Page 74 of A Reckless Memory

“On the counter.”

“My favorite was the table. You were my feast.”

The flush was back in her cheeks, only this time, it wasn’t from embarrassment about gushing over my cousin’s beer. Those blushes were my favorite.

“Whaddya say?” I asked. “Can I have you for breakfast in the morning?”

“Before or after the frigid chores?”

“I need to warm up somehow. I won’t even ask you to do naked chores again.” There would be naked chores again one day when the temperature was well above zero. Thinking about round, pink ass cheeks peeking out from under the hem of her coat would make me hard in this crowded brewery. I took a drink to cool off.

“Next time, it’s your turn to wear only a coat.”

I coughed into the bottle. She laughed, tilting her head back. The lights played off the red highlights in her hair. She’d left tendrils of curls out of her bun to frame her face. The uncovered view of her freckles delighted me.

This morning for chores, she’d worn an old pair of cowboy boots and a pair of new Wranglers she’d grumbled about getting dirty right away.

I’d tried to beat her to chores, but she was determined to give me the weekends off.

Off to do what I didn’t know, I wanted to spend all my time with her. The animals were a close second. My family, of course, but I couldn’t hang around them every spare second of the day. Besides, the horses made my day fun.

Shelby pranced to the fence every time I showed up, and the others weren’t far behind. Their personalities were distinct, and each day I got to see a little more. There were horses I missed working with over the years, ones I wished I could’ve afforded to have as my own, but Shelby was both. When it came time for Aggie to sell them, the pasture would be awfully empty.

She traced the line of my jaw. “What are you thinking about?”

“The horses.”

Her eyes twinkled. “That hasn’t changed.”

“I was thinking that I’m used to getting temporarily attached to each horse I’m working with, but those five have a hold on me.”

“And Gingerbread?”

Gingerbread the pinto hadn’t warmed up to me yet, needed to be corralled separately next to the herd because he couldn’t behave with Shelby or Bruno, and was a right challenge. He was ornery because of pain from poor care over the years and being forced to endure riders who weren’t a good fit for the smaller-built horse. He was at the point of shunning all humans to keep from hurting all the time.

I loved the challenge, and he was full of promise. “I’ll get him used to me, but the exercise has been strengthening his sway back.”

“Good. The sooner he can get chiro treatment, the better.”

Vienne leaned over on the other side of Aggie, a myriad of necklaces hanging from her neck. “Hi!”

“Vienne! How nice to see you.” Excitement glowed in Aggie’s eyes. She’d known people in Buffalo Gully, but when we’d gone out, she’d never had this reaction. Crocus Valley was good for her.

“Happy New Year!” Vienne said, pulling back. She had a purse in one hand and her coat in the other. She set the purse down and juggled getting her coat on. Theo lingered a few feet behind us. He gave me a casual wave but didn’t otherwise help his girlfriend. “I wanted to stop and say hi before we go.”

“I didn’t see you,” Aggie said, looking around like she was trying to figure out where they’d been sitting. “I’m sorry we missed you.”

“It’s getting too loud for Theo, so we’re calling it early. How are you?”

“Good. How was your Christmas?”

“Come on, babe,” Theo broke in, sounding bored.

Vienne glanced at her boyfriend, crushing the annoyance in her eyes. “Sorry.” She squeezed Aggie’s arm. “Let’s meet up soon. Maybe another darts night?”

For as loud as it was, Theo’s can’t-be-bothered sigh made it right to my ears. “Darts again?” he whined.

Goddamn. If Aggie wanted to bring me along to hang with her and her friends, I’d be there with a grin in place and a cup full of darts ready for everyone.

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