Page 122 of When the Smoke Clears

“I thought it was pretty funny,” I challenge.

He closes his eyes briefly. “You’re always trying to set me off.”

“Yes. Because I love every part of you. Even that beast you keep locked inside.”

He grins. “I’m not a beast.”

I lean back. He’s getting away with too much teasing, and I’m taking matters into my own hands. “You’re right.” I feign boredom and sigh. “You’re really kind of a fuddy duddy.”

He belly laughs, and I can’t help the wide smile that splits my face. “A fuddy duddy?” His laughing strengthens.

Pride fills me. “Yep. Such a boring gentleman.”

He leans in so his breath skates over my lips again, but he doesn’t break eye contact. “Is that why you call me ‘Sir’?”

“It’s the respectable thing to do with your elders.” The challenge has left my voice, but I manage to maintain his stare.

“You’re such a brat.” He removes his hands from the truck bed. “That’s alright. I owe you one.”

“One what?” Confusion overtakes my playfulness.

His hands land on my hips. “I told you I was going to watch you come apart under the stars out here, and I’m going to make good on that promise.” My mouth drops open and he follows up with, “Because us fuddy duddies keep our word.”

And with that, he launches me onto his shoulder again, eliciting another surprised squeal. His grip on my thighs is sure, and he grabs the frame of the truck bed with his free hand, climbing swiftly into the back.

“I have another idea.”

“Regarding?” Sutton’s fingers stroke my shoulder. We’re loosely tucked under the comforters he brought, gazing at the star-filled sky in our afterglow.

“The ranch,” I say matter-of-factly.

“This should be good. A wet T-shirt contest?”

“What?” Laughter bursts out of me.

“Well, last time you said me and all the guys should pose nude for a calendar.”

“Oh my God, I did not say nude! I said maybe without shirts.” I continue to laugh, shaking against his warm body. “Why would I submit for the objectification of women’s bodies?”

“Only men’s bodies, then.”

“Absolutely.”

His hand drops from my shoulder to tickle my waist. “You just want to show off what you have.”

I squirm and wiggle until my laughter causes tears.

“Ok, so then what’s the big plan?”

“A haunted house.” His fingers resume trailing over my skin, and I take his silence as cue enough to continue. “With everything going on, you haven’t been subjected to my insane love for Halloween yet, so this probably seems out of left field. But I think a creepy-ass haunted house would be amazing out here.”

“Mmhmm,” he hums neutrally, encouragement enough for me to continue.

“We’d get volunteer actors. I’m sure there are people in the community, and we can source the community colleges nearby, too. We could have set dates, like only Fridays and Saturdays in October. The structures would be permanent and we could repurpose them, if we want, during the other months.”

“October is a pretty busy month for the ranch. I don’t know if we need to add to that,” he says with a hint of reservation.

I’m not put off by his thoughts, instead pushing harder. “All you’re doing is adding to it. You’re adding four times as much busy as you have now.”

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