Page 88 of His Secret Gift

I honestly love Kayla’s child-like wonderment. Many women I’ve taken on dates in the past, including Harper, probably would’ve yawned if I suggested something so simple for us to do together. But Kayla’s obviously different. It was even her idea to come in the first place, after all.

But eventually, her extended arm stops me from walking.

“What—” I start to ask before I see the camels.

“Oh, my gosh. They’re so cute.” She gets in front of me, but I hold her back by the shoulders.

“You don’t want to get too close. Trust me.” I’ve heard their spit or vomit or whatever projects out of their mouths smells horrific.

She then surprises me by reaching up and entwining her fingers with mine.

“I wonder what they’re names are.”

“I—I don’t know.” I slide my free hand into my pocket before a take a few steps closer, the smell of her lavender hair, which is blowing in the breeze, wafting up to my nose. “What would you name them?”

She looks back at me and over her shoulder. “Well, I’ve always loved the name Murphy for a dog.”

I grin. “I think the one with the white snout would make a good Murphy.”

“I agree!” Her gaze returns to them.

“What about the others?” Again, not many other women I’ve gone out with would care to entertain such a juvenile and silly game. But she seems to be enjoying it.

“Hm. Maybe that one,” Kayla points at one that’s all brown, “can be Moe.”

I chuckle. “Murphy and Moe. I like it.”

She turns to face me with the biggest smile on her face and wraps her arms around my neck. “I like you.”

My hands then find their way to her waist. “I like you, too.”

Then, just before I think we’re about to kiss, a huge camel loogie lands right next to our feet.

Chapter 27

A Delicate Balance – Kayla

Having narrowly escaped a spit attack, we decide it’s best if we head back indoors and to the saloon on the property.

We both order aloe vera tea.

“I’ve never had this before. Have you?” I ask after the server brings our mugs out.

“I can’t say that I have.” He raises his up to his face and takes a whiff. “Smells nice enough.”

I do the same. “Yeah.” But to me, it smells exactly like an Indiana summer. After Collin and I refused to wear sunscreen and inevitably got burned, our father would lather us in it while warning that we were going to get skin cancer someday. Fortunately, that has yet to happen. Although I’m much more into sun protection nowadays, hence the large hat that’s hanging from the chair behind me.

Then, I take a drink and want to spit it out immediately, and I cup my hand over my mouth.

When I look up at Jack, his nose and upper lip are raised. He kind of looks like a Who fromThe Grinch.

He coughs. “It’s…”

“Bitter.”

After looking around, to what I assume make sure no one was within earshot of us, he repeats, “Very bitter.”

“We have to finish it though, don’t we?” My legs are crossed, and I’m bouncing the one on the ground in anticipation of having to chug the rest.

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