Page 118 of Redeeming Harmony

“Friends with benefits can and do kiss,” he said.

“Yeah, but only when they’re fucking,” Wyatt said.

“How would you know? Have you even had sex since Lydia left?” Nathan said.

Wyatt didn’t reply, and Nathan groaned inwardly before ducking around Viking. “That was a shitty thing to say, man. I’m sorry.”

Wyatt nodded, and while he didn’t look upset, Nathan knew him well enough to know that had been a particularly low blow on his part. “Seriously, I shouldn’t have said that, and I’m a dickhead.”

A lopsided grin crossed Wyatt’s face. “Yeah, but you’re my dickhead.”

“You’re right, you know,” Nathan said. “It does feel like more than a friends with benefits thing with Harper.”

“Why does that make you look like you’re gonna barf?” Wyatt said.

“Because she’s been upfront about not wanting more than that.”

“But you want more.”

Nathan leaned his forehead against Viking’s warm neck and closed his eyes briefly. “Yeah, I do.”

‘Then you need to tell her that or stop having sex with her,” Wyatt said.

“It’s complicated,” Nathan said.

“Love always fucking is,” Wyatt said.

He raised his head, staring at Wyatt. “I don’t love Harper.”

“Don’t you?” Wyatt said. “Because you have the look of a man in love.”

“I’m not… I don’t…”

Nathan trailed off, staring blankly at his best friend as Viking made a lip flapping snort.

The sound of a screen door slamming bumped up Nathan’s heartbeat, and he turned slowly, blowing out a breath of relief when he saw Harper and Tammy walk down the deck steps.

His stomach a nest of angry hornets, Nathan swallowed hard and smiled at Tammy when she stopped in front of Viking. “Hi, Tammy.”

She stared silently at him, and when Harper’s hand slid into his, it gave him a much needed boost of confidence. “I want to say again how sorry I am about the loss of King. I know how much you loved him.”

“I did,” Tammy said icily. “He was my whole world.”

While Nathan was genuinely sorry for the grief Tammy was going through, he still knew that he’d made the right decision with King, and he wouldn’t apologize for ending the horse’s suffering. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to make amends.

“King was fortunate to have you in his life, Tammy.” He rubbed Viking’s cheek, and the horse bumped his head against Nathan’s shoulder before investigating his ear with his soft nose. “This is Viking. He needs a home, just like King did all those years ago. And while I know he will never replace King, I’m hoping you might be the person Viking needs right now.”

He took a step back from the horse. Wyatt had a loose grip on the lead clipped to Viking’s halter, and he held it out to Tammy without speaking. Nathan knew he was crushing Harper’s hand even though she hadn’t made a sound of protest, and he forced his tense muscles to relax as Tammy eyed the lead Wyatt held out.

After what felt like hours, she reached out and took the lead in her right hand before scratching Viking’s cheek with her left. Viking immediately leaned into her hand, closing his eyes with contentment as Tammy scratched behind his ears and between his eyes. Viking nudged her hand when she stopped and then nosed at her shirt.

With a soft smile on her face, Tammy reached into the front pocket of her jeans and produced a horse treat. She rested it in the palm of her hand, her smile growing when Viking took it delicately and chewed it down. The smile turned into a laugh when Viking immediately ducked his head and sniffed at her jeans, looking for another treat.

“He’s a smart one,” she said.

“He is,” Harper said. “And so sweet and friendly. And like I said in the house, he’s broke to ride and pull. Royce said he would have no problems with the Santa sleigh.”

Viking sniffed at Tammy’s hair before he nibbled at the collar of her shirt. Tammy rested her forehead against Viking’s throat and ran her hand through his thick mane. “You’re a good boy then, aren’t you?”

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