Page 32 of A Reckless Memory

Victory was mine, motherfucker.

A few moments later, Dr. Jake slapped his hands on his thighs. “Hey, I was going to ask you, Ansen—what kind of animals are you thinking of accepting?”

Irritated that he’d deferred to me but liking how his behavior reinforced my decision to cockblock him, I glanced at Aggie. “It’s her call.”

She finished chewing, her annoyance carefully stored away, but I could see it. “The pens need some work, but they can hold goats and pigs. Donkeys.”

“I don’t know a thing about pigs,” I said. “Or goats or donkeys.”

She patted my thigh. “You can learn.”

Heat spread over my leg just as she snatched her hand back like I was made of hot steel. One part of me was getting there. “You gonna teach me?”

She rolled her eyes and took the section of burger I cut for her. She peeked under the bun to inspect the burger as if she was making a strategy for how to eat it without getting sauce on herself. “Google it.”

“I can ask my niece.”

Archer chuckled. “She’s like her mother. She’ll tell you what’s up with goats.”

Dr. Jake slid off his stool. “I have a call bright and early. Nice seeing you.”

It was nice seeing him go away.

We finished our food. Archer made small talk about his ranch and his wife’s goat and egg business. Then he pushed his plate away and stood. “Nice catching up, Ansen. Let me know when you have a free day. The kids would love to give you a tour of our place.”

“Next weekend.” Now that more of my old brother was back, I didn’t want to put off his offer. “Is that all right, boss?”

“After chores.” Her tone was teasing. “You don’t have to go,” she said to Archer.

He backed up with a wave. No matter how aloof things had been between us for years, he had my back in a heartbeat. “I can get home in time to help tuck the kids in. Night, y’all.”

Aggie’s focus was on me. “Why’d he leave so quickly?” She glanced at the door again and worried her lower lip between her teeth. “Why’d you two crash my night when you’re supposed to be catching up?”

The burger was lead in my gut. She would’ve been too smart for Dr. Jake, and I’d exposed my games because she was too good for me.

She pushed the plate closer to me. “You did it on purpose.” Anger was hot in her tone. “You drove Jake away.”

“He’s just Jake to you now? Are you disappointed he’s gone?” Are you happy I’m here instead? I was purposely antagonizing her, but my feelings were all over the place tonight. Connecting with Archer, seeing her get hit on, and sitting next to her sharing a meal like we used to—I wasn’t as distant as I normally would be.

She sighed and wiped her hands on her napkin. “It’s none of your business. It hasn’t been your business for years.”

She was off her stool and storming toward the door. I was hot on her low-heeled boots.

“Aggie.”

She breezed out the door, her hair so tight in its bun only a few strands fluttered.

“Agatha, dammit.” I jogged to get beside her. She was shorter than me, but the girl could make fast getaways.

She charged toward her pickup. The headlights flashed as she unlocked the door. We reached it at the same time, and I propped my hand against the window. “Why did you really hire me?”

“I told you why.”

I caught her around the waist and planted a hard kiss against those frustratingly plump lips. She went rigid but didn’t pull away.

It took the equivalent of eight horsepower to separate my lips from hers. I caught my breath and watched the green flecks spark in her eyes. She was familiar but new. She was intriguing, and I wanted to get to know the new Aggie as much as I wanted to dig through that smooth exterior and find the old Aggie.

I told Archer she and I were history, but after kissing her—I knew that wasn’t true.

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