Page 68 of When Sparks Fly

“That seems like it takes considerable planning.” I close my container and leave it in my lap. “Is that your responsibility?”

“Some of it.” He runs a hand through his hair, something I don’t get a chance to see him do often because it’s usually in a hat. I get the impression it’s a smidge of discomfort at talking about himself shining through. “I’ve done just about every job on this ranch at some point. My dad wanted me to understand the importance of each step. I wanted to know all the ins and outs. So I’ve done most of it. Now I’m on the top end.” I smile at him tocontinue. He clears his throat. “Johnny Walker started as a cutting horse. His role is to help separate animals from the herd.”

“Is he good at it?”

Sutton raises an eyebrow at me as if he’s offended I would even ask. I throw my hands up. “Fine, he’s a rockstar.”

He laughs. “Yeah, he enjoys it. I don’t help as much anymore. Most of what I do is big-picture. But sometimes big-picture is helping deliver a calf and sometimes it’s planning for next season.” He frowns in contemplation. “I’ll need to find another me once we expand.”

“It sounds like it can be really stressful.”

He reaches over to play with the end of my ponytail. “Sometimes. But I wouldn’t live any other way.” His eyes are trained on mine, but in their depths I know he’s visualizing his family’s ranch and their impending expansion.

My heart tugs. “That’s how I feel about photography.”

“It sounds like you’ve done well building from the ground up.”

I stack our takeout containers back into the bag and rummage through my duffle to pull out my familiar ribbed pajamas and bathroom bag. “It’s taken a lot of work to get where I have steady clients. But I love having a different day all the time, being able to dive into creativity and saving special moments for people.”

“You travel a lot?”

“Not much. I could, but I’ve found a few locations I really like and if I’m not at a family’s location, we usually go to those.”

He contemplates and it seems like his next question isn’t really what he wants to know. “Ever want to get into weddings?”

I laugh. “No way. I did some when I first assisted. They’re lovely, but high stakes and way more stress than I care to deal with regularly.”

He grins and I slip into the bathroom.

After changing and cleaning up, I pull my hair out of its ponytail. There’s no subduing the wave created by the elastic.

A tiny burst of nerves rushes through me. Sutton’s seen me dressed down, but not climbing into his bed.

I exit the bathroom and store my things into my duffle bag, trying to ignore Sutton and the bed’s existence for a moment. When I finally turn, I’m stunned.

Sutton’s eyes rake over me, but that’s overshadowed by him being barely dressed. He’s removed his shirt and his defined chest and arms are gloriously displayed, the blanket drawn to his waist. I’d love to pull it back.

“I can sleep on the couch if you’re more comfortable.” His low voice douses my growing heat.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” I sit on the bed. “I mean, Ishouldmake you since you forced me here.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “Begging is better. Got it.”

My core throbs. I clear my throat. “Not what I mean.” I lean against the headboard, staring across the room and attempting to slow my racing heart.

“If you behave, you can come closer.”

My head whips to him. His right arm is extended to me as he grins playfully. I give an exaggerated eye roll and slide closer. Before I settle against his side, Sutton reaches across with his other hand, tipping my chin to face him.

“I’m gonna kiss you now.” He leans his head down and I stretch to meet him.

There’s no stopping the moan that rises from my throat when our lips press together. His mouth is warm and tender. A small part of my brain is shouting that I’m already in too deep and I need to back out. I couldn’t if I wanted to, though. Which I don’t.

“I’ve needed to do that all day.”

“Needed?” I relax into his side and lay my arm across his torso. He’s on fire and it does nothing to dampen my desire to climb onto him and explore.

“Oh, it’s a need.” He brushes his fingers up and down my arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll behave.”

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