Page 50 of His Tenth Dance

“And it’s weird,” she said. “Becauseyouseem to trust me. Andyouseem to like me. Andyouhave done so many things to take care of me and protect me.”

Tears filled her eyes, and Kristie couldn’t go on, lest her voice would come out squeaky.

“I’m falling in love with you, kitten,” he whispered. “I like the fiery side of you that questions me and everyone else. Sometimes rigidity is a good quality.”

She nodded as he pressed his lips to her forehead. Kristie settled into his embrace again, her story out. Because it didn’t infect her anymore and the story didn’t have to run from one side of her mind to the other until she was simply too tired to stay awake, Kristie was able to close her eyes, exhale, and fall asleep in a single breath.

seventeen

Tarr Olson wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his forearm, stepping back to survey his handiwork. The new goat enclosure was coming along nicely. The tallest, sturdy cedar post was firmly planted in the ground, ready for the fencing to be attached. The “Goatel” that Bobbie Jo had commissioned him to make stood proudly behind that, and Tarr needed to finish the fencing and the gate, and then her kids could move in.

The summer sun beat down mercilessly, but Tarr didn’t mind. He’d always preferred physical labor outdoors over being cooped up inside. When he’d gotten too sweaty, he’d draped his shirt on a nail on the side of the barn and kept working. But now, he moved into the sliver of shade there to pick up his water bottle.

“Looking good,” Tuck said.

Tarr turned to see him standing at the corner of the barn. He held two water bottles and added, “I guess you don’t need this.”

“I’ll take it,” Tarr said, reaching for what would surely be colder water than he had.

Tucker was Tarr’s best friend—and technically his boss, but he never acted like it. When Tarr had worked at the Hammondfamily farm, he’d learned that all the Hammonds treated their employees more like extended family than hired hands.

He downed another couple of swallows of ice water, his throat aching, but the rest of him grateful that he’d stopped to take a drink. “I should have the fencing up by tomorrow. Then Bobbie Jo’s goats can have their new playground.”

Tuck chuckled and joined Tarr in the few inches of shade that the roof of the barn gave off at this time of day. “She’ll be thrilled.”

Tuck surveyed the goat hotel and grinned. “She’s really happy that your construction skills will be able to save her goats from the coyotes.”

“I’m surprised there weren’t stronger fortifications here already,” Tarr said, grinning back at his best friend.

Bobbie Jo was definitely a goat whisperer, and her enthusiasm for the animals was infectious—even if Tarr didn’t quite understand the appeal of the cockeyed creatures himself.

“When did you guys get back?” Tarr asked.

“Oh, about half an hour ago,” Tuck said.

“How was the food?”

“It was good.” Tuck reached up and wiped his hand along his forehead—his tell for things he had no real opinion about. “I think she’s going to hire that company for the wedding.”

Tarr nudged his friend. “It’s because of the paninis, isn’t it?”

Tuck full-on belly laughed and leaned one shoulder into the side of the barn. “I can’t tell a lie—I love a good sandwich.”

“Yeah, and Bobbie Jo doesn’t really care what she serves at the wedding.”

With July fast approaching, Tuck and Bobbie Jo would be married in only another couple of months. And Tarr, once again, worried and wondered about what would happen with him.

“You got that look on your face again,” Tuck said.

“I just don’t want to be your roommate when you’re newly married. I’m going to get my own place.”

“You don’t need to do that,” Tuck said. “The house is enormous. You practically have your own apartment as it is.”

“Practicallyandactuallyare two different things, Tuck.”

Tarr was only a couple of years older than Tucker, and he knew his friend genuinely didn’t mind sharing the mansion that had come with this new farm he’d bought. Bobbie Jo claimed she didn’t either, but they weren’t married yet, weren’t living together yet, and didn’t really have to deal with Tarr as a married couple.

Yet.

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