Page 63 of The Wilder Widows

Long silver hair tied in a knot beneath his cowboy hat brushed along bare muscular shoulders. As he swung the ax against the firewood, every muscle in his impressive physique flexed beneath tanned skin.

“Heavens to Betsy,” Doris whispered on a breath.

Another swing of the ax showcased his bulging biceps, and I struggled to swallow.

“Is it just me, or is he moving in slow motion?” Alice asked, her own jaw failing to stay shut.

“Not just you. He’s in slow motion.”

Doris clutched her chest. “He’s magnificent.”

“Save a horse. Ride a cowboy.” Alice broke her stare and smiled down at Doris. “Did you just have a hootie?”

The smart remark shook Doris from her trance, and she swatted at Alice’s arm. “No!”

Her shrill retort caught the attention of the cowboy across the yard. Setting down his ax, he lifted his tan hat and swiped a muscular forearm across his forehead.

Tongues tied and mouths agape, we stood in a row while we watched him snatch up his flannel shirt and start toward us. One by one, his arms disappeared inside the fabric as he made his approach until only the silver hair across his chest and the rippled abs were still visible.

“Howdy, ladies,” he said, tipping his hat as he came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. He started working on closing the buttons of his shirt, and I had to stop myself from racing down there and ripping them back open.

“How — Howdy,” I sputtered.

“I’m Axel. Axel Walker.”

Walker. Damn it. Must be Madeline’s husband.

“Is Madeline your wife?” Alice cut straight to the chase while she struck her sexiest pose.

“No, ma’am,” he answered. “She’s my sister. Never did marry myself.”

Even though our gasps were inaudible, I felt all the air around us disappearing into our lungs.

“Is that so?” Alice crooned.

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, but instead of fixating on Alice like every other man in the world, his amber eyes drifted to Doris. His piercing gaze locked right onto her shocked one. “I’m single.”

As we all glanced at Doris, the hue in her cheeks transition until it matched her brand-new boots.

“May I escort you to the stables? Madeline said you ladies need to pick out your horses for our cattle drive today.” He extended an elbow to Doris, and Alice scoffed softly beside me.

“Why... thank you. Howdy, I’m Doris.” She slid her hand into the open crook of his arm. Together they walked down the stairs and left the three of us frozen to the floorboards in shock.

“Did that... just happen?” Alice whispered.

“Did Doris just steal a handsome cowboy out from under your surgically created perfect nose?” Marge craned her neck around me. “Why, yes. Yes, it did.”

“Good for her,” I said while I watched her walking away with him.

“That is a bonified silver fox.” Marge blew out a breath. “Not my type of silver fox, but a rare silver fox indeed.”

“He’s gorgeous,” I added. And he was. Even at his age, probably close to ours, his body rivaled those meatheads I’d seen pumping iron at the gym the few times I’d tried working out. But I imagined Axel’s muscles didn’t come from lifting weights and rowing machines. No. His muscles came from real ranch work like I’d just witnessed as he chopped that wood.

“I’ve had better.” Alice flipped her hair and started down the stairs. Marge and I exchanged a glance, stifling our chuckles while our friend walked away on a wounded foot that mirrored her wounded pride.

“Are you ladies coming?” Doris called back over Axel’s shoulder.

“Coming!” I answered, and we hurried after her and her smoldering cowboy.