Page 62 of Stables

I shake my head. “You shouldn’t be alone.” Moving into the shadow of the barn, I flip the leather straps over the fence rail.

“Paisley, your mommy needs a spanking,” I growl. When I glance sideways, I can see the pink tinging Char’s cheeks.

Her mouth opens and closes before that full bottom lip folds between her teeth.

Paisley squats in the dirt and runs her wet hands through it, painting up to her wrists with mud. “No, no, Mommy,” she chants without looking up.

“See, she agrees.” I busy myself with stripping the saddle off of Whiskey so I don’t have to watch the color blossoming over Char’s throat.

Or see her chest heaving as she fights down the giggles that escape, even as she bites harder to tamp them down.

She’s torturing me.

“I’ll make sure to let you know from now on.” Char grabs the blanket from the sweaty mare and drapes it over a rod near the tack room.

“Good girl,” I say quietly.

But when she stumbles with the brush in her grip, I know she heard me.

“Is Libby still planning on being here tomorrow?” I need to change the subject before I let myself get out of hand.

“Um, I think so. She was going to let me know tonight.” Char tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and begins making long strokes down her horse’s sweaty flanks. “I hope she can, she helped me tack Whiskey and lift Paisley up. I don’t think I’m quite there yet by myself.”

“Uppie.” Paisley, as if she’s been summoned, stands near my knee and holds her dirty palms towards me.

“She likes you.” Char smiles softly as she finishes.

I can feel the slime of mud being smeared across my neck as Paisley buries against my shoulder.

Strangely, it doesn’t bother me.

It never did when Sophia or Sawyer did when they were little, either.

Other people’s kids? No way.

Char leads Whiskey towards the gate leading to the pasture, then strips the bridle off before letting her go. “She did awesome today.”

When she finds a place near me walking back towards the house, I’m tempted to reach my arm around her shoulders and pull her close.

But settle for toting a snuggly toddler in the meantime.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry, so I made a salad for dinner.” Char twists mid-step to look up at me. “Do you usually eat at the hospital?”

“I live on protein bars and iced tea, the food there is atrocious.” I give her a lopsided grin and hold the front door open for her.

Paisley is almost asleep before I step into the cool interior of the house.

“Where do you want me to put her?” I could probably hold her all night, she’s so tiny.

Maybe it’s safer if I do. Keeps me occupied and distracted from Char.

“Um, maybe her crib. We’ll contain the mess until she gets a bath.” She leads me towards the dark room and flips on the light.

Seeing it for the first time, there’s also a rocking chair and a small dresser, but otherwise fairly empty.

I bet two sets of bunk beds would fit in here easily, if she has more kids.

Why does that make my cock twitch in my scrubs?

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