Playing With Fire (Tangled in Texas #2) - Alison Bliss Page 0,91

was running while he whistled a low tune.

I had a good mind to sneak over to the door and watch him soap up that magnificent, firm body of his, but thought better of it. Knowing Cowboy and his insatiable nature, he’d probably pull me into the shower with him and have me do it for him. Although it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to a girl.

No, Anna. Damn it. Mail first. Otherwise the “male” will have his hands all over you making you forget…well, everything. I released a long, slow breath and headed for the front door. Being responsible and logical really sucked sometimes.

When I stepped outside, I squinted in the bright morning sun as I strolled across the yard to the end of the driveway where my weathered mailbox sat just off the road. I grabbed the stack of mail inside and headed back to the house, shuffling through the pile of bills and junk mail as I walked.

I’d just stepped back inside and kicked the door shut with my heel when I noticed a small envelope stuffed between two coupon ads. My name was written illegibly on the outside in something that resembled a child’s handwriting. Just like the others. I tore it open and quickly read the note inside just as Cowboy called out from the bathroom, “Hey, darlin’, where are your towels?”

My body stiffened. I’d been so preoccupied by the stupid note that I hadn’t noticed he’d turned the water off. “They’re…um, in the cabinet next to the shower.” I hurried to stuff the paper back inside its holder and looked for a convenient place to hide it. “On the top shelf.”

I shoved the envelope down the back of the couch in between the cushions and had just pulled my hand free when Cowboy stepped out of the bathroom wearing only a white towel tucked around his waist. Droplets of water dotted his skin and dripped from his short hair.

“I found them before I even finished the question,” he said, grinning.

Skittishly, I turned toward the kitchen, keeping my back to him as I placed the rest of the mail on the counter in front of me. “I…uh, okay.”

A beat went by before he said anything. “Something wrong?”

I shook my head. “No, nothing.” I closed my eyes as I felt his presence behind me. “You just caught me off guard.” I felt his arm brush against mine, but it didn’t close around me like I thought it would.

“Then what’s this?” My eyes shot open and I saw him holding the note up in front of my face. Fear raced through me at the thought of him confronting the Barlows. Panicking, I made a quick grab for it, but he jerked his arm back. I spun around to face him as he turned the envelope over in his hand. “Who sent you this? There’s no address or anything, only your name.”

“Just leave it alone, okay?”

“Anna.”

I swallowed hard at the stern tone of his voice. “It’s nothing, really. I’ve just been finding some notes in my mailbox on occasion. I guess the Barlow boys are leaving them.”

Cowboy didn’t hesitate. He opened the envelope and pulled out the small piece of paper inside. Even upside down, I could read the horrible scribble. Burn, baby, burn! After a brief pause, his eyes lit up with anger. “Fuck me. Why didn’t you tell me you were receiving threats from them?”

“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of nothing.”

“Where are the other notes?” Cowboy grumbled.

I walked over to the oak desk in the living room and pulled open the middle drawer where I’d been keeping them. Reaching inside, I grabbed the eight envelopes and then returned to Cowboy, placing them in his hand. I stood there staring at him as he quickly opened and read each one.

When he was done, his body was trembling with barely controlled rage. “I’m going to get dressed, go over there, and beat the fuck out of them two idiots.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Oh, yeah? Watch me.” He started to turn toward the bedroom, but I grasped his arm to stop him.

“You can’t just go over there and accuse them of sending these. Besides, they’ll probably just deny it anyway. It’s just words on paper. Sticks and stones.”

Cowboy paced a few steps away and laid the notes down on a nearby end table, while his brows slanted downward in frustration. “Sweetheart, you need to learn a few things about me. I can tolerate a lot