to fulfill his wishes. He walked to the front of the house, then entered without knocking as he’d done his whole life. He took one step toward the kitchen and froze. A feminine moaning sound drifted into the hallway.
    Face burning hotter than a pancake skillet, Johnny did an about-face and made a dash for the door, but the tip of his boot clipped his grandmother’s umbrella stand and sent it crashing to the floor.
    “Johnny?” His sister stood in the kitchen doorway, wearing only a bathrobe, her hair mussed and her lips swollen. “What’s wrong?”
    Flustered, he said, “Don’t you think you ought to lock the door if you and Gavin plan to carry on like that in the house?”
    Her eyes widened. “We weren’t doing it in the kitchen. I was making Gavin an ice cream float.”
    Irritated that she mocked him, he scowled, which only egged her on more.
    “I always make Gavin a float after we...you know...as a reward for being ready and willing anytime.”
    Ready and willing? “What the heck are you talking about?”
    “My temperature, stupid.”
    “What does your temperature have to do with having sex?”
    “I’m ovulating, so we’re—”
    “I get it.” Johnny’s anger died a quick death and he felt like an idiot for badgering her. “Sorry. I stopped by to ask you for a favor, but we can talk later.”
    “Stay.”
    Johnny trailed Dixie into the kitchen where she stopped at Gavin’s side and kissed his cheek.
    Of all his siblings, Johnny was closest to Dixie and he missed not being the apple of his baby sister’s eye. Gavin nodded to Johnny but neither man made eye contact.
    As Dixie helped Gavin make the floats, she asked, “What’s this favor you need?”
    “I was hoping you could stop by the Triple D tomorrow and spend time with Shannon while I repair a section of fence along the highway.”
    “Are you asking me to babysit her?” Dixie smiled.
    “Clive’s out of town and he put me in charge of keeping tabs on Shannon so I’ve been sticking close to the ranch house.” Johnny crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve got to fix the break in the fence before I move the cattle into that area next week.”
    “I could open the shop for you tomorrow,” Gavin said.
    “You sure?”
    Gavin nodded.
    Dixie texted on her cell phone. “I told Shannon that I’d be over around eight in the morning.”
    “Thanks, Dixie.” Johnny knew his sister would come through for him.
    “How do you like having the foreman’s cabin all to yourself?” Gavin asked.
    “The quiet takes getting used to.” He steered the conversation to Gavin’s work on a water reclamation project for the city of Yuma and a half hour passed before Johnny stood. “I better go.” He shook hands with Gavin.
    “I’ll walk you outside,” Dixie said. When they stopped at his truck she spoke. “I’m worried about Shannon.”
    “Why? What did she say in her text?”
    “Nothing, but we talked on the phone yesterday and she sounded depressed.”
    “You can cheer her up when you see her tomorrow.” He hopped into the truck.
    “Why don’t you stop in town and buy her a bouquet of flowers? That will brighten her room.”
    I don’t think so. Until he and Shannon figured out what that night in Gila Bend was all about, he didn’t dare do anything that would give Shannon the wrong impression about his feelings—whatever the hell they were—for her.
    “Shannon’s always looked up to you as a big brother.”
    Why was he everyone’s big brother?
    “Back in tenth grade she said I was the luckiest girl in the world because I had you for a big brother and she wished Matt and Luke treated her as nice.”
    “I’ve known her brothers for years. They’re not mean.”
    “No, but they never make time for Shannon.” Dixie leaned into the truck and kissed his cheek. “Watch over her, okay?”
    Johnny shut the door and started the engine. He doubted Dixie would have asked him to look out for her best friend if she’d known he’d