Page 54 of Wild Eyes
“Yes.”
“Like the kiss?”
That tendon pulses before she bites out, “What kiss?”
I smile. Full and blinding. It’s my panty-melting smile, and I’m not above pulling it out when needed. “That’s how we’re gonna play this, fancy face?”
She glares at me, defiance shining in her eyes. She hops down onto the floor bravely, though she can’t keep her eyes from taking a quick scan around her. “Yup. You can go. I’m fine. Great even.”
I cross my arms and widen my stance, ready for battle. “No fucking chance am I leaving you out here to sleep with my sister’s weird pet mouse.”
“Where are you expecting me to sleep? The barn?”
I shrug. “Won’t stop ya if that’s what tickles your fancy. But I have a spare room in my house. Queen-size bed, no mice. So that’s where you’ll sleep.”
She thinks about my offer. I can see the flash of longing in her molten irises right before she smothers the idea. “Pass.”
“You are beyond stubborn. Anyone ever told you that?”
“Nope.” She pops thepwith so much attitude, I have to bite down on a smile. “It’s a new character trait for me. Sick of being told what to do.”
I glance around the space, considering how I’d get a horse to quit fighting me on what we both know is best for them.
I’d take the pressure off.
“Your call. You know where to find me. I’ll be doing night checks in a bit, and you can meet me at the barn. I promise to give you lots of space so you can work on that new character trait of yours.”
“What about not wanting anyone around your kids?”
“My kids aren’t here this week.”
“And next week?”
I toss her a wink. “Maybe Scotty will be dead by then.”
Her responding gasp sounds suspiciously like a laugh. “That’s not funny.”
“I didn’t mean for it to be,” I toss over my shoulder as I turn to leave.
It’s right when I get to the door that Cherry pipes up with her filthy little beak. “Fuck Coach Thick Thighs!”
I pause before turning back to Skylar, who is struggling to keep her face blank. “You were talking to your bird about me?”
“No” comes out of her mouth just a little too quickly to be the truth, but I don’t call her on it.
Instead, I leave smiling.
And later, when I see her walking through the barn doors, I smile even bigger.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SKYLAR
I wake in an unfamiliar house.With unfamiliar bedding. And an unfamiliar throbbing on my face.
It takes me only a moment to figure out where I am, how I got here, and why my face hurts. The good news is…I slept.
In West’s house, I slept better than I have in months.
