Page 120 of When the Smoke Clears

“Whatever,” Leah says. Savannah sits upright in her arms. “If contact pregnancy was a thing, I’d have it.”

She’s unashamed at ogling my boyfriend and I can’t even be mad because he’s a dream, and I hardly expect her to make a move.

“Horse,” Savannah says, pointing with a tiny finger.

Sutton walks Johnny Walker around the pen with Roman in the saddle. He holds the pommel like a happy prince, waving down at us with a glow like the horse belongs to him.

On the second pass, Sutton winks at me and then his eyes dart to one side. I follow his gaze to Savannah. “Roman!” she yells loudly.

Roman grins and waves at her proudly.

“Me! Me!” Savannah cries, bouncing in Leah’s arms.

Sutton guides them all our way. “You want to ride?”

Leah doesn’t seem bothered, but I’m wondering how small is too small to ride a horse.

Savannah finally notices Sutton and reaches eagerly with both hands.

“Let’s let your sister have a turn,” Sutton tells Roman. Roman agrees, thankfully, and Sutton lifts him off Johnny and helps him back through the fence. Then, he mounts Johnny Walker in one swift motion before lining him up tightly along he fence.

Savannah’s arms are still outstretched, oddly comfortable with going to a stranger, and Leah lifts her up to Sutton. He grips her with two hands as he pulls her up, turning her around so she’s facing forward, and setting her in front of him in the saddle.

A large hand rests around her belly and he tells her to hold onto the pommel. Her grip is loose and her grin is huge, twinkling eyes taking in the horse and us watching her. Sutton walks them slowly in a small circle. Savannah’s high-pitch giggle is infectious, and soon everyone outside the fence is beaming and laughing with her.

“Isn’t it fun, Banana?” Roman yells from next to us. She nods enthusiastically, doing little to hold on, but Sutton’s grip is sure.

When Johnny Walker comes to stand before us again, Sutton leans down to whisper something in Banana’s ear. Her tiny finger finds its way into her mouth, where she nibbles on it nervously while nodding at whatever was asked.

Leah ducks through the fence and takes Savannah as Sutton passes her down. He turns, speaking to Roman and ignoring the rest of us. “Come on.” His head jerks toward the attached stables and he takes Savannah back from Leah.

Roman zips through the fence, careful of Johnny Walker standing close by, and hurries to Sutton, grasping his free hand without prompting.

“Who knew the cowboy was a baby whisperer?” Leah mutters. My heart is doing stupid somersaults again, and I can’t bring myself to respond.

“No shit,” Izzy says. She reaches over to Johnny, rubbing his muzzle.

The trio returns, Savannah still in one of Sutton’s arms, and Roman carries a handful of carrots. Sutton talks Roman through offering a carrot safely to Johnny Walker as Savannah shouts, “Me! Me!”

She bursts into laughter as Sutton tickles her round tummy and talks quietly to her. As if to steady herself, she grips his face between her tiny hands and he smiles widely.

Fuck. I think my ovaries are in hyperdrive.

Chapter 44

Maci

It’sdarkbeforeIzzyand Leah leave, two sleepy-eyed kids in tow. Leah’s niece and nephew have always been special to me, but today they pulled out a side of Sutton I wasn’t expecting. At least not yet.

The thought seems to draw him to me, and his warm arms wrap around me from behind as I watch my friends’ taillights disappear in the driveway.

“What do you think about sleeping under the stars?” His voice is low and questioning in my ear.

I groan and press my body deeper against him. “Anywhere you are is where I want to be.”

“I’m serious. I’ll throw a blow-up mattress into the truck bed and we’ll sleep at Nopal Vista.”

Hearing the name tumble off his lips lights me on fire. His arms loosen but don’t let go as I twist to look up at him. “Yes.”

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