Page 27 of Dark Horse

“Who knows with them?” She looks up at me. “Will you be okay if Grant comes? I know the two of you have been getting along less and less.”

“I’ll be fine. He can stay on his side of the house, and I’ll stay on mine.” I grin at her, hoping she can’t see anything on my face.

“Am I crazy to split everyone up like that? I just felt like it would be fun. Plus, it’ll drive Ramsey insane to not be in the same bed as me for a weekend.” She gives me a mischievous grin.

“I don’t think you’re crazy for splitting people up. It’s like a giant slumber party. The guys can camp outside if they want to complain.” I can’t stop smiling when I look up at my best friend and I see the evil little grin on her face. She decided to have all the girls sleep in the bedrooms upstairs and the guys sleep downstairs, including her soon-to-be husband for the second time. “Keeping Ramsey at bay might be a little crazy.”

“I’m counting on it. Because the second you all are gone.” She bites her lower lip and stabs the floral foam with another round of greenery.

“I hope he uses a little more finesse than that.” I laugh.

She bursts out laughing and shrugs. “Depends on his mood—and mine.” The look of mischief returns to her face. “It’s part of why I want to see what happens if we’re separated for the weekend. We’ve been trying a new thing I’ve been loving though.”

“What’s that?” My brow furrows as I work to get the centerpiece into the glass jar.

“Free use.”

“Free use?” I quirk a brow as I manhandle the floral foam into the glass.

“Just like it sounds. He can have me anytime he wants me, any way he wants me, without asking. Unless I say the safe word.”

I blink. I could count the number of boyfriends I’ve had on one hand and how long we stayed together with even fewer fingers. They never live up to the promises they make at the start, and I won’t settle for anything less than what I give in return. But that means that there really hasn’t been the optionfor me to develop the sort of relationship Hazel and Ramsey have where they trust each other unequivocally, and it meant things like “free use” don’t even exist in my vocabulary.

“So you’re just… doing the laundry, bending over to pull something out of the dryer, and bam?” I ask, mulling over the idea in my head.

“Okay,thatmakes it sound not nearly as good as it is. He hasn’t tried that particular one.” She looks up at me with a distracted smile on her face. “But… Like the other day, he woke me up by going down on me for breakfast, and the other night, I was so frustrated running the software update at the inn that he just bent me over the front desk and railed me right there.”

“With guests in the inn?”

“It was late.”

“Where was Grace?” I blink. “I feel like you’d scandalize her for life.”

“In the back doing inventory. She’d be fine. She’s not as innocent as she looks.” She dismisses my concern for her inn manager.

“She looks like a preacher’s daughter.” I give Hazel a skeptical look in return.

Hazel shakes her head and laughs. “She’d probably just turn around and walk back out and then high-five me later. Plus, the risk is part of the fun. Also, he had just come in from the field, so he had the whole cowboy thing going on. So fucking hot.” Hazel nibbles her lower lip and stares into the distance.

I study my friend, thinking about everything that’s changed recently. It had been a rough few years for her after he left, and while I was ready to put the man six feet under if she said the word, I’m happy they found their way back to each other. Ramsey has a soft side that Grant doesn’t, one that’s completely exposed when it comes to Hazel. The kind of love you dreamabout growing up—the kind some part of me still wishes I could find even if reality has made it feel impossible.

“I love you two together.” I haven’t seen her this happy since the day she told me he’d finally asked her to be his girlfriend in college.

“So do I. Now we just need to find you your Prince Charming.”

“Easier said than done.” I sigh as I go back to assembling flower arrangements.

“I have a few ideas.” She wiggles her eyebrows but doesn’t look up at me.

“I hate to even ask.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning to tell. Have to keep some things up my sleeve.”

I was never much for surprises. They’re rarely a good thing.

“That’s ominous.”

“Oh stop. You’ll like this one.” She flashes a bright smile as she waves the scissors in my direction.

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