Page 54 of Buckled in Barbwire

She flips through a book absently. “My husband doesn’t care much for people. This is the closest to town he would build the shop.”

A choked exhale sputters from me. “He built this place?”

“Sure did.” She beams with pride. “We’ve owned this little slice of heaven for a few years.”

I glance around the store with a fresh perspective. “Wow, that’s—”

“Daddy, Daddy!” A little girl no older than three appears out of nowhere, rushing toward Nash at lightning speed. She’s waving a piece of paper that’s covered in colorful squiggles. “Gots a pitcher. Here go!”

The ice king at the door melts into a squishy teddy bear before my eyes. The doting father leaps off his stool and crouches onto the floor. His daughter flings herself into his waiting arms. Their tight embrace brings tears to my eyes.

“Mhmm, that’s how this happened.” She points at her protruding tummy. “Can’t resist him when he gets gooey.”

The conundrum winks at her before pinning me with a scowl as if I’m ruining a special family moment. He’s probably right. At this rate, I might beg Brody to have babies with me if they can cure intolerable grumpiness.

“Maybe I should go.” My sandals slip on the carpet as I prepare to flee.

“Wait.” Penny hovers her hands above my arms to form an invisible barrier. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

That’s putting it mildly, but I shouldn’t leave empty-handed. I blindly reach for the nearest book. “This will do the trick.”

Her brows lift. “Interesting choice. I approve.”

A quick glance at the cover explains her reaction. There’s a mostly naked, very male alien hovering over a swooning woman. The title doesn’t hide the fact that she’s about to beblasted with his astronomical laser beam. My cheeks go up in flames when I give the image another peek.

“I like to expand my horizons,” I croak.

“You’re in for a treat. This one gets credit for putting my second bun in the oven.” Penny strokes the girthy spine longingly. “There’s something extra stimulating about reading dirty scenes while ovulating.”

Just what I need. I dig out more than enough cash and push the money into her grip. “You’ve been really… um, informative. Extremely helpful. Keep the change.”

Penny’s mouth opens and closes as she inspects the wad. “Thank you!”

I offer a backwards wave before dashing out of Chase the Storm. The evening chill allows clarity to return but I’m still overheated. My motions are jerky and rushed as I get settled behind the wheel. The truck roars to life, swerving slightly when the tires kick up gravel.

Darkness envelops me on the road. I spend the drive lost in thought. It’s unfortunate to admit that Brody fills entirely too much bandwidth in my brain. Maybe I’m still feeling the effects of Penny and Nash. The love potion they infuse into their shop could be dangerous to my resolve. I’ll have to be careful about what stores I stumble into.

The cabin is quiet when I arrive and slip inside. Nothing appears out of place, just the same as when I left. There’s not even a single dish in the sink. Guilt slithers around my ribs and squeezes. We didn’t go shopping for food. The least I could’ve done was get him takeout. Not like I would’ve known what to get. My eye roll is reserved solely for me and my misguided concern. If he was hungry, he could have told me.

I wander around in search of Brody but can’t find him. If not for his suitcase on the bed, I’d assume he took off. His woodsy scent lingers as I absently descend the stairs. My phone gains ten pounds in my pocket, demanding I relieve the weight and send him a text.

A splash yanks my attention to the deck. It’s pitch black out there except for the soft glow from the hot tub. That’s where I spot my husband, submerged in the water up to his broad shoulders. His head is tipped back onto the stone ledge. This might be the first time I’ve witnessed him unplugged and relaxing.

I don’t want to disturb his peace but the insistence to check on him is too powerful. The cool sweep of autumn drifts along my bare legs when I sneak onto the patio. Brody hasn’t noticed me yet, which allows me to shamelessly admire him. His dark hair is wet and slicked back away from his face. I shuffle closer while appreciating the unobstructed view. The reclined position puts his angular jaw on display. Sooty lashes seal his eyes shut while he soaks. Sweat or stray droplets sprinkle his forehead. Steam rises off the churning surface, making him look even hotter. Too bad the jets are on or I’d get a glimpse at much more of him.

“My beloved wife returns,” Brody rasps.

A jolt rushes through me and I suck in a sharp breath. “How did you know I was here?”

“I’m always aware of you.” But his eyes are still closed.

“That’s a creepy sentiment coming from my fake husband.”

When his lips curl into a full smile, my knees threaten to buckle. “What did you expect? You sparkle like a disco ball wherever you go, Twinkles.”

I glance at the lace shirt I’ve paired with a pink denim skirt. It’s a fairly plain outfit by my standards. “But you can’t see me.”

Hooded lids barely lift when he decides to grace me with his stare. “Heard those bracelets jingle on your wrist like a Christmas carol.”

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