Page 6 of Pumpkin Patch Pack
I force myself to relax my shoulders, to appear unbothered by his proximity. “It’s okay,” I say, keeping my voice even despite my pulse picking up. “She’s cute.”
“She’s a troublemaker.” He gives the goat a look that contradicts his words, fond and indulgent.
Maple bleats again, louder this time, pulling against Liam’s grip with such apparent yearning that a small laugh escapes me. “She seems to have an opinion about me.”
And that’s when the delicious aroma of fresh smoky bourbon reaches me despite my suppressants, and I jolt, taking a small step back.
Liam finally looks up, and his eyes meet mine.
Something shifts in his expression, slightly widening his eyes and parting his lips. His pupils dilate, and I watch his throat work as he swallows. Then he takes a small step back, his grip on Maple’s collar loosening just enough.
Maple seizes her opportunity.
She shoots forward, evading Liam’s hold and darting between my legs before I close the door. She’s inside my cottage instantly, prancing victoriously toward my open suitcase on the floor.
“Maple!” Liam growls, ducking through the doorway after her.
I spin around just in time to see the goat rummaging through my clothes.
“No, no, no!” I lunge forward, but I’m too late.
Maple’s head emerges triumphantly, with something dangling from her mouth.
Something purple.
Something distinctly phallic.
Oh. My. Gawwd.
My big purple dildo.
The thing I’d hidden at the very bottom of my suitcase, wrapped in a sweater for discretion. Something to remind me I’m still a person with needs despite everything that’s happened.
Time slows to a horrifying crawl as Maple prances away, my silicone companion bobbing obscenely from her mouth like some demented trophy.
Liam freezes, his eyes widening. A hot red flush creeps up his neck, disappearing into his stubble. He blinks rapidly, as if trying to make sure what he’s seeing is real.
“Oh, shiii……” he starts, then clears his throat. “I’ll get her.”
But Maple has other plans.
With a bleat that sounds suspiciously like laughter, she darts around Liam, evades my desperate grab, and bolts out the still-open door.
“Shit!” Liam curses, charging after her.
I stand paralyzed for exactly two seconds before the full horror of the situation hits me.
A goat is running loose around my new workplace with my sex toy in its mouth!
My very large, very purple sex toy.
“Fuck,” I mutter, then sprint after them.
Outside, Maple is galloping across the lawn toward the main farmhouse, my dildo bouncing cheerfully with each leap. Liam is in hot pursuit, his long legs eating up the distance between them, but the goat is surprisingly nimble, zigzagging to avoid capture.
“Maple! Bad goat!” Liam calls. “Come back here!”
I push myself harder, wheezing. “This can’t be happening,” I mutter between gasps. “This literally cannot be happening on my first day.”
