Page 51 of On the Wild Side

“I can’t have you getting sick on me,” he says with a wink as he stands and crosses to me, immediately pulling me into his arms and hugging me close. “You smell good enough to eat.”

I grin against him, kiss his chest, and then pull back. “What are we going to do today?”

“Lady’s choice.”

“I was hoping you’d say that because Ireallywant a tour of the ranch.”

Brady blinks in surprise. “You’ve seen most of the ranch, haven’t you?”

“I’ve seen the farmhouse and Summer and Chase’s house, along with the event center, yes. And now your cabin. But I haven’t seen any animals or heard any stories. I guess I want to see it throughyoureyes.”

And right now, those hazel eyes smolder as he stares down at me.

“But if you’d rather not?—”

I’m cut off by his mouth as he kisses me hard and long, and I can’t help but sway against him, soaking him in.

Brady Wild is an addiction that I may never recover from.

“The ranch it is. Do you have boots that you don’t care if they get shit on them?”

I laugh in surprise. “I guess we’re going all out. I’m sure I do.”

“Grab a good winter coat, too. Layers, babe. You need layers.”

“I live in Montana. I have layers.” I wink at him and then march back to the small mud room off the garage entrance to gather what I’ll need, and then we pile into Brady’s SUV and head back out to the ranch. “I’m glad the weather has eased up a bit. Snow is fine, but it’s tough when you add arctic temps and wind.”

“I couldn’t agree more. I work in that shit all day. Temps in the twenties is downright balmy.”

When he turns onto the ranch road off the highway, he bypasses the farmhouse and drives us out to the barn first, coming to a stop by a huge rolling door that’s currently shut.

“Some of the hands might be out here right now,” he says as we get out of the car, and he pulls the door open so we can step inside, then closes it again.

It’s warm in here, with the smell of hay heavy in the air. It’s cleaner than I expected, and way brighter, with light-colored wood stalls lining one wall where I assume the horses must live.

“Hey, Lucky,” Brady calls out, waving to an old man shoveling hay at the other end of the barn. “I’m giving Abbi the tour.”

“Hey there, little lady,” Lucky says, tipping his hat to me. “Welcome to our little slice of heaven.”

“Thank you.”

Brady leads me to one of the middle stalls, and a huge black head greets us over the door.

“Hi there, buddy.” Brady nuzzles the horse’s face and grins, offering him an apple that I didn’t realize he had with him. “This is my guy, Blackjack.”

“He’s gorgeous.” Tentatively, I reach out to pet Blackjack’s nose, and he leans into my touch, making me smile. “Hi, beautiful boy.”

“He likes you,” Brady says with a nod. “And he doesn’t like justanyone.He’s picky. Obviously, he has good taste.”

“Clearly.” I push up on my toes so I can kiss the horse, falling in love with him. “You’re a sweetheart.”

“Here, feed him an apple, and he’ll pledge his undying love for you.”

“Oh, it’s okay—” I shake my head, moving back, but Brady takes my hand in his and kisses my palm before setting the apple in it.

“I’ll help you,” he says gently. “It’s easy. Hold your fingers out, and he’ll take it right out of your hand.”

“And my fingers with it.”

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