Page 102 of A Forever Kind of Rancher

Sex.

Yeah, it was probably the sex. It had been so damn long before her. Longer still since he’d wanted it. Really wanted it. With more of himself than just his erect member.

His body wanted sex a lot, it was the rest of him that didn’t care. The rest of him that was still too numb,

But not with Grace. She lit a fire in him that he could feel all the way down.

He was still deciding whether or not he was okay with that.

If he wasn’t, it meant no more sex for the remainder of his time in the city. Which was not okay with him.

Not at all.

He was enjoying dipping his toes back in the pool, so to speak.

His phone buzzed and he walked across the studio and looked down at the number. A NY number that he hadn’t added to his phone, but one he recognized.

“Gracie,” he said, picking the phone up and answering it.

“Zack, you left before I woke up.”

He leaned back against the wall and looked at the iron monstrosity he’d just been torturing. “Yeah, I did.”

“Why?”

“I had work to do.”

“Such as?”

“Sculpting. Welding. Had to fire up the forge and hammer things.”

“You were hammering me.”

His body immediately stood to attention. “Yeah. But... I have a job. And a piece I need to finish.”

“What more does it need to be finished?”

He looked at the lifeless lump of iron. “I don’t know. It’s dead. I can’t figure out how to make it live.”

“Lightning storm?”

“Yeah,” he said, laughing in spite of himself. “Maybe. Want to come and be my hunchbacked assistant?”

“Can I really come?”

He hesitated. “Sure,” he said finally. “Why the hell not?”

“After work. I’ll be there after work.”

“I’ll still be here. Banging my head against a wall.”

“Well, I’ll see you then. Try not to give yourself a concussion.”

“I’ll do my best.” He hung up and put his hand on his chest. There was a weird feeling there. Originating from around his heart and spreading outward.

Happiness. For heaven’s sake. He felt happy. Standing there in front of a crap-ass statue, he felt happy.

The thought of seeing Grace and showing her all this was the cause. He was happy to see her. To show her his garbage work. What the hell?

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