Page 29 of Matchmaking Under the Mistletoe

“You’re right, sis. I’m sorry, I just don’t want to screw this up,” I tell her as I take the to-go cup out of the microwave and sip my latte.

“Mills, I’m pretty sure the only thing you should be worried about screwing is that boss of yours,” she teases, back to her usual demeanor.

“Okay, okay, I get it!” I say with a laugh.

“All right, sis, I’m about to pass out, but you better keep me updated. Now, go ride ‘em cowgirl, or whatever they say down there,” she teases.

“Yes, ma’am. Love you big,” I tell her, with a laugh.

“Love you bigger, Mils,” she replies.

As I end the call and sit in the empty living room, I have to admit that I’m already feeling more at ease. Lizzie’s right: if Iwant a chance at exploring things with Brian, I’m gonna have to go for it.

“So,Millie, the mayor here doesn’t have you working too hard, does he?” Huey asks later that night as we finish dinner.

I let out a laugh at the question before looking across the table where Brian’s sitting. He’s currently running his fingers across my knee under the table, and I feel like I’m seconds away from losing it and begging him to kiss me again, despite the fact we aren’t alone right now. Dragging myself out of my daydreams, I pretend to consider my response for a few seconds before saying, “Hmm, I guess he’s been all right.”

Huey laughs at that, before saying, “Well, girl, you try to keep him in line.

Huey opens his mouth to ask something else when his phone rings. “Hello…yeah… Are you sure? Okay, yes, ma'am, I’ll be there in just a minute… Yes, ma’am. See you then,” he says to whoever's on the other line before looking at us apologetically.

“Sorry, y’all. That was Miss Agnes. Apparently, she’s having some trouble with her shower, and the damned thing is spraying water everywhere. She needs me to come by and give her a hand. I’m sorry to have to run, but I’m gonna have to cut tonight short, I’m afraid,” he admits, already standing from his seat.

“Oh, it’s no problem,” I tell him, grabbing our plates and starting to clean the table.

“Yeah, none at all. Do you need any help?” Brian asks Huey as he shrugs on his jacket.

“No, I’m sure it won’t be anything too time consuming, but I appreciate the offer. Y’all just leave the mess, and I’ll take care of it when I come home,” he says, moving toward the door before stopping. “Damn it, I just realized I haven’t fed the cows yet. I’ve got the buckets of feed ready to go, but I ran out of time to throw them in the trough. Would y’all mind dumping ‘em when you head out?

“Sure, that’s no problem. I was hoping to get to see them again anyway,” I reply honestly as Brian and I move to follow him out. “Thank you again for dinner.”

“Of course, y'all don’t be strangers, ya’ hear?” Huey calls out over his shoulder, already halfway to his truck.

As he pulls out the driveway, I turn to Brian before saying, “All righty then, let’s do it.”

Damn it, that didn’t come out right.

“Thought you’d never ask,” he teases, and I try to ignore the smirk on his face at my comment while he steps to the side of the house and grabs the buckets of feed.

His meetings in Saddle Ridge ran longer than planned this afternoon meaning this is the first time we’ve been alone since last night. I spent the afternoon worrying that it would be awkward, but instead I just feel the desire that seems to be constantly building between us. Each time his hand brushed my arm in the car, or his leg bumped against mine under the dinner table, I became more aware of the way my body was responding to him, and after spending the day thinking about begging for him, I’m desperate for us to be alone and have a chance to talk.

We walk in silence for a moment, carrying the buckets of feed toward the troughs by the gate a couple hundred yards ahead of us. As we walk, his arm bushes mine and I feel the most intense need to feel his hands on me. God, I want him to touch me. The night is dark, the moon hiding behind the clouds and making me squint to see in front of us. The further we get from the house,the harder it is to see, but Brian seems unfazed as he leads us over to the old wooden feeding spot for the cattle.

“Come on,” he hollers, rattling the feed around in the bucket. “Dinner time, come on.”

All of a sudden, the cows are everywhere, mooing their demands for us to dump the buckets by our feet into the trough on the other side of the gate. After a moment Brian obliges and dumps both of his buckets, and we step back to watch them eat. He’s standing so close, all I want to do is reach out and pull him to me, but just as I’m trying to talk myself into going for it, I notice the small calf I fed the last time I was here making her way over. She sticks her head through the metal gate, ignoring the feed and waiting for us to focus our attention on her. Reaching out my hand, I spend a moment rubbing her cold snout, and she lets out a happy moooooo, making me laugh.

“God, it’s not fair. Even the animals are obsessed with you,” he teases, bumping me gently with his shoulder.

My body heats at the contact, and I resist the urge to lean into him too much before rolling my eyes in his direction.

“So…” he says as I give the calf another pat and turn to face him. “I’ve barely talked to you today. Did you enjoy your day off?”

“Yes, it was wonderful. I went on a long run and spent the rest of the day watching my favorite Christmas movies,” I respond as he reaches out, touching the belt loop on my jeans and tugging me toward him. My breath hitches at the contact, and I take a breath to steady myself before deciding to continue. “I also did a lot of thinking.”

“Oh, is that right?” he asks, his tone more serious than before. “About…”

“What you said last night,” I continue as he traces his hand through my hair, my nerves building in my stomach at the confession I’m about to make until I feel nauseous.

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