Read Online Cowboys Mine by Stacey Espino - Free Book Online Page A

breathlessly pushed through the throngs of
people. The country music drowned all the multitude of conversations. Cowboys
looked her up and down as she squeezed by, but she ignored everyone around her.
When she finally spotted the twins, she stopped dead in her tracks.
    They were both sitting at a table with two
scantily-clad women. The blonde had enough cleavage for half the bar, and the
brunette was planting kisses on North’s neck. Eva couldn’t breathe. She came to
Chester expecting the guys to have their fun. She never loved them in more than
a platonic way. They were the McReed boys, her neighbors, the teens who
pestered her, and the men who became her rocks in life. God, she was such a
fool.
    She stepped closer, wondering if it was too late to
change…everything.
    Eva was standing right beside their table, looking
down at them. It was Colt who finally noticed a person standing there. He did a
double take, but didn’t push his date away. Eva had to remember that nothing
had changed in their heads, and they’d done nothing wrong.
    “Why you out at this hour?” he asked.
    She desperately wanted to replicate disinterest, to
appear unfazed by the beautiful women hanging off them. All it would take was a
simple comment about being bored or curious.   But the lies stayed lodged in her throat.
    Eva opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.
Her new emotions came rushing to the surface, threatening her to break down in
tears and make a fool of herself. She turned and bolted towards the exit
without a word. The fresh, cool night air was a relief from the stuffy interior
of the bar. All she knew was she had to get away, to hide, to think. The
brothers probably thought she’d lost her ever-loving mind. How would she
explain herself?
    She started running back to the silver bullet, tears
blurring her vision. She was about to ruin two perfect friendships. Life
without Colton and North would be unbearable—she couldn’t even imagine a day
without them underfoot.
    The rain picked up, falling in heavy sheets. She
nearly slipped a few times on the slick paths, reminded of their day at the pig
wrangling event. Eva cried harder, imagining those bimbos stealing what she
loved.
    Eva only made it to the rear of the large barn with
the outdoor showers. It was difficult to see with only the odd overhead light in
the event areas. It was like a ghost town this far from the campground. She
could see the strength of the rain in the lamp light when she stopped to catch
her breath.
    “Eva!” It was North’s voice. She wished they’d given
her some space, but then again, it would be unlike them not to chase after her.
At least some things hadn’t changed. She’d tell them she was sick, her stomach
doing flips. It would explain her refusal to answer Colton and her sudden
disappearing act.
    Colton called out over the static of rainfall, “Eva
wait up!”
    Why wasn’t she stopping? Why did her tears keep
falling? She was conflicted on a soul deep level. Everything had always been
simple and pure between them. Now she was thinking beyond what they shared when
she should be satisfied with the way things were.
    A hand wrapped around her upper arm, jolting her to a
standstill. “Didn’t you hear me calling?” asked North.
    She refused to look him in the face. Eva didn’t look
beautiful when she cried. Her eyes got puffy and her skin broke out into hives.
There would be no way to conceal her turbulent emotions.
    “Leave me be,” she said. “Please.”
    North’s jeans were soaked to the skin. She’d never
noticed the shiny silver buckle he wore. Eva realized she’d never paid
attention to their physical appearances, as if she went through life with
blinders on. Now she really looked—strong thighs, narrow hips, and massive
muscular frames.
    “Eva, what in God’s name are you thinking?” Colton
stopped talking to catch his breath.
    “Just go back to the bar. Your dates are probably
worried sick.” She couldn’t hide the