Page 136 of Burn the Wild

I hit him with the rag. “Yeah, like a shrink, asshole.”

“No, she’s too busy trying to kill herself on a bull these days.”

My mind returns to Fallon’s drunken outburst the other day. “She’s drinking too much. Acting up.”

He swallows. “I know,” he finally says.

“Might be a good idea,” I hedge. “I know it was for me.”

He shoots me a look infused with curiosity. “You saw someone?”

“Hell, yeah. Do you think I’m just naturally sane?”

He laughs. I settle onto a stool.

“After Savannah…” Wyatt’s face grows serious. “I didn’t come to the ranch to help Charlie, man.” I run a hand through my hair and squeeze the back of my neck. “I came to help myself. And I think that’s what Reese is trying to do.”

“Well, good luck wrangling Fallon.” Wyatt shrugs, but his eyes are worried. “She ain’t into all that mushy shit. She thinks if she sticks it out, she can get through anything.”

Dangerous thinking. For anyone.

A shuffling sound has both of us looking over.

Reese stands in the doorway of the garage with Mouse in her arms. The sight of her has warmth spreading across my chest.

“Hi,” she says, scanning us. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

I slap Wyatt on the shoulder. “Get the fuck outta here.”

“See ya.” Wyatt flips me a wave and flashes Reese a smile as he strides past her for the double doors.

Reese stands there, seeming uncertain. Shy.

Not wanting her to feel awkward, I toss her a lazy grin and say, “Hey, Birdie Girl.”

She grins back and comes to me, releasing Mouse into my arms. Mouse butts her head against my chin. Her purr is like the low vibration of a jet engine.

I rough her fur. “What’s up, you little fur missile?”

“You know, a big strong cowboy with his very small affectionate cat is one of my favorite combos,” Reese says.

I laugh and kiss her, then kiss Mouse before letting her roam.

I slide off the stool, tugging Reese’s fingers from her side to hold on to them. Small, soft, and warm.

Her pretty face is bare of makeup, and wild waves of blonde hair hang down to her tiny waist. The bangles are back. She looks ethereal and fragile. So goddamn beautiful.

“Sleep okay?”

She nods. “About last night…” She worries her lip between her teeth, then says, “I don’t want anyone to know.”

“They won’t,” I promise her. It’s her story to tell when she’s ready.

Threading my fingers through hers, I bring her closer. “Listen,” I say thickly. “There’s one thing you have to do for me after last night—if you need to go to the water, you tell me.”

Every time she slipped out of my bed, she went to the lake. A midnight trek across the ranch that, even now, stops my heart.

Her gaze focuses on a spot over my shoulder. She hates the idea. Well, tough shit. She can run to that water all she wants, but not without me.

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