Page 97 of Dashing for Love

“You mean whatI’vegot.” I smile.

Reid snaps and points at me. “Now you’re catching on.”

Farmer John meets us at his barn, and I make the introductions.

John shakes Reid’s hand. “Aren’t you the guy who was in that bunny ring?”

Reid chuckles. “Not exactly a bunny ring, but yes. That was me.”

John nods. “Well, let’s get you on a horse, Doc.” He turns and we follow him into the barn and to the second stall on the right.

There’s a gorgeous brown horse in there, and I smile broadly. “I get Peppermint?”

Peppermint’s ears tip forward as she extends her neck and leans down to sniff me. I produce the mints the horse is named after, and she takes one, then two, out of my palm with velvety lips. I laugh and rub her nose with my free hand. She was the first horse I helped bring into this world, and I’ve been in love with her from the beginning.

“Good girl. You’ve gotta help me look like I know what I’m doing, okay?”

She eyes me, then leans to sniff my pockets once more. John helps to get her tacked up, then points out the shortest route to the creek.

Reid looks around. “Got any way for me to get there?”

John nods. “Had a feeling a city boy like you wouldn’t be riding a horse. I’ve got the four-wheeler gassed up. But you need to keep a healthy distance between you and Peppermint. She’s a great horse, but she’s not much of a fan of the things.”

“Fair enough.”

Half an hour later, Reid’s got me splashing Peppermint through the creek, shirtless, while he snaps picture after picture.

“Do it again! Only this time, look sultry.”

I laugh. “Fuck you, sultry. How do I do that?”

“Like this.” Reid lowers his camera and levels me with a look that is nothing short of scorching.

“Damn, dude.” I whistle. “You sure you’ve not been an underwear model or something? Calvin Klein calling?”

He winks, then holds the camera up. “Come on. I won’t make fun of you, and I promise not to show Ox the bad ones.”

“That’s…not very comforting.” But I do what he says.

Chapter 35

The Lucky Daily

SPECIAL EDITION PRINTING

IS TRUE LOVE REALLY BLIND?

BY NOLAN “JJ” JENKINS

Citizens of Lucky, have I got a treat for you. And for once, I didn’t have to go chasing this story down for you: It came right to me.

And by story, I mean Dr. Matthew Brodigan.

And by Dr. Matthew Brodigan, I mean Matty B. Although I’m pretty sure no one’s called him that since high school.

Anyway.

Many of you may not know that there are an absolute plethora of dating apps out there. I personally have not engaged with any of these apps, but a cursory glance shows, well, a lot. And I’m told that anyone who’s single can tell you all about them, and while I’m single, I am not, in fact, one of those people who can tell you all about them.