Page 96 of The Rogue

“How are things with Jackson?” Levi asks, luring me back to the present.

“Oh, you mean the adventures of Curly and Wiggles?” My chest shakes with laughter against his. “We don’t share our secrets.”

“More lies?” he asks, a smirk in his tone behind me, his breath on the side of my face.

I reach my hand behind me, snaking my arm around his neck. “Not lies if they’re none of your business, Indie.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “What if I want to make it my business?” His words are soft and almost a proposition.

I inhale the scent of grass. “Then maybe we’ll share a detail or two.”

He kisses my temple. “You ready to go on back?”

“No, but let’s do it anyway. My boss might get a little grumpy if I’m late for work.”

“Hiya, Tess. Did you bring by more muffins?” Maggie, the ranch manager in the front office rises from her chair with a chipper personality. She’s a sweet older lady. A golden hue to her short blonde hair. A colorful silk scarf around her neck at all times. It’s a different one each time and I make it a point to go into town at some point to pick one out for her.

Especially for the huge favor she’s doing for me.

“Sure did,” I announce as Jackson carries them in behind me.

“Oh my goodness, they smell warm.” She pushes her glasses down to look at the kid. “Darlin’, why don’t you go put that in the kitchen for me.”

We both watch him leave the room.

She motions me forward, whispering. “Levi is going to kill me for not clearing a sale with him.”

I wince. “I know, Mag, I’m so sorry to put you in this position, but he’d shut it down. Practically already did the other day.”

“Well, we won’t give him the chance, now will we?”

I put my hands up. “I’ll take full responsibility. He won’t fire you.”

She laughs and waves me off. “Oh, please. Levi doesn’t fire anybody. That man’s as loyal as they come.”

My chest warms. Those heartstrings tugged again. As if I needed a reason to fall deeper.

She winces. “But Willow’s pricey, you know? She’s young and well trained.” She scrolls down to the figure.

I don’t even flinch.

“It’s fine. You have a payment plan?”

“Of course. No one gets turned away for financial reasons. We’ll work something out but…”

“It’s another thing that Levi needs to approve?”

She purses her lips as her fingers move swiftly around the keyboard.

My heart thumps in my chest. There’s no doubt in my mind that I want to buy Willow before anyone can take her from Jackson. But have I really thought this through? Six thousand dollars is a lot of money for someone who’s got no place to board a horse if the original owner refuses to keep her after the sale.

I’m paranoid.

That’s not Levi. I’m just on edge, doubting everything around me with each day that my fate remains a question.

“Oops,” Maggie chirps. “Forgot that one step of clearing with the boss. Call it my old brain. You’re… officially…” Her fingers race along the keyboard. “Screened and approved.” She looks up at me. “What do you have for a deposit?”

I consider the amount that Levi’s payroll has been depositing into my account. “I can put twenty percent down.”

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