Page 97 of Opposites (Never) Attract
Which suited me down to my soul.
“I should warn you, as soon as Seth rides, I’m probably going to fall asleep on you,” I mumbled. I was half there already.
“I should go then, huh?”
“No,” I said immediately, although she’d made no move to leave.
“I can’t stay,” she said, settling her head on the pillow next to me. “What would everyone say?”
“Don’t care. You can’t go,” I countered. “I’m too tired and blissed out on Amity’s food to walk you home.”
“I think I can make it to the Lodge from here on my own.”
“Can’t,” I said, letting my eyes close for a second. “Wolves.”
“Oh. Well. Wolves.”
“Don’t fall asleep until Seth rides. We don’t get many chances to see him on TV.”
“Is he next?” she asked, around a yawn.
I turned my head to see her eyes were closing, too. “Yeah, darlin. He’s next. Bareback riding. You’ll see. It’s like he and that horse of his share the same brain.”
“Kay. I’ll watch him.”
She wasn’t watching him. She was turned on her side, her hand still resting on my chest, her hair was pulled back in a short pony tail. Her eyes kept drifting shut and her lips were slightly parted and it made me want to kiss her again, but that meant I would need to move and I didn’t want to disturb her.
“Do we need to worry about the Asian markets?” I impressed myself with the question.
“Set alerts on my phone,” she mumbled, patting her pocket. “Things are stable for now.”
“Here he comes.”
I watched Seth through half closed eyes. Bareback on an event horse, he jumped out of the gate, one arm up, the other wrapped in a rope on the saddle of the horse bucking so hard he was contorting himself in midair. But Seth held on, his body liquid and flowing – one with the horse. Like it wasn’t even hard.
“He’s really good,” Sunshine said, sitting up to watch the screen. She’d rallied to watch her half-brother. Part of me knew that she would. Deep down, Sunshine was a family girl.
“He’s the best, darlin. Top point scorer on the circuit right now.”
Sitting up, I found the comforter folded at the bottom of the bed and pulled it over both of us. I kept the window inmy bedroom open a sliver to let in that fresh air, which meant the room would be a little chilly for my girl.
Seth finished his run, standing in the middle of the arena, arms up in triumph, the horse led away by the handlers. He looked the same as he had as a kid, though the mustache was new. Same shaggy hair. Same long, lean build. The same twinkle in his eye that promised nothing but trouble and good times.
My obligation to the McGraw clan now fulfilled, I turned on my side toward her, kissed her once on those slightly parted lips, and then tucked her in close to me so I could smell her herby, fresh shampoo as I drifted off to sleep.
I didn’t realize it then, but looking back, I’m sure that was the moment I fell in love with her.
“Whelp,”I heard Carter say. “It looks like we’re going to have to kill him.”
“I’m certain that’s a crime,” Ethan countered.
“Nah, we can say he’s trespassing,” Carter countered.
“Pretty sure his momma gave birth to him in this cabin,” Mac pointed out. “How do you figure he’s trespassing?”
Wait? Was I dreaming? I’d had enough work dreams about the damn McGraw boys, that it wouldn’t be impossible. But it felt like I was in bed. My eyelids heavy. My body sore but content.
I had a perfect, warm weight pressed into my side that felt like an extension of my body.
